Inside View from Ireland

Sony Clie Delight

DUBLIN -- One of the most deligthful things about my Sony Clié PEG UX-50 is being able to store thumbnails of every image I have ever taken on it. I could illustrate more than half of my blog entries with interesting 120x120 pictures--most of my visitors stay longer when encountering pictures. So I have to slow down on my typing and start thinking about coding efficiently, including images in most of my stories. Pictures enhance community spirit and when that happens, communities grow.

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Texte zur Kunst

DUBLIN -- During many of my years in Germany, I stumbled through whole issues of Texte zur Kunst because the authors would delight me with their back-handed comments about NY galleries. But at the same time, I felt unapologetic parochialism creeping into the criticisms of the German writers. Recognising that while appreciating their perspectives resulted in me reaching a higher level of competence with my own writing. My aspiration to improve my writing continues to evolve. It is a manifest decision of my blogging to improve my critical thinking skills by blogging regularly.

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SEO Trackback

TYPEPAD -- Sniffing around the Typepad Knowledge Base and a few unofficial Typepad discussion zones confirmed something I discovered last month--tracking back to yourself heightens search engine placement in most cases. At the very least, the junior site that receives the trackback will not be subordinated inside Google search engine results, even when the junior page is from the same host URL as the source of the trackback.

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In conversation with Michael Kiely

CLONMEL -- While reviewing plans for new academic space, I talked about how we should mark out the function of the studio. I think proper studios are discursive space. They are places to discuss, debate, and challenge. As Mick Wilson explains it, "the studio is a highly socialised space. As well as a space that is contested in terms of its value, meaning and role, it can also be an arena in which the contests of opinions are acted out." The Clonmel multimedia production room has evolved into this function already, much to the chagrin of some facilities managers.

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Be where you are

CLONMEL -- The cellularisation of public spaces annoys me. It has created yobs who make mobile phones a menace. Two nights ago, a loud woman talked to a friend in Korea while browsing through the carrots in Dunnes Stores, Kilkenny. Last Friday, a public health nurse recounted all her in-home visits, loud enough for the dining car to hear. In the Kilkenny People, Josephine Plettenburg advocates "be where you are."

Wireless Journal TOC

CLONMEL -- Unless you have a way of keeping, archiving, and finding notes, your journaling is flawed. One tactic that could help impose order is to use a table of contents in an otherwise free-form journal.

©Kilkenny People Red Herring

KILKENNY -- The favourite red herring of the Kilkenny People in January 2004 is "progress on the ring road extension." On the week that important documentation arrived for public comment in County Council Offices, the Kilkenny People fail to mention it or acknowledge its significance. Once a 30-day period elapses, the documentation will be used to announce a tender for construction of a railway bridge needed for the ring road. This was the only impediment to finishing the ring road extension.

Instead of stating these facts, reporter Sean Keane throws up a red herring, alleging there is no money for road works earmarked for Kilkenny's ring road. The National Roads Authority (NRA) does not have a slush fund they use to dangle funds in front of councils. To get money, you tender for works and give the NRA an estimate. Then funding comes. Either Keane does not know how the funding process works or he simply wants to bang his drum around a money tree. I see it as red herring journalism and believe readers deserve better treatment.

Art for Young People

YOUTH ARTS -- There is a European project "looking for an artist who has specialist knowledge of new media, particularly anything relating to distance communication between people (things like blogging, discussion boards, video conferencing, texting) in real time. The artist (or even a techie) would lead a project involving collaborating with a group of young people based in various European countries to develop a piece of art work for launch in Dublin at the end of April. This is a weekly contract and involves weekly contact with the group via Internet technologies during March and April and one week on-site in Dublin in the last week of April.

Stepping up to multimedia degree

CLONMEL -- After two years of grinding out progress towards a multimedia degree, some seasoned students offer their tips for success. And several second level schools are reading their suggestions. The end result should mean a higher qualification level entering our multimedia programme next year.

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Kathy Foley suggests several fundamantal skills.
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Short Break to Ireland

KILKENNY -- Based on the number of British tourists I see in Kilkenny on Bank Holiday weekends, I know the medieval city is on the travel map of many Europeans already. I think it deserves to be--there are world-class cultural venues that deserve to be on every "short break map" for Europeans. Kathy Foley points out a very important venue that many could miss on the Kilkenny Culture Trail--the Craft Gallery. I agree with her observation that the craftsmen often have objects on display in the Castleyard that eclipse those in the Butler Gallery. Better see both and decide yourself.

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Kathy Foley -- "Conversations"
Fiona Ni Cheirin -- "In conversation at Ormonde Hotel"
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