Masterclass on new media and politics

My old mate Barry Turley has pulled together an interesting talk about new media and elections.

Drop him an email if you would like more details. Here is Barry’s pitch for the gig.

Blogs, podcasts, vodcasts, social networking, RSS feeds and youtube

As a result of the progression of the internet and social technology, the way we communicate has changed dramatically over the past decade.

Today, there are opportunities for a new type of democracy. Government has recognised the need to become more engaging, participative and transparent. In the past six months, all the major political parties here have
re-launched their websites and expanded their digital reach.

We have the ability to have a broader influence on policy, through a more accessible and participative process.

In this master class, we will bring you in contact with a social media expert – the leading authority on influencing the political process using online technology.

Social Media Specialist:

Dave Briggs, Community Evangelist for Learning Pool

In 2004, Dave discovered his interest in social media and started to consider how it might be applied to his work in government – and started to blog about it. His presence was so effective and wide reaching that five years later he was working as a digital communications advisor at 10 Downing Street, adopting progressive new approaches to engaging with the public and key influencers.

Now, Dave works for the dynamic e-learning company Learning Pool where he guides organisations as to how they can develop a culture of collaboration and innovation through social technology.

Who do I think I am?

We all wonder about our ancestors. Did they really live where family myth has them?

My family roots are in Belfast and Galway. That I am a Dubliner is an accident of partition. Both histories are interesting, one urban and political the other rural and romantic.

The national archives in Dublin have just put the 1911 census online. I guess this must have been the last full census before partition and so the final opportunity to see every person on this island on the one record. 

I thought I’d test it out with a quick search for the Belfast McDevitt’s or more specifically my great grandparents Daniel and Emily as well as Brendan my own grandfather. There they are living at 455 Falls Road. An address which is at the heart of many a family tale. The roof that kept the rain of James Connolly’s head when he first came to Belfast and home to a family born out of the union of a Unitarian from the Shankill and a Catholic from the falls.

Daniel (Danny) McDevitt was quite the character. A Tailor, his shop on Rosemary Street in Belfast was known as the Bounders College and became a gathering place for radicals and progressives at the city at the turn of the 20th century. He was interned at Ballykinlar after the rising and left the North for the newly established Free State in 1922 where he continued making suits for the rest of his life. Brendan became a civil servant and fathered seven children, Una, Don, Maeve, Colm, Rory (my dad), Cahir and Bairbre.

I don’t know if the original names have been digitally read but my great uncle Turlough has become Dorlac online. There is also a name I don’t recognise also, a Sarah McNamara, aged 82 – listed as a widow.  

God only knows who I really am!

Surfing Donegal

Off for a days surfing lessons in Donegal with the kids. We will be in the expert hands of the Bundoran Surf Co, who themselves blog a bit. 15ft waves forecast this afternoon at 10 sec intervals – they will seem like fifty footers to us beginners.

Its all part of our 2009 staycation with jaunts down south and loads of day trips around the North to do new things. So far so good….

Captain Underpants to the rescue

I have been meaning to blog for sometime about Captain Underpants. He dominates my eight year old son’s reading list and made quite an impact on a twenty eight year old in the office last month when OIsin brought a couple of books in. 

Written by Dav Pilkey, the books chronicle the adventures of two fourth graders, George Beard and Harold Hutchins, and the aptly-named superhero they accidentally create by hypnotizing their principal, Mr Benny Krupp.

Rude, fast paced and very funny and exceptionally well written they have a way getting into the minds of young male readers. 

The titles say it all: The Adventures of Captain Underpants (1997), Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets (1999), Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from  Outer Space (and the Subsequent Assault of the Equally Evil Lunchroom Zombie Nerds) (1999),

Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants (2000), The Captain Underpants Extra-Crunchy Book o’ Fun (2001), Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman (2001), The All-New Captain Underpants Extra-Crunchy Book o’ Fun 2 (2002), The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby (2002), Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy#Part One: The Night of the Nasty Nostril Nuggets (2003), Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy#Part Two: The Revenge of the Ridiculous Robo-Boogers (2003) and Captain Underpants and the Preposterous Plight of the Purple Potty People (2006). I have listed them all to give a true sense of the series!

We were messing around last night and I managed to record a couple of clips of Oisin in his own words describing some of the Captain’s adventures:

Oisin on Captain Underpants

Tell us more Oisin

The next book, Captain Underpants and the Terrifying Return of Tippy Tinkletrousers, is out in May and a countdown is underway at the local P5 class. I can wait to hear how Dr Diaper (the principal villan) is defeated this time. Or whether the Talking Toilet, Zorx, Clax, Jennifer, the Dandelion of Doom, or Professor Pippy Pee-Pee Poopypantys get their way.

Dav Pilkey’s story is good one too. A disruptive kid, he spent a considerable proportion of his school days in detention. This led to lots of cartoon drawing which led to college and a professor who spotted the talent. Secondary school, however, did not agree with Dav:

“One day my principal took me out of class and said to me, ‘I know you think you’re special because you can draw, but let me tell you something: artists are a-dime-a-dozen. You will never make a living as an artist!’ Those words haunted me for many years. How delightful it was to prove him wrong.”

Lots more on Pilkey.com where you can read a comic strip biography.

Warning – the boys might get hooked!

I would just like to thank him for making an eight year old love books.

To Tweet or not to Tweet

The Irish Times and BBC have gone all Twitter.

Last night’s Hearts and Minds gave the local political system a Tweet with differing perspectives from Deric Henderson at PA and myself. Thanks to Pete Baker at Slugger for the YouTube clip.

The Irish Times has an altogether more corporate analysis of the social networking giant. Business this Week, reports on Twitter taking centre stage at this year’s South by South West music festival in Austin Texas.

Crossborder Christmas

O’Conall St is having a crossborder Christmas this year.

We wish all our visitors a happy time and look forward to continuing the conversation in 2009.

Day of the long knives

The two finance ministers on this island are sharpening their knives this morning.

Brian Lenihan delivers his first budget against an economic backdrop not seen in the south since the eighties and Nigel Dodds will be taking the floor at Stormont to warn there will be financial consequences here too.

According to the Irish Times:

Middle and higher-income earners will lose out significantly in the Budget, and many middle-income workers will find their tax bills increasing by €1,500 or more.

Taxpayers will, in future, only be able to claim standard rate tax relief on all medical and dental bills, rather than at the top rate as those paying 41 per cent tax can do today.

An increase in the existing 1.5 per cent health contribution levy for those earning over €100,000 a year is also thought possible when Mr Lenihan addresses the Dáil at 3.45 this afternoon.

Child benefit payments for children aged over 18 but attending university are to be halved. Child benefit, currently €166 a month, is payable for all children under 16 and for those between 16 and 19 with a disability or in full-time education.

Last night, it was indicated that child benefit for older children with disabilities would not be reduced, but that it would be halved for children over 18 who are still in education.

The €1,100-a-year childcare supplement, which is paid quarterly, will be reduced for all children under six.

Modest increases in basic social welfare rates are expected to keep weekly payments broadly in line, or slightly above, next year’s anticipated 2.5 per cent inflation rate.

All hospital charges are to increase significantly – by 10 per cent in many cases, including charges to be treated in accident and emergency, or to have a private bed in a public hospital.

Meanwhile the Irish News reports that Nigel Dodds will be asked to explain what shortfall he expects in the public budget as a result of the down turn.

On another matter. Does anyone know what the UUP are at?

One week its “post sectarian / pro Tory”, the next its “maximise the Unionist vote / anti-agreement”. Mmmmmm

Paul Newman RIP

Paul Newman died today. My late mother would be in bits to hear her favourite blue eyed male was no more.

Mr Newman was the only Hollywood legend I ever met. He filmed part of The Mackintosh Man on my late grandfathers farm outside Oranmore in Co Galway and there was no keeping my mother and her baby son (me) away. He signed a photo for the baby and took tea with the family in the production office (my Nana’s front room).

As far as I know they were on location for a few weeks and the man himself graced Ard Fry for a good part of that time in late ‘72 or early ‘73. The film which did not turn out to be a classic was directed by John Huston and also starred James Manson.  In the trailor below Newman can be seen jumping out of an old ruin called Ard Fry House, which is was brought him into our lives.

I’ll dig out the photo tonight and put it somewhere safe.

May he rest in peace.

Ed: The picture from Flickr is of Newman canvassing for Sen Eugene McCarthy in 1968 duiring his failed attempt to win the democratic nomination for the presidency. The screen legend consistently opposed wars during his adult life.

Wilson sets out a challenging agenda

Sammy Wilson put himself on course for a head on collision with London, Dublin and Brussels administrations on the issue of climate change last night. Speaking on BBC’s Hearts and Minds the Northern Ireland Environment Minister repeatedly denied the contribution greenhouse gases are making to climate change and steadfastly refused to introduce measures designed to reduce the region’s carbon footprint. He maintains there is no credible scientific evidence of climate change and what evidence there was is prejudiced. He went on to dismiss the International Panel on Climate Change as a failure. Mr Wilson also has an interesting perspective on fuel prices, blaming the ‘green lobby’ for many of the factors which are leading to the global increase in fuel costs.

The Programme for Government agreed by the main Assembly parties sets as a main objective the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to 25% below 1990 levels by 2025. It will be interesting to watch how much priority the Minister gives this objective.

On another front there is speculation that Caitriona Ruane might be replaced in Education this summer. One wonders whether a simple reshuffle will be enough to find a way through the policy morass.

We may be enjoying a period of political stability but I sense a growing unease amongst the electorate about the ability of our executive to govern through an agreed programme. Following St Andrew’s the principle of collective responsibility at cabinet level was introduced in Northern Ireland. Whilst ministers are entitled to their personal opinions the reality today is that we know more about what they believe personally then we do about what the executive stands for collectively.

Here is the interview in full complements of slugger.

Wilson, Foster and Dodds on the up.

Sammy Wilson has been promoted to the Department of the Environment. I can hear the green lobby reaching for the placards already.

Arlene Foster is the new Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment and Nigel Dodds has been promoted to Finance. So starts the Robinson era at Stormont with two safe pairs of hands in key departments.

A cigar also goes to Gregory Campbell who replaces Edwin Poots but will continue the language debate along pretty much the same lines. I do believe we got it kind of right on O’Conall Street this morning.