This, too, is Paris
10/14/2009
Starting a new day. The child in the tent still sleepy, but about to… get up.
Casopi.si – današnja izdaja slovenskih časopisov na spletu
09/04/2009
Krasna pridobitev (tudi) za vse v tujini živeče Slovence – pregledovalnik svežih izdaj slovenskih časopisov: Casopi.si
Hvala, Robert Klinc in Žiga Turk!
Plačljiv dostop do spletnih virov novic
09/02/2009
Zakaj bi moral biti dostop do internetnih izdaj tiskanih medijev na internetu brezplačen? Ker so informacije zastonj? Od kdaj? Za to, da pridejo do uporabnika, poskrbi cela veriga ljudi, ki morajo od česa živeti. Načeloma od prodaje oglasnega prostora.
V moj elektronski nabiralnik redno prihajajo pozivi, naj podpišem katero od peticij za ohranitev časopisov pri življenju ali se pridružim obraznoknjižni skupini v njihovo podporo, medijski moguli napovedujejo plačljivost novic, pošiljatelji omenjenih peticij pa se jim režijo v brk, trdeč, da bodo na internetu informacije za vselej ostale zastonj. S spornostjo tistega „ostale“ se bom mogoče ubadala kdaj drugič.
Prav nič me ne bo motilo, če bodo brez posebnega plačila (torej, če odmislim na primer plačilo dostopa do interneta, porabe električne energije in nakup/rabo računalnika) pri recimo temu vsaj načeloma resnih in zanesljivih medijih na voljo samo kratke novičke, osnovne informacije in arhiv, za kaj več pa bo treba plačati, da novinarji in drugi pisci prispevkov ne bodo kruha stradali. V to skupino ne vključujem polpismenih osebkov, ki zadnje čase ustvarjajo spletne vsebine vseh pomembnejših slovenskih medijev (#fail in #slovnica, bi rekli na tviterju). In da, tudi lastnik medija lahko dobiček mirne duše pobaše v žep, če je izdelek dober.
Informacije so res prav posebna dobrina in dobra obveščenost državljanov je nujen pogoj za demokratičnost družbe. Ampak s kakšnim argumentom jih lahko zahtevamo brezplačno? Časopisi (vredni branja) niso brezplačni. Ahha, treba je plačati papir, tisk in distribucijo. Spletišča pa domujejo na brezplačnih strežnikih in se vzdržujejo sama od sebe? Ok, torej informacij ne zahtevamo brezplačno, ampak smo prepričani, da jih bomo tako dobili. Če ne od Timesa, pa od kakšnega blogerja. Ki jih bo dobil od kod? In bo pripravljen brezplačno pisati kakovostne vsebine kako dolgo? Bo posredoval informacije ali svoje mnenje o zaužitih in ustrezno prebavljenih informacijah?
Noben medij ne more biti nepristranski. Z izbiro tem, ki jih pokriva, z izbiro novic, ki jih posreduje svojim uporabnikom, z načinom njihove predstavitve. Pošljite na isti dogodek tri novinarje in naj sestavijo prispevek. Če ne bodo kopirali besedila sporočila za javnost, bodo prispevki različni. Kolumnisti so tako ali tako zgodba zase.
Preskok s tiska na tv. Medij je medij. Če se bo v Sloveniji približala uresničitev črnega scenarija Murdocha mlajšega, po katerem preskrbljena javna hiša ostane pri življenju, drugi novičarski akterji, ki se ne financirajo iz proračuna, pa se bolj ali manj klavrno zavlečejo v kot, predlagam pri medijih podobno ureditev kot pri financiranju verskih skupnosti iz dela dohodnine. RTV prispevek plačam mediju po lastni presoji. Mogoče se bo potem direktorju javnega zavoda zazdelo pomembno, ali oddaje, plačane z denarjem davkoplačevalcev, ti kdaj tudi spremljajo.
Guided Tour of Ljubljana Castle on Saturday Evenings
08/14/2009
photo by dr. fil
OK so I love Ljubljana, what else is new. Plenty, actually. There is always more to discover in this beautiful town, always a chance to learn something new about the history of the buildings, the nature surrounding it and the people who called the area their home over the past several millennia.
Two weeks ago I made a short trip home and used the opportunity to take a new tour, one that takes you to the hidden spots of Ljubljana Castle that tourists usually don’t bother looking at, they look at them ignorant of what they’re seeing or the areas were not publicly accessible before .
Suffice to say that the tour was worth every eurocent and then some. It’s on at Saturdays, possibly only in August, at 8 pm and finishes with a glass of sparkling wine on top of the castle tower at sunset (see photo above). OK, you can have orange juice instead, but the moment may lose some of its glamour that way.
Thumbs up! Further reading:
http://www.visitljubljana.si/
http://www.ljubljana.si/
Best Breakfast in Town
07/06/2009
Who would have thought that the best breakfast in town is served straight off the trees and bushes in Bambësch?
ID the Perp #4
06/17/2009
Shiver me timbers! Me harties, this is no time for a parley! Let’s see some chain shots from them six pounders!
ID the Perp #3
OK guys I’ll be frank. I was unsure about the identity of the lizard myself. The bluff failed, but I will figure out his exact name. I do know who in this picture is, however. Any guesses? This bird was building its nest above the alligators at the farm. Apparently, the gators keep away pesky animals that are otherwise a threat to the nests, which makes the alligator farm a popular place for birds to build their family homes. The guy in the picture possibly does not qualify as your average perp, but the birds do tend to steal construction material from other nests.
A Rambling Report (and Go Vote!)
06/01/2009
(all photos taken on various occasions by dr. fil – please respect the copyright)
above: the new Honorary Citizen of Ljubljana, France Bučar gave an inspiring speech on values in today’s society, which received a standing ovation
above: the second new Honorary Citizen of Ljubljana, one of Slovenia’s top managers in his time Miran Goslar, instructed PM Borut Pahor on how to act in the current crisis; very interesting and possibly not quite as palatable for all as the first speech was
My blogging activity has definitely been declining. Again. Not that I ever considered myself a real blogger. This site started basically because of a nudge from a dear friend who thought I might have something interesting to say. Why he got that impression is beyond me. But I digress. Just to share with you guys a little bit of what has been going on around here.
above: never take yourself too seriously; Radio Ga-Ga, which recently turned 20 y/o should know (I just realised the first show was held on my birthday <G>)
Important info first. The cats are fine. Chuchi is being her wonderfully irresistible bitchy self and Perkmandeljc has become much more sociable and actually comes out to see the guests when they sit down in the living room. All the house parties must have done him good.
above: one of the house parties; just under 40 guests… ahem
Less importantly, I had a series of exams over a period of a month last month, starting with the last stretch of my EPSO competition. The final stage in this selection process, which took about a year all in all, was an oral exam in Brussels. I was successful and have been put on the reserve list. After that came an exam in the Political Science MA programme for Professor Cornell Clayton’s class on the constitutional development of the United States. What an interesting subject. Passing that one means I really should now start focusing on writing a thesis. Just do it, right? Not to make my life too boring, this exam was followed closely by my midterm French test. Love the language! Have I mentioned that I do actually hold a full-time day job?
above: I have, of course, been cooking, baking and entertaining; pictured is my latest edition of wholemeal bread with a variety of seeds
Right now, we are making final preparations for a trip to Florida and Georgia. I am so excited about visiting friends there, especially my “American Grandmother” Pat! Lord knows our political views are less than compatible, but I love her nonetheless. Not to mention that she fixes a mean peach cobbler! Bunkey is a one of a kind, Wade is going to take care of the barbecue, Jackie will again claim he ain’t got no accent and we’ll probably end up in his shed playing darts with the all-country-music jukebox on. The squirrels usually don’t object.
When we return, I resolve to start writing the texts for my thesis to get this done and over with. More learning will follow as I’m thinking about picking up my legal studies again. Maybe. Just maybe.
Oh, if you’re an EU citizen, don’t forget to vote next week! The EU parliament may have a greater impact on your daily life than you imagine as it is and with the Lisbon treaty, which is most likely to be ratified in Ireland come October, the Parliament’s role in EU’s decision-making processes will increase significantly. Get informed and vote accordingly. Since I’ll be overseas at the time, I have already mailed in my ballot.
Anyway, the cats are fine.
