Teraknor

Without fail - once the seasonal silliness of chrismastide wains, we get to endure: News items that compile the best/worst of the year past Lists, more bloody effing lists of stuff that they wish to foist upon our already fact addled brains. Top #5, #10, #25, or #100 dull things that have happen in the year whatever that you never gave a flip about then and less so now. I am aware that our collective memories have now been reduced to a thimble sized consciousness. Where the news media machines rely on either lists, retrospectives or natural disasters to fill their otherwise void hype machines. What has been the list that has tickled you most - would you compile your own? Even better, should we introduce a top ten list of annual lists. ----- By the way this is my last entry for 2015. More coming in 2016.

The above image is by no means definitive - it does however describe how I link some of my social media inputs to multiple outputs. I am always wary to respond when asked about my impact as the measures are multiple. In effect I have three inputs (hootsuite, blog and twitter), yet there are eight outputs (blog, google+, twitter, LinkedIN, Facebook, Tumblr, WordPress, Medium). Each has their own affordances, each reaches different communities of interest. It isn't difficult being in these multiple places, some of the work is accomplished by TwitterFeed - for some it is also done via IFTTT as well as the specific integration resources available on a couple of platforms. In doing this, I can easily multiply my outputs by virtue of a single input. Something that should make sense for any social media savvy academic.

Lets tweet a selfie with an emoji sticker? Did this make sense to you, yes/no/CGAF*? Every year at this time of the year we have naval gazing churnalisim regurgitating the news and events of the last twelve months - ranking, rating and debating. Its boring - in the same vein the analysis always moves to words that have entered our collective vocabulary. A couple years ago, tantrums were had over selfie, now it seems that emoji will enjoy a similar spotlight. Grumpy arses get excited that language is on the decline and others are excited at this new addition. Language evolves, it is natural otherwise we will be caught in lost times. Consider: artigrapher - a lost word for a grammar expert fallaciloquence - a form of lying and deceitful communication -  maleolent - wiffy, stinky a bit of a pong You could still use the above, others may consider you a bit of a ponce. For those of us in our adulthood, what words made sense in our youth that you would no longer use (or ...

I hear the song of the electric spout, the rumble of its thunder. It twinkles out its own fairy dust, casting all asunder. Its green hue, too many, too few, everyone will begin to wonder. Have you eaten the electric spout, is there a mumble from down under.

Interweb, I cannot thank you enough - after clearing a large portion of my garage yesterday from the oversized packages. Also having added a fair old whack to global warming via the carbon emissions of various white vans. I have been saved from many hours mindless drudge - having to visit those temples of mammon, also known as shops. Using the comfort of my own tech, I have been avoiding this experience from years. From the early days of Tesco Online to Amazon Prime amongst others. Either getting it delivered to home as well as being ordered for collection from a couple of retailers. This now seems to be the experience for the entire Family Smith - with some having a little more of a casual browse than others. Having gotten into the habit of doing most of our shopping by November - with a trickle over December - this is the way that it should be. Thank you Interweb, a happy shopping hater I can be.

Two years ago I experimented with planning some Christmas Day posts on Facebook  ... for 2015, I decided to try out Twitter. The bonus is that it also links to other social media platforms. The prose is corny, however it does fit the 140 characters. 08:30 Its Christmas morning in the Smith household Not a single turkey in sight Whilst one fowl breathes easy Five others take fright 09:30 Soon it will be time for breakfast Our first set of seasonal treats Stockings filled to brim Have we hidden the Amazon receipts? 11:30 Church service done, birth of Christ celebrated Children having wild fun ... Today isn't only a pagan time Christmas is for everyone 12:05 Time to open the main gifts Joy of having all the family with us Even if it is for two days 12:55 Lunch time soon, friends will arrive A mince pie welcome John and Yoko playing in the kitchen Sharing and welcome is what Christmas becomes 16;00 Stuffed like a bird Maybe a little absurd Dr Who and Call the...

Last weekend, I sent my usual Christmas message to my tutor groups. The gist is similar for each group: Take a break - you need it I know you are going to study, just take a break anyway While we (the module teams) do factor in a break from study for our students, as a result of experience, common sense and fair practice. Deep down, we know that for many of our students in the madness leading up to Christmas - the next ten days is the space they need to catch up. So - take care OUStudents everywhere - while it is silent night for many, I am guessed that you will still be burning the OUStudent candle at both ends. One does salute you.