Div 8 Digital

Nothing To Lose

2011-10-05T19:06:00.000-07:00

The Internet is full of only 1 thing today (or if there's anything else I didn't notice) - the eulogies of computer geeks, the shares and tweets and updates of coping. The quotes copied from Google searches, the bumping of old videos and of course ... the trolls. Millions of geeks in the western world are Googling and reading, trying to find the quote or link or piece of content that best summarizes their connection to a man that most of us never met, but don't know how to live without.

1 month ago I had a short but clear dream. I dreamed that Steve Jobs died and that I asked him to catch my uncle up on the last 17 years of technology - or at least the bits I'd missed in my letters. Uncle Geoff is the man who told me at 10 years old (in 1985, 9 years before Photoshop) that one day I'd be able to draw on a computer - that simple idea inspired my career, just like the simple ideas from Steve inspired millions of careers.

Geoff died from cancer in 1994 - the first graphical browser interface had just been released, the Internet was taking off, I was graduating from high school - and he had just turned 27.

I've been writing a book ever since ... a series of letters to Geoff. Inspired by milestones in technology where, as a kid and teenager I would have told him in person and he would respond with his technological imaginary - the utopian ideas of where he saw that technology fitting into our lives in the future. He was practical where I was fanciful, but the older I get the more unfair it seems that he didn't get to see what we imagined and to complete our 'maybe one day we will be able to ....' sentences. I feel responsible for telling him, because this was his thing - he helped me find this path, but he's never seen me design, correct photos or build a web page. He should be here to see what he imagined - and that he was wrong about the CD being forever!

If he was here, his Facebook wall may have been the first I posted on this morning ...

Geoff knew about death. While Geoff studied and grew up, his mother died slowly over 14 years as cancer ate her body away. When he was diagnosed with an aggressive and rare form of testicular cancer he was more frightened of becoming a burden than of death. 8 months later, less than the time it takes for a new baby to grow, he fell asleep on his couch in his sun room to the haunting sax of Dire Straights - half an hour before I arrived to say goodbye.

Geoff gave me an amazing gift, the ability to live every day as if it might be my last.

Steve Jobs, a man who is known to all of us - unlike my humble, unknown Uncle Geoff - has given you the same gift ... all you have to do is listen.

Transcript: "When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: "If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

In the words of Buzz Lightyear, another technological miracle inspired by Steve Jobs ....

To Infinity And Beyond.

So Steve, if you want an audience in 'heaven' to tell your life story, look for Geoff - he'll be the geeky one in the front row.

Straight to my brain please

2011-06-22T22:23:00.001-07:00

I loved that scene in the Matrix where Neo says "I know kung fu" and unlike much of the world I'm looking forward to the day when I can just plug myself into a box and learn what I need as I go. Imagine how much more fluid life would be if we could just live it, and learn what we need as we need it?

It sounds like it might not be as far away as we think ... or as impossible:

http://gizmodo.com/5813821/scientists-create-first-memory-expansion-for-brain

Jobs with Obama's Digital Team

2011-06-09T17:18:00.000-07:00

If there's a job out there I'd be happy to do, this is it... being part of social media team for Barack's next campaign:

http://www.barackobama.com/page/jobs

As the first social media president, his team showed the world how it's done the first time round.

I wonder what is in store for America this time?

Roller Derby - Brisbane vs Toowoomba

2011-05-31T01:29:00.000-07:00

If you're a Facebook friend, you'll already know about my roller derby obsession.
Fastest growing female sport in Australia!? Hells yes. Over a thousand people on the mountain last weekend watching Brisbane bout Toowoomba. Not bad for 2 little leagues who have had a challenging year!

Checkout this clip on WIN news to see what it's all about ...

Toowoomba City Rollers on WIN news

Imagineer - Digital Books for Kids

2011-05-23T04:08:00.000-07:00

What do you get when you put a writer, an illustrator and a developer together in a room to talk about books for children on digital devices - in particular, the iPad? A first effort that looks a little something like .... this:

> Can You Count (Book 1 - Beta Release)

Our first effort is a little 'clunky', but it looks absolutely fabulous thanks to the illustrations by Kirby. We took on a little too much functionality initially, trying to make it do too much rather than letting the illustrations speak for itself. While we aim to end up with amazing interactive books eventually, I think the illustrations are enough to simply start off with good drawings and interesting stories presented in the mediums that kids are familiar with.

> Download Wallpapers

Our second offering will be a simplified version of Can You Count with a new title, "How Many?" We will also add a colours and shapes book which will introduce the character Felicity Flick and her Five Fabulous Finger Friends who you met on page 5 of Can You Count. After that, we'll meet a monster making mad scientist and his little sister and a cheeky little snot called Goober...

Watch for our next release ... coming soon to an iPad near you!

Setting up FourSquare Offers

2011-05-10T02:13:00.001-07:00

This is a really simple article from Mashable explaining how to setup special discount coupons on Foursquare. This is great for restaurants, retail, and other stores with physical locations which have a product to sell.

As individuals with a geo phone enter your local area, they will be shown offers at your store. You can set it up so that 10+ visits gets a free coffee or every visitor gets 10% off their first shared check in. Consider offers that encourage your customers to either promote you to their friends or visit your store regularly.

Here's the article with step by step instructions.

http://mashable.com/2011/05/09/foursquare-special/

You'll need to be setup as a check-in location first. Here's an article about claiming your business on Foursquare.

http://mashable.com/2010/04/22/foursquare-claim-your-business/

Visit the business page on Foursquare to sign up.

https://foursquare.com/business/venues

Google tries social ... again

2011-04-02T01:58:00.001-07:00

I saw this article at Techcrunch about Google +1, their latest effort into social media. This one seems like it may take off - or at least have a better uptake than Buzz, or that other one ... Wave was it?

Imagine the Facebook like button, but next to individual search results in Google ... you can then +1 the link which I am guessing would be considered a vote?!

PROS
- I sounds freakin awesome
- Similar to how you 'like' stuff on Facebook, you can share your +1's to your social networks so its an easy way to promote stuff you like ... like totally!!

CONS
- Will Google's world famous you-beaut freakin awesome search algorithm and the almost-always accurate results be changed by this 'vote'? Is it a vote?!
- Will the most popular sites just end up being the ones that already have heaps of traffic, leaving the smaller and generally more helpful websites pushed further down in listings?

Here's another article (and a video) so you can decide for yourself:

http://techcrunch.com/2011/03/30/google-plus-one/

http://www.google.com/+1/button/

Sign up in the experimental area here:

http://www.google.com/experimental/

Technology changes, people don't

2011-03-07T20:25:00.001-08:00

I just got a few paragraphs into this article but it felt a bit like de ja vu so I closed the browser and came here, to Blogger, instead. This particular article was inspired by a mashable article and talks about 'the journalist of the future'. According to the article, this journalist will need to be a programmer, designer, editor and writer ... along with a host of other skills.

Why?

Why would future journalists need to be able to do all of these things? Why would future journalists need to do anything more than research and report? After all, isn't that the definition of a journalist? Current (or previous) generation journalists don't print the paper themselves, don't deliver it, don't market it, don't design it etc.

Maybe the standard of news these days relates to this idea .... that journalists are spending their time learning about elements of someone else's job rather than focusing on their own.

New technology doesn't mean that a single person will need to do all aspects of a job. Sure, it may help a journalist to know how to edit a video and upload this to the Internet but with software and content management systems this doesn't require quite the skill set exaggerated in the article.

Learning these new skills is no different to previous generations of journalists who had to learn to use tape recorders, type writers, computers and the Internet. It is the responsibility of the journalist to learn to use the tools required to transfer the information they are required to find.

iPad 2 - is it worth the upgrade?

2011-03-02T13:43:00.000-08:00

Ok, like 15 million iPad 1 owners around the world I have been awaiting with baited breath for the announcement by apple on Wednesday 2nd March. Imagine my frustration when I woke up just as our morning news program gadget guy wrapped up his review - but lucky there's this internet thing.

The iPad 1 was my first and is still my only Apple product and it still excites and amazes me every day to be carrying a touch pad tablet with me everywhere - it is truly the first portable office. But I still feel the Apple frustration every time I want to 'browse' or plugin a usb device. Will the new model solve these challenges? I fear it is unlikely, but lets look at just what iPad 2 actually does.

Front and rear facing cameras
It comes in WHITE!
It has a new gyroscope
It's thinner and lighter (1.3 pounds and 0.35 inches)
It's faster (1GHz dual-core Apple A5 processor)
The side (orientation) switch can be custom set
A magnetic case with micro-fibre inside (called smartcover)
Photobooth for taking and editing pics
iMovie (FINALLY!)

The camera has been the bit I've been waiting for but with these specs, I'm just not sure it is worth spending another $1000 to upgrade:

"The front camera can record VGA-resolution (640-by-480) video at 30 frames per second with audio and take still photos at 640-by-480. The back camera can record HD video at 720p at 30 frames per second with audio. When in still camera mode, the back camera has a 5X digital zoom." Quote from: http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/221200/summary_ipad_2_to_lead_slew_of_apple_releases_on_march_11.html

Today's not-so groundbreaking announcement has me no closer to a decision, but I think the Apple lovers may be hailing this as a bigger upgrade than it really is with article titles like "Apple's latest tablet sends competitors back to the drawing board". Overhyping an Apple release? NOOOO! But for some, what Steve Jobs says in his press releases ... goes.

“While others have been scrambling to copy the first generation iPad, we’re launching iPad 2, which moves the bar far ahead of the competition and will likely cause them to go back to the drawing boards yet again.”

Unlikely Steve. Very unlikely.

Watch (the ad) for yourself: http://www.apple.com/ipad/#video

Apple iPad - 1 Year On

2011-02-01T21:37:00.000-08:00

Even with all of Apple's hype, the iPad still did better than anyone expected with almost 15 million iPad's sold. But perhaps the real news is that 10% of the population were stupid enough to buy one of the rushed knockoff's ...

Tablets are the future. The future is now. ;p

Student Flights Social Recruitment

2010-12-22T16:26:00.000-08:00

Student Flights are advertising for a social media specialist, only they're not asking for a pdf folio or a word doc resume, they want your links. Just your social media links. Your blog. Your Twitter. Your LinkedIn.

"...all we want from you is links to your blog, Twitter profile, LinkedIn, and other social sites and in 140 character (or less) 'why we need you'. Forget the PDF or Word resume and formal application process. This is recruiting in the Social Media age and you get it!"

After all, they're only going to Google you anyway, find these links, and cyberstalk you to find out if your resume is a load of crap. So why not cut to the chase ... after all, if you are applying for a social media job you will be using your social media accounts so what better way to find the right person for the job?

http://www.studentflights.com.au/company/jobs/social-media-specialist

Well done Student Flights.

How to Make Facebook Profile Art

2010-12-17T06:00:00.001-08:00

There was a post on Mashable last week that profiled some creative ideas for the new Facebook profile layout. Well, it called them 'profile hacks' but I hardly think tagging some pics can qualify as a 'hack' ... it really is that easy.

Here are some instructions for creating the Facebook profile layout art seen in this article, but it assumes a basic knowledge of Photoshop and some creative flair.

Good luck!

1) Screencap your Facebook profile and paste it into Adobe Photoshop
2) Create a layer mask over the profile pic and the 5 profile thumbs across the top. You may also want to post a gallery and include these thumbs in you design. If you don't know how to make a layer mask, fill a new layer with white, change the layer transparency to 50% and use the selection rectangle to draw over the profile pic and thumbs, deleting the white layer over the top. Set back to 100% transparency.
3) Create your design behind the white layer so you can see what it looks like made up in the format of profile pic and thumbs.
4) Using guides drawn top, bottom and sides of the profile pic and thumbs, select the photo/art area.
5) In the edit menu, select 'copy --> merged'.
6) Create a new file for that image. Repeat for all thumbs and profile pic.
7) Save these as thumb1 to thumb5 and upload them into a gallery.
8) Upload your profile pic to the profile pic section
9) Tag yourself in your thumbs, but be sure to do it in reverse order ... ie the one you want to show up on the left (first position), tag it last.
10) If anyone else tags you, this will ruin the order of your thumbs! Disable this option or be ready to quickly delete tagged photos!

Here is my first effort, using a cartoon of a Fairy in a Christmas hat that I did for Xmas last year.

Post your creations ...

Baby Monkey Lyrics

2010-12-09T16:59:00.000-08:00

Our favourite YouTube video of all time, Baby Monkey, complete with lyrics.

baby monkey, baby monkey
riding on a pig, baby monkey
backwards on a pig, baby monkey

the world has gone insane
and you don't know what is right
you've got to keep on keeping on
get on a pig and hold on tiiiiiight

baby monkey, baby monkey
riding on a pig, baby monkey
going backwards on a pig, baby monkey
heeeey

My year on Facebook

2010-12-07T18:34:00.000-08:00

You know you post too much when your year of status updates looks like this:

Beware though, this tool is filled with ads and tricky buttons designed to pull you through to a page advertising scammy astrology type stuff. Now I don't mean astrology is scammy, just most of the services practicing it! So be careful not to click on the 'continue' button that actually takes you to a landing page of ads.

Or ... just don't ever install this kinda stuff in the first place!

Tony Hawk & the V8 Skateboard

2010-11-29T20:57:00.000-08:00

The brief:
To create a viral video to promote Tony Hawk's visit to the V8 Supercars, Telstra Sydney 500

The idea:
To build a V8 Skateboard

The result:
Teaser - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pgsk8d32AaM
Final - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm8kb3kQ3co

The articles:
http://www.campaignbrief.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/11668
http://www.bestadsontv.com/ad/32951/V8-Supercars-Tony-Hawks-V8-Skateboard-Project
http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/v8-skateboard
http://www.motorward.com/2010/11/tony-hawk-v8-skateboard-video/
http://www.caradvice.com.au/93057/video-tony-hawk-to-ride-v8-powered-skateboard-in-sydney/

The stats:
Almost 100k views in 4 days.

Love that viral effect!

iPad 4.2 Update - Finally!

2010-11-24T01:59:00.001-08:00

Well after weeks of refreshing the page on Apple.com, the update came out while I was away! So now I've installed it, and done the first step of sorting my apps into folders.

I had a question from a friend asking how to do this so here's a few quick tips:

1) Tap and hold an app until it starts to wiggle
2) Drag it over the top of another one until a box appears around the 2.
3) You'll be given a striped panel across the screen that will let you name your folder
4) Repeat this until all apps are sorted into folders

What else does it do? Well, not much really unless you have an air compatable printer, Apple TV or a need for poor mans multi-tasking!

Bathurst 1000 Competition 2010

2010-09-24T02:27:00.000-07:00

The things we do to win stuff!!!

http://www.areyoufanenough.com.au

http://www.facebook.com/bathurst1000

ASP - Finally getting taken seriously?

2010-08-15T18:28:00.001-07:00

This article appeared in the Australian this weekend ...

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/sex-party-stands-out-in-lacklustre-field/story-fn59niix-1225904808930

"One minor party that has been prepared to go out on a limb is the Australian Sex Party, whose leader Fiona Patten has proposed an overhaul of Australia's censorship laws and called for fixed-term state and federal governments as a means of saving the nation many millions of dollars.

Earlier this week, Queensland-based criminologist Paul Wilson endorsed the Sex Party's radical new policy to decriminalise personal drug use. Relying on data from Portugal's four-year-old program of decriminalising all drugs for personal use, and the work of Ken Crispin QC in his new book, The Quest for Justice, this policy could empty our jails by 70 per cent and save us billions of dollars. "

Finally the masses are not just asking 'is this a joke?' or 'is this a parody party?' There seems to be a growing audience who sees that sex and its surrounding issues are at the core of everything in our lives ... in particular the 2 main things that govern our society - religion and politics.

If parties that are run by churches can exist, and be a significant part of the laws we are governed by, then balance can only help to represent those of us who don't feel reasonably represented by the current political options.

The debate on Sunrise felt like a turning point ... and every day feels like a little bit more ground is made.

With so few main options, and so many minor ones, who are you voting for on Saturday?

The Debate Video

2010-08-02T04:10:00.001-07:00

The video from the debate this morning on Sunrise between the Australian Sex Party and Family First.

Australian Sex Party vs Family First

2010-08-01T21:14:00.000-07:00

If you missed Sunrise this morning you missed a firey debate ...

** Stop Press: The debate is on! The Australian Sex Party's Fiona Patten will go up against Family First's Wendy Francis Monday, 2 August, 7.15am on Sunrise.
This is the debate Australians really want to see. Two politicians with differing views, debating real issues**

The phone poll showed Family First winning the debate 51% to 49% but the online sentiment for social media discussion has put the Australian Sex Party firmly in the lead. Fiona puts forward a great argument and believes passionately in the rights of all adults to choose and for everyone to be truly treated equally ... but what sets her aside from other politicians who claim to believe the same things is her frankness and lack of shame when talking about sex and its related issues. She isn't afraid to inject herself and her opinions into her arguments, even if they aren't popular.

Reading through the online conversation today it is hard not to get goose bumps at what I think we are witnessing - a true change in the balance of power, moving away from the control of religion and into a society where most people believe that everyone should have equal rights.

Maybe I'm reading too much into a single day ... but sometimes, that's all it takes to change the world. For someone to have a dream ... and to dare to sell someone about it.

Flipboard iPad App

2010-07-21T16:04:00.001-07:00

I saw a post on Mashable Facebook feed yesterday about this new iPad app that lets you browse your social media like a magazine. What the?! I clicked but got sidetracked by work until later in the day when I downloaded it, but it took me till the evening to get time to play with it. The Twitter portion was the only bit that's working on my version but this morning I'm unable to view anything due to excessive connections. Normally that would piss off any potential app user, but I and millions of others are eagerly standing by awaiting the server upgrades that are apparently taking place right now.

http://www.flipboard.com/

From what I got to see last night this app basically scrapes the data from Twitter and apparently Facebook and some blogs. You can add other services in there but only from those listed in their directory, which was a bit limited when I looked. Will it be possible to add any blog to the feed? Will we be able to submit our own blogs or websites? How does the data get scraped?

All these questions will be answered soon I'm sure, in a paid app! But in the meantime ... in the 10 minutes it has taken me to type this blog there are 235 new twitter posts featuring the word 'flipboard' ...

And as I finish this post, the Facebook part of the feed is working! I'm off to play with my flipboard ...

Old Spice Social Media Campaign

2010-07-14T18:03:00.000-07:00

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/how_old_spice_won_the_internet.php

What I love about this the most is that a team of creatives are in a room with a couple of social media experts and a tech dude, making ads in realtime in response to actual questions from online influencers.

This is one of the first examples I've seen of true team work - collaboration between techs and creatives to produce a piece of marketing which is succeeding in all of its goals. Each member of the team is key to the result, and we are watching a successful campaign play out right in front of us due to those combined skills.

By creating a character and a campaign which allows 'internet celebrities' to draw promotion from a commercial marketing campaign, Old Spice have had questions sent to their character by the likes of Demi Moore (aka Mrs Kutcher), Alyssa Milano and Perez Hilton in less than 24 hours.

This highlights the core of social media ... "It's all about me".

These internet celebrities are following the 'if you talk about me, I'll help promote you' line that has seen forgotten celebs like Alyssa Milano make a comeback through building relationships with past fans and online followers.

The social media specialists, often dismissed for being full of 'hot air' as the article says, are showing that their value is the ability to think on their feet ... to maintain a goal, irrespective of the challenges and changing dynamics of the environment, the social media specialist is simply using their personality, knowledge and experience to react and respond in the most effective way while working within technical and creative limitations.

This reminds me of a method we used in adult - solo girl site fan sign sessions. Affiliates who marketed our websites were given the option, in live sessions held on chat forums, to request a photo or video from a model which is customized to them. The photo would feature a message written on a sign and the video would feature a spoken message thanking them for their support. Key influencers were done first, often even if they didn't request one. These photos and videos would then be posted on their sites and the rest speaks for itself. Give people an opportunity to talk about themselves and promote their agenda and they will - even if it means promoting you in turn.

The conclusion? Social media peeps rock.

See? This article was all about me.

Is Facebook Finished?

2010-07-07T14:41:00.000-07:00

Privacy issues, exceptional growth in May and the novelty wearing off could all be reasons why Facebook lost ground in June 2010. Losing hundreds of thousands of members in the 18 - 44 age bracket and only putting on around 300k of new accounts tells us that Facebook may have reached its saturation point.

http://www.insidefacebook.com/2010/07/06/facebooks-june-2010-us-traffic-by-age-and-sex-users-aged-18-44-take-a-break-2/

Is something out there replacing Facebook, or are social audiences going to fragment just like other web trends?

Facebook Community Pages

2010-06-20T22:58:00.000-07:00

Facebook community pages are auto-generated based on the 'job' or 'employer' and 'interests' each individual lists in their profile. Each one of these words has automatically been turned into a page and they have been called 'community pages'.

The result is that if you have a business and have put time into creating a presence, your potential audience will now be presented with Facebook community pages before your official page. Isn't this effectively Facebook stealing your audience for their own benefit?

Now we could argue that Facebook gave us the audience in the first place, but not if they are tricking people into visiting their pages when the audience is looking for something which was marketed to them offline by the company. I think its safe to say that those who have marketed Facebook URL's in campaigns will be regretting it! The answer? Don't ever market anyone else's business ... put your social media marketing on a sub address of your own url and market that, not someone else's website.

This author makes a good point ... several of them actually:

http://corporate.bangthetable.com/2010/05/23/facebook-community-pages-a-plague-on-all-your-houses/

Socialnomics

2010-06-17T17:27:00.000-07:00

I love how this video says that social media usage has overtaken porn online ... um what do you think social media gets used for the most?!?!? stupid stat! ;p

Work Life Balance? What's that?!

2010-05-30T18:11:00.001-07:00

More on Apple vs The World

2010-05-17T20:42:00.000-07:00

As you can probably tell, i'm buried in techology at the moment producing jobs for Apple products so I'm catching up on debates which have been raging in iLand for years. What I really don't understand is how Steve Jobs can claim his restrictions are for the benefit of the human race and hoards of iSheep take his garbage and regurgitate it.

I wonder how much of this issue is generational. Most people I know who are over 30 remember the disaster Apple created the first time they owned the computing world and are watching with curiousity to find out how Steve Jobs and his megalomania will stuff it all up this time. When you read forums and chats from Apple fans talking about how poor the hardware quality is, the terrible repair centres and hardware support, and the lack of respect for loyal existing customers who constantly fork out a fortune for quickly out of date products, it is hard to see them still owning any market in 10 years time.

I just saw a post on Google buzz by one of the writers from CNET, stating how he hopes Adobe fixes the problems with Mac computers crashing when they run Flash. Sorry what? I thought mac's didn't crash?!?!

Why does adobe have to make flash work better on a mac? Why isn't it apple's responsibility to make their computers work properly with INDUSTRY STANDARD technologies? I can understand why Steve Jobs takes this line, he has profit to make and universes to take over, but what do individuals have to gain from such bias?

From my views it should be clear that I'm not an Apple fan, but I am grown up enough to admit when a technology is brilliant - I just don't think Apple are responsible for any of the brilliant parts.

I was going to try to find a 'team google' shirt ... but it seems Apple wants to take on anyone who has better products than them so my shirt may have to read 'team google, adobe ... and?' Maybe this time round, Steve Jobs should focus on improving Apple's products and respecting their customers who they seem to punish with every new release. All this energy put into fighting other companies is contributing to the 'us vs them' situation that got Apple in trouble the first time round with IBM and Microsoft. He certainly didn't get where he is for being smart or learning from his mistakes!

I like the angle HP are taking with their proposed SLATE (a nice name for a start!) by simply pointing out all the features their product offers that the iPad doesn't. Support for digital camera cards like SD, better interfacing with your pc (not via proprietary iTunes!), and the big white elephant that's missing from iPad's first release ... A CAMERA!

I've ordered my iPad. But knowing how little Steve Jobs cares about my $800 i'm sure a better release will come out within 6 months that features a camera, and I will be either expected to cough up another $800, or punished for being an early adopter by being stuck with out of date technology before it has its first birthday.

This highlights a famous quote by William Gibson ... The future is here, its just not evenly distributed.

Adobe, isn't this just a touch desperate?

2010-05-13T14:01:00.001-07:00

Look I love Adobe as much as the next person ... maybe more if that next person isn't dependent on Photoshop on a daily basis ... but this latest attempt from Adobe to get the public behind the usage of Flash in an effort to pressure Apple to provide support sounds a little desperate.

http://mashable.com/2010/05/13/adobe-responds-flash/

It reads a little like begging and a little like sore losing. Adobe states that they have worked very hard to get Flash to be a standard across operating systems and browsers, so why should Apple come along and ruin their market share? Or as they put it, make things harder for developers?

I'm actually on team Adobe, but even I can see that this was a desperate attempt to draw sympathy from an audience that, quite frankly, is probably sick of paying a fortune for Adobe's long over-priced software.

The debate about 'free markets' doesn't really work for a company who, up until the past few years, has charged several thousand dollars for Flash and Photoshop software required to build this standard. It may be supported by default across most web browsers without cost, but it is still expensive for developers to work with this technology - especially now that Adobe releases a whole new suite every year, making it even more expensive for developers to keep up.

To build projects in Flash, one must own a copy of the software, but to write applications in HTML5 (Apple's 'replacement') simply requires learning the knowledge to write it ... no software required. It may be reinventing the wheel, but isn't HTML5 more 'free market' than a program which costs $1, 168 (aud) to purchase?

Now I'm no lawyer, but shouldn't there be a case against Apple for refusing to support a standard that's accepted across other digital technology? Isn't there an element of non-compete, forcing Adobe out of the market, or specifically targetting one piece of a competitors suite to take that competitor out of the overall game?

Wouldn't Adobe have been better off taking this to court, rather than trying to draw sympathy from a fickle audience who have already been given a way around a flash free future? Not to mention that Apple have given those developers who were paying a fortune for flash software the option, and means, to make money from their work.

Apple's choice to not support flash is annoying and not in the spirit of sharing, but would anyone ever have expected the bitter Steve Jobs to play nice with others? If Adobe wants to keep market share, they might need to do what Jobs has done ... bribe developers with the opportunity and means to make revenue for themselves.

After all ... why would Adobe's profits be more important to us than our own?

Optus releases iPad pricing

2010-05-11T21:12:00.000-07:00

Not bad ... pretty much what I expected.

ABC's Apple Monkeys!

2010-05-10T20:30:00.000-07:00

When writing an article about a new product, isn't ABC supposed to be objective?!

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/12/2869846.htm

The summary according to this ABC journalist ...

Apple = god
Google = the devil

You get the picture.

Apple got me with an iPad

2010-05-10T02:08:00.000-07:00

I said it would never happen, but today I purchased my first Apple product and pre-ordered me one of those iPad thingy-whatsits. I don't like this pre-order thing, where I pay for the product but wait 3 weeks to hold it in my eager little hands.

To make matters worse we already have one at work so I know just how much I'm going to love it. I'm looking forward to that first few hours where setting backgrounds and playing default games seems exciting.

Anyway ... on with the details!

Here's the Australian pricing:

Wi-Fi

16GB1 - A$ 629.00
32GB1 - A$ 759.00
64GB1 - A$ 879.00

Wi-Fi + 3G

16GB1 - A$ 799.00
32GB1 - A$ 928.00
64GB1 - A$ 1,049.00

Optus, Telstra and Three don't have any information on their website yet but they are listed on Apple's page as a provider. Vodafone have only told us that they'll offer iPad plans, and to register for information:

http://www.vodafone.com.au/personal/ipad/ipad-register/index.htm

And now ... we wait.

Google's Social Search

2010-05-07T01:55:00.001-07:00

The slight changes in google search results might not be noticeable to anyone who doesn't spend most of their day there, but I was most excited this morning to find that my Google results had updated with (some of) the features.

Most noticeable to me are the following ...

1) Google Image Search - By Colour, Face & Line Art
How awesome is that?! For those of us who use Google to be inspired by the design work of others, you can now refine image search by colour, displaying all results with red or green featured prominently. The colour bar is a 1 click, instant loading display option that sorts images based on their colours. Other options include sorting by face, black and white, photos, line art, clip art etc ... but what effect will this have on the big traffic war between Facebook and Google?

2) Google Social Search - Discussions
For some reason i'm seeing a different type of social search to what was described in Google's introduction video (below) so I think I'm getting a limited version here in the land down under technology reach. Discussions however is an option which allows me to see conversation in forums and blogs, which is just one more step towards an advertising economy driven entirely by social commentary.

3) Wireframes in Google Docs
This is a few weeks old by now but I stumbled on this awesome dude who created some templates to share for free, using the new Google drawing tool. Working with webpages every day means lots of mockups, so we are always looking for clean and simple software to compose wireframes for clients, designers and developers. Add the cloud computing component where the document can be secured or shared to anyone inside or outside your company.

If you just want to doodle a diagram, you can do that too, but to create complex wireframes the best place to start is to visit Morten's shared docs page which is linked below, save a copy of the free templates to your account and edit it to create your own wireframes.

> Here's some templates from Morten Just

These 3 features don't seem that exciting when I see them written, especially in comparison to the open graph announcements by Facebook with over 50,000 sites (apparently) implementing it in less than 2 weeks. They will however make my day to day life easier and will probably still be in my life long after Facebook has faded into little more than one night stand on the digital media relationship timeline.

What's a topic worth without a few good, unanswered questions to ponder? So here ya go ...

How will the new social search effect listings in Google? How will Facebook's open graph effect Google's backward link heavy algorithm and the accuracy that they are so known for? Is it ridiculous for so many social media commentators to be even comparing the likes of Google and Facebook?

You tell me ...

Facebook Changes ... Again. Dislike!

2010-04-29T00:57:00.000-07:00

Facebook have recently changed the 'become a fan' option on facebook to 'like', reducing pages to mere items of content with no real interactive intention from the 'liker'. As a small business Facebook user I'm a little miffed at some of the changes ... or as some might say, DISLIKE.

- What's a fan worth now?
Previously a 'fan' was a significant asset as each person cared enough about your product to proudly become a 'fan', a word which indicates someone who is fanatical (or at least interested) in the subject of the page. The same is true for 'groups' which users 'join' ... a commitment is required by the user therefore making them a more qualified 'lead'. A study conducted recently valued a 'fan' at $3.70 ... although this number is only for pages of 1,000,000+ 'fans'. What would be the value of a 'liker' as opposed to a 'fan'?

- What's a page worth now?
If a pages interactive properties are now devalued to the exact same status as any single piece of content (status update, photo post, gallery post, movie etc) then a page really doesn't have much value at all. Crowds will come and go like the tide, washing in on a whim and leaving just as quickly. Perhaps this will increase the volume of visitors to some pages but it will remove the value to the small, intimate, local business which have less than 500 fans. Many small businesses are happy to maintain small databases of valuable fans, utilizing it as a social customer relationship management tool. The 'likers' may no longer be potential customers, just window shoppers passing by enmass.

- A 'like' is lazy
A Facebook user clicks the 'like' button as a lazy way to get out of interacting with a piece of content further, therefore it is seen by many users as a non-committal nod and thumbs up as opposed to an in-depth interaction. This can be seen to mean that the 'become a fan' and the 'like' buttons are almost opposites - committed promoters and nonchalant, non-committed neutrals.

- I have 5000 likers
Will we easily accept the difference in terminology, or will this confuse new users to the site as older users hang on to phrases like 'I have 5000 fans'? Can you imagine a printed advertisement with the line 'Visit Facebook to like our page' or 'like us on Facebook'? Are we really that easily retrained that a service can happily change the meaning of its own branded terms after 4 years, at the peak of their market saturation, without fear of the masses leaving? It appears that only a week in it is catching on with some heavy users of pages, but not with the ungeeks.

- Tricked likers leave
Building on the value of a 'fan' vs a 'liker', we can imagine that there will be cases where individuals 'like' a page then become annoyed when they are receiving updates in their feed. Worse than a constant fluctuating 'liker' base (not the same as fan base, is it?), is an angry 'liker' who didn't really want to commit to the depth of interaction when you 'like' a page, as opposed to when you 'like' any other individual piece of content. It is already a complaint of users that they receive a notification when someone comments on something they 'liked' because ... well ... they don't really care that much, or they would have commented or interacted further! See, not so simple this human stuff, is it?

- Will it matter?
As with every other Facebook update, we have bitched and moaned but the service continues to grow. We not only become attached to the new ideas very quickly, but we seem to accept anything the service does to us provided it lets us connect with our friends. What will be the dramatic change, as we know there often is, that will finally turn that snowball into an avalanche of departing users?

Are we going to see fragmentation in social media sooner rather than later?

I hope so, I love mass corporate change! It's like a game of pick-up-sticks ;-)

Small and Medium Business and Social Media

2010-03-08T16:36:00.000-08:00

Why are small businesses so reluctant to take up social media? If small business owners are spending personal time on social media, why wouldn't they expand this to include their business? Is there too much emphasis placed on separating personal and business life in small and medium business? Are our business ethics different to our personal ethics and are we nervous about being judged on business ethics by personal values? Will spending in social media really increase in 2010 like this graphic and business surveys would have us believe?

10 Steps To Balance Multiple Interests

2010-01-20T13:57:00.001-08:00

10 Steps To Balance Multiple Interests

Posted using ShareThis

Google ditches china? hope so.

2010-01-12T16:53:00.000-08:00

It didn't sit right with me that Google was working so hard to cater to the communist rules of China just so they could have a presence there. I'm happy to hear they are considering taking a stand and walking out of China after their efforts have inspired some scary political and human rights issues.

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-approach-to-china.html

In simple terms, *someone* has been accessing the gmail accounts of human rights activists both in China and in other countries. I'm going to take a huge leap here - and we know how I love conspiracy theories - that the Chinese government are using Google to spy on individuals who are trying to defend the rights of the slaves employed to run Chinese factories. (yes, the factories that make the stuff we buy EVERY DAY)

Take a stand Google. Prove to me you are truly interested in making a better world, not just your bottom line. Pretty please?

I'm Ariel's Sister ...

2009-12-09T15:30:00.000-08:00

You're the direct anti-thesis of Ariel, and don't
hesitate in making that clear every chance you
get. You're bursting with confidence, which
enhances your direct outspokenness, a trait
that causes both admiration and fear in others.

Which of Ariel's sisters are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Porn watchers and poll volunteers wanted

2009-11-23T05:02:00.001-08:00

Support ASP in Higgins

The Australian Sex Party (ASP) are 10 days out from the by elections in Higgins and Bradfield and would love to have lots of happy faces wearing yellow t shirts on the polling booths promoting the Australian Sex Party. If you can spare a couple of hours on Saturday 5 dec please contact ASP. There will be some poll parties etc and it should be fun.

Contact fpatten@sexparty.org.au

Now for porn volunteers- sorry this is just for women!

Cosmo and Emma Tom are looking for three women aged between 18 and 30 who watch porn and would be prepared to talk about it on the record as well as be photographed for the mag. It can be about blogs, movies books whatever arouses you.You need to be Sydney based and happy to speak about why you like to watch or read sex!

Contact info@emmatom.com.au

Facebook Fan Badge

2009-11-18T21:44:00.000-08:00

Carla Jayne Paterson is a fan of

Brisbane City Rollers

Create your Fan Badge

The code to make this little facebook snippet is so incredibly long ... but it is an example of yet another effective way Facebook are marketing themselves through badging other people's sites. I could physically make my own add for BCR's facebook group and post it on a website, but this took 3 minutes as opposed to 15.

It's great that things are getting easier, but its kinda frustrating how much easier things are now ... in particular when young developers think they are genius because they can link 2 applications together, which were written in the first place by someone who they now have no respect for.

Work whinge aside, if you want to check out what I've been doing in my spare time lately to keep fit and have a bit of stress relief, click the facebook fan badge for Brisbane City Rollers - that's right, ROLLER DERBY IS BACK!

Roller Derby is Totally Awesome Dude!

2009-08-28T04:45:00.000-07:00

You may have heard of Roller Derby, or remember it from the 70's, but if not here's 10 minutes from a game on the 22nd August that shows you a pretty good preview of how totally awesome it is!

I recently started learning about Roller Derby and have been joining the BCR league occasionally for training... check out fresh meat days at their website, here: http://www.brisbanecityrollers.com

Good guy Depp plays bad boy Dillinger

2009-08-16T04:28:00.000-07:00

Johnny Depp is public enemy number 1, John Dillinger, bringing charm and obnoxious confidence to the real life story of the 1930's bank robber.

Public Enemies (Michael Mann 2009) is based on part of the book Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI by Bryan Burrough, an evolutionary story of crime and crime fighting in the 1930's.

Set in Chicago this historical drama focuses on the crime sprees of John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd. The classic cinematography blurs the lines between good guys and bad as we grow to love Depp's character and despise the police. The American hero cop Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale) is the good guy who breaks his own rules, fumbling to chase Dillinger and his friends across state lines and highlighting the lack of shared intelligence across state lines.

I was left craving knowledge of this real life criminal who hid openly among society and escaped the law for so long. It's an interesting story told with the Miami Vice style of director Michael Mann, and beautifully concluded . The numbers say audiences agree - 6 weeks after its USA launch Universal Pictures have made $160 million from a $100 million investment.

Ladies will love the variety of leading men while the guys will envy the Chicago gangsters, their money and the company of beautiful women. Public Enemies is equally suited to a date night out or a girls night in, but get comfortable - it's 140 minutes long.

Watch for: An appearance by Australian actor David Wenham
Best Bit: Great casting, performances and an interesting story
Worst Bit: The length, 140 minutes
Interesting Fact: Robert DeNiro is the Executive Producer
See It: At home so you can take a break
Rated: M15+
The obligatory and dramatic Hollywood love story takes place between the irresistible Dillinger and Billie Frechette who was played by Oscar winning French actress, Marion Cotillard.

Olympus MJU 6000 Tough Underwater Digital Camera

2009-07-28T21:06:00.000-07:00

So I ended up going with an Olympus U Tough 6000... a brand I've never owned before, and I made my decision on price in the end. * Ok so its not a U tough, its some greek symbol which I don't know how to type although the olympus website calls it a MJU tough 6000.

It's a great 10 megapixel camera, nice and light fitting in my handbag or pocket and I love being able to capture movies of W playing footy on the weekends or video the great barrier reef on holidays!

The movie quality isn't fabulous, but it was amazing to be able to take a video while snorkelling on the great barrier reef and for all of us to get some decent shots only days after purchasing the camera.

I really liked the Olympus underwater cameras, but wanted to keep my purchase at around the $400 mark so the newer model of this camera (mju tough 8000) was more than I wanted to spend at $519 - although it made me drool. Harvey Norman had this camera on sale for $419 (I guess it wasn't moving once the updated model came out) but after waiting too long for a sales assistant (enough time to get a few photos of the camera and price sign) I left and went to Ted's Camera House.

I showed them the photo advertising the special so they matched it, and while I know it probably left them without much margin I would rather give them my money as the service is always really good and the staff know what they are talking about.

Pro's

Lightweight, compact, fits in a pocket
More than enough features for most photographers
You can drop it, take it under the water or in the snow
Comes in blue, orange or white

Con's

The buttons are too close to the sides, meaning its impossible not to press those buttons when carrying the camera. They happen to be important like flash, macro etc and I was often accidentally changing settings just by carring it around.
It's a bit of a pain to change settings, I hate having to spend ages figuring out how to switch macro on but hopefully this will become easier as I learn the shortcuts
Already an old model, and that may be an issue for some people
Video quality isn't as good as it could be

Basic Features

10 Megapixels
3.6x Optical Zoom with wide angle lens
Waterproof to 3m
Shockproof to 1.5m
Snowproof to -10°c
Dual Shakeproof CCD Shift Image Stabiliser
Tap Control
In-Built Panorama
Face Detection and Shadow Adjust
2.7" HyperCrystal III LCD Screen

> Official Website and MJU Tough Specifications

Shopping for a waterproof digital camera

2009-06-06T01:56:00.000-07:00

I have been considering for years whether to buy a new digital SLR, but just can't justify the $2000+ price tag when my existing camera is still working so well. *TOUCH WOOD* I had also considered purchasing a 'pocket camera' so I had something to take with me to weddings without carting 2 lenses, a flash and a camera bag in my tiny sparkly purse. This means I get new camera excitement while only spending a couple of hundred dollars.

We're planning a holiday to Cairns (North Queensland, Australia) in a few weeks, so camera shopping is on my mind once again. On a trip to Vanuatu last year we got an underwater disposable camera and got a few great shots, but just as we got the hang of it we ran out of photos and the whole exercise cost us about $49 by the time we got them printed.

This time, I thought I'd look at the options for underwater cameras and WOW ... its amazing how quickly 6 hours online and 2 hours visiting stores goes. I figure if we are going to spend about $500 on a trip to the reef, I want the option of being able to get a few hundred photos!!!!

Here's the current leading option:

Fujifilm Z33WP Digital Camera

• Waterproof up to 3 meters, for maximum of 2 hour
• 10 Megapixel sensor for high resolution pictures

• 3x optical zoom lens

• Picture Stabilisation – reduces image blur

• Face Detection technology – with red-eye removal

• SR Auto to ensure perfect pictures every time

• Choice of five daring colours – Kiwi Green, Hawaiian Blue, Daredevil Black, Liquid Gold and Rock Chick Pink

• Large 2.7 inch LCD Screen

• Excellent low-light capabilities for underwater shots
• Protective silicon jacket and wrist strap available

> More Information at TEds
> More Information at Harvey Norman

Other Colours ...

It looks like a great little camera for the maximum price of $349. It would be even better if it were around the $249 to $299 mark.

The other options that really stand out right now are:

Olympus
> Olympus MJU-8000
$599

This is one of the toughest looking cameras I've seen. It's designed for underwater and for snow, going to a depth of 10m and standing freezing temperatures.

-12 Megapixels
- 3.6x Optical Zoom with wide angle lens
- Waterproof to 10m
- Shockproof to 2.0m
- Snowproof to -10°c
- Crushproof to 100kg
- Dual Shakeproof CCD Shift Image Stabiliser
- Tap Control Mode
- In-Built Panorama
- Face Detection and Shadow Adjust
- 2.7" HyperCrystal III LCD Screen

Canon
> Canon Powershot D10
$599 - $549

It's a little bubbly in its design, or a bit too 'underwater', but the features are spectacular. So is the price.

- Waterproof 10m
- Freezeproof-10
- Shockproof 1m
- Dustproof
- 12.1 megapixels
- 3x Optical Zoom
- TruCapture technology

Nikon
I really do love Nikon camera's the best, but I don't feel comfortably buying housing for my digital SLR and emersing it in water. What if I accidentally don't seal it properly?! Most of the Nikon camera's appear to be a camera plus housing.

I'd really just rather a simple option of a camera that's waterproof for a few metres, like the Fuji for $349. I don't scuba dive, just snorkel, so it should be a plenty decent enough camera to get some great photos and video of us enjoying the amazing wonders of the Great Barrier Reef.

I'll let you know what I end up deciding on! Please let me know if you have any advice before hand ....

'KFC Kills Chickens' Protest

2009-06-03T02:37:00.000-07:00

If you happened to drive past KFC at Kangaroo Point today, (or if you were watching Channel 10 news, browsing their website or listening to the radio) you may have seen or heard about the naked chicks boycotting KFC.

Regular nude protestor Fawn Porter stood with a banner reading "Chicks Agree: Boycott KFC" as passing cars honked their horns and truck drivers struggled to focus on the road!

Here's a few snaps of the girls getting their message out there ...

Channel 10 news piece:

http://ten.com.au/video-player.htm?channel=News+Daily&clipId=2683_news-kfc-030609

Check out me in the background taking photos ;P

Cuisine Australia

2009-05-26T02:51:00.000-07:00

Does anyone remember this site which I had years ago, selling ebooks with recipes in them?

I never really finished it properly but its been online since, except for a 2 year period where I didn't renew the domain and nobody else wanted it - so I just reregistered it a few weeks ago and started planning the new website.

http://www.cuisineaustralia.com/

To the left is the mockup of how the new front page will look, so if you happen to see the link above before the end of june you'll see the old site and can compare the amazing lack of progress in the design ;p

David Nash is setting the site up for me using an open source CMS called Silverstripe with a few customized modules such as a gallery and image manager. Drew and I have taken hundreds of photos over the past few years of meals that we have cooked for ourselves and our friends. I'm always being asked to send the recipe after a dinner party but I forget to write down recipes and have no idea how to make it again!

Hopefully this site will get me into the habit of writing down ingredients so I can share the recipes with my friends and eventually sell them as eBooks.

Stay tuned for more details in a few weeks!

3 Ways to protect kids online

2008-12-17T02:57:00.000-08:00

PROTECTING CHILDREN ONLINE
Finding Real Solutions

3 real ways we can get started …
* An exclusive domain extension for kids
* Technology education forums for adults through schools
* Co-operation of user generated content websites

To protect children in the real world, we group them together and put up a fence. When we leave our children at school, libraries, sporting fields and day-care centres we accept that certain rules apply to this location which is designed to protect children. We would not drop our children off in a park or street or with a stranger and leave them alone for hours on end and expect that they would be safe.

The Internet is new, and it doesn't yet have an effective system to provide safe areas for children. While free speech groups, religious leaders and governments argue over semantics of non-existant law, child pornography has grown into an epidemic. Law enforcement around the world is fed funding scraps, until recently when Americans finally voted to increase the money and resources for those that work against the production and distribution of child pornography online.

The recent government censorship plan is reaching for the impossible – filtering of all websites which might be unsafe for children. Not surprisingly, ‘objectionable’, ‘questionable’ and ‘offensive’ websites will be filtered for all adults as will the discussion of actions which are illegal such as suicide and euthanasia. It is a thinly disguised attempt to filter adult material and other subjects which make the government uncomfortable, but it also wastes another $100, 000, 000 under the false idea of protecting children.

Blacklist filters do not work on file sharing networks, which is where almost all child pornography is traded. Blacklist filters don’t protect children from online chat predators, who show up in ALL chat rooms where children hang out. Blacklist filters don’t block all websites which may be inappropriate for children as proven by recent trials.

An exclusive domain name extension for kids

There have been 4 applications for the right to sell license to the domain extension 'dot kids' (i.e. www.websitename.kids) but each application has been rejected for different reasons - ranging from objections by free speech groups to rejection on the basis of commercial bias.

What that means is that free speech groups have spoken loudly against it because it could open the door for other subject related extensions like 'dot sex', which would allow adult and political material to be easily filtered. In my interpretation, commercial organisations have been deemed exempt from applying due to the previous applicant’s potential to be biased when distributing licenses. (see icann’s latest “Criteria for Assessing TLD Proposals”)

This leaves the Governments. Australia. America. United Kingdom. Between these governments over $1 billion has been spent on subjects related to the filtering of the Internet. To setup an entire business dedicated to the management of the domain extension 'dot kids' would cost somewhere between $1 million and $25 million. Even if we double it, triple it or quadruple it to allow for bureaucracy’s stuff ups, the solution is still cheaper and more effective at protecting children from material that may be harmful.

The Dot Kids domain extension would be licensed for around the same cost as a dot com dot au extension, which is 4 times the price of a dot com domain extension. The application for a domain would be accompanied by a completed website which would be assessed based on a set of criteria which are suitable for children.

To be issued the right to license the domain www.disney.kids Disney would simply have to submit their existing website, as they present their material in an age appropriate way already. Most organisations that target products and services at children would simply need to register the new domain extension and use their existing website. However some websites, such as those advertising video games to a variety of age groups, may be required to submit a new website for their dot kids domain which just features G rated material.

With all sites which are safe for children existing on the same domain extension, it is easy to filter these websites via software, browser settings or filtering systems. This is the first step to creating an Internet which reflects our society – including the way we protect children.

Technology education forums for parents

My parents were amazed by Tetris back in 1990 – orange boxes on a black screen. By the time I graduated in 1994 the Internet was a commercial tool and the digital age was well underway. Then came the new millennium and technology is like a snowball, changing so fast that I wonder how I will ever keep up. And I’m only 31!

My parents have a computer now – a full colour one in fact - and have recently returned from a trip around Australia where they blogged their digital photography from the middle of the country via wireless broadband. Children are teaching their parents how to use the tools we now need to get by in our everyday lives. If kids are teaching their parents, who’s teaching the kids?

Parents don’t need to be computer experts to understand the basics of how they can protect their children, so if there is $189, 000, 000 in funding available to help with filtering the Internet then free Internet classes for parents shouldn’t be a problem. The right collection of experts and 3 hours in a school hall would be more than enough to arm most parents with the tools they need to start digitally interacting with their children.

There’s a very simple way to keep an eye on your child’s MySpace or Facebook account, and that is by having one of your own. If that doesn’t make the sites ‘uncool’ for the kids it will certainly help you keep up with the lingo – for example getting poked on Facebook isn’t what you first thought!

An ideal technology forum would feature speakers to teach parents about free filtering software available from the government, which might help counter the appalling take up rate of the $84, 000, 000 software.

Annual parent and teacher forums held in schools featuring volunteer guests should cost no more than $500 per school depending on the resources required. There are approximately 10, 000 schools in Australia bringing the total expense of an annual seminar campaign to a maximum of $5, 000, 000.

Did you know? The last time our Government attempted to solve child
pornography with a filter was a few years ago – it could be downloaded for free
from a website and was cracked by a 16 year old in 30 minutes. They spent $84M
(Yes, $84,000,000 of tax payers money) to develop and license filtering software
which was download less than 150,000 times and installed less than 30,000 times.
That’s $2800 per installed copy.

In addition to the real world education forum, an online forum would also help provide parents with a place to get the latest information about filters, learn about new dangers and provide input on child protection issues. Parents, teachers and the community can share their knowledge with each other via the very tool they are learning about.

A website like this would cost no more than $15,000 to develop and would require the services of 1 to 2 full time webmasters on a salary of $50, 000 to $85, 000 per year.

Co-operation of user generated content websites

YouTube, Blogger, WikiPedia, MySpace and FaceBook are just a few examples of websites which exist due to ‘user generated content’, meaning the website is made up of content added by its users. This includes sites like the above along with chat forums, picture posts and blogs.

The business model of a user generated website is generally to sell advertising like newspapers or magazines, without the expense of actually generating content to fill the site. Thanks to MySpace profiles added by members the site has millions of images, blogs, music of every style and videos from all over the world.

In order for these sites to protect themselves from legal issues they separate themselves from their responsibilities with clauses in their terms and conditions that most members have never bothered to read. These sites can’t filter much content due to free speech but they use this as an excuse to take no responsibility for the content on their websites and who access it.

YouTube offers a warning that a video contains adult material which fits within the guidelines, but I’ve stumbled across far too much porn (not within guidelines) on YouTube to accept that this policy is strictly upheld. I have attempted to have fake Facebook and MySpace profiles disabled in the past and have followed all instructions only to wait almost 12 months for action.

There will be many changes in the law over the coming decades to accommodate the rapid changes in technology, so somewhere along the line these sites will be forced to abide by stricter and stricter guidelines.

A proactive approach would involve taking responsibility for the content on their websites by introducing stricter monitoring, better response to complaints and increased co-operation with law enforcement.

A rating system would work on a site like YouTube where a submitter could rate their video on submission for anything outside of a G rating. Parents could setup a single profile with multiple sub accounts so they can change the user’s age in a single click. These basic additions to popular, existing websites would help parents to identify material which may require supervision or discussion.

If all online communities take some responsibility for the protection of young children from material that’s intended for an adult mind then the problem instantly becomes smaller – as does the cost of finding a solution to protecting children from the very content these sites host, store and broadcast.

INTERNET CENSORSHIP

2008-12-14T23:08:00.000-08:00

"Labor makes no apologies to those that argue that any regulation of the internet is like going down the Chinese road," he said. "If people equate freedom of speech with watching child pornography, then the Rudd-Labor Government is going to disagree."

Aaaaah I see what you did here Mr Conroy! If we disagree with your poorly structured Internet Censorship plan, we must want to watch child pornography! A most excellent way to manipulate silence in a democratic society – but also a dangerous sign of the weakness of your ‘plan’.

Australia has reached our place in the queue – it’s time for our two-yearly Internet Censorship attempt, where the Government spends in excess of $100 Million each time to educate, filter, administer, prosecute, fix and block ‘the problem’. While politicians argue about filtering ‘objectionable’ and ‘questionable’ material, and what these words even mean to the average citizen, child pornography has grown and spread like a virus.

A common pattern exists in many industries which hover on the edges of moral and legal boundaries – sex, guns, drugs – to name just a few. As laws become stricter, the underground economy grows, fed with unchecked crime and violence. Child Pornography has become such a big industry that global networks now exist to HELP pedophiles molest children – for profit! Isn’t this the very thing the last round of filtering was supposed to fix?

So it would be safe to say filtering hasn’t worked so far to prevent the transfer or production of child pornography. Our latest attempt reminds me of the definition of stupidity – to continue to do the same thing expecting a different outcome. This time our Government will spend nearly $200M - because somebody believes twice as much money will surely be twice as effective!

The issue of Internet censorship is hovering dangerously close to Government propaganda – the government is twisting facts and logic with statements that accuse anyone who is against censorship of being a pedophile to gain the support of the Australian family.

I will not sit back and accept being labeled as a supporter of child pornography because I expect my government to respect the rights given to me under a democracy. I resent being accused of defending child pornography websites because of my belief that consenting adults should be able to have sex. I am appalled that complex, controversial subjects like euthanasia and suicide are being classified as illegal simply because the acts being discussed are illegal.

Suicide is illegal - should we stop people from entering into online discussions about killing themselves which may in fact prevent their actions? Euthanasia is illegal - should we prevent people from around the world from connecting and talking about their pain, beliefs and experiences? Sexual abuse is illegal – should we stop people from talking about rape? Genital mutilation is illegal – should we stop victims from sharing their stories? Gay marriage isn’t legal in this country – should we jail anyone who dares to discuss the subject in a public forum?

The Internet is a new tool and has spawned a new era of digital technology that nobody saw coming, bringing with it a unique set of issues that we have never before had to address. Before progress can be made, both sides need to find a common ground … can’t we can all agree that solutions are needed for protecting children online and move forward from there?

Firstly, let’s eliminate some popular myths in both social and political discussion …

FACT 1: PORNOGRAPHY IS NOT CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

It’s one of those really subtle situations where a single word makes a world of difference. Pornography to me is defined as sexual entertainment involving consenting adults in both the production and viewing process. Child Pornography is a sexual, physical and emotional crime against a defenseless child. When did consenting sexual entertainment and pedophilia become the same thing?

The official definition of Pornography is:

Pornography or porn is the explicit depiction of sexual subject matter, especially with the sole intention of sexually exciting the viewer. It is to a certain extent similar to erotica, which is the use of sexually-arousing imagery for mainly artistic purposes. ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pornography

creative activity (writing or pictures or films etc.) of no literary or artistic value other than to stimulate sexual desire wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

The adult entertainment industry is governed by many strict laws – most of them ridiculous shades of grey, but some are simple and necessary to create boundaries between legal and illegal activity. 2257 was passed a few years ago, formalizing existing guidelines to ensure all producers of adult material kept strict records to prove the age and consent of their stars.

It created a big expense for existing content producers who had to attempt to track down past models, but it was accepted by adult webmasters eventually and would seem to most like a logical global law for adult content producers. The exception was the many content producers who shot models who were 18 and consenting at the time, as outlined in the 2257 law, but didn’t have the documentation in the exact format required by the new guidelines.

This meant all content shot before a particular date was no longer ‘legal’, a clever way to put porn producers out of business. The flaw in that process is that those who were already following a common sense law were subject to the most expenses and losses, some going out of business, while giving a clean slate to those who had previously broken common sense laws - such as not checking thoroughly that models are over 18.

The official definition of child pornography is:

Child pornography refers to pornographic material depicting children. It has been described as a form of child sexual abuse and is illegal in most countries. ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child pornography

While we discuss and debate this important subject, we must be careful not to look for a solution to a single issue. Pornography and child pornography are not the same, and using an illegal activity to manipulate a law against legal activity is simply unreasonable – and useless in actually protecting the children. While child pornography is illegal in most countries, the variations on the ‘legal age of consent’ provide plenty of grey zones for criminals to operate.

Did you know?
The last time our Government attempted to solve child pornography with a filter was a few years ago – it could be downloaded for free from a website and was cracked by a 16 year old in 30 minutes. They spent $84M (Yes, $84,000,000 of tax payers money) to develop and license filtering software which was download less than 150,000 times and installed less than 30,000 times.
That’s $2800 per installed copy.

FACT 2: FILTERING DOESN’T FIX EVERYTHING, OR MUCH AT ALL

I know its been done to death, but let me quickly eliminate the keyword filtering debate by explaining that by filtering the word ‘sex’ we also filter: all discussion about ‘sex’, forms with ‘sex’ instead of gender, ‘sex’ education websites, and the popular salt’n’pepa track “Lets Talk About ‘Sex’” … oh and don’t forget ‘breast’ and the entire breast cancer awareness campaign … ‘poo’ and colon cancer sufferers etc. Filters are more complex than that now, and in some cases are an excellent solution to controlling the flow of information, but they are flawed when used in a blanket movement.

When the keyword filter didn’t work in the late 90’s, the Government decided instead to apply more rules to the filters to allow more complex keyword combinations. It worked ok, but still did nothing to prevent the 2 main issues at hand - children accessing pornography or the trading of child pornography.

Now our Government has decided to eliminate a selection of sites – site by site – based on a set of rules defined by an already conservative Governing body ACMA. Initially the statement told us that less than 700 sites would be on the list, and only weeks later that number has crept to 10,000 websites with 1,000’s of new sites each week that wouldn’t pass the ‘law’. Today the figure of 1300 websites is being quoted, with around 400 child pornography or related websites on the list. What does the rest of the list contain?

Can I suggest something logical for a minute?

Wouldn’t it be quicker to manually approve sites which are ok for children to view rather than try to manually find every site which needs to be blocked? Aren’t we effectively just looking at this backwards? If resources must be assigned to monitor new ‘bad’ websites to add to the filter, wouldn’t it make more sense to just let in the ‘good’ sites while kids are online?

Why not just setup a family safe zone where sites are issued with the right to publish a website in that section? This could be achieved via a domain extension, rating system, browser block or the more commercially viable but totally unnecessary software purchase.

There is already a G, PG and M15+ rating as defined by the ACMA which would make it easy for companies to produce websites aimed at children or teenagers within already approved (however conservative) guidelines. Each rating could be set using the parent’s password, so individual children will have access to different age-appropriate sites using a browser setting or controlled by external software. A website can pass hidden, encrypted information in the header which can be read by the browser. At the parents discretion the filter can be lifted so older teenagers can be given more responsibility.

It is a lot of work to hand edit a network of sites, but DMOZ has long been one of the most successful online directories because each category is moderated with love by its members. If there is a budget for staff to decide which sites to block, a never ending uphill battle with a dead end result, then it seems logical to me that a filtering system with manually approved content for children couldn’t possibly be more expensive.

As a society, we don’t send children to school in the back alley behind the pub and we do everything we can to keep pedophiles out of schools. To keep children safe, we define a zone for them and assign people to care for them age-appropriately while they visit that zone. This is how we must approach the Internet.

Safe zones for children. Free speech for adults.

Did you know?
Do you think cartoon porn is funny? Under current and new laws you could be arrested for the possession and distribution of child pornography if the cartoon characters are under 18. Yet genuine child pornography investigators fight for every cent of funding to catch and prosecute criminals with real victims.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1001729/latest-from-wire

FACT 3: CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IS RARELY PUBLISHED ON A WEBSITE

Long before the first web page went live, child pornography had been traded across the Internet. The Internet was invented to transfer information between 2 computers – the concept of a web page came later when business and hobbyists saw the benefits of a central place for their information.

A website needs a host – a business which offers the service of hosting the website files on their high speed computers to allow for high performance, 24/7 access. If you have a permanent connection to the Internet in your home, technically you could setup a website using your own computer as a host, but that opens up all sorts of security issues that someone else can tell you about.

To setup a website, you need a host. To setup a host, you need an upstream to provide you with data transfer services – much like a phone company who leases access to the cables of another company. For this reason, a website which is setup on a web host can be removed from the Internet within a short period of time as there is a chain of supply which can easily be terminated.

If a child pornography website was put up on a host within Australia, USA or England it would be removed as soon as it was reported because the hosting company would be directly breaking the law of HOSTING illegal material. Hosting companies within countries where the legal age of consent is less than 18 are much less strict however they risk having their entire network blocked by the rest of the world which might upset their other clients.

There is also the issue of the domain. To own a domain you have to follow a set of guidelines, which means at some point you are agreeing to the laws of the Government where the domain registrar is based. If I buy a domain from a company in USA, I have to follow those rules. If a webmaster were to publish child pornography on this domain, the registrar has the right to terminate the client’s license to the domain.

While there are still some websites out there which offer child pornography by slipping through loopholes, they tend to be very nomadic and rarely live at the same place for long. Visiting a website leaves a trail of statistics both on the user’s computer and on the host’s computer, so by visiting an illegal website pedophiles online movements can often be tracked - helping law enforcement.

In technical terms, child pornography is traded in the same way as another illegal activity – pirating music and movies. There is rarely a website, because that is too easy to close down, but the ‘back to basics’ usage of file sharing networks that music and movie fans love so much is also responsible for easy access to excessive volumes of child pornography available around the world.

File sharing networks can not be filtered like a website can. As yet, there is no technology which is freely available to scan files and accurately guess which are illegal images, although we're not far away. An Internet filtering plan might block out a few obvious networks but will completely ignore the file sharing issue.

This means that when a solution is discovered for blocking, filtering and intercepting content on a file sharing network that those who download movies and music will be traced and prosecuted. The very same technology used by much of the population to pirate digital content and hide the act from the authorities is used by pedophiles to do the same with child pornography content.

FACT 4: WE NEED REAL SOLUTIONS TO REAL PROBLEMS

The Christian lobbyists and conservative politicians will successfully bring this issue to the forefront regularly because it is a genuine problem that really does need to be addressed. Parents are genuinely concerned about digital safety for their children, making them vulnerable to word twisting by politicians – such as this cleverly structured censorship campaign which labels anyone opposed to filtering the Internet to be a supporter of child pornography.

While lobbying for the rights and freedoms we’ve grown to expect, we must also step up to offer solutions to the real problem of protecting children in the new digital age. If we expect our rights to be respected in our democratic environment, shouldn’t we also consider how we might logically fight to protect them through real solutions?

There are many ideas which could provide a safe haven for children online while letting adults maintain our freedom of speech. Domain extensions, rating systems, children safe site filters, white lists, education, research, funding for law enforcement … what’s your suggestion?

The Oprah Forums discuss Child Pornography

2008-11-12T14:17:00.000-08:00

The below is a post I have made on the Oprah forums in response to a discussion about Child Pornography after a show about Internet Predators. The show was actually about non-internet predators using the Internet to distribute their material ... this may be considered semantics, but misleading titles and accusations are not helping us fix what's really the problem. 45% of cases are committed within the home of family or friends, by a family member or friend ... guides are being distributed online teaching peadofiles how to molest children, broken down into age groups and specifically showing how not to get caught ... we need to take action and change the way we all live and respond to the oversexualization of children, both offline and online.

Hi Abikath5,
I can't help but be concerned by this post and the off track direction your research has taken when considering the initial topic of discussion. You mention the issue of children 10 - 17 having access to adult pornographic material ... while this is a major problem for society, its completely irrelevant to this subject and we have to be careful not to lose sight of the urgent issue at hand. Children are being molestered in their own homes by their parents and families - this is not an internet issue and has been a problem since long before the Internet existed. If anything, the Internet has given us a tool to find these people as shown by the technology on this show. Now that the bill has passed hopefully the law can catch up with the technology ...

Its very dangerous to continue to blame the existance of the Internet for every problem we have in society even though it has definately brought subjects to our attention that we'd probably rather stay ignorant about. Its assumed far too often that the existance of pornography at all is the reason why we have problems like child pornography - a religious view that dangerously covers up important facts. If the religious politicians had their way, adults wouldn't be able to have sex at all except for reproduction. Issues like child pornography are allowed to grow and prosper because governments spend their time arguing about the moral aspects of CONSENTING sex, and how we should police the population to meet the agenda's of the church.

So far, between America and Australia (my home) we have spent at least 500 million dollars that I am aware of in the past decade on trying to pass legislation to ban all pornographic material, under the premise that this will also stop child pornography. The absolute ignorance behind these attempts angers me. The waste of money angers me. The misinformation angers me. The lack of progress angers me. There are people out there like Flint Waters who have had this type of technology for several years, but they have been beating their heads against a wall trying to get someone to listen to them, help them and fund them. Our politicians ignore them and continue to rant about Internet Censorship - an entirely separate issue with its own set of problems and concerns.

The issue of child pornography isn't new. Before the internet there were mailing lists where this material was exchanged and clubs where pedo's could get together to normalize each others behaviour. The Internet has given them the tools to do this easier, but its also given us the tools to find them. The issue has been able to grow to the size it is because our politicians have been too busy arguing about pornography in general, trying to get it banned under the premise that this is the reason people molest children. While we might find it weird and offensive to see grown adults wearing clown suits and pleasuring one another, how is this consentual act even comparable to the molestation of a BABY with a freakin' pencil?!

I agree that there is a major problem concerning children and what they can access online. But the mass production of child pornography is a different issue involving the physical safety of children. Both issues require different resources. They can not be solved together, which has surely been proven with a decade of wasted time and money and the sheer volume of child pornography which exists today.

I have been ranting for this entire decade about the need to create a safe place for children online, which simply won't be achieved by filtering or censorship of the Internet overall. We don't send children out into the streets to go to school, we send them to a safe building with security and rules. Until the Internet creates a safe and separate place for children and brings together key parties like government, google, disney and web hosts we will resolve nothing.

Where child pornography is concerned, the best thing that will come from this show is arming women with this information. As Flint Waters said, many of the crimes are committed in the home while the Mother sleeps. Lets continue to educate ourselves so that we know what to look for, what to do and how to make a change.

Original post at: http://www.oprah.com/community/thread/88211?start=1305&tstart=0

Tips for better Family Portraits

2008-10-23T15:45:00.000-07:00

Your Photo Shoot
So, you’ve decided to get a photo taken of your family – aint that sweet! Below are some tips to make sure you get the result you are hoping for … a beautiful family portrait that you can store in your wallet, give as a gift, hang on your wall and treasure forever.

Getting the most out of your photos:
There’s a few simple things you can do to make sure your pictures are the best they can be

Get individual shots taken at the same time as your family portrait – it might take a bit longer but you’re already dressed up anyway so make the most of it!
Take shots of mum & dad together, siblings, best friends etc – group your family members together to get a wide variety of shots you can use for your wall or your wallet
Make the most of your budget by being creative and look at the options that fit within what you are prepared to spend – decide on the budget before you start, so you don’t get carried away after you see the shots and buy them all!
If you want to avoid expensive printing costs from premium photographers, shop around for a photographer who will give you a CD of photos to print yourself. You will probably pay a little more up front, but it will save you from returning to the photographer each time you want a reprint.

What to wear:
While matching clothes may be a bit corny, the effect of a family dressed the same can give a real unity and consistency to the photo. It also makes sure the photo is more about the faces, the people, the relationships and the ‘moment’, rather than being about what you are wearing. Now before you head out and buy Dad a dress, ‘the same’ can be as simple as a repeated element or color such as:

Dress everyone in black shirts & jeans or white shirt & jeans
Dress everyone in the same colored shirt or boys & girls in opposite colors
Ensure nobody is wearing clashing or prominent colors such as bright red and yellow or hawaiian shirts, unless this is the effect you are going for! At least talk before you leave the house!
Nose rings rock! But in photos they look like ‘something landed on your face’. Your call.
Dress to create the photo you want to achieve. If you only want headshots, make sure your heads look good. Do your hair. Wear a nice, clean, pressed top. Don’t drink a bottle of bourbon before hand. If you want full body shots, wear decent shoes or none at all. If you want a relaxed, beachy feel to your photos or a country, farm feel then dress appropriately.
If you’re a silly family, then be silly. What’s wrong with a family portrait of the whole family wearing clown noses? Or dressed in costume of the same theme? It’s your family, so capture what makes you special.

Makeup:
Some portrait companies may offer you the option of a full makeover before your photo – if this is within your buget, DO IT! It’s fun having someone else do the work … and being pampered with some attention is a great way to relax you before your photos and bring out your inner confidence. Good foundation will clear out any blemishes in the skin, but then so can good photoshop in the editing process so don’t be too concerned!

If you are doing your own makeup, try not to overdo it but it is a good idea to wear lipstick and some eyeliner and mascara. Too much makeup and you’ll look like a drag queen, but not enough makeup and your features may disappear into your face.

Think of the future:
Did you ever have a portrait done in the 80’s? And did you think you were super cool back then? And is that family portrait now hidden in the depths of the family photo box, never to be seen again? Firstly, you should get that portrait out of the closet and display it proudly on your wall – you might not like what you were wearing NOW, but you loved it then and a photo is meant to capture a moment in time and freeze it forever. So you had a mullet and wore flouro plastic beads – so what, its part of who you are – and besides, it will give all your new friends a laugh.

However if you don’t want a portrait that dates too obviously, avoid trends and stick with classic … classic clothes, classic makeup, classic hair, classic setting. If you want a portrait that you can look back on and laugh at, then pull out those fashion mags and glam it up baby!

Do your research:
There are millions of talented photographers around the world with web pages to showcase their work. Browse their websites, look through galleries and visit as many websites as you can to get a wide variety of options and ideas You may find someone you like who happens to be in your area.

Here’s some good examples of portfolio’s featuring family portraits:

http://www.mccrystalimage.exposuremanager.com/
http://www.creativeportrait.com/
http://www.snapshotpics.com/
http://www.vanostrom.com/family.html

Location:
Indoors
A studio will give you a range of benefits such as clean backgrounds, additional lighting, green screen, instant photo viewing and a host of other effects which can only be achieved with electricity and technology. Decide the type of photo you want to achieve and ask your photographer if they have a studio to produce the result.

Outdoors
There are beautiful outdoor locations everywhere like waterfalls, beaches, rainforests, ponds, mountains and funky smelling, inner city, back alleys with that certain ‘urban chic’. Be careful not to stand in front of a backdrop that you will get lost in or that clashes with your clothing.

Time of Day:
The recommended shooting times are early morning or late afternoon and the worst time is noon, but this really can vary depending on your location. Shooting in late afternoon is risky, as the sun may set leaving you with no light at all. Shooting in the afternoon in some locations can also cause long shadows which can be frustrating to shoot around.

Posing:
There’s nothing worse than a photo of people trying hard to appear happy and relaxed – that usually results in stiff smiles and tense bodies and a photo that does nothing to capture your spirit. Be creative with angles, heights, activities and silly fun. Jump around, build a sandcastle or go sky diving!

What NOT to do:
· DON’T stress out!
· DON’T be boring!
· DON’T try to be someone else!
· DON’T take it too seriously

Did the Internet break the Economy?

2008-10-10T00:03:00.000-07:00

Well, did it?

Naked Children as art?

2008-10-02T14:55:00.000-07:00

"I see their [children] work [posing naked] with me only giving them a sense of pride and pleasure in later life."

You would be forgiven for thinking the above sentence was spoken by a paedophile in a police interview in defence of owning a collection of inappropriate photos of children - but it's actually a statement from Australian artist, Bill Henson, attempting to justify his 'art' to an outraged world.

Bill Henson's star has grown, making him a household name with the media outrage about his recent exhibition filling news and current affairs programs for months. The exhibition featured photos of a 12 year old girl simply standing naked, beautifully lit and showing an innocence on her face that might bring an art lover to tears ~ a beautiful piece of art.

Previous exhibitions have seen girls of similar ages posed naked in a variety of settings, including a piece titled "Untitled 1985/86" which shows a young girl naked on a bed, with her legs slightly spread ... it is here that the true controversy begins - the line between capturing a moment of innocence or drawing the viewer (and therefore, the subject) into a sexual space.

Art has always brought with it a set of rules - or should I say, exceptions to rules - where the standards and laws that apply to the rest of society can be broken, provided the subject or action has 'artistic merit'. This includes photos of naked children.

Artistic Merit

'Artistic Merit' is a well known grey area used successfully by much of the porn industry, famously battled in the courts by media man Larry Flynt who fought obscenity laws by using 'artistic merit' as defence. Suspected obscenity is not considered obscene if the subject or message has artistic or educational merit ~ a vague law which means simply adding an article or some information to a pornographic image makes it 'art'.

Does it seem strange to anyone else that parents have been prosecuted via child pornography related charges after bringing rolls of film featuring their children playing in the bath to an over cautious photo development store while Bill Henson's exhibition is met with congratulations from those who consider themselves more cultured than the rest of us?

After a decade of working with adult material, I can almost guarantee that the photos of the young girl have made it into paedophile collections around the world, her budding pubescent nipples providing titillation for a disturbed portion of our society. The photos will be stored on hard drives, printed in albums and stuck on walls alongside clothing catalogues and in many cases with truly disturbing shots of children being exploited in ways most of us can only imagine.

While our laws may allow the photo of a child on a bed with her legs spread to be legal due to artistic merit, paedophile rings clap with glee at this major loophole that could very well protect them in their 'business'. While toddlers go missing from hotels in foreign countries and children are sold by their economically struggling parents into hellish sexual circumstances, we sit back obliviously arguing the acceptability of naked children as art.

Protecting our children

I'm sure you will forgive me for taking the creative rights of this artist a little less seriously than I take the rights of these children to be protected and cared for. How can we teach children that it is not acceptable for them to let themselves be photographed naked while our most popular media representatives garble on about 'artistic merit'?

What message are we sending to other 12 year old girls when we express how beautiful Bill Henson's 12 year old naked subject is, while at the same time we are trying to teach them to avoid all of the sexual messages thrown at them by our society and media? How can we tell other 12 year old girls, desperately looking for love and approval of their appearance, to keep their clothes on and respect their bodies when we allow artists to exploit the desires of young girls in the name of art, publicity and money?

Bill Henson told Fairfax Media, "The girl's parents are fine because they believe in what they believe in," a statement that scares me more than anything else I've read about this subject. The assumption that all parents are only concerned about what is best for their children is simply wrong. While these parents might have thought it a great honour for their child to be asked to be a subject for a famous artist, have they let this feeling overpower their common sense and better judgement in their role as parents?

Child Beauty Queens as Sexual Objects

For over a decade, since the Internet became a major part of our lives, web sites have existed which fall completely within the legal bounds of American law (which means the sites are available for us to view in Australia). Young girls in the pageant world have their own websites, filled with images of themselves in their costumes, getting ready and generally telling the story (in photos) of their life as junior performers.

The name given to these groups of sites is 'non nude'. As these sites fall into a high risk billing category, the parents use billing companies which specialized in porn site billing to charge a monthly subscription fee which allows members access to the content on these websites.

The children are fully clothed, so technically no laws are being broken - but the very existence of these sites has no other purpose than the entertainment of those who like looking at young girls in Lycra.

For me the art of Bill Henson falls somewhere into this category - it is simply unnecessary for it to exist at all when the cost (the right of a child to be sexually innocent) is so high. Parents are blinded by their selfish desires to make their offspring famous where they failed in their own goals completely ignoring the long term effects of sexualizing children on the individual and society alike.

What is a Paedophile?

About.com provides a definition of the qualities of a Paedophile, designed to help parents and children alike recognise someone whose intentions are less than honourable. These are some of the points made in their article:

Many paedophiles often prefer children close to puberty who are sexually inexperienced, but curious about sex.
He will often refer to children in pure or angelic terms using descriptives like innocent, heavenly, divine, pure, and other words that describe children but seem inappropriate and exaggerated.
The paedophile will often be employed in a position that involves daily contact with children.
Paedophiles work to master their manipulative skills and often unleash them on troubled children by first becoming their friend, building the child's self esteem. They may refer to the child as special or mature, appealing to their need to be heard and understood then entice them with adult type activities that are often sexual in content such as x-rated movies or pictures.
It is not unusual for the child to develop feelings for the predator and desire their approval and continued acceptance. They will compromise their innate ability to decipher good and bad behaviour, ultimately justifying the criminal's bad behaviour out of sympathy and concern for the adult’s welfare. This is often compared to Stockholm Syndrome - when victims become attached emotionally to their captors.
One factor that works against the paedophile is that eventually the children will grow up and recall the events that occurred. Often paedophiles are not brought to justice until such time occurs and victims are angered by being victimized and want to protect other children from the same consequences.

Quotes from the artist

"They see their involvement in the work as a good thing, a positive thing."

"Unlike everyone else, I do have first-hand experience of working with these people (children) - working with them for years and seeing them grow up.

"I see their work with me only giving them a sense of pride and pleasure in later life."

In Conclusion

It is no secret that children like to do the exact opposite of what their parents tell them, which brings us to the scary prospect of your 12 year old daughter asking you if she too can have a beautiful portrait of herself just like Bill Henson's subject.

When you say no, can you be sure she hasn't been influenced by the discussion in the media, leaving her open to predators and exploitation?

How can we expect our children to use good judgement when, as adults, we can't even agree on a subject that should be black and white rather than the ever-increasing shades of grey we continue to make with our debates?

How are you going to teach your child the difference between a sexual predator and an 'artist' who wants to capture their innocent beauty? Do you know the difference yourself? And more importantly ... does the artist?

More information:

http://www.theage.com.au/news/arts/auctioneer-defends-henson/2008/09/09/1220857549207.html

Internet Marketing & Development

2008-09-12T02:28:00.001-07:00

This will be the home of my articles in relation to Internet Marketing, design, development, web strategy and eCommerce.