One should not procrastinate...

I apologise for not having completed all of the tutorial tasks for the previous five weeks. It is entirely my own fault for not keeping up with the set tasks.

How safe is Facebook? (Week 4)

Is Facebook really concerned about the safety and privacy of their users? Well on paper they are. But do they actually manage to enforce every single rule and guideline that they have in their terms of service? Probably not. The way I understand it, their terms of service has been written to protect the users of Facebook, and to also protect Facebook themselves. It allows them to be able to shut anyone down that they believe is in breach of their terms of service.

According to Facebook’s terms of service and privacy policy, content that is allowed can take the form of: photos, videos, personal information, status updates, links, creating an event or group, comments, writing on someone’s Wall, notes or messages. They do not allow offensive material.

For content that is covered by intellectual property rights (e.g. photos and videos ‘IP content’), the user gives Facebook permission, in accordance to the user’s privacy and application settings, to use any IP content that is posted on or in connection with Facebook. This agreement applies until the user deletes the IP content or their account, unless the content has been shared with others who have not deleted it.

Facebook’s terms of service states that, ‘Your privacy is very important to us.’ In order to find out more about their privacy guarantees, Facebook users should look at the privacy policy. This policy claims that users should check their privacy settings to ensure privacy.

Facebook’s terms of service and privacy policy are designed for the safety and privacy of their users. As long as Facebook users comply to the rules and guidelines that Facebook sets out for them, their privacy and safety are guaranteed.

Scavenger Hunt! (Week 5)

1. Where was the first University established and in which year?
About the world's first university wrote, 'Indeed there is evidence that it was in the year 700 BC that the first university was born. It was in Taxila or Tashashila which is now part of Pakistan which catered to address the need for higher education of more than 10,000 students from neighboring and far regions of the east. Taxila used to be part of India, a country with a diverse mix of culture and way of life. Debates ensue as in the modern sense Taxila may not be considered a university and that it is Nalanda, established in 427 AD as the first to fit the criteria of being a university with a more formal, systematic and organized operation for higher education.'
<http://stoneage2010.hubpages.com/hub/About-the-worlds-first-university> viewed 27th August 2011.

2. What is Stephen Stockwell's band called and what does he play? Can you name a couple of their songs?
Stephen Stockwell's band is called The Black Assassins, he plays the keyboard. Their songs include: Death Take Me Now, Run Ronnie Run and Barricades.
<http://members.optusnet.com.au/~toxicoh/blackas.htm> viewed 27th August 2011.

3. What is the weight of the world's biggest machine? How much did it cost to build?
The world's biggest machine is the Large Hadron Collider. It has a length of 27km, and has a circumference of 175m. The LHC weighs over 38000 tonnes. It cost approximately €3.03 billion.
<http://www.bukisa.com/articles/40463_worlds-largest-machines-ever-built> viewed 27th August 2011.
<http://lhc.ac.uk/about-the-lhc/faqs.html> viewed 27th August 2011.
<http://lhc-machine-outreach.web.cern.ch/lhc-machine-outreach/lhc-machine-outreach-faq.htm> viewed 27th August 2011.

4. Who is Justin Bieber's lawyer, and what is the best way (quickest, most reliable) to contact the lawyer?
Kenneth Feinswog, is, apparently, Justin Bieber’s lawyer. I was unable to find his contact information.
<http://www.olsen-twins-news.com/lady-gaga-and-justin-bieber-lawyer-threatens-to-sue-comic-book-creators-96829/> viewed 28th August 2011.

5. What is the cheapest form of travel from the Gold Coast to Melbourne?
The cheapest and most practical form of travel from the Gold Coast to Melbourne is by aeroplane. The cheapest flight that I found was for Wednesday 31^st August 2011, departing at 7.10PM. The airline was Tiger Airways and the price was $60 (with no checked baggage) or $75 (with checked baggage).
<http://travel.webjet.com.au/webjettsa/home.aspx?TripType=OneWay&CityFrom=OOL&DaDateO=2011%2F8%2F28&CityTo=Melbourne&DateBack=2011%2F9%2F5&TravelClass=EECONOM&NumAdult=1&NumChild=0&NumInfant=0&EntryPoint=Flight&RequestFrom=Outside> viewed 28th August 2011.

6. Who is Hatsune Miku? What company does she belong to? What is her birthday?
Hatsune Miku is an anime/manga character, she is a part of the Vocaloid franchise. The company that she belongs to is Crypton Future Media. Her birthday is 31^st August 2007.
<http://www.animevice.com/miku-hatsune/18-20703/> viewed 27th August 2011.

7. Find a live webcam in Belarus. Find a place to stay in Antarctica.
The link below leads to a live webcam in Belrus:
http://www.camscape.com/view/5976
The only places to stay in Antarctica are the scientific bases such as McMurdo Base.
<http://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/frequently_asked_questions.htm> viewed 27th August 2011.
<http://www.coolantarctica.com/Community/mcmurdo/mcmurdo_base_antarctica.htm> viewed 27th August 2011.

8. What song was top of the Australian pop charts this week in 1991?
Bryan Adams song (Everything I do) I do it for you was top of the Australian pop charts this week in 1991.
<http://australian-charts.com/weekchart.asp?cat=s&year=1991&date=19910825> viewed 27th August 2011.

9. What type of car was used to make ‘Google Street View’?

The car used to make ‘Google Street View’ was the VW Bug.
<http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/01/take-a-look-at-the-vehicle-thats-taking-a-look-at-you/> viewed 27th August 2011.

10. Translate these questions into Spanish and then translate them back into English.
1. donde fue la primera universidad establecida y en qué año
1. Where Was the first university in Which year and ESTABLISHED
2. o que es la banda de Stephen Stockwell se llama y qué hace el juego
    ¿Puede usted nombrar un par de sus canciones
2. what is stephen stockwell's band call and what does he play
    can you name a couple of Their songs
3. ¿Cuál es el peso de la máquina más grande del mundo
    ¿cuánto cuesta construir
3. what is the weight of the world's biggest machine
    how much did it cost to build
4. que es el abogado de Justin Bieber, y lo que es la mejor manera (más rápido, más fiable) ponerse en contacto con el abogado
4. who is justin's lawyer, and what is the best way (quickest, MOST reliable) to contact the lawyer
5. ¿Cuál es la forma más barata de viajar desde la costa de oro en Melbourne
5. what is the cheapest form of travel from the gold coast to melbourne
6. que es Hatsune Miku
    lo que la empresa tiene que pertenecer a
    lo que es su cumpleaños
6. who is Hatsune miku
    what company does she belong to
    what is her birthday
7. encontrar una cámara web en vivo en Bielorrusia.
    encontrar un lugar para alojarse en la Antártida.
7. find a live webcam in belarus.
    find a place to stay in antarctica.
8. ¿Qué canción fue la parte superior de las listas de pop de Australia esta semana en 1991
8. what song WAS top of the Australian pop charts in 1991 This Week
9. qué tipo de coche se utiliza para hacer 'Google Street View'
9. what type of car is Used to make 'google street view'
10. trasladarlas a español y luego traducir de nuevo en Inglés.
10. These questions translate Into Spanish translate Them and Then Back Into English.
<http://spanish.dictionary.com/> viewed 25 August 2011.

Let's do research! (Week 3)

Stephen Stockwell's first article in an academic journal was entitled 'Kuranda police shooting' in the February edition of Legal Service Bulletin, 1981.
Stockwell, S. 1981, 'Kuranda police shooting' in Legal Service Bulletin, vol 6 Feb, pp 48-9.
This information was found through the Griffith University LibarySearch.

Governor Slugwell appeared in the Flaming Carrot Comics. He appeared in issues no. 11, 10 and 7.
"When the shoes aren't worth the shine" by Bob Burden in Flaming Carrot Comics, no 7. (Renegade Press, 1985) pp 3-31. <http://comx.alexanderstreet.com.libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/view/914760>
This information was found on the Underground and Independent Comics database through browsing characters.

The latest medical thinkig on the dangers of mobile phones is that the radiation from a mobile can excite the brain of healthy adults, meaning that there is an increase of glucose present in the brain, this in turn 'leads to the production of potentially damaging reactive oxygen radicals that can alter the ways that cells and genes work'.

'Central Nervous System; Environmental Health Trust Experts Warn That Cell Phone Radiation Excites the Brain of Healthy Adults', 2011 in Genetics & environmental business week, p. 400.

This information was found through the Griffith University LibarySearch.

Leon's reaction when Holden asks him about his mother in the 1982 draft script for Blade Runner:
'Leon looks shocked, surprised. But the needles in the computer barely move. Holden goes for the inside of his coat. But big Leon is faster. His laser burns a hole the size of a nickel through Holden's stomach. Unlike a bullet, a laser causes no impact. It goes through Holden's shoulder and comes out of his back, clean as a whistle. Like a rag doll he falls back into the seat. Big slow Leon is already walking away, but he stops, turns, and  with a little smile of satisfaction, fires through the back of the seat.'
Fancher, Hampton, Kibbe, Roland & Peoples, David Webb, 1982, Blade Runner: Draft Script, electronic edition by Alexander Street Press, L. L. C., 2007, p 7. <http://solomon.afso.alexanderstreet.com.libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/pdf/FS001268.pdf>
This information was found on the American Film Scripts Online database.

In Communication research trends, Paul Soukup, in regards to Walter Ong wrote, ‘The 20th century introduced a paradox: "that a society given so much to the use of diagrams and to the maneuvering [sic] of objects in space . . . should at the same time develop means of communication which specialize not in sight but in sound."’ 

Soukup, P. 2004, 'Walter J. Ong, S. J.: a retrospective', in Communication research trends, vol. 23 no. 1.

This information was found through the Griffith University LibarySearch.

I like writing letters! (Week 2)

I am one of those people who do not really use a lot of new communications technology. Sure, I have email, and a mobile, but I only really use them out of necessity. I am not into Facebook or any of other social networking sites, and I have never had a blog until I started this course. I barely manage to keep up with a diary or journal, let alone a blog!

I personally prefer to not use social networking sites. There is no real reason for this other than that I find them somewhat trivial, and I honestly could not be bothered to set up a Facebook account. It also means probably becoming ‘friends’ with people you went to school with, who would otherwise not even care about what you are doing. I also think that privacy can be an issue when using sites such as Facebook. I prefer not being easily googled! The only reason I would ever join Facebook, would be if I were to go overseas for an extended period of time. I will admit that Facebook does make it easy to stay in contact with friends and family, but while I am still in Australia I prefer to use other methods of communication.

I admit that I am a bit old fashioned, I enjoy writing letters and receiving them. It is so much fun to receive a letter in the mail. Though I must admit that it is harder to write a letter than an email, I think it is because you have to think more about what you want to say. It is an interesting thought. Maybe that is why more and more people prefer email over snail mail; they do not have to think as hard!

Using the web more effectively (Week 2)

I found a website that has tips on how to use the web more effectively. It seems to have some good advice for people who may be struggling or new at using the web. The only issue that I have with this site is that it was last updated in 2008, so some of the tips might be a little out of date, apart from that it seems to have very helpful advice. Check it out and make up your own mind as to whether or not you think that it is helpful.

Top 10 Tips for Using the Web More Effectively
http://www.speedbrake.com/web/effectiv.htm

aBook (Week 2)

This video is a short excerpt from the CBBC television show Horrible Histories. It is quite a funny video, particularly because it is a pastiche of the way Apple presents their latest technology. While I realise that books are not all that new for us, it is interesting to note that for the Ancient Romans, books were revolutionary. Kind of the way that the latest methods of communication technology might seem to us.