NiteGlow's Blog

Stop SOPA!

noreply@blogger.com (NiteGlow) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:44:00 +0000

NIteGlow stands for an open, creative and enlightened internet. SOPA will take us back to the dark ages. Even though it's happening in the US it would serious implications for us in the UK too.

What is SOPA?

Merry Christmas from NiteGlow

noreply@blogger.com (NiteGlow) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 14:29:00 +0000

One of my friends didn't have a chance to get a Christmas tree so had to do this instead... Looks good!

3 Years On The Journey

noreply@blogger.com (NiteGlow) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:19:00 +0000

I have been busy this year on a number of projects and events. I thought I would write a quick blog post as today marks a milestone on this blog. It is three years since I set up this blog and my Twitter account.

This year has been quieter on the blogging front but those who follow on Twitter definitely know that I have been out and about! I've been focusing more on my MixCloud DJ mixes this year because, as many know, Drum'n'Bass and Dubstep are smashing it up at the moment (especially with DJ Fresh's Louder getting to number 1!).

During this year, we have witnessed regime changes in the Middle East and riots here in the UK. Social Media played a part in these events and it is now safe to say that Social Media has firmly established itself globally and become mainstream.

Companies now favour putting links to their Facebook and Twitter than bog-standard links to a static website. In the midst of an economic crisis Social Media continues to grow and flourish encouraging people across to collaborate.

In the last year or so I have several ups and downs. Unfortunately, I have encountered some quite 'motivated' haters around and about. My message to them is that NiteGlow has always been about shining bright and carrying on in the face of these challenges. What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger they say!

Having said that there has definitely been more ups and than downs. I am continuing to meet and work with some excellent and inspirational people. For instance the TEDxBristol event last month was a landmark event in Bristol and it was great to be involved in the Social Media, PR and event organisation.

In the coming year, I want to give this blog a revamp so expect some changes! I will also be getting involved in more local events and community projects. There will be more DJ Mixes going up on my MixCloud page as well new tunes on the SoundCloud page.

In short plenty more to come so roll on next year! Remember you can always catch me on Twitter!

Live Blog and Photos from The TEDxBristol Event at The M-Shed (8th September 2011)

noreply@blogger.com (NiteGlow) — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 12:52:00 +0000

In case you missed all the hubbub from TEDxBristol over the last week, the event went down a storm. We even got on BBC Points West. We also received lots of support both locally and internationally. This event was several months in the making and was the first high profile TEDx event to take place in Bristol.

It was great working on the Social Media and PR for the event. I have to say I have learnt loads in the last few months.

During the event I was in front of a laptop live-blogging on Twitter and CoveritLive! It was a pretty crazy whir of non-stop soundbites. You can review the live-blog below:

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=2806faefe6" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;TEDxBristol&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

You can also check out the event photos below. We certainly had a blast and Imogen Heap put on a great show!

Also I would like to give a big shout out to the rest of the team who are featured below:

TEDxBristol is almost here!

noreply@blogger.com (NiteGlow) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 09:47:00 +0000

It's been a long road since I first became one of the TEDxBristol team a couple of months back. We have been through the many twists and turns that are part and parcel of organising an event like this.

If you haven't heard about TEDxBristol please see previous post or head to the website or Facebook page (what rock have you been living under?!). The main event at the M-Shed is sold out but the event will be live-screened on the website as well as live-blogged.

This week we are also announcing our partnership with BBC Anchor Partnership. The Anchor Partnership was developed to build on the world class content created in Bristol through innovation projects,community engagement and bringing together cutting edge skills and thinking –and has supported a range of events in the city over the past 2 years.

As mentioned in the previous post we have some top-class speakers in TEDxBristol. Since the last post many more speakers have been announced so please check out the updated list. In addition to the speakers we have some interesting performances from Atto Mul and Imogen Heap.

Imogen Heap is a four-time Grammy nominated multi-instrumentalist who began writing music by her 13th birthday (and broke America by her 28th). She has been described as an innovative singer-songwriter with a quirky and inspirational character a tech savvy musician with an eccentric sense of style and uniquely graceful music. Check out the video below for her song 'Lifeline':

Thursday's event at the M-Shed should be definitely one to remember. I'd like to give a shout out to the rest of the team, sponsors, and, of course, anyone else who is supporting TEDxBristol.

TEDxBristol Event Aims To Inspire Creativity, Innovation and Sustainability

noreply@blogger.com (NiteGlow) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 10:12:00 +0000

A month or so back I had a chat with Karl Hakeem Belizair e, Director of nonprofit organisation Mowgli. He mentioned to me that he was organising a TED event in Bristol and was on the hunt for someone to help with the Social Media and promotions side of it.

Being a big fan of TED events and passionate about local issues it was a no-brainer for me and I told Karl I would offer my support. I was the latest addition to TedxBristol team which was growing in size (more information on the team to follow). Since that initial conversation the pace has really picked up. Everyone who I have talked to has been really positive about the event which very encouraging.

For those that are not so familiar TED Events are conferences that bring together speakers and experts from different fields (see TED website for details).

The TEDxBristol event is on the theme of 'the world around us' with special focus on creativity, innovation and sustainability. From compelling speakers to music acts; we are certainly enthusiastic that this will be a unique experience in Bristol.

The event will be held in the newly-opened M-Shed on the 8th September 2011. The confirmed speaker line-up is diverse as you can see below:

- Daniel Efergan & Gavin Strange, a creative combo working in the digital depths of Aardman Animations, strive to create fun through building games, nurturing communities and telling stories. Aardman Digital was recently awarded a BAFTA for the Wallace & Gromit’s World of Invention website in the 2011 British Academy Television Awards.

- Richard Noble specialises in developing high risk ventures. Project Director of the BLOODHOUND Project, the engineering adventure for the 21st century, pushing the limits and inspiring young engineers and scientists with an incredible car capable of 1,000mph".

- Arthur Potts Dawson is a talented chef, restauranteur, cookery writer and social entrepreneur. His newest business venture, The People’s Supermarket, opened in June 2010 and is a not-for-profit co-operative social enterprise. Jamie Oliver recently described Arthur as “the original green chef”.

- Dr Marie-Annick Gournet is a Principal Lecturer in Intercultural Communication and Director of Widening Participation. The main interest is in the notion of identity, its basis and its relationship to culture. I am particularly interested in exploring the ideas of positive diversity and the impact

- Tony Bury has spent the past three decades founding and running start up companies across the world. Philanthropist and serial entrepreneur, Tony is founder and trustee of Bristol based international charity the Mowgli Foundation, providing mentors who inspire, support and empower entrepreneurs in achieving their business and personal potential.

- Wendy Stephenson is a renewable energy engineer with 15 years experience in the environment and climate change sector. CEO of Converging World, a UK based charity that aims to address issues arising from social inequality, creating mechanisms which link communities in the developed and developing world.

Only one hundred people will be able to share the #TEDxBristol experience. Register your interest by the 28th July.

I will make further announcements on this blog but for more information check out the main website (which went live today) and the TEDxBristol Twitter.

The Undiscovered Potential of People with Aspergers Syndrome/Autism

noreply@blogger.com (NiteGlow) — Sun, 22 May 2011 16:39:00 +0000

Last Wednesday 18th May I attended an information day on employment for people with Autism and Aspergers Syndrome . I have blogged several times about the difficulties faced by people on the Autistic Spectrum so thought it would be good share some thoughts about this event.

It was organised by Diana Elliot, Branch Officer, NAS Avon Branch. She did an excellent job especially as she and her team raised the funds for the event themselves so they could make the tickets free.

The moment I entered the event I know there was something different about it. Often people with Aspergers Syndrome and Autism feel very isolated and alone. This event was special because it brought people on the spectrum, support workers, employment advisers, medical professionals and employers together.

The event featured speakers from many different background discussing various employment options and issues.

The issues that were raised, however, were nothing new. The NAS did a survey of 16 people with Aspergers Syndrome between the ages of 21-54 and found only 2 of them were in full-time employment. People with this condition find it more difficult dealing with interviews and work environments because they communicate differently. They also often have a high sensitivity to light or sound which can make open-plan offices difficult to work. They find office politics confusing to navigate too.

Under the Disability Discrimination Act employers are required to make reasonable adjustments to the workplace to accommodate the difficulties faced. While some have taken this on or others still fail to fulfill this requirement. They often will find other 'convenient' reasons as to why the person is not suited to the a job to cover their backs. This makes a discrimination very difficult to prove if it occurred.

However, this is only one side of the story. The speakers at the event all underlined the fact that people with Autism/Aspergers Syndrome have a vast amount of potential and value to offer. Anne O'Bryan (speaker with expertise in supported employment) pointed out that that many of the aspects that some employers find 'annoying' are actually strengths when looked at from a different perspective.

For instance people with Autism/Aspergers Syndrome need fixed routines and structures. This is ideal for roles that require a process to be repeated over and over again in the same way. Also people on the spectrum can spot potential problems that other people may miss as well as coming up with solutions to them. This is a classic situation where employers misunderstand and think the person is just being awkward.

Some other positive traits employers should consider are punctuality, dedication, loyalty and attention-to-detail. People on the spectrum are often very passionate and focused on certain areas. If these are aligned with their career then it surely the start of something successful.

What people with Autism/Aspergers Syndrome want is to be valued for their skills and be given the chance develop a career like everyone else. All to often employers place hurdles in the way of this mostly due to lack of understanding. This was a common theme that I got from the event.

All-told the event looks to be the start of brighter things for people with Autism and Aspergers Syndrome in Bristol area (and hopefully elsewhere). However, there is still a long way to go....

The 'Little People' aren't so 'Little' any more....

noreply@blogger.com (NiteGlow) — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 09:52:00 +0000

This is my second blog of the year! Unfortunately, I have just been so busy with various projects (bad excuse I know). However, those who follow me on Twitter know I am very much still out-and-about. As mentioned in the last post I have started a new job and am pushing the boundaries with more challenging campaigns.

In the last few months one thing has become clear to me. The people that governments and large corporates used to regard as 'little' are not so 'little' any more.

Since the beginning of the year we have seen revolutionary changes sweeping through the Arabic world starting with Egypt. These changes were started by the desire of the 'little people'. What is different is that they were able to mobilise themselves in common purpose with the use of Social Media tools. We haven't seen people organise themselves and take action like this in a long time (maybe not ever).

When I think back to the student protests in London last year it was the same spirit that was shown. The recent union protests in London are yet another example of this. After the terrible Earthquake in Japan, charity fund-raisers were organised around the world using Social Media.

I saw this same spirit on my doorstep last month on 25th March at the Bristol Twestival event (see previous post for details). In spite of some complications the event was a success raising almost £1000 for the Rainbow Centre. There were some great live-acts there. The beatboxers and Dub Mafia went down very well as you can see from the photos below:

It makes me think that if this is possible then we really can make a difference if we all put our minds to together and collaborate. Social Media has definitely levelled the playing field and democratised information exchange and communication. Larger entities are struggling with this change as they are not used to the engaging in dialogue in this way. Anyway for our part in Bristol I would say we have a many more Twestival-like events in us for the future.

I would like to take this opportunity to shout out the other Bristol Twestival organisers.

Also I would like to give a big shout to Danny Maddocks @babycalendars for getting up on the mike with Dub Mafia! See video below:

Bristol Twestival has landed!

noreply@blogger.com (NiteGlow) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 09:45:00 +0000

I can't believe this is the first post I'm writing this year but here it is. I have been so busy with new projects and the usual Social Media mayhem that ensues my life. Anyway, in case you haven't noticed all the talk on Twitter, Bristol Twestival is back again on the 24th March at the Slug and Lettuce on St Nicholas Street.

This year we have a distinctly local theme and are supporting Bristol-based charity the Rainbow Centre. They do some fantastic work with providing free and professional support to children and their families affected by bereavement, life-threatening illness and cancer.

We are expect another good turn-out and have secured headline musical act; the Dub Mafia. That should get you Drum'n'Bass and dubstep heads in the swing of things fo' sho'. Also local comedian Paul Parry will be hosting the event and there will be yet more to announce this week.

Like last year we will have a raffle and we already have an iPad 2 and Kindle to give away. It is really great to be putting together another Twestival which now has a 3 year heritage.

If you want a flavour of what happend last time you can check out the blog post I did last year. It is great opportunity to meet other Twitterers and Bloggers face-to-face for a change. Anyway if you want to get involved head over to the Bristol Twestival ticket page. Our Early-bird tickets are now finished, however, tickets will still only set you back £7. It is a definite bargain I would say but I'm a bit biased of course!

IMPORTANT UPDATE - VENUE CHANGE:

Bristol Twestival will now take place at Metropolis (formerly known as Jesters)

Address:

135-137 Cheltenham Road
Bristol BS6 5RR

The WikiLeaks Outlook: Shifting Media Landscape

noreply@blogger.com (NiteGlow) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 12:51:00 +0000

A while back I wrote a blog on WikiLeaks talking about the changing media landscape and the implication of information activism. A lot has happened since then with the release of the cables and the arrest of Julian Assange.

It seems to me that governments around the world have not woken up to the fact that media landscape has changed. WikiLeaks is an example of this shifting landscape.

It is seems the powers that be have done everything they could to prevent these stories coming out but to no avail. As predicted the charges against Julian Assange have been resurrected and he has now been arrested in London.

All the authorities have succeeded in doing is fanning the fire and most probably make things worse for themselves. With Julian Assange arrested there is now a real cause to fight for and a symbol of the oppression of free speech. The reality is that whatever they may do they cannot stop evolution and people's growing curiosity about these affairs.

The nature of the internet and Social Media means that information can find its way into the public domain very quickly. This is not something that is likely to change whatever happens to WikiLeaks and Julian Assange. The only option is that governments get used to the new world where more people have a voice and better still embrace it.

Happy Diwali #KeepShining!

noreply@blogger.com (NiteGlow) — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 10:43:00 +0000

Today is the start of the Hindu festival of Diwali. It is a festival of lite and hope so it is of great significance to me. This is something that everyone can share in.... :) So #KeepShining..

Asperger's Syndrome - The Untold Story of Forgotten People

noreply@blogger.com (NiteGlow) — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 08:45:00 +0000

Back in April 2009 I wrote a blog about Asperger's Syndrome / Autism and how it could also be viewed as a special ability rather than a disability in certain environments. At that time I was helping out with an Asperger's Volunteer Group and had been shocked with how isolated, unrecognised and unvalued the people felt there. These people all had very valuable skills but were not being given a chance to shine. The blog post I wrote back then has now become the most popular post on this blog so it was only right I do a follow up.

It is real injustice that society does not respect people who communicate and see the world differently. It could be argued that this is in fact some sort of discrimination on the same level as race or gender. If gender or race discrimination occurs then something can be done and there are laws in place to prevent this from happening. However, you can't stop people discriminating or in some case maliciously targeting people who communicate differently or do not understand social dynamics in the same way.

This sort of prejudice and ignorance goes widely unrecognised and ignored leaving perpetrators to roam free as they choose. The people on the receiving end feel isolated and get next to no support from anyone. Indeed in many cases there is literally no place to turn for people with Asperger's Syndrome.

People with Asperger's Syndrome are often looked upon as being blunt, awkward and socially dysfunctional, however, I would argue that it is in fact people's attitudes in general society that are the biggest factor. 'Normal' people or neuro-typicals (NT) just don't have the awareness (or possibly in some cases the intelligence) to realise that there are people other than them who have a different neurological make-up and hence communicate and view the world differently.

People with Asperger's Syndrome have a wide array of positive skills that are almost never recognised as I talked about in my previous post on this subject.

In the worst case scenario some vindictive people exploit their position when they recognise that a person has AS traits and take to bullying and mocking them for being different.

In my eyes this is no different to racism, homophobia, class discrimination or sexism. Why can't society respect people of a different neurological make-up? These people are human beings and should be treated as such....

Happy birthday NiteGlow!

noreply@blogger.com (NiteGlow) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 08:23:00 +0000

On this day two years ago NiteGlow came into existence. I remember the day vividly as it was a cold autumn evening and I had just returned from work. I sat at the computer and thought 'let me create something'...

I could see how many progressions there were in the Social Media and the Online world I wanted to be a part of it and explore the new possibilities. I knew the journey I was going to take might be a rocky one and would certainly be a step into the unknown. It all started off with Twitter and this Blog. In fact this was my first tweet! Lol!

The story started here with my first blog post. The blog looked a little different then to what it looks like now. A year and a half later I redesigned the blog (no social media backlashes ensued!). This year has seen a lot new additions to the NiteGlow presence and there are more on the way too. In May of this year I launched a Soundcloud page to showcase my Drum'n'Bass and Dubstep demos. Most recently I have launched NiteGlow Sphere which amalgamates all the NiteGlow presences in one place.

Since the blog's creation there has been the ups and downs but I've met some great people along the way and had some great conversations online and in person. I doubt I would have come into contact with these people without Social Media and Blogging.

It's been an eventful couple of years and we have seen empires rise and fall in the new evolving media landscape. The start of the economic crisis brought hard times for all but the evolution of new media during this time has challenged the older traditional mindsets. It's been very uncomfortable for many in the media industry especially journalists and PRs.

We have also witnessed some incredible and harrowing things from aftermath of the Mumbai attacks (I went to India not long afterwards) to the news of Barack Obama's presidential victory in US. How could we forget the scandal of the #iranelection and the role Social Media played in telling that story?

The pot-shots between Apple, Google and Microsoft go on. Facebook continues to grow in popularity to the size of a small country. Many news stories break on Twitter first before anywhere else.

It's a crazy world out there but I always look to the future and new people I will meet on the way....

Peace out!

Defining Social Media...

noreply@blogger.com (NiteGlow) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 11:47:00 +0000

Many have discussed different definitions of Social Media, however, I want to shine more lite on our approaches to defining it. In my view there is no one definition that explains what Social Media is. This is because if you try and define what it is you also define what it isn't.

Seeing as Social Media is evolving, the definitions we had of it last year may not be the definitions we have of it now. This is because the new evolution brings with it new possiblities of communication.

From working the field I have observed this over time. I remember some of the earlier campaigns were like taking a shot in the dark. The question of ROI and measurable results was very hazy at that time. As things have progressed the use of Social Media has sky-rocketed. The people already on there got much better and more new people picked up the Social Media thread. There is more lite on how to measure the effectiveness of Social Media campaigns.

I also noticed something interesting over the last few years too. There has been a drop in the term 'social networking'. Twitter's VP even said recently that Twitter was not a 'social networking' site. and it was more about sharing news and information. Social Media has become the recognised term people use but I can remember a time when neither of these terms existed.

In truth as I see it, Social Media (or Social Networking) is what you make it. Everyone is an individual and uses it for different objectives. Businesses have different goals and markets in mind. Big brands will have to use Social Media differently to smaller ones. The personalisation and customisation of Social Media means people have a mind-boggling array of options to reach their targets. However, the uniting factors are sharing, engaging in conversation, collaboration and a sense of community. As you may notice these are hardly new concepts!

We must be careful in defining what Social Media is for all people at all times as we still do not totally understand the how far this definition can go. Definitions, while being convenient, can be limiting and can skew your perception to a smaller range of possibilities.

Information Activism - The Wikileaks Outlook

noreply@blogger.com (NiteGlow) — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 12:20:00 +0000

Wikileaks and its founder, ex-hacker Julian Assange, have been yet again thrust into the limelite today. The site has been behind as string of revelations about the war in Afghanistan and Mr Assange describes himself as an 'Information Activist'. I have been wondering to myself what he means by this so I thought I would look into the topic further.

The path Mr Assange has chosen is a risky one as he found out today when he faced a rape charge. According to the Telegraph and other news outlets the Pentagon have been 'pleading' with him not release 15,000 more classified files on the Afghan war on grounds of national security and compromising military operations. Mr Assange has stayed resolute his principles saying that he still intends to release the files. His rape charge has now been overturned by Swedish authorities but some may ponder that this was just a convenient and feeble attempt to undermine his credibility. It may even have been an act of desperation by certain organisations who did not want the information to come out. At any rate I am not convinced that it would have made any difference even if he had been convicted of such a crime. The information that is about to come out is will most likely shake things up again whatever happens.

I recently watched a Ted talk where Mr Assange described why the world needs sites like Wikileaks. In his eyes the current way the media is dealling with situations like conflicts is inadequate and the internet gives a many new ways to share and disseminate information.

Wikileaks is a site that many have been following with great interest. It is certainly having an effect on the way journalism is done with most of the Wikileaks revelations making big news in the traditional media outlets.

Mr Assange argues it is necessary that such information be made accessible in the public sphere in order that people may make an informed decision on what is going on. In a world where we are saturated by new information it is information itself that is becoming the key commodity. Crucially, the right information at the right time and disseminated in the right way to the right influential audiences can have a dramatic effect on public opinion and in turn potentially effect political factors.

Mr Assange seems to be driven by a strong sense of morality and argues that information he is making available is not any surprise to those on the front line of the conflict. Furthermore, it is actually something that they live with day-to-day. He is also finding himself friends and empathisers to his cause. Outspoken American documentary film-maker, Michael Moore, has said he would assist with the legal case against Wikileaks source Army SPC Bradley Manning. Wikileaks servers are now to be run by Sweden's Pirate Party which is due to run in national elections next month.

It is clear to me that Wikileaks is having some sort of impact and information activism is something that is likely to further change the media landscape.

Over 1000 Twitter Followers but what does it mean?

noreply@blogger.com (NiteGlow) — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:21:00 +0000

I have not written in a blog post in a while so I thought I would get back into the swing of things. Rest assured I have still been busy. Sometimes it is good to take a step back once in a while. If you follow me Twitter you may have noticed that I now have over 1000 followers. This is quite an important milestone but I always like to keep things in perspective.

I remember several years ago on MySpace how people would try and just get as many friends as possible thinking that was the way to get popular and recognised but it soon devalued the whole experience. I think many have learned from the mistakes of the past and times have changed a lot since then. I definitely believe in quality over quantity.

When the blog and the Twitter page came into existence a couple of years back I could not of predicted exactly where it would lead. Along the way I have been able to explore the online social space and evolve with it. I have also met some really interesting people in real-life too! So it isn't just about talking online.

As far as this blog goes I am looking to continue to approach different issues and perspectives as well as engage with others. I am planning to expand the online social presence further but that is the subject for another post. If you haven't already, please feel free to check out some of my tunes on my SoundCloud page. Even if you're not into Drum'n'bass or Dubstep you should still give them a listen... :)

One thing I would really like to encourage is comments on my blog too. I really value your input and I look as the blog posts I write as just the starting point to more discussion. At the end of the day everything that is going on is a big learning curve for everyone...

The Internet: A network of networks and culture of cultures

noreply@blogger.com (NiteGlow) — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 09:51:00 +0000

The internet is often described as not just a network but a network of networks. Over the last 10 years we have seen it change and evolve at an incredible rate. Alongside this a new internet culture has emerged and there is increasing melding of it with more mainstream culture.

The catalyst for this is, of course, (surprise, surprise!) social media! While online communities have existed for a long time on the internet, they had an almost silo-like existence with limited contact with other communities.

With social media those online communities or cultures are more easily able to communicate with each other crossing national, social, political and other boundaries. This is creating a new culture of cultures in which more cross-fertilisation of people and ideas occurs. Social media is also impacting the way news is reported and consumed. The online social media communities are all potential publishers and news gatherers. Interesting and engaging news can be shared within communities and across communities with ease in real-time.

Ideas and news are generated and evolve at a lightening quick pace. They are shared between individuals, communities and wider communities of communities. It is even possible now to observe social graphs of connnections for yet more insight. Of course there are some closed communities and countries that may not like this new openness (think about the trouble Google has had in China and the recent blocking of Facebook in Pakistan). However, they may find it increasingly difficult to maintain a 'walled-garden' approach in the future. When you get on to the global stage the shear number of people and connections are staggering. It is not possible for one government or other entity to completely control the internet for their own interests.

In my eyes, this new emerging global culture of cultures is the quite possibly the next stage in our evolution but it is currently still in an embryonic stage. As communities and cultures increase their interaction with each other maybe we might actually realise and more greatly appreciate that we all have one fundamental thing in common - we are all human..

Doesn't Technology Just Make Us More Lazy?

noreply@blogger.com (NiteGlow) — Fri, 28 May 2010 11:06:00 +0000

The launch of iPad in the UK has caused lots of hysteria today with queues at Apple shops up and down the country. With every new piece of technology we are always told how it will revolutionise everything we do from business to personal life.

It generally stems around how much faster we can do everything and how we can be seen as cutting-edge or 'down with the kru' by our peer group. However, is having everything quicker and more readily accessible more valuable to your life experience or is it all just hype?

I think that technology and social networking can help up to a certain point and you can gain a great deal. Sooner or later though, you will hit the law of diminishing returns. At this point life experience is orientated in such a way that new technology or funky web apps will not really enhance it significantly. Furthermore, it may actually facilitate new inventive ways of you being lazy!

Ordering a pizza is as easy as going to the special app on your smartphone or other device. You don't even have to call the pizza company and speak to a human being any more! Having everything in the palm of your hand is a consumer's dream! It always sounds funky and fresh but isn't that just ego? Everything is available at a touch of screen. I find myself starting to get impatient with things if they don't work the way I expect. I then try and think to myself that there was a time when I never know such technology existed let alone know how to use it!

With new gizmos like the iPad are we heading to a future where we control our entire life through a technological box of tricks? If so we may end up no different then a bunch of spoiled technological brats! I am not sure that is a future I want....

New @NiteGlow SoundCloud Music Page Launched

noreply@blogger.com (NiteGlow) — Tue, 18 May 2010 15:51:00 +0000

The last few posts have been music related so I thought I would continue that theme a while longer. As you may have noticed from my twitter bio, I dabble in some Drum'n'bass and Dubstep production here and there. I have written a couple of posts on Drum'n'bass in the past but never really talked about what I've been up to music wise...

Well here's you chance to find out! I have decided to showcase some of my best demo tunes on SoundCloud and as part of this blog. This will yet add another dimension to the NiteGlow experience.

I should point out that none have tunes have ever been released before and are not signed to any record labels at the moment (hint, hint!).

Even if Drum'n'Bass/Dubstep isn't your thing I hope you'll still give it a listen. I produce stuff to get wider audiences interested too...

Without further ado here is the first Glowtune called 'Cascade'. It's a nice mellow summer roller for all y'all! As always I would love to hear what you think.....

Cascade by NiteGlow

Picture by deviantArt

@GillesPeterson Passes The Mojitos at @TheTunnels, Bristol On Friday 14th May!

noreply@blogger.com (NiteGlow) — Tue, 11 May 2010 13:34:00 +0000

Carrying on with the musical theme from the previous posts, I was very interested to hear Radio 1 DJ and music extraordinaire Gilles Peterson will be playing at the Tunnels in Bristol this Friday.

Gilles Peterson specialises in playing a mixture of jazz, funk, soul and world music. However, this particular nite is presented by Havana Club and has a distinctly Cuban flavour!

This is all part of the ‘Havana Cultura Collective tour’ and will feature a live gig by Havana Cultura artist. Original Cuban export Kumar is one of the most talked about and emerging Cuban hip hop acts of recent years. Peterson will play an original, eclectic set inspired by his time in Cuba and will perform alongside Kumar and the exclusive Havana Cultura Band. The band has been especially curated for the project by Gilles Peterson.

This is a gig that the 'Glow will definitely not be missing so may see you down there. (look out for the shades! Lol!)

Anyway if you are interested in coming down for a nite of Cuba Libres and funky music at ythe swanky new Bristol venue details are as follows:

Havana Club presents Havana Cultura with Gilles Peterson
Friday 14th May 2010 @ The Tunnels, Bristol

9pm- 2am

Also
Live Performances from Kumar
& The Havana Cultura Band
DJs Hugo Mendez and BPM

Social Media and Hip hop - The Great Analogy

noreply@blogger.com (NiteGlow) — Thu, 06 May 2010 11:34:00 +0000

Prominent digital thinker Jonathan Akwue described a great analogy in his keynote speech at the Likeminds conference in Exeter a couple of months back. What is going on social media is very similar to the formation of the Hip hop culture of the 80s onwards.

He talked about social media as a sort of remix culture where content from many different places is combined and distributed.

It also potentially gives people who were previously voiceless a voice. He also made the point that when such people are given a voice we need to be ready to hear what they have to say and we might not like it!

I wanted to take this analogy further as I see a lot of similarities. For instance, take the issue of 'so-called self appointed social media gurus'; these are the equivalent of 'wack mcs' who jack other people's lyrics to make a quick buck. There is an unwritten rule in social media which is similar to hiphop and it goes a l'tle sumthin' like this:

"Keep it real! Aint no room for fake mcs!"

The social media story for someone starting out can often seem like a classic 'rag-to-riches' story where you go from nothing to making it big. Many a Hip hop video has been known to have MCs sporting jewellry, other bling-bling, women and talking about they became ghetto superstars! It all sounds a bit like Notorious BIG's tune 'Juicy'. How true this reality is always a matter of debate though.

Then there are the 'haters'. These are people who's main agenda is to rip your reputation to shreds and show you the maximum disrepect possible. These people may be jealous competitors or people who just do not like you. The internet and social media has many playa haters who hate seeing others with talent rise and shine brite. Whether it is hating on individual or company brand. They love stir things up and get a attention!

Eminem dealt with a MC playa hater very well in his battle rap at the end of 8 Mile by disarming the other MC 'disses' before he had a chance to use them. (if you are easily offended by explicit language please do not click link and watch video). Eminem knows the other MC will try and bring up his background. Eminem shrewdly disarms this and shows up the other MC and his crew.

When it came to the other MC's turn to take centre stage with his rap he has absolutely nothing to say. You often have to be as sharp-witted as Eminem is when protecting a companies online reputation or just generally dealing with haters online in real-time!

Ultimately good social media and Hip hop is definitely about 'being fresh', keeping it real', 'coming with your own style' and 'not biting other people's rhymes'! These are all things the late rapper Guru from Gang Starr always did very well! Social media could learn a lot from him...

RIP Guru....

Election Nite Special - The Hip Hop Freestyle!

noreply@blogger.com (NiteGlow) — Wed, 05 May 2010 08:48:00 +0000

With many eyes focused on polling day, UK rapper JESAL gives us another perspective on all the buzz and why you should vote for him!

Enjoy!!

Click here for video

The Boy Done Quite Good - Part 3

noreply@blogger.com (NiteGlow) — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 09:25:00 +0000

The third election TV debate in Birmingham last night did not fail to disappoint. This is even inspite of much talk during the day being about Gordon Brown's lose 'bigot' comments.

It was another well fought debate this time with more focus on economic issues as well as immigration. Gordon Brown did look a bit visibly rattled given the day's events. There was a lot of political point scoring between him and David Cameron. Brown brought up a lot of economic arguments but most seemed to be avoiding impending financial doom.

David Cameron was having a bit of difficulty in answering questions on immigration and other economic issues. At one point he could not even answer a simple yes / no question on his immigration policy.

Nick Clegg was of course trying to be the 'voice of reason' between the political point scoring of the other two. However, his policy on immigration came under attack. The others said his policy of the effective legalising and integration of thousands of illegal immigrants was sending out the wrong message to others who would try to get into the UK illegally. Nick Clegg pointed out that it was an issue that was not going to disappear and had to be dealt with immediately.

What happens over the next week is anyones guess but what is certain that Google searches in the UK for 'hung parliament' have overtaken searches for 'Britney Spears'. I don't think that has happened before!

A New Look!

noreply@blogger.com (NiteGlow) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 11:07:00 +0000

I felt it was time for a change and so I've given the blog a bit of a revamp. I will be adding more features over the coming weeks.

It definitely aims to have a more social theme and you may notice a flashy new comment box too! This will make it easy for you guys to comment and give your opinion. I'd love to hear your feedback!