Farewell to Betwixt and Between

I have finally forced myself to admit that I have too many blogs. I have a regular blogging berth at nmrg and I have my occasional 'project blog' at Writings not for WIMPs. I enjoy blogging about my work life and research interests so I have decided to pour my blogging energy into these two. My personal life is well 'personal' (in so much as that word has any meaning in the era of facebook and google) and not really something I have enjoyed blogging about. So it is time to say farewell to this blog. It was a fun experiment while it lasted!

This will be the last post on this feed. If there are any more it will either be me being absent-minded or else it will be some kind of internet nuisance...either way you can be forgiven for ignoring it!

regards

G

Adam Greenfield

Adam Greenfield
Originally uploaded by Esthr

I am blogging about Adam Greenfield's book over on nmrg (http://mad.beds.ac.uk/nmrg/ ).and I have just found this image to illuminate the page.

I have a Facebook account

Further to my previous posts about having a MySpace account I have now joined the long line of lemmings leaping into Facebook. I have to say that so far it has proved to be a much more lively experience than the odd bit of spam (and the odd good friend) that has marked my months in MySpace. I have bumped into a number of old friends and I have also made some new acquaintances.

My move to Facebook was prompted by the fact that some of my students were doing research on social software. It seemed appropriate to have a look in at what was going on. However, this has also introduced complication in the supervisor/student relationship as I now know when the guys are out on the town, who they were with and where it all ended up. I have to say that for the most part their photos and their posting of their antics make me rather jealous.

I have particularly enjoyed the Facebook applications. Now when I add a book to my library or I book mark an interesting page on del.cio.us it pops up on Facebook and others comment on what I have read or make recommendations. This is a good example of the power of a mash-up. i have also enjoyed the fact that these applications are built by third party types rather than by facebook. A good example of what an open API can do for your business.


However, I do wondered at the sanity of a system based on a database. Facebook collects and centralises data that hitherto was either tacit, not collected or lay moldering in all sorts of locations. It is all very Big Brother 2.0 don't you think!

However, I have decided that betwixt and between is my personal blog so I will take those thoughts over to nmrg (my work blog). See you on the dark side of the moon!

Boats at Crealy's Adventure Park

Boats at Crealy's
Originally uploaded by gavinandrewstewart

It is the summer holiday again.

Unlike last year, however, when I was fried alive whilst down in Devon this year it rained.

Not to worry there was still plenty to do and the sun did come out during a family outing to Crealy's Adventure Park. We even had chance to get wet for fun on these strange circular boats.

I have a mySpace page

I have succumbed to the urge to join in with all the rampant self-promotion and social networking boo-hooey going on over on mySpace.

You can see my profile if you like at the imaginatively title URL - http://www.myspace.com/gavinandrewstewart.

I am interested to know whether any good will come of this rather feeble attempt at self-marketing or whether I still remain Mister Nobby No-gigs at the end of the year.

Let me know what you think!

Poetry and Jazz - Hitchin Festival 2007

Tuesday 3rd July at 8.00 pm


“I remember, I remember…” – an evening of poetry on the theme of Childhood

New this year: ‘Open Mic’ –your chance to participate in the Festival

Choose a poem of up to 40 lines about Childhood– one of your own or by someone else – then ring 01462-431098 to book a reading slot (places are limited) plus Ware Poets reading poems about their own youth (mis-spent or otherwise!)

Interspersed with Jazz from Brian Benton (sax) and Russell Williams (keyboards).

The British Schools, Queen St., Hitchin (opposite Netto) Tickets £5 from the Festival Box Office, 27 Churchyard, Hitchin SG5 1HP or ring 01462-453336 for credit card bookings 10am – 3pm (after 11 June)

Tuesday 17th July at 8.00 pm

Two contrasting poets - Alan Murray - winner of the Torbay Open Poetry Competition 2004. Alan’s very accessible poems frequently reveal his other life as a philosopher. Ann Drysdale author of 4 collections published by Peterloo Poets. Ann’s well-crafted verse ranges from the thoughtful to the witty – often simultaneously.

Interspersed with Jazz from Brian Benton (sax) and Russell Williams (keyboards).

The British Schools, Queen St., Hitchin (opposite Netto) Tickets £5 from the Festival Box Office, 27 Churchyard, Hitchin SG5 1HP or ring 01462-453336 for credit card bookings 10am – 3pm (after 11 June)

Ware Poets Open Poetry Competition 2007

I have had some good news today. I won 4th Prize in the annual Ware Open Poetry Competition with 'Theatre of War: Summer 1940'. According to the competition organizers there were 1269 entries so it was nice to have a poem singled out. My poem was listed with some poets that I know and value (Michael Henry, Jenny Hamlett, Andre Mangeot). It was also very pleasing to be picked out by Tamar Yoseloff, as she is a poet-critic I have come to value of late (more of that later).

There is going to be a competition reading so if you are in or around Herfordshire on Friday 6th July 2007 then there will be a reading at 8.00pm at the Ware Arts Centre. The first half will be the competition winners. The second half will Tamar Yoseloff.

See there!