October 2006 - Air-L - lists.aoir.org

Recent Facebook Research
by Matthew Vanden Boogart 31 Oct '06

31 Oct '06

I have recently completed my Master's work on Facebook and it can be seen here (currently in thesis format) http://hdl.handle.net/2097/181 The researched focused on Facebook use in residence hall populations -- everything from how much time students spend on Facebook to what they're doing on it. Also some very interesting information about minority students on campus and their use of Facebook. I'm working on writing it up for publication. Let me know if you have any questions on it. -Matthew Vanden Boogart

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Clifford Geertz 1926-2006
by Florence Chee 31 Oct '06

31 Oct '06

I am sure that many on this list have been influenced by Clifford Geertz and would wish to know about the passing of this amazing scholar. He will be missed by many, I am certain. >From the Institute for Advanced Study: http://www.ias.edu/Newsroom/announcements/Uploads/view.php?cmd=view&id=354 PRINCETON, N.J., October 31, 2006 -- Clifford Geertz, an eminent scholar in the field of cultural anthropology known for his extensive research in Indonesia and Morocco, died at the age of 80 early yesterday morning of complications following heart surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Geertz was Professor Emeritus in the School of Social Science at the Institute for Advanced Study, where he has served on the Faculty since 1970. Dr. Geertz's appointment thirty-six years ago was significant not only for the distinguished leadership it would bring to the Institute, but also because it marked the initiation of the School of Social Science, which in 1973 formally became the fourth School at the Institute. Dr. Geertz's landmark contributions to social and cultural theory have been influential not only among anthropologists, but also among geographers, ecologists, political scientists, humanists, and historians. He worked on religion, especially Islam; on bazaar trade; on economic development; on traditional political structures; and on village and family life. A prolific author since the 1950s, Dr. Geertz's many books include *The Religion of Java* (1960); *Islam Observed: Religious Development in Morocco and Indonesia* (1968); *The Interpretation of Cultures: Selected Essays* (1973, 2000); *Negara: The Theatre State in Nineteenth Century Bali* (1980); and *The Politics of Culture, Asian Identities in a Splintered World *(2002). At the time of his death, Dr. Geertz was working on the general question of ethnic diversity and its implications in the modern world. Peter Goddard, Director of the Institute, said, "Clifford Geertz was one of the major intellectual figures of the twentieth century whose presence at the Institute played a crucial role in its development and in determining its present shape. He remained a vital force, contributing to the life of the Institute right up to his death. We have all lost a much loved friend." Dr. Geertz's deeply reflective and eloquent writings often provided profound and cogent insights on the scope of culture, the nature of anthropology and on the understanding of the social sciences in general. Noting that human beings are "symbolizing, conceptualizing, meaning-seeking animals," Geertz acknowledged and explored the innate desire of humanity to "make sense out of experience, to give it form and order." In *Works and Lives: The Anthropologist as Author* (1988), Geertz stated, "The next necessary thing...is neither the construction of a universal Esperanto-like culture...nor the invention of some vast technology of human management. It is to enlarge the possibility of intelligible discourse between people quite different from one another in interest, outlook, wealth, and power, and yet contained in a world where tumbled as they are into endless connection, it is increasingly difficult to get out of each other's way." Dr. Geertz is survived by his wife, Dr. Karen Blu, an anthropologist retired from the Department of Anthropology at New York University; his children, Erika Reading of Princeton, NJ, and Benjamin Geertz of Kirkland, WA; and his grandchildren, Andrea and Elena Martinez of Princeton, NJ. He is also survived by his former wife, Dr. Hildred Geertz, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Anthropology at Princeton University. A Memorial will be held at the Institute for Advanced Study. Details will be announced at a future date. -- Florence Chee PhD Candidate School of Communication, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada Bloggings and bio @ Constructing Amusement: http://florencechee.blogspot.com

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new reviews in cyberculture studies (november 2006)
by David M Silver 31 Oct '06

31 Oct '06

a new set of book reviews [ http://rccs.usfca.edu/booklist.asp ] from the resource center for cyberculture studies. november 2006: 1. Computer Mediated Communication: Social Interaction and the Internet Authors: Crispin Thurlow, Laura Lengel, & Alice Tomic Publisher: Sage, 2004 Review 1: Antonina Bambina Review 2: Mark D. Johns Review 3: Michele Willson Review 4: Monica Whitty Review 5: Gerhard Fuchs 2. Culture + Technology: A Primer Authors: Jennifer Daryl Slack & J. MacGregor Wise Publisher: Peter Lang Publishing, 2005 Review 1: Glen Fuller Review 2: Louise Woodstock Author Response: Jennifer Daryl Slack and Greg Wise 3. Figurski at Findhorn on Acid Author: Richard Holeton Publisher: Eastgate Systems, 2001 Review 1: Jessica M. Laccetti Author Response: Richard Holeton 4. Synthetic Worlds: The Business and Culture of Online Games Author: Edward Castranova Publisher: University of Chicago Press, 2005 Review 1: Leif Schumacher 5. The Mirror and the Veil: An Overview of American Online Diaries and Blogs Author: Viviane Serfaty Publisher: Rodopi, 2004 Review 1: Laurie N. Taylor Review 2: Sarah Michele Ford Review 3: Natalie Bennett Review 4: Tama Leaver Author Response: Viviane Serfaty 6. Understanding Me: Lectures and Interviews Editors: Marshall McLuhan, Stephanie McLuhan, & David Staines Publisher: MIT Press, 2003 Review 1: Christy Dena enjoy. there's lots more for december. david silver university of san francisco http://silverinsf.blogspot.com/

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what is spam
by David Palfreyman 31 Oct '06

31 Oct '06

Our institution has recently started using Maia Mailguard, which is doing a fine job of recognizing large amounts of incoming spam messages. It also gives me the opportunity to see the rules which it is using to decide what is spam, and I've just noticed that one of the ten rules it used to classify an instance of the Nigerian advance fee fraud mail as spam was that the mail "Contains 'Dear (something)'". Interesting that it is so rare for an email to begin with "Dear..." that it is now considered a *suspect* beginning for a message. :-D

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Fwd: Call for Reviewers
by Jeremy Hunsinger 31 Oct '06

31 Oct '06

Begin forwarded message: > From: James Brian Wagaman <wagaman(a)MAIL.H-NET.MSU.EDU> > Date: October 30, 2006 10:33:21 PM EST > To: H-PCAACA(a)H-NET.MSU.EDU > Subject: Call for Reviewers > Reply-To: wagaman(a)mail.h-net.msu.edu > > Call for Reviewers: New Media Studies Video, PLAYING THE NEWS > > > > We are seeking North America based scholars or professionals who will > write and submit a documentary film review either to an academic or > professional journal (print or online), an association newsletter or > website, or an e-mail listserv. > > > > Prospective reviewers should first contact the editor of an > appropriate > publication or other outlet to confirm that they will consider > publication of your film review. Once you have secured a review > assignment, you may then contact me off-list at gary(a)frif.com to > obtain > a preview copy of PLAYING THE NEWS. > > jeremy hunsinger Assistant Professor Pratt Institute www.cddc.vt.edu wiki.tmttlt.com www.tmttlt.com () ascii ribbon campaign - against html mail /\ - against microsoft attachments http://www.stswiki.org/ sts wiki http://cfp.learning-inquiry.info/ Learning Inquiry-the journal http://transdisciplinarystudies.tmttlt.com/ Transdisciplinary Studies:the book series

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Canada's Alternative Telecommunications Policy Forum - news release
by Graham Longford 30 Oct '06

30 Oct '06

Dear AOIR-listers, I want to bring your attention to an event that just took place in Ottawa, Canada, on October 19-21, 2006, the Alternative Telecommunications Policy Forum. The Forum brought together policy experts, academics, and representatives from over a dozen community and public interest organizations across Canada to discuss the implications of telecommunications policy reforms currently being considered by our federal government. On the recommendation of the 2005 Telecommunications Policy Review Panel, the federal government has directed the main telecommunications regulator in Canada (CRTC) to implement the Telecommunications Act in a manner that "maximizes market forces," and is considering abandoning legislative provisions that, among other things, protect consumers and support broadband deployment in rural and remote communities. Topics discussed at the forum included: community broadband and wireless networks; the risks of relying on market forces to promote network access and expansion; the reform of Canada's telecommunications regulatory system; designing government policies and programs to promote effective use of ICTs; and emerging threats to network neutrality. Featured Canadian speakers included: the Honourable Sheila Copps (former Minister of Canadian Heritage); Andrew Clement (University of Toronto); Pippa Lawson (Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic); Garth Graham (Telecommunities Canada) and Marc Raboy (McGill University). Other guest speakers included Sascha Meinrath (Champaign-Urbana Community Wireless Network) and Ben Scott (FreePress). The Forum was organized by Marita Moll (Telecommunities Canada) Leslie Shade (Concordia University) and, in a supporting role, myself. For anyone interested in learning more, detailed information about the Forum can be found at www.cracin.ca Information about the Telecommunications Policy Review Panel and its Final Report can be found at: www.telecomreview.ca Contents of the post-Forum news release are also pasted below. ************************************************************* Alternative Telecommunications Policy Forum News Release Oct 26, 2006 Proposed Telecom Policy Places Too Much Faith in Market Forces, Citizens¹ Forum Warns "We were looking at telecommunications policy through a social and community economic development lens rather than an industry lens,² according to Marita Moll and Leslie Shade, organizers of the Alternative Telecommunications Policy Forum held in Ottawa, October 19-21. The Forum brought together policy experts, academics, and representatives from over a dozen community and public interest organizations across Canada to discuss the implications of telecommunications policy reforms currently being considered by Industry Minister, Hon. Maxime Bernier. The proposed reforms, which include weakening consumer protection guarantees and eliminating regulations aimed at protecting Canada¹s cultural sovereignty in favour of maximizing market forces, were recommended last spring by the Liberal-appointed Telecommunications Policy Review Panel (TPRP). Participants in the Forum generally agreed that the TPRP Report places far too much faith in ³market forces² in an era when access to advanced telecommunications services has become essential to economic, social, and political participation. ³Canadian citizens, consumers, and communities will be poorly served if the Minister implements the Panel¹s recommendations without more public input,² insisted Dr. Michael Gurstein of CRACIN and Executive Director of the Centre for Community Informatics Research, Training and Development. "Relying exclusively on 'market forces' to guide telecommunications is a dangerous myth, and not well supported by the evidence available," noted Andrew Clement, Professor of Information Studies at the University of Toronto. "Direct government action is an imperative both to the provision of broadband services wherever Canadians live and to providing the means and the knowledge for Canadians to use those services effectively" said David Murdoch, Halifax Regional Community Access Program (CAP) Association Coordinator. ³Canada would do well to learn from the mistakes already made south of the border in the U.S., where we embraced aggressive deregulation sooner,² suggested Ben Scott, Policy Director for Free Press, a Washington, D.C. media policy think-tank. Scott went on to point out that, since 2001, the U.S. has fallen from 4th to 12th in OECD rankings for broadband penetration. The Forum also affirmed that telecommunications performs an essential role in the maintenance of Canadian sovereignty and identity and that this principle should be retained in any new version of the Telecommunications Act. The Industry Minister is also considering an overhaul of Section 7 of the Telecommunications Act, which articulates the objectives of telecom policy in Canada. "The proposed rewrite of section 7 of the Telecommunications Act would eliminate important policy goals such as reliable, high quality service and the protection of consumers from telecom-specific marketplace abuses. It would also remove key provisions including the requirement for just and reasonable rates and the rule against unjust discrimination. Without these goals and basic ground rules, we can expect lowest common denominator approaches to telecommunications service in Canada and widespread marketplace abuses. More than ever before, we need such principles in order to ensure that telecommunications in Canada continues to serve the public good as well as the private shareholders of dominant players," said Philippa Lawson of the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC) Also considered at this meeting was the National ICT Strategy proposed in the TPRP Report. ³Such a strategy is important, but we would like to see a great deal more weight given to community input than has been proposed so far,² said Peter Frampton, of the Learning Enrichment Foundation, a social agency that offers programs and services to low income areas in the Greater Toronto Area. The group felt broadband access was key to economic and social development and therefore should be treated as an essential service. However, on the TPRP¹s proposed strategy to deliver broadband to remote and rural areas, known as U-CAN, the message was that the major benefactors of this subsidy would be the largest telephone companies rather than communities. ³The outlined financial obligations are simply too onerous for any other group to play² said Garth Graham of Telecommunities Canada, a group that supports Canadian community networks. "That leaves communities unable to pursue their own ideas and choices about connection and development." The Alternative Telecommunications Policy Forum was convened by the Canadian Research Alliance for Community Innovation and Networking (CRACIN), a SSHRC-funded research partnership established in 2003 to investigate the status and achievements of community-based information and communication technology (ICT) initiatives in Canada, and was financially supported by a SSHRC INE public outreach grant. More information about this Forum can be found at www.cracin.ca For further information please contact: Diane Dechief, CRACIN Administrator Tel: 416-978-4662 E-mail: cracin(a)fis.utoronto.ca -- Graham Longford, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Canadian Research Alliance for Community Innovation and Networking (CRACIN) Co-investigator, Community Wireless Infrastructure Research Project (CWIRP) Faculty of Information Studies University of Toronto 140 St. George St., Rm 310 Toronto, Ontario CANADA M5S 3G6 email: graham.longford(a)utoronto.ca +1 416-978-4662

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CFP - Special Issue of ARTIFACT: The Interaction of Practice and Theory
by Charlie Breindahl 30 Oct '06

30 Oct '06

Call for Papers Special Issue of ARTIFACT: The Interaction of Practice and Theory. While theory and practice interact in design artifacts implicitly, this special issue of Artifact seeks to understand that interaction explicitly, by exploring collaborative articles between academics and professionals. We encourage submissions that include, but are not limited to the following themes. 1. Academic/professional reflections that compare perspectives on analysis versus making as it applies to a digital artifact. 2. Conversations in which academics and professionals ask and answer each other's questions concerning a particular design artifact. 3. Individuals who "have a foot in theory and one in practice" or who have experience moving from theory to practice, reflect on the opportunities and constraints in each. 4. Graduate students, professionals, and/or academics, who have collaborated on a student project, describe that process. Please follow Artifact's guidelines for authors http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/authors/saifauth.pdf. Submit manuscripts by DECEMBER 15, 2006 to <susan.hagan(a)alumni.cmu.edu>. Susan Hagan and Erik Stolterman

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null hypothesis
by Sam Tilden 30 Oct '06

30 Oct '06

Most of the research in CMC seems to "assume" differences between CMC and other media such as telephone and letter-mail. I have been unable to find research that clearly delineates this difference. Can anyone help me here. Sam --------------------------------- Get your email and see which of your friends are online - Right on the new Yahoo.com

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Limited time free access to Sage journals
by Matthew Allen 30 Oct '06

30 Oct '06

Dear all Some of you may be interested in a month's free access to Sage online journals. If so please use the information below, provided by Sage. ------ To register for your free trial today, simply click here <http://sage-news.msgfocus.com/c/1HB74VfKvyJ> . Alternatively, please email us <http://sage-news.msgfocus.com/c/1HBgSIl4si4> with the following details so that we are able to register you for the trial: First Name; Last Name; Department Institution/Organization Name; Country of Residence; Preferred Email Address; Your Profession; Name of Trial NB: Your free online access to these journals will finish on July 31st 2006. To continue to access these journals online in 2006, please encourage your institution to subscribe to the print and electronic versions using the library recommendation form <http://sage-news.msgfocus.com/c/1HBqGvqop1p> . Also of interest... Sign up for FREE online access to Volume One of new SAGE journals: Animation: An Interdisciplinary Journal <http://sage-news.msgfocus.com/c/1HBAuivIlKK> - first issue July 2006 Discourse & Communication <http://sage-news.msgfocus.com/c/1HBKi5B2iu5> - first issue February 2007 Games and Culture: A Journal of Interactive Media <http://sage-news.msgfocus.com/c/1HBU5SGmfdq> - now published ------ We are currently finalising an expanded package of journal discounts for AoIR members to Sage journals which we will announce in August. Dr Matthew Allen Associate Professor in Internet Studies President Association of Internet Researchers Faculty of Media Society and Culture Curtin University of Technology CRICOS Provider Code 00301J http://smi.curtin.edu.au/NetStudies/allen.htm +61 8 92663511 (v) +61 8 92663166 (f)

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CFP: Gamers in Society Seminar, April 17-18, 2007
by Olli Sotamaa 30 Oct '06

30 Oct '06

Hi, I thought some of you might find this interesting. Feel free to distribute the call as you see fit. bw, Olli Sotamaa MA, PhD Student Media Culture, University of Tampere --------- CFP: Gamers in Society Seminar Gamers in Society, Play in Culture The Third Annual Game Studies Seminar organised by the University of Tampere Game Research Lab April 17-18, 2007, Tampere, Finland The social aspects of digital gaming are gaining increasing attention by academics, game developers and media alike. Popular controversy on the supposedly detrimental effects of games are countered by growing attention to the social value and cultural significance that contemporary games present to their players. New research is probing the precise roles games and playing occupy in the lives of various groups and individuals, producing interesting data about the multiple domains of life within information technology saturated societies. Simultaneously this kind of socio-cultural studies of game players require novel approaches into existing theories and methodologies in human sciences, informed by dialogue within the emerging field of game studies. Gamers in Society seminar invites presentations on this multidisciplinary and dynamic field; the seminar is third in the annual series of game studies working seminars organised by the Games Research Lab in the University of Tampere. The list of possible presentation topics includes, but is not limited to: • ethnographic studies of particular groups of game players • studies about social networks or communities created around, or within games • research into the social roles and dynamics within such game communities • inquiries into the everyday uses and social significance of games • studies into issues related with status, value and social norms that govern the position of games and gamers within the wider context of contemporary society • demographic studies mapping the time, money or other investments into games by various parts of the population • studies discussing the concept of game culture, or applying cultural and social approach into game studies Due to the work-in-progress emphasis, we strongly encourage submitting late breaking results, working papers and/or submissions from graduate students. Early considerations from projects currently in progress are most welcome, as the purpose of the seminar is to have peer-to-peer discussions and thereby provide support in refining and improving research work in this area. After the seminar, a printed publication may be edited from the final versions of the selected papers of the seminar, or they might be published within an electronic repository such as the DiGRA digital library. However, all such publication plans are finally subject to discussions and agreement among the seminar participants. The papers to be presented will be chosen based on abstract review. Full papers are submitted prior the event to all participants, in order to facilitate discussion. The two-day event consists of themed sessions that aim to introduce current research projects and discuss ongoing work in social and cultural study of players. The seminar will be chaired by professor Frans Mäyrä (Hypermedia Laboratory, University of Tampere). Paper commentators include associate professor T.L. Taylor, the author of Play Between Worlds: Exploring Online Game Culture (The MIT Press, 2006). The seminar will be held in Tampere, Finland and will be free of charge; the number of participants will be restricted. Important Dates Abstract Deadline January 15th, 2007 Notification of Acceptance January 30, 2007 Full Paper March 31, 2007 Seminar April 17-18, 2007 Submission Guidelines Abstract submissions should range from 800 to 1.000 words + references. Abstracts should be send to info-gamestudies(a)uta.fi as plain text only (no attachments). Guidelines for submitting a full seminar paper will be provided with the notification of acceptance. As the seminar is intended as a relatively informal forum for discussion, no strict length restrictions apply for the full papers; the scope of the papers may vary from 3.000 to 8.000 words. If the selected works are published after the seminar, further guidelines will be provided in the editorial process. The presentations held at the seminar should also encourage discussion, instead of only repeating the information presented in the papers. Tentatively every paper will be presented for 10 minutes and discussed for 20 minutes. Contacts, seminar organising team Frans Mäyrä, tel. +358 50 336 7650 Olli Sotamaa Jaakko Stenros Annakaisa Kultima firstname.lastname(a)uta.fi http://gamelab.uta.fi/socialgamer-seminar/

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