Thursday, December 22, 2005

From Benton Headlines: A GROWN-UP KID MAKES SOME TV REQUESTS STUDY: KIDS REVEAL TOO MUCH ONLINE [SOURCE: USAToday] Kids and teens frequently take risks on the Internet by communicating with strangers and sharing too much personal information, the Polly Klaas Foundation reports in a study today. About 42% of teens who go online say they post personal information so others can contact them; 30% say they have talked about meeting someone they encountered online; and 27% say they have talked online about sex with someone they have never met in person. The study does not delve into the results of those actions. WARY OF DISSENT, TUNISIA MAKES WAR ON THE WEB [SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Daniel Williams] Even as delegates from 175 countries met in Tunis in November for the World Summit on the Information Society, a gathering aimed at spreading information technology around the world, the government kept up its controls. Delegates protested, but to no apparent result. Government censors routinely block access to content and sites that draw concern. Monitors at public computers keep watch on users to see if they succeed in getting around the obstructions. Writing the wrong thing on the Internet can bring jail time. POSITION AVAILABLE: MANAGING DIRECTOR, MMTC The Minority Media and Telecommunications Council (MMTC) is currently accepting applications for the position of Managing Director. This full-time position, based in Washington, D.C., is perfect for a candidate with management and fundraising skills who also has a commitment to the civil rights mission of MMTC. The Managing Director is responsible for MMTC operations, budgeting, expenditures, services (including the website and conferences), development, and fundraising, including grantsmanship. The Managing Director reports to the MMTC Executive Committee. Candidates should submit a cover letter and resume by the end of the business day on Friday, December 30, 2005. No phone calls, please. Materials may be submitted by mail to: Dr. Everett C. Parker, Treasurer MMTC 3636 16th Street N.W. Suite B-366 Washington, DC 20010 or by email to dhonig@crosslink.net 4:39:26 PM    comment []

SFMOMA admission discount for podcasters. The PODCASTS page on the website of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art offers an RSS feed and MP3 downloads of SFMOMA Artcasts of current exhibitions. The text explains: Each month, we bring you closer to the voices and sounds of artists, writers, curators, musicians, and visitors as they respond to exhibitions and artworks on view at SFMOMA. The Artcasts are archived by month. If you at attend the museum in person and present an MP3 player loaded with the Artcast of a current exhibition, you will receive a $2 discount on your admission. Even more avant audio is the SFMOMA Artcast Invitational which accepts up to 4-minute entries if you are a sound artist, a closet critic, or a casual observer with a keen eye for art and a flair for language . . . [Smart Mobs] 8:35:02 AM    comment []

Students to Bear Big Burden Under the Final Budget Bill. Under the final budget bill, college students would pay higher interest rates on loans. By ROBERT PEAR and MICHAEL JANOFSKY. [NYT > Education] 8:21:04 AM    comment []

Your Right to Be an Idiot. Bad information and outright lies pulled off the internet can cause harm. In a benign case, maybe you louse up a term paper. In its malignant form, you could ruin a life. What, if anything, should be done about it? Commentary by Tony Long. [Wired News] 8:20:57 AM    comment []