Vodafone’s folding girlfriend
In a recent Vodafone ad shown on Australian TV, a guy going on a trip decides he wants to take his wall map with him so he neatly folds it and puts it in his pocket. He then decides to take his computer, his TV and then his CD collection (including a large cabinet). He neatly folds them up one by one and puts them in his pocket. Just as he’s almost out the door he looks at his sleeping girlfriend, then comes back, folds her up and puts her in his pocket too. Vodafone uses the slogan ‘Take your world with you’ for this ad.
Is this commercial not just the slightest bit insulting to women? Firstly, he takes his girlfriend last, almost as an after thought. She is perhaps the least important of his essential accessories? Secondly, is that all she is? An accessory? The intended implication is that he is taking everything he loves with him but this seems to relegate her to the status of an object on a par with a computer or a TV. Vodafone might not have meant to be sexist and offensive but they have ceratinly managed it. It may provide an insight into the subconscious of the guys that create ads like this. The CGI are impressive and the concept is clever, but the bottom line leaves a lot to be desired.
Watch the full commercial here:
Aint that the way it is?
Vodafone’s folding girlfriend
In a recent Vodafone ad shown on Australian TV, a guy going on a trip decides he wants to take his wall map with him so he neatly folds it and puts it in his pocket. He then decides to take his computer, his TV and then his CD collection (including a large cabinet). He neatly folds them up one by one and puts them in his pocket. Just as he’s almost out the door he looks at his sleeping girlfriend, then comes back, folds her up and puts her in his pocket too. Vodafone uses the slogan ‘Take your world with you’ for this ad.
Is this commercial not just the slightest bit insulting to women? Firstly, he takes his girlfriend last, almost as an after thought. She is perhaps the least important of his essential accessories? Secondly, is that all she is? An accessory? The intended implication is that he is taking everything he loves with him but this seems to relegate her to the status of an object on a par with a computer or a TV. Vodafone might not have meant to be sexist and offensive but they have ceratinly managed it. It may provide an insight into the subconscious of the guys that create ads like this. The CGI are impressive and the concept is clever, but the bottom line leaves a lot to be desired.
Watch the full commercial here:
Aint that the way it is?
The cost of piracy
The issue of copyright extends to all digital media, of course not just to video. The copying of software, audio and video has become commonplace. Big production companies are constantly complaining about file sharing, peer to peer networks etc. There is evidence that file sharing of audio tracks actually promotes sales. I personally would be much more likely to purchase or (legally) download a whole album if I’d had the opportunity to listen to a few sample tracks. Copyright laws have simply not kept pace with the digital revolution. Laws that might have worked quite well with more traditional forms of media don’t translate very well into the digital world. Digital media is so well suited to copying suffering no degeneration in quality after unlimited successive generations, unlike analog forms. The growth of the internet has made sharing files extremely easy.
It is understandable that production companies aggressively protect their incomes. If piracy and file sharing were allowed to erode sales to a high degree, producers couldn’t survive. Never the less, these companies have incredible financial and technical resources. Surely the responsibility for protecting digital products from unauthorised copying falls to them.
There is surely a difference between individuals sharing a few files and organised criminals mass producing illegal copies. When 13 year olds are prosecuted for downloading a few MP3s, there has to be something wrong with the system.
What’s in a Meme?
What is a meme? Wikipedia defines it thus: “At its most basic, an Internet meme is simply the propagation of a digital file or hyperlink from one person to others using methods available through the Internet (for example, email, blogs, social networking sites, instant messaging, etc.). The content often consists of a saying or joke, a rumor, an altered or original image, a complete website, a video clip or animation, or an offbeat news story, among many other possibilities. An Internet meme may stay the same or may evolve over time, by chance or through commentary, imitations, and parody versions, or even by collecting news accounts about itself. Internet memes have a tendency to evolve and spread extremely quickly, sometimes going in and out of popularity in a matter of days. They are spread organically, voluntarily, peer to peer, rather than by compulsion, predetermined path, or completely automated means.” Sounds interesting? Read more
Jenny at Multifarious Mushrooms has tagged me, so this meme is in response to her post.
Here are my 4 things
Four jobs I’ve had:
- Art teacher
- Computing teacher
- Web designer
- Jazz guitarist
Four movies I can watch over and over:
- Metropolis (a previously undiscovered uncut version was recently discovered in Buenos Aires. Read more about the lost footage here. I can’t wait to see it.)
- Nosferatu (original version)
- King Kong (original version)
- Jurassic Park
Four places I’ve lived:
- Sydney noth
- Sydney inner west
- Sydney south
- North Coast NSW
Four TV shows I love:
- Dexter
- Underbelly
- Gordon Ramsay, kitchen nightmares
- Q & A with Tony Jones
Four places I’ve vacationed:
- Tasmania
- Cairns
- L.A.
- MN
Four of my favorite dishes:
- Balmain bugs
- Lobster sushimi
- Beef Wellington
- Thai Penang curry
Four sites I visit daily:
Four places I would rather be right now:
- Tasmania
- Cairns
- L.A.
- MN
People I tag:
What’s in a Meme?
What is a meme? Wikipedia defines it thus: “At its most basic, an Internet meme is simply the propagation of a digital file or hyperlink from one person to others using methods available through the Internet (for example, email, blogs, social networking sites, instant messaging, etc.). The content often consists of a saying or joke, a rumor, an altered or original image, a complete website, a video clip or animation, or an offbeat news story, among many other possibilities. An Internet meme may stay the same or may evolve over time, by chance or through commentary, imitations, and parody versions, or even by collecting news accounts about itself. Internet memes have a tendency to evolve and spread extremely quickly, sometimes going in and out of popularity in a matter of days. They are spread organically, voluntarily, peer to peer, rather than by compulsion, predetermined path, or completely automated means.” Sounds interesting? Read more
Jenny at Multifarious Mushrooms has tagged me, so this meme is in response to her post.
Here are my 4 things
Four jobs I’ve had:
- Art teacher
- Computing teacher
- Web designer
- Jazz guitarist
Four movies I can watch over and over:
- Metropolis (a previously undiscovered uncut version was recently discovered in Buenos Aires. Read more about the lost footage here. I can’t wait to see it.)
- Nosferatu (original version)
- King Kong (original version)
- Jurassic Park
Four places I’ve lived:
- Sydney noth
- Sydney inner west
- Sydney south
- North Coast NSW
Four TV shows I love:
- Dexter
- Underbelly
- Gordon Ramsay, kitchen nightmares
- Q & A with Tony Jones
Four places I’ve vacationed:
- Tasmania
- Cairns
- L.A.
- MN
Four of my favorite dishes:
- Balmain bugs
- Lobster sushimi
- Beef Wellington
- Thai Penang curry
Four sites I visit daily:
Four places I would rather be right now:
- Tasmania
- Cairns
- L.A.
- MN
People I tag:
What’s in a Meme?
What is a meme? Wikipedia defines it thus: “At its most basic, an Internet meme is simply the propagation of a digital file or hyperlink from one person to others using methods available through the Internet (for example, email, blogs, social networking sites, instant messaging, etc.). The content often consists of a saying or joke, a rumor, an altered or original image, a complete website, a video clip or animation, or an offbeat news story, among many other possibilities. An Internet meme may stay the same or may evolve over time, by chance or through commentary, imitations, and parody versions, or even by collecting news accounts about itself. Internet memes have a tendency to evolve and spread extremely quickly, sometimes going in and out of popularity in a matter of days. They are spread organically, voluntarily, peer to peer, rather than by compulsion, predetermined path, or completely automated means.” Sounds interesting? Read more
Jenny at Multifarious Mushrooms has tagged me, so this meme is in response to her post.
Here are my 4 things
Four jobs I’ve had:
- Art teacher
- Computing teacher
- Web designer
- Jazz guitarist
Four movies I can watch over and over:
- Metropolis (a previously undiscovered uncut version was recently discovered in Buenos Aires. Read more about the lost footage here. I can’t wait to see it.)
- Nosferatu (original version)
- King Kong (original version)
- Jurassic Park
Four places I’ve lived:
- Sydney noth
- Sydney inner west
- Sydney south
- North Coast NSW
Four TV shows I love:
- Dexter
- Underbelly
- Gordon Ramsay, kitchen nightmares
- Q & A with Tony Jones
Four places I’ve vacationed:
- Tasmania
- Cairns
- L.A.
- MN
Four of my favorite dishes:
- Balmain bugs
- Lobster sushimi
- Beef Wellington
- Thai Penang curry
Four sites I visit daily:
Four places I would rather be right now:
- Tasmania
- Cairns
- L.A.
- MN
People I tag:
What’s in a Meme?
What is a meme? Wikipedia defines it thus: “At its most basic, an Internet meme is simply the propagation of a digital file or hyperlink from one person to others using methods available through the Internet (for example, email, blogs, social networking sites, instant messaging, etc.). The content often consists of a saying or joke, a rumor, an altered or original image, a complete website, a video clip or animation, or an offbeat news story, among many other possibilities. An Internet meme may stay the same or may evolve over time, by chance or through commentary, imitations, and parody versions, or even by collecting news accounts about itself. Internet memes have a tendency to evolve and spread extremely quickly, sometimes going in and out of popularity in a matter of days. They are spread organically, voluntarily, peer to peer, rather than by compulsion, predetermined path, or completely automated means.” Sounds interesting? Read more
Jenny at Multifarious Mushrooms has tagged me, so this meme is in response to her post.
Here are my 4 things
Four jobs I’ve had:
- Art teacher
- Computing teacher
- Web designer
- Jazz guitarist
Four movies I can watch over and over:
- Metropolis (a previously undiscovered uncut version was recently discovered in Buenos Aires. Read more about the lost footage here. I can’t wait to see it.)
- Nosferatu (original version)
- King Kong (original version)
- Jurassic Park
Four places I’ve lived:
- Sydney noth
- Sydney inner west
- Sydney south
- North Coast NSW
Four TV shows I love:
- Dexter
- Underbelly
- Gordon Ramsay, kitchen nightmares
- Q & A with Tony Jones
Four places I’ve vacationed:
- Tasmania
- Cairns
- L.A.
- MN
Four of my favorite dishes:
- Balmain bugs
- Lobster sushimi
- Beef Wellington
- Thai Penang curry
Four sites I visit daily:
Four places I would rather be right now:
- Tasmania
- Cairns
- L.A.
- MN
People I tag:
What’s in a Meme?
What is a meme? Wikipedia defines it thus: “At its most basic, an Internet meme is simply the propagation of a digital file or hyperlink from one person to others using methods available through the Internet (for example, email, blogs, social networking sites, instant messaging, etc.). The content often consists of a saying or joke, a rumor, an altered or original image, a complete website, a video clip or animation, or an offbeat news story, among many other possibilities. An Internet meme may stay the same or may evolve over time, by chance or through commentary, imitations, and parody versions, or even by collecting news accounts about itself. Internet memes have a tendency to evolve and spread extremely quickly, sometimes going in and out of popularity in a matter of days. They are spread organically, voluntarily, peer to peer, rather than by compulsion, predetermined path, or completely automated means.” Sounds interesting? Read more
Jenny at Multifarious Mushrooms has tagged me, so this meme is in response to her post.
Here are my 4 things
Four jobs I’ve had:
- Art teacher
- Computing teacher
- Web designer
- Jazz guitarist
Four movies I can watch over and over:
- Metropolis (a previously undiscovered uncut version was recently discovered in Buenos Aires. Read more about the lost footage here. I can’t wait to see it.)
- Nosferatu (original version)
- King Kong (original version)
- Jurassic Park
Four places I’ve lived:
- Sydney noth
- Sydney inner west
- Sydney south
- North Coast NSW
Four TV shows I love:
- Dexter
- Underbelly
- Gordon Ramsay, kitchen nightmares
- Q & A with Tony Jones
Four places I’ve vacationed:
- Tasmania
- Cairns
- L.A.
- MN
Four of my favorite dishes:
- Balmain bugs
- Lobster sushimi
- Beef Wellington
- Thai Penang curry
Four sites I visit daily:
Four places I would rather be right now:
- Tasmania
- Cairns
- L.A.
- MN
People I tag:
Reasons to be cheerful
I’m thinking that many of the posts on my blog have been rather negative lately, and as I’m in a positive mood I’ll try to write something positive.
Another solution to the fuel crisis: biogas generators. These are apparently widely used in ‘third world’ countries and have a very high acceptance rate in China and the Indian sub continent. Biogas generators have been developed which provide for the production of biogas and allow fermentation and sedimentation. A biogas generator can supply up to 60% of houshold energy needs. If the developed world didn’t waste so much of its waste, almost every home could have self sustaining energy. Why pump the stuff into the sea if it can generate power? I find the idea that our own excrement could help to solve the energy crisis very uplifting.
I’ve decided I really like ‘The Living End’. This group has been around for a while but I’d never really listened to them until now (shows how out of touch I am). They have great energy, great tunes and a killer guitar sound. They actually sound like a real rock band, not some pre packaged pop fabrication that seems to be the norm these days.
Check them out:
Read more about them here: http://www.thelivingend.com/
Chinese artists are blossoming onto the world stage with innovation and brilliance. In contrast to a great deal of Western contemporary art, they actually have ideas, humour and the technique to carry it off and make it meaningful. Artists like Zhang Xiaogang: http://www.chinesecontemporary.com/zhang_xiaogang.htm (see images here) have made a real impression on me. The political pop art and reinterpretation of socialist realist imagery of Wang Guangyi http://www.pbase.com/daniel_allen/image/79931550 makes sense of the rising level of consumerism and capitalism which seems at odd with hard line socialist philosophy. China is emerging not only as an economic power but as a major cultural force.
Here are some other reasons to be cheerful:
Some of Buddy Holly, the working folly
Good golly Miss Molly and boats
Hammersmith Palais, the Bolshoi Ballet
Jump back in the alley and nanny goats
18-wheeler Scammels, Thumbing out the candles
All other mammals must eat their oats.
Seeing Piccadilly, Fanny Smith and Willy
Being rather silly, and porridge oats
A bit of grin and bear it, a bit of come and share it
You’re welcome, we can spare it – yellow socks
Too short to be haughty, too nutty to be naughty
Going on 40 – no electric shocks
The juice of the carrot, the smile of the parrot
A little drop of claret – anything that rocks
Elvis and Scotty, days when I ain’t spotty,
Sitting on the potty – curing small pox
(from Reasons to be Cheerful, Part 3 by Ian Drury and the Blockheads)
How to beat the fuel crisis: work from bed
Telecommuting is a synonym for the use of telecommunications to work outside the traditional office or workplace, usually at home. Could telecommuting be an answer to the fuel crisis? The definitive answer is yes and no.
On the yes side:
If an increased number of people were able to work from home, huge reductions in emissions could be made. As telecommuting increased, the volume of commuter traffic would decrease. Huge savings would be made in fuel costs. Huge savings would also be made in road maintenance of roads and the building of new roads to accommodate relentless traffic demands. Governments could give up trying to make inefficient and inadequate public transport profitable and use savings on roads to make it free. Studies have shown that some people just aren’t cut out for the 9 to 5 routine. Their body clocks are set to a different schedule and they are more active later in the day. If non early risers were allowed to work from home and manage their own working hours their level of efficiency would increase. Telecommuting could benefit not only the environment but the productivity of businesses and the economy.
On the no side:
The current telecommunications system just isn’t up to the demands changes like this would make. Australia’s internet connection speeds are currently the third slowest and expensive in the developed world. Only Poland and Czechoslovakia have worse systems. In Japan the speeds and bandwidth is approximately 20 times as great. I find that at least 50% of the time I spend working on a computer is spent on waiting for something to happen or to reestablish a broken connection. If just 1% of the money currently spent on cars, roads, fuel etc. was spent on high speed optic fibre telecommunications systems, we could all have super fast connections and work efficiently from home with none of the current frustrations such work entails. We could also have digital TV and entertainment services available via broadband making working from home even more attractive. 100 movies to choose from for break time? Yes please.
The sale of the national telecommunications carrier, Telstra has made upgrading networks difficult in Australia. Having deregulated the telecommunications industry and allowed competition in the form of Optus to enter the market (hugely subsidised by tax payers), a dilemma exists with an infrastructure upgrade. According to government contracts, whichever carrier the government chooses to roll out out the fibre optics, the other carrier must be compensated to the tune of billions. The Howard government’s response to this problem was to do nothing and subsequently suffers with internet connections among the worst in the world. Selling Telstra was like selling the goose that lays the golden eggs; Telstra has made as much money as it was sold for since its sale, but with little benefit to shareholders. The expected benefits of privatisation have not materialised: consumers have not experienced lower prices or dramatic improvements in service. Optus is still owned by SingTel, or in other words, Singapore; they were never silly enough to sell their national carrier from devotion to some set of half baked economic rationalist theories.
The sale of Telstra was originally outlined in Dr John Hewson’s failed “Fightback” campaign of 1992. Hewson’s policies, the sale of Telstra, the GST and the hated “Work Choices” industrial relations reforms were finally realised during the term of the Howard government. The fact that the Elderslie Finance Corporation, of which Hewson was chairman until recently is now in receivership bears testament that his ideas for the nation might not have been the economic panacea he believed them to be.
Cons
- increased power usage at home
– computer systems which integrate entertainment (why have a TV and a computer monitor?) and other functions using power saving features could overcome this - increased stress on workers as the division between work and leisure time becomes blurred
– people could easily get used to the change and learn to manage their time effectively - loss of social interaction with work colleagues
– I could personally do without this kind of social life. I’d much rather spend time with family and friends I actually have something in common with. It’s estimated we spend more time with the people we work with than our families, and all we have in common is we work at the same place!
Pros:
- reductions in carbon emissions and environmental benefits
- savings on fuel costs
– you’re basically going to need to drive a whole lot less - flexible working hours- allows people to work at times when their minds are most active
– allows families to work and look after their children, leading to reduced costs in childcare - kick ass internet speeds and quality digital entertainment services
– if work was defined by meeting goals rather than just spending time at work we could work shorter hours and allow more time for having fun - time would not be wasted sitting in traffic jams
– any stress the introduction of telecommuting might bring would offset by escaping the drudgery of the rat race and road rage - We could all spend a lot more time in bed!
Liamalexander's Weblog 