Stronger #blogjune
A long time between posts but I have been following some of the #blogjune posts as I still have a feed set up for them, and it’s been great to see Con, Kathryn, Snail, Andrew and Graeme, but in checking my feeds there are heaps like me who no longer blog. I genuinely liked blogging (it was always the personal for me) and like the idea of doing more (and gasp…how can I have 69 draft posts…I am not even looking). WordPress looks different too, but that’s OK. I do like being on a laptop to type and not on the phone or tablet, so that probably puts me off a little as my phone/tablet are never far away in comparison to the lappy. I have really enjoyed the #blogjune posts – I get more, different aspects, thoughts, dreams, drawings…connection.
so what’s up?
Well I stopped working in late January this year, retired, yes I think but open to casual or part time work…and open to who knows what type of work. Having said that I haven’t been looking.
Hindsight is a great thing isn’t it? 2020 was hard for everyone and hard in ways I was not aware of at the time. I was busy in a way I thought I was OK with, but it was wearing me down and I made the decision to stop work in the latter part of 2020. I’m 59, it’s the big 60 this year and I really didn’t have a retirement plan. But I facilitated and coordinated some major projects in 2020 including 12 VET reaccreditations (two panels, all online, 12 reports), some major policy rewrites and reviews, and the first big year of the Professional Pathways project.
On weekends I was making sure my parents (91 and 88 years old and living 2 hours away) were safe. My sister and I alternated seeing them on weekends and doing a big food shop etc. But then mum got quite sick mid year and it became really apparent that we needed them closer, to nurture, support and keep an eye on them. They moved in December into a retirement place in the same suburb as my sister and I and they are now happily living independently in their own 1 bedroom apartment. So I see mum and dad most days but not every day, often for a coffee and to do the SMH quick crossword, we go to galleries and the NLA, have lunch out, go on drives. I am spending this rich time with my parents, time I have never had before. This is the first time since I left home after Yr 12 that I have lived in the same state or territory as my parents, so there is a bit of ‘getting to know you’. I get this precious time with them, whatever that will bring.
So retirement ? How’s that going for you. Firstly can I say that some people had real problems with it…but not I. I don’t know if it’s a nervous response or a feeling of mortality but there were a few people who nervously giggled – the R word…how funny…not me…years away…
It was a good decision for me. I didn’t want to start being resentful about work. I wanted to leave having done my best work.
I don’t even know if this is it in terms of paid work, but I did say when leaving that I wanted at least 6 months off, and it’s coming up for 6 months now. I have recently done some short-term-working-from-home-library-related-paid-work and I enjoyed it. I’m still keeping an eye on my library peeps, library posts, feeds and Twitter. I can see my connections/focus changing and I am OK with that also.
But I am spending the best time gardening, reading, sorting, getting my non-work brain back. I can spend an hour in an op shop and not feel rushed. Leisurely coffees, lunches, dinners. I have started volunteering again with Street Theatre and will be volunteering at the Canberra Writers Festival in August. There is always stuff to do, or not do (many projects still to do).
I follow the sun around the house during the day, I have my reading nooks depending on the sun and the time of day.
There is no typical day, but every day has some exercise. I am just loving my yoga practice (2 classes a week, I am a social animal and rarely do yoga on my own at home, although I am set up to do so) and go to the gym 4-6 days a week for a combination of either weights, body balance or cardio classes. I have joined the 9.30am class, which is a real mix of older and younger people. I am nodding terms with many, but have yet to be invited to coffee after with the oldies (and not sure if I am ready for that and have no time right now anyway…).
And then there is walking up my beloved mountains – Mt Ainslie and Mt Majura – and I walk on them at least twice a week.
And I’m stronger. I have muscle and tone in my upper body that I’ve not had for yonks.
I like where I’m at at the moment.
Stronger.
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Tags: #blogjune
Last month I attended the Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T) Annual Meeting, held in Melbourne and the first time on southern hemisphere. Program – a mix of meetings, papers, panels and workshops.
This was a very interesting panel (although beset by some technical issues- the PPT slides weren’t available for the first half of the session) – and one I want to keep tabs on.
Panel: Digital Equity for Marginalised and Displaced Peoples
Rolan, Gregory (Monash University, Australia); Carbone, Kathy (University of California, Los Angeles, USA); Reed, Barbara (Recordkeeping Innovation, Australia); McKemmish, Sue (Monash University, Australia)
My notes:
- what happens to the data of marginalised and displaced people, refugees?
- how can individuals have ‘data sovereignty’ – control and ownership over one’s data. Not just access to the data but control and decision making rights. Data that supports self determination
- ‘documentation is central to and threaded through every facet of the life of a refugee’
- access to trusted records is essential – to establish identity, familial relationships, ethnicity, nationality, status and health rights, to document persecution, to obtain benefits, to be able to practice a trade or profession, to ensure resettlement, integration or return, to reclaim property, for generational claims to citizenship and family and community memory
- millions of displaced people around the world, they may have mobile phones, but do they have the data they need?
- stateless, separated – often women and children.
- a trans disciplinary international project that first met in July 2019 – a meeting of recordkeeping people- to look at the ‘wicked’ problems – those without simple solutions. thinking of fictional scenarios.
- one project in Australia looking at the records of children in child protection system – records are often inaccurate, incomplete, insulting and incomprehensible, see ARC project Rights in records by design
- Refugee Rights in Records (R3) Initiative – ‘goal is to identify how humanitarian centred recordkeeping interventions in the arenas of recordkeeping systems and practices, technologies, law and policy might assist refugees and their descendants across time and geographies’. Working on a Framework for Refugee Rights in Records – 25 rights grouped under nine rubrics. One of the rubrics is “rights to know” – ‘people have the right to know why a record about oneself is being created, what it will contain, what it may be used for, and how it will be secured before one agrees to participate in that records’s creation; the right to know that a record about oneself exits, where and why; and the right to know who can see one’s record’
- Q: how best to consult with and engage with refugees, asylum seekers, displaced persons – in all of these processes?
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Tags: archives, data, recordkeeping, records, refugees
Back on the #twitter
I was an early twitter adopter and then something kinda snapped earlier this year.
I felt that I was in an echo chamber, I couldn’t handle the noise. I wanted out. People were miserable and unkind. Or so if seemed. So I deleted my twitter account over a period of a few days. Not a totally rash decision, it didn’t happen immediately. But I didn’t just stop. I deleted my account that I started back in 2007? @KatieTT is no more
But over the last few months I have realised that I miss it. I miss sharing. I miss seeing my library peers. I want to connect.
So if you get my request to follow – please do @KateBunker10
Filed under: Kate, Libraries, Random, Work | 2 Comments
Tags: twitter
My current list…some listened to more than others. I don’t stress about not keeping up…
Italics is the relevant ad for the podcast which gives you an idea about what they are about.
Interesting stuff
- 99% Invisible Architecture Infrastructure Cities Objects Sounds Visuals Technology History Roman Mars – all sorts of interesting
- Reply all “’A podcast about the internet’ that is actually an unfailingly original exploration of modern life and how to survive it.” – The Guardian. I don’t always listen to this, but I like their laughter
- L&R Love and radio Nick van der Kolk’s Love and Radio features in-depth, otherworldly-produced interviews with an eclectic range of subjects, from the seedy to the sublime. interesting, quirky stuff that I dip in and out of…can be quite submersive
- RadioLab I heard Jad Abumrad as a keynote in Portland at ACRL in 2015. I don’t always get to catch up on this one, but it’s recommended.
- This American Life one of the first I listened to, stories on a theme. I admit I only sometimes do now…have I outgrown it?
- The Moth the art and craft of storytelling. Great premise and great stories by regular and not so regular people
- Here’s the thing Alec Baldwin brings listeners into the lives of artists, policy makers and performers.
- The West Wing Weekly episode-by-episode discussion of one of television’s most beloved shows, I always listen to this as a WW tragic. Now up the the final season!!
- Unorthodox the world’s leading Jewish podcast. I’ve been listening to this one for a few years now and really enjoy. I have no affinity especially with Jewish people, but like this blend of guests and narrative, and the three people who present it
- ABC Conversations another one I dip in and out of depending on the guest, but fascinating conversations.
- Disgraceland Disgraceland is a new true crime podcast about musicians getting away with murder … If you love true crime and you love music get ready to love Disgraceland. Recommended!
- David Tennant does a podcast with David Tennant gets talking with the biggest names from TV, movies, comedy and elsewhere. Revealing conversation, surprise stories and lots of laughs. Great interviews and you get to listen to David!
- The screen show film and TV reviews, ABC
- The Adam Buxton podcast another recent recommendation, UK comedian, I listened to an interview with Charlotte Church which was interesting/fun…will it be a regular listen? not sure
- The Paris Review An audio odyssey through the life and times of The Paris Review, featuring a phantasmagoric blend of classic stories and poems; interviews with the likes of James Baldwin, Jack Kerouac, and Dorothy Parker; and new work and original readings by the cutting-edge writers of our time. another recent recommendation, my friend said….it just makes you feel smarter…. for a car trip…
- This podcast will kill you Grad students studying disease ecology, Erin and Erin found themselves disenchanted with the insular world of academia. They wanted a way to share their love of epidemics and weird medical mysteries with the world, not just colleagues. Plus, who doesn’t love an excuse to have a cocktail while chatting about pus and poop? Have only listened to a few, a recent recommendation. And a cocktail per disease!
- Classic flow ABC Yoga and meditation set to classical music, rolled into one bliss-making podcast. I listen to this in bed….no yoga involved!! Ha.
Politics I have this current fascination with Trump. I cannot believe the train wreck this is US politics, but more scary is how it is spreading…I listen to Pod save America first over the following three
- Pod save America A political podcast for people not yet ready to give up or go insane. A no-bullshit conversation about politics hosted by Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Dan Pfeiffer and Tommy Vietor that breaks down the week’s news and helps people figure out what matters and how to help. I listen to this one weekly
- Pod save the world A no-bullshit conversation about foreign policy.I used to think foreign policy was boring, complicated and irrelevant to my life. Then I served for four years as President Obama’s National Security Spokesman. The hours I spent in Situation Room meetings, traveling abroad, and talking with the brilliant men and women who advised President Obama was the most fascinating education I ever had. It was a crash course in foreign policy that taught me two things: anyone can understand these issues, and we all have an obligation to try.On Pod Save the World, I’ll go behind the scenes with the people responsible for some of the most important foreign policy decisions of our time. We’ll geek out about the most important issues of the day, but talk like normal human beings. That means you’ll also hear cool stories, funny anecdotes and maybe a few F bombs.
- Pod save the people Organizer and activist DeRay Mckesson explores news, culture, social justice, and politics through deep conversations with influencers and experts… Each week brings a news analysis, followed by deep conversations about social, political and cultural issues with experts, influencers, and diverse local and national leaders.
- Trumpcast A quasi-daily podcast from Slate chronicling Donald Trump’s rise to the presidency and his current administration. A new one for me, yet to listen to, but Unorthodox presenter had a session there and sounded interesting. More Trump. More eye rolling!
Crime – why so much crime? I honestly don’t know. Real stories? I think it all started with Serial, then The Teacher’s Pet and grew from there….
- They walk among us UK true crime podcast, aiming to cover a broad range of cases from the sinister to the surreal. I frequently listen to this one.
- Criminal Stories of people who’ve done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in the middle. Again, I often listen to l=this one. Good storytelling. US
- Cold case files Murders go unsolved. Killers slip through the cracks. With the passage of time, families lose hope and another unsolved homicide file settles into obscurity. The pattern is familiar, but changing, thanks to the efforts of a special breed of detectives. Cold Case Files tells the story of their work. Longer, I listen to this one infrequently
- Real crime profile Join Jim Clemente (former FBI profiler), Laura Richards (criminal behavioral analyst, former New Scotland Yard) and Lisa Zambetti (Casting director for CBS’ Criminal Minds) as they profile behavior from real criminal cases Listened to their series on the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. May unsubscribe, not satisfying…
- Canadian true crime An independent podcast telling stories of some of the most heinous, controversial, heartbreaking and thought-provoking true crime cases in Canada. Canadian True Crime is produced and narrated by Kristi Lee, an Australian who lives in Canada. I like hearing the Australian accent!
- UK True Crime every Tuesday Another one I listen to most weeks, at the start Adam gives news and music etc for the time of the crime, eg 1997 – what was happening in the world
- Going west haven’t listened to this, or this Over my dead body
Library
- The librarian is in New York Public Library’s podcast about books, culture, and what to read next.
- Library talks Feed your brain every Sunday with the best live conversations from The New York Public Library. An eclectic mix of voices and perspectives
- Turbitt & Duck
v few library podcasts…
Waiting for Julia Gillard’s new podcast – A Podcast of One’s Own – to get to Google Podcasts- my podcast app
What are you listening to?
What do you recommend?
What podcast app do you use and why??
Where and when do you listen to podcasts? I listen mainly in bed, when on longer car trips and sometimes on the bus.
Filed under: Listening, Random | 2 Comments
Tags: podcasts
Argh agnotology
Yesterday I went to an ACT Associations Forum lunch, and Anna-Maria Arabia, CEO at the Australian Academy of Science gave a lunch talk on The Challenges Associations Face in a Post-fact, Post-trust World.
The Australian Academy of Science has 530 fellows/members elected by peers.
My notes:
New word for me: Agnotology is the study of culturally induced ignorance or doubt, particularly the publication of inaccurate or misleading scientific data
Anna-Maria provided lots of facts and figures – evidence. Quoted the Rand Corporation ‘Truth Decay‘ report of 2018. There are four trends that characterise Truth Decay:
- increasing disagreement about facts and analytical interpretations of facts and data
- a blurring of the line between opinion and fact
- the increasing relative volume and resulting influence of opinion and personal experience over fact
- declining trust in formerly respected sources of facts.
This erodes trust, seeding doubt, facts are cherry picked.
Uncertainty – scientists are familiar with uncertainty, but others not.
with easy access to information – no interpretation, validation, value added, synthesis. It’s hard for debate if information and arguments are not unpacked. We need facts to make decisions.
Interestingly in climate debates of 2011- giving more and more facts didn’t work. Trust is built on relationships and stories. Need to connect with emotions. Need to appeal to value systems. You can’t just give facts to change people’s minds. Tell stories.
what can we do?
- synthesise data
- uphold integrity with what we do
- have conversations, stories to tell the facts
- ensure integrity, robust systems of debate
Anna- Maria pointed out that we don’t routinely say ‘what does the science say?’, or if we do the science is not transparent and evidence based but cherry picked and out of context. Politicians more likely to hear ‘what do the economics say?” or ‘what about my marginal seat?’
The Academy of Science – social media processes- five fellows approve each post to maintain integrity of posts. Now using quick videos to highlight reports (which link to shorter and longer content.
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Tags: facts, internet, science
Strawberries of Integrity 