haredeye's Xanga

Evaluation of Live-Blogging from Audio

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 23:21:18 GMT

Yesterday's experiment with the world's first live-blogging event from audio had mixed results.

Traffic from the (Canadian) Thanksgiving weekend resulted in a delay by about 45 min. after the event officially started, but it was still before the main speakers arrived.

One of the best features of the minimal lag time for the text conversion, usually within a minute or two from calling in the message. There were absolutely no problems getting through to the line to the service. Updates were made hours in advance to any mainstream media coverage, except possibly live television.

But the biggest limitation appeared to be recognizing the text, despite efforts to speak slowly and clearly. Specifically, names were frequently missed and dropped out entirely, especially if they were in any way unique. Stéphane Dion and Jean Chrétien were obviously missed, even with (and perhaps because of) a French enunciation.

Situational factors also intervened. There was no telephone reception in the main room, meaning real-time play-by-play developments could not be posted as planned. A considerable amount of background noise, including the live pounding of dhol drummers easily drowned out attempts to call in.

The utility of this call in technique was still demonstrated. Telephone reception is usually better than laptop reception would be anyways. Most events will not have such an overwhelming amount of background noise, and a Bluetooth attachment would easily allow hands-free updates in frequent intervals. Word recognition could use some work, but as long as names are avoided it generally seems to do a decent job. Even this issue can be addressed by the option to attach a link to a voice file for each post, which would clarify any ambiguities present.

Aside from media personnel using this for covering events, voice to blog applications can be used in meetings, conferences, or even emergent situations ("I need help ASAP for ____ Please contact me if available). It's definitely easier than trying to text or open a laptop for quick status updates, especially since the service provides a (free) local telephone number to call in to.

Text of posts that did manage to get posted are below, with some edits indicating where text was lost.

Friday, October 10, 2008 9:18 PM
"Summary of today's talk, a vote for Harper is a vote for more lies."
Friday, October 10, 2008 9:07 PM
"Finally got out. There was no reception in the building at all so I couldn't update anything."
Friday, October 10, 2008 7:46 PM
"[With} Andrew Cam[p]bell of the Ontario [Young Liberals] Liberal's and talking about how incredibly packed this place is and what a wonderful turnout we have."
Friday, October 10, 2008 7:43 PM
" [Jean Chrétien,] former Prime Minister of Canada has arrived to large applause by the crowd."
Friday, October 10, 2008 7:37 PM
"Adam Isa [, a] leader [in] of the Somali community is also here[.] [The atmosphere is] staff are exciting. [Jean Chrétien is] are expected to arrive shortly."
Friday, October 10, 2008 7:27 PM
"Just supposed to daily area. [ran into ______, a Toronto] Lawyer, the [ in the Toronto area. The] mood is upbeat."
Friday, October 10, 2008 7:20 PM
"Just land [ran] into Ryan [Singh} of the Ontario young Liberals right here in the street. So, [it] seams like every body is having hard time finding parking."
Friday, October 10, 2008 7:16 PM
"There's so many people here to see Deon [Dion] here today there's not even [any] parking left, so we [will] have to find parking some where else."
Friday, October 10, 2008 7:13 PM
"Arriving at saint un, Edmond Campion Secondary School about 45 mins after the event has started. Let['s] see what I can catch."
Friday, October 10, 2008 6:36 PM
"Between the four accidents on the highway and long weekend traffic, it looks like I might be a little bit late."
Friday, October 10, 2008 5:46 PM
"Shelley [Filling] up gas in kitchner. Vault [Vote] Liberal for cheaper gas."
Friday, October 10, 2008 4:38 PM
"[...] The first micro blog in history to cover a political event live."
Friday, October 10, 2008 4:37 PM
"I'm leaving London Ontario for Brampton while doing the first audible micro blog in history."

(continue reading &aquo;)

Live-blogging Dion in Brampton Using SpinVox

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:19:15 GMT

Live-blogging is a strange beast.

That's what Ivor Tossell's headline said in yesterday's Globe.

Live-blogging is definitely not something new, but it does seem to be catching on in Canada.

Tossell said,

It seems like every news organization that has something to prove (and there are none that don't) has spontaneously taken up the practice of live-blogging. It might have something to do with election season, which has spread live blogs the way the fall weather gives everyone the same cold at once.

Live-blogs are actually micro-blogs, or short status updates that cover an event in frequent intervals.

Seeing how Omar Ha-Redeye's face is currently plastered from coast-to-coast on television defining the basics of technology in politics, it might be wise to demonstrate aptitude one step ahead of the mainstream media.

Omar will be covering an event tonight, live-blogging using entirely new technology. Well, the technology has been there for a while, but it hasn't been used in this way ever before as far as we can tell.

Stéphane Dion is celebrating Canada's multicultural heritage tonight in Brampton. He will be introduced by Rt. Hon. Jean Chrétien, and accompanied by Andrew J. Kania, Ruby Dhalla, Omar Alghabra, Hon. Navdeep Bains, Bonnie Crombie, Hon. Albina Guarnieri, Hon. Gurbax Malhi and Paul Szabo.

He will call in updates using SpinVox, which will be coverted to text using Ping.fm and posted as a live-blog. You can follow him on Twitter, or one of the many other social network services that support mirroring.

There will be a lof of activity on these sites in the next little while, but it will all be over in a few hours. (continue reading &aquo;)

Bob Rae Speaks at Western Law on Foreign Policy

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:01:19 GMT

[caption id="attachment_306" align="alignright" width="148" caption="Bob Rae and Omar Ha-Redeye at a fundraiser in 2007"][/caption]

Hon. Bob Rae spoke this morning at the University of Western Ontario Law School on A Changing World: New Directions for Canadian Foreign Policy.

He said that Canada needs to find its own voice on the international scene. If we disagree with our American neighbours, this does not mean it is anti-Americanism.

We have our own national interests we need to pursue.

Notes from the talk can be read on Law is Cool. (continue reading &aquo;)

Deb Matthews, MPP, Minister of Children and Youth Services

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:12:05 GMT

Some attribute the following quote to Otto van Bismark,

I have about made up my mind that laws are like sausages — the less you know about how they are made the more respect you have for them.

[caption id="attachment_291" align="alignright" width="148" caption="Omar Ha-Redeye and Deb Matthews during the 2007 Provincial election."][/caption]

Deb Matthews, MPP, a current member of the provincial cabinet in Ontario, shed some light on the inner workings of legislation.

"The Intention of the Legislature": The Role of Politicians, and process of government in creating social amelioration laws was delivered at Prof. Jeff Schlemmer's class, Law and Social Welfare. They were joined by Prof. Sam Trosow's Urban Law class.

Omar Ha-Redeye sat in.

There are many steps a law has to go through, and many shareholders that provide their input.

Budgetary considerations are consistently paramount, especially when a ruling party has committed not to run a deficit or raise taxes. (continue reading &aquo;)

Interview with CBC Radio on Min. Flaherty

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 19:50:09 GMT

Hon. Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, spoke at the University of Western Ontario law school today. Paul Mayne of Western News covered the event.

Omar Ha-Redeye was interviewed by CBC Radio over the students' reactions to Min. Flaherty's speech.

Omar responded to Min. Flaherty's comments on his dialogue with Premier McGuinty over taxes in the manufacturing sector.

Flahert's was quoted and highly criticized for his remarks about the economy in Ontario in March 2008,

It discourages investment in the province of Ontario. If you're going to make a new business investment in Canada, and you're concerned about taxes, the last place you will go is the province of Ontario.

When Omar asked him personally about how this could potentially be interpreted internationally and affect investment in Ontario, Min. Flaherty said the statements were taken out of context.

Min. Flaherty also spoke at great length about the sub-prime mortgage crisis, and the state of the Canadian economy. He claimed Canada was highly respected among G7 countries for its economic stability.

Omar told the CBC that the 2007 The Conference Board of Canada report, Mission Possible: Sustainable Prosperity for Canada, predicted the current volatility in American markets. They recommended Canada strengthen its economy by diversifying its trade partners. Omar felt that Canada was not doing enough to strengthen trade ties with the EU, China and India.

Finally, Omar raised the issue of the Afghan mission. The Harper government initially refused to release information about the cost of Canada's role in Afghanistan, only recently succumbing to pressure and agreeing to provide the figures. Omar said that the financial and political cost of an expensive commitment that fails to have clear goals, objectives, or definitive end date, should be evaluated in context of our fragile economic times. (continue reading &aquo;)

Blogger Interviews On CBC

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 23:49:13 GMT

The "Black Ops of Politics," that's what they're calling blogging.

Omar Ha-Redeye and Devin Johnston were interviewed by the CBC on the use of technology in politics.

You can see one of these clips here. (continue reading &aquo;)

Centre for Public Theology Advisory Council

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 21:58:28 GMT

Omar Ha-Redeye has accepted an invitation to serve on the Advisory Council for the Centre for Public Theology (CPT).

The mission of the CPT, which is housed at Huron College at the University of Western Ontario, is listed on their new site:

Our goal is not advocacy so much as intelligence – in a better informed academy, in a more discerning church and other religious institutions, and finally, in a public that is better educated in the religious and ethical dimensions of societal issues, in full view of a world in which religious conviction is of massive and increasing public importance.

The Centre's intention is thus to promote critical theological research and publication on issues of concern facing our society in an increasingly globalized world. A cycle of topics relating to politics and justice, human life, and the environment will be examined. Over the next three years, these topics will come to focus in the following: Canada's role in Afghanistan; HIV infection and AIDS; and finally, the threat of climate change and the question of energy policy.

The CPT is connected to the Global Network for Public Theology (GNPT), which is chaired by Prof. Nico Koopman of South Africa. The administrative centre for the GNPT is the Centre for Theological Inquiry at the Princeton Theological Seminary.

The purpose of the CPT can be further explained,

The CPT was established through a SSHRC major grant to promote research, reflection and disseminate constructive theological interaction concerning Canadian public life between the academy and other non-traditional University stakeholders include NGOs, Faith-Based Groups (FBOs), Politicians, Media and interested persons in the general public. The Centre, however, is NOT an advocacy group for a religious or theological tradition but a nexus from which Canadian based and international theologians, social scientists and other scholars, together with religious leaders, policy makers, NGO/FBOs, media and the public can engage in constructive dialogue on theological, moral and cultural issues that frame current and historic Canadian context in the area of public life, policy and service.

(continue reading &aquo;)

Dion in London at the Marconi Club

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 12:20:58 GMT

Liberal Party leader, Stéphane Dion, was in London again last night.

He spoke to a packed room of over 250 people at the Marconi Club, and was joined by Gerard Kennedy, Jacquie Gauthier, Martha Dennis, Sue Barnes, Glen Pearson and Suzanne Van Bommel.

Deb Prothero provided excellent coverage of the event.

A couple short audio clips from the event are available on Law is Cool. (continue reading &aquo;)

Finalist in Lerners LLP Cup

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:41:35 GMT

On Sept. 24, 2008, Omar Ha-Redeye participated in the Lerners LLP Cup. The competition mimics an appellate court, where the issues of law are under dispute, rather than the facts of the case.

The competition discussed a theoretical review of the Supreme Court Case R. v. A.M. 2008 SCC 19, over the constitutionality of sniffer dogs in schools. Omar had coincidentally met with Justice Binnie, who ruled with the majority in this case, and briefly spoke to him about the decision the previous week.

The University of Western Ontario describes the competition,

The Faculty runs an internal appellate advocacy competition called the Lerners LLP Cup. This voluntary competition gives upper-year students the opportunity to argue a hypothetical case before an appellate court. Judges, practicing lawyers and third-year students generously volunteer their time to act as judges for the competition. The top students advance to the final rounds to compete for the Lerners LLP Cup. Doing well in this competition is the gateway to qualifying to represent Western Law in one of several external advocacy competitions.

Omar was selected as one of 8 finalists from well over 50 competitors from all upper year students at the school.

He will proceed to the final competitions next week, which is actually judged by members of the bench from the Court of Appeal.

He will also be eligible to represent UWO at the external moots during the January Term, 2009, which includes the Jessup (sponsored by McCarthy Tétrault LLP), the Laskin, Wilson, and Niagara (sponsored by Lerners LLP), and the Gale and Canadian Corporate/Securities Law competitions. (continue reading &aquo;)

Why You Should Apply to Law School

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 02:53:13 GMT

On three separate days, Omar Ha-Redeye met with undergraduate students at the University of Western Ontario to talk to them about why they should apply to law school.

On Monday, Sept. 22, 2008 he spoke to the Black Law Students Association.

On Tuesday, he met with the African Students Association.

On Wednesday, he met with the Caribbean Students Organization.

Omar is the President of the Black Law Students Association at the University of Western Ontario.

The group is a chapter of a larger organization, the Black Law Students Association of Canada (BLSAC), which raises awareness around issues of advocacy relating to minority populations in Canada.

A special thanks to Craig Cameron, Ugbad Farah, and Carly McLarty for making this possible.

Full text of the speech is as follows:

Why ALL of you should apply to law school

My goal today is to convince all of you here today that you should continue your education beyond your undergraduate degree, and that the legal profession is what you should pursue.

What I love best about the law is the ability to challenge and break down stereotypes. For example, Canadians generally overestimate the number of minorities that have committed a crime, which is usually lower than the general population.

However, the 1995 Report of the Commission on Systemic Racism in the Ontario Criminal Justice System stated, it is no secret that "black accused, for example, are more often held without bail".

The need for advocates to fight this subtle yet pervasive form of discrimination is pressing indeed.

Maybe Criminal law isn't your thing.

A recent survey indicated that the average salary in Canada was just over $36,000.

The jobs that required a high school education a generation ago now require a bachelor's degree. The opportunities simply are just not there for recent university graduates without professional and advanced degrees.

Lawyers and legal professionals ranked the highest out of all careers in Canada, with an average of $123,000 for lawyers and $178,053 for judges. Only specialist physicians made slightly more.

But medical schools in Canada are swarmed with applications. There are only 2,400 positions a year across Canada, but there has been a 20% increase in applications recently. Only 0.5% of applicants to McMaster University and 6% at UWO are accepted.

If you have a science background and thought that your only alternative to med school was graduate research, you're wrong. One of the booming areas of law is intellectual property, and lawyers in this field almost always have a science or engineering background before law school.

That doesn't mean getting into law school is easy though. You do need a strong undergraduate GPA, and have to worry about this pesky test called the LSAT.

But it's worth it, unless you are completely content with the status of minority people in Canada. A legal career allows you to pursue professional goals while maintaining an advocacy role within society.

And because the law affects nearly everything we do, there are areas of law that are of interest to everyone.

Fred Rodell, a former professor at Yale, wrote back in 1939, in a book entitled "Woe unto you lawyers,"

It is the lawyers who run our civilization for us - our governments, our business, our private lives. Most legislators are lawyers; they make our laws. Most presidents, governors, commissioners, along with their advisers and brain-trusters are lawyers; they administer our laws. All the judges are lawyers; they interpret and enforce our laws. There is no separation of powers where the lawyers are concerned. There is only a concentration of all government power - in the lawyers. As the schoolboy put it, ours is "a government of lawyers, not of men."

It is not the businessmen, no matter how big, who run our economic world. Again it is the lawyers, the lawyers who "advise" and direct every time a company is formed, every time a bond or a share of stock is issued, almost every time material is to be bought or goods to be sold, every time a deal is made. The whole elaborate structure of industry and finance is a lawyer-made house. We all live in it, but the lawyers run it.

And in our private lives, we cannot buy a home or rent an apartment, we cannot get married or try to get divorced, we cannot die and leave our property to our children without calling on the lawyers to guide us. To guide us, incidentally, through a maze of confusing gestures and formalities that lawyers have created.

A legal career is not only the smart move in tomorrow's volatile markets, it's the right one.

The deadline for law school applications in Ontario is Nov. 3, just over a month from now. You still have time to prepare your application and get it in.

And if you need any help reviewing or planning your application, please feel free to contact me.

(continue reading &aquo;)