Words to Lyrics Ben Ho's observations from the cloud

27 August 2009

Reflection Statement

Filed under: Reflection — Tags: , , — Ben @ 11:03 pm

Tomorrow (Friday) is the deadline for HSC English Extension 2 major works. As part of their work, a reflection statement is written to, supposedly, ‘reflect’ on the major work they have composed. This week, the phrase has been uttered many times, in different ways, expressions and the like.

Given that Year 12 finish school in a matter of weeks, I took this phrase and thought, “What has been great about this part of my life?” I am, of course, referring to the last 12 months or so of high school.

I really want people to reflect on what has been great in the last year, in the last three years, or in my case, the last 10 years at Barker. The next few weeks, free of assessments and exams, are a great time to pause and reflect. There are other things we can think about too:

  • As above, your time in high school
  • Friendships and relationships
  • Contributions you have made to a group e.g. choir, rugby team, debating team
  • Personal achevements academically, socially, etc.

And also especially for you all:

  • Your sense of belonging over the past year
  • What you have done to change yours or others’ sense of belonging
  • Initiatives you have started to affect others’ belonging

I think that this a good way to realise what achievements you have made over the last year, and will give an insight into what lies ahead. Life sometimes throws too much at us. Everyone needs a way to release and understand what’s going on. This is just one way to do just that.

Happy reflecting!

23 August 2009

My Social Map

Filed under: Tech — Tags: , , , , — Ben @ 8:17 pm

I thought I’d show you how my social networks interact with each other. This might shed some light on how you might organise your social networks to best interact with your fans.

Shown below are my most used networks/services and how they interact with each other.

Slide1

(Click to see bigger)
As you can see, I target my social services to multiple places. Delicious, Twitter and flickr are pushed to all places: Blog, universe (my website, and the respective service sites), Friendfeed (aggregator) and Facebook.

Facebook is special because it allows me to publish things to a limited audience, whilst being able to share public stuff with friends. This blog is also great, because it provides a front for these posts and all the services. All my stuff is public within each social network. All a bit simple really.

21 August 2009

Here we are

Filed under: Reflection — Tags: , , — Ben @ 9:55 am

Six weeks ago, many of us never thought that this day would come. For the last two weeks, I and everyone in year 12 have had trial examinations. These are the final school assessments before the HSC exams in October.  I must say, that even with all the hype surrounding Trial exams, everyone handled it quite well. As with the last exam period, I went around motivating everyone (and myself) to do the best we can. On the library wall, there is a poster that says:

The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.

For those who are wondering, yes, I put that up. I felt that it was rather witty concerning the last two weeks.

And now, we are all celebrating the end of these exams with drinks all round. I’m happy that everyone’s happy.

I’m also happy to say that a massive creative burst is on the table. You’ll see a lot more posts about lots of things very soon. Now, I’m celebrating.

30 July 2009

Phone in a jar.

Filed under: Reflection — Tags: , , — Ben @ 10:33 pm

This afternoon, I put my iPhone in a glass jar. It was nothing special; I just thought it looked nice in a glass jar. While carrying this around the place, I encountered conversations that went a bit like this:

Someone: Why have you got your phone in a jar?
Me: Long story.

Some people were persistent enough to ask what the long story was. Here it is.

I have some tea leaves. I needed a glass jar for them. I brought this one on Tuesday, but I found a smaller one. Hence, I am taking this home today, and I thought the iPhone looked good inside.

After this long story, some of the responses were rather interesting. Some people commented it being a new style icon: “iPhone in a jar”. Some thought I was rather stupid. Here is the most interesting response.

Ok. Well, good luck with the glass jar!

Overall, a very interesting experiment.

20 July 2009

Optimism + recount

Filed under: Reflection — Tags: , , — Ben @ 11:17 pm

I’d like to talk today about optimism. I think it is great to be optimistic about what you do and think. Often it allows us to focus and forget about things that have passed. But how much optimism is too much? Is it unhealthy due to its ability to cover up our shortcomings?

I recently applied for a traineeship at a large accounting firm (who will not be named here). They put a large focus on hiring the right people i.e. spend a lot on their recruiting, finding those who fit their ‘core values’. Now, I got a fair way through this recruiting process, met a lot of great people, but today, I got a call from their one of their recruiting staff. I didn’t make it. It does take a great deal of guts to deliver bad news, even over the phone. Most would rather use email to do the same. After that call, thoughts were provoked. Should one start to be sceptical about what people say, especially when they speak from an overlooking perspective (such as from the viewpoint of a company)?

The recruit staff had told the candidates all the way, “Be yourself … accountants are people, they like to talk”. When I look back at the experience, it was a mistake to take their advice literally, part or whole. Everyone there is so competitive, so you have to change your behaviours to set yourself apart. I now realise what has been apparent for so long. Life is competitive. Enjoy the challenge, but don’t let it drag you down. Let each failure be a lesson for the future.

Was it also a mistake to be too optimistic? Did too much enthusiasm spoil my chances?

If anyone who I met from that particular traineeship is reading this, it was great to meet you, good luck for the future, I hope we meet again somewhere, someday.

17 July 2009

Announcing Recognition Week

Filed under: Forward Thinking — Tags: , — Ben @ 9:46 pm

At the time of writing, it is 68 days until Recognition Week.

Today, I am announcing Recognition Week. It is going to run from the 24th September to 1st October. It will be a week for me to thank everyone for their contribution to Year 12, 2009. I’m doing this, because everyone has done so much for me, and also to show how much everyone has contributed to the Year 12 group.

I’ll be doing a lot of things for everyone to benefit from. Probably the most ambitious act during the week, will be my aim to give a free hug to everyone over the course of the week. Those who accept, will get a small card from me, saying thanks and also to remember the time spent. Certain others will get larger cards, for those with more stuff to thank them for.

This will not be limited only to Barker Year 12, I invite anyone who I have met, whether it is for one minute, one day, or one year to receive this free gift.

While I’m almost at the end of a significant part of life, it is a great opportunity to reflect on the happenings of the last few years. They certainly have made a considerable impact on my life, which has flown on to others, and that is something to be thankful for.

I hope you approve!

6 July 2009

I have a vision…

Filed under: I Wonder — Tags: , , , — Ben @ 6:43 pm

I think most people have a short term aspiration or a goal. It might be something small or something that is bold and daring. Nevertheless, we find sometimes that our own goals are fun to work towards, and rewarding in the end.

I’ve had this plan inside for months, and I’d like to share it with you.

When December comes, I want to start something revolutionary, something that everyone who contributes to it gets something out of it. It is a collaborative effort, based on something that has been done before, but not many of you may know or have seen.

Based on the Laughing Squid blog, it is a blog reporting on Sydney’s art, culture and current affairs. The reporting will come from those who are in the scene; you. One of the great things about this is that the reporting will be independent from any news/media agency. It’s like going underground, without going underground.

Some of the things that would make up the reports include: music, film, stage, art, photography, food, icons, places, happenings, gatherings, impromptu parties, style, fashion, trends, plus a few.

This blog will also act as a guide of what is to come, an events list gathered from venues that host such events.

Now, that’s just the “contributing” part. The “benefit” part can be seen as twofold. The first, well, is obvious. You get independent analysis and commentary on events in Sydney. The second is a bit complex, but well worth it. Because the blog is a collaborative, it will be big enough to give opportunity to our contributors to do things that, say, a freshman journo probably won’t be able to. I hope this project will at least give a contributor a new experience, from something small, as photographing a slightly publicised event, to getting press passes for something big. Basically, those things that only big organisations get to do, but most common folk want to experience. It’s hard to put in words though, so sorry if some of you are still confused.

I think, that as some of our readers near the end of school, there is a small focus on how to keep in contact with friends that we have known for years. It’s obviously easier to do so now, due to the rise of social networks. This is probably a more interesting way to keep in touch, as well as sharing useful information that isn’t well documented.

29 June 2009

How can they survive?

Filed under: Rant — Tags: , — Ben @ 10:23 pm

This is another photography related rant. (Sorry Mark)

Whilst looking around Facebook yesterday, I saw some photos of a particular formal had turned up. Obviously they had a good time. But what I noticed (and this is not new) is that people nick the photos from the photography company’s website, watermarks and all. I think this speaks volumes about me next point.

These photography companies are contracted by organisers of the formal to take photographs and document. This is in the hope that cash-strapped people buy their photos for ‘keepsakes’. It is like as if they expect you to look back in a few year’s time and say, “Look at me, this was at my formal back in year 11! Wow!” But they clearly don’t seem to notice that people are “stealing” their photos and recognising the hard work of others.

Mind you, I don’t have a problem with this happening. I think it is stupid how photography companies and afford the time and resources to shoot an event where they don’t expect their clients to buy their work. I mean, who spends the few dollars getting a low res file without a watermark? Wouldn’t it just be better to just offer the product pro bono?

This is the principle that I follow with my recent photography work. I don’t feel I have the authority nor the capacity to charge people for photos of themselves. I believe that I have done a good job offering my best service for the greater good of the people. All I ask in return is some recognition of the hard work that has gone into making a good product. Why should people have to pay for something that they may not look at in a few years? Granted, it just keeps the moment lasting for longer.

28 June 2009

Photographer’s Respect

Filed under: Rant — Tags: , , — Ben @ 6:27 pm

When I shoot any event, whether it be a concert, official school event, or a music tour, there are those who are always bugging you for new photos. Having done my fair share of events, I have to say that it sometimes gets annoying, but the satisfaction that you see on your “client” is well worth it. This got me to think, does this happen between photographers on a smaller scale?

I think that everyone would love to live in a perfect world. But this isn’t one. It’s filled with anger, harassment and negative criticism. Nevertheless, there are those that seek to shine a light in the dark holes of the world. I want it to be the same with photography and photographers. Luckily, we are nearly half-way there, with social networks that encourage good photography mixed with the vivacity of life. However, not everyone is willing to share their work with others. Many stay cooped up on Facebook and share only with friends. (Don’t get me started on the Facebook photo argument!)

What I want to see more of is some personal recognition, face-to-face. I think it would be great, if someone you knew came up to you and said, “Hey! I just saw your photos of the art stuff in Sydney last week. It’s sooo good!” I want to see photographers respecting other photographers.

I guess the reason why I am writing this is that I suspect some people out there really like my stuff, and respect me for it. But something is stopping them from saying it. I’m not trying to show off here, I’m just noting an observation.

So can I challenge you to respect a photographer if you really like their work. I’m sure that they’ll thank you for it.

16 June 2009

Marketing an Extreme Sport

Filed under: I Wonder,Reflection — Ben @ 7:18 pm

Extreme sports need extreme forms of marketing. Take extreme ironing for example. If you ever see an ad about it, you normally see some enthusiastic person overdoing the ironing action. The “extreme sport” of debating has had its fair share of clever marketing campaigns over the years.

This year at school, our 1st Debating team has been prolifically handing out badges with a photo of the team. Also part of the campaign is revealing the long history of the members of the team, showing a photo of them back in the primary school days. A promotional video was made, poking fun at their other interests: drama, footy and that Christian notion. In the past, such campaigns have included Debate ’08 (based on Kevin Rudd’s Kevin07 election campaign) and iDebate (based upon the Apple i frenzy of the time)

I have to say, that the marketing is trying to position debating as the Next Big Thing, the pinnacle of extreme sports. Compared to footy or music, debating unfortunately has a low profile. It has a stigma upon it that only those who are smart can play, and that it requires a lot of wit. Being a former debater myself, I have seen that for the majority of people out there, most have a fear of public speaking, and that all due respect is given to those who can regularly stand and speak, let alone improvise a rebuttal at a complex argument.

The marketing has retained its wittiness, which keeps it in line with what the “sport” is all about. I think people are drawn to the cleverness of it, and that is why it has such a strong support group. Now their next challenge, is to recruit new debaters, as talent these days is ever so hard to find.

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