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Wednesday Apr 23, 2008

What's in your ears?

I’ve found a video of what we get up to in TheSite.org office:

Lip Dub - Flagpole Sitta by Harvey Danger from amandalynferri on Vimeo.

(Ok, it’s not quite like that, but boy I’d love it to be.  I totally love the fact these people made that video).

But we do have something sort of similar.  On Friday afternoons, we tend to gather for a short presentation on a particular subject before having a little relaxation time where people can chat socially and reflect on what they achieved over the week.  It’s a good opportunity to get to see your colleagues in different light to the usual name that appears in your inbox demanding something be done by yesterday.

One of the highlights of this downtime is that we get to play music in the office.  Generally our office is quite quiet: although the techie people appear to like opera which occasionally they have playing in the background, so it does tend to make the place feel a bit like a hotel lobby. But on Friday afternoon we get to play music.  And that means we need someone to choose the music.

This week, big Jim V asked if I’d like to do the honours.  What then should I inflict my colleagues with?  A quick look at my Last.fm account suggests that most of what I listen to is, erm, of the chilled variety: Jack Johnson, Tom McRae, Air etc (which is what I tended to listen to when I was working at my previous job). All very nice but not exactly the sort of music you want to kickstart your weekend.

(Oh and the Sugababes is my guilty pleasure and I’m not going to apologise for that).

At the moment I’m particularly loving the new Guillemots album (their gig @ Somerset House was my favourite of last year).  I also really liked the new Portishead single when they played it on Jools Holland. And a couple of weeks back I saw this guy play and thought he was brilliant. All of them great, but again not the riveting anthems you want before we head to the pub or wherever.

So, anyone got any great ideas for music we should play in TheSite.org office this Friday?  Current favourites, old classics or undiscovered treasures of MySpace? 

Otherwise I’ll be inflicting my nineties indie favs: stand up Sleeper, Wannadies and classic Charlatans.

Olly

Posted by Olly ( 9:48 AM ) Link to this post  |  Comments[4]

Friday Apr 18, 2008

Being a newbie...

Starting in a new job is always a daunting experience.  It's like the first day at a new school, except there generally the other people are all new at the same time and you aren't replacing someone who had their way of doing things that people understood and were used to.

So it's with some relief that I've got to the end of my first week at TheSite.org, covering for Hannah whilst she is away on maternity leave, surprisingly confident about what I'm supposed to be doing.  That's in no small way the excellent (and extensive) hand-over notes that Hannah left---I do now feel a bit guilty about what I left for the person replacing me at my previous job---and the excellent team who I'm working with.

Life at TheSite.org never stands still, so on my third day I was inducting our newest member of staff, Chris Chapman, who is joining us to create lots more audio and video content.  Multimedia is very much my background as well; so (literally) watch out for more of that coming your way soon – be it on your computer, your iPod or whatever other way you like to get video in front of your eyes and sound in your ears.

Being maternity cover is an interesting role.  You aren't simply there to hold the fort - TheSite.org needs constant developing so a year of just twiddling thumbs and answering emails isn't good enough.  But you're also aware you are sat in someone else's seat, and eventually they'll want it back.  You can't totally go in a different direction to what they were doing, as they won't be very impressed when they return.  So, other than chucking out some old magazines, updating the voicemail and introducing a constant supply of Haribo to the desk; I'm not planning on too much revolution in the office.

I can't wait to meet loads of TheSite.org users; be it on the boards, via email or in person if you get involved through our many volunteering opportunities.  Without liking to sound like an old crusty, I do remember TheSite.org back in the late 90s when I was at uni and doing a digital media degree (this is when I had to explain to most relatives what the internet was).  I am genuinely excited that after years of being aware of how great TheSite.org is; I'm now in a position where I get to influence what it does.

Feel free to send your feedback, comments, suggestions or even random crap that you think will make me laugh.

Olly

Posted by Olly ( 2:38 PM ) Link to this post  |  Comments[3]

Chat to the peelers

On Wednesday 23rd April, 7-8pm, Commander Rod Jarman will be chatting live about policing in London and Stop and Search.

Rod is a senior officer within the Metropolitan Police Service with specific responsibilities for the eight Boroughs in North West London, Stop and Search, Safer Neighbourhoods and more.

Rod became the Borough Commander in Southwark in 1999. During this time he led the community and long-term response to the murder of Damilola Taylor; a number of multi-agency initiatives tackling hate crime and supporting young people.

If you'd like to ask questions about policing in London, stop and search, or anything else related to Rod's work then join us next wednesday in our chat room.

Posted by Helen ( 10:03 AM ) Link to this post  |  Comments[0]

Wednesday Apr 16, 2008

The other end of depression

Feeling down or depressed can be a very different and personal experience, whether you're going through a rough patch or simply feeling bad but not exactly knowing why. How do you know if you're just a bit low or if you need further help? Do you really need antidepressants and what are the alternatives? And how can you keep positive when things around you are going crazy?

We've boosted our mental health content with six new fact sheets, two case studies and two podcasts to explore the 'other end of depression'. So whether you're getting through the worst of it, you've been feeling down for some time, or you don't know how to control your anger or mood swings, take a look at our latest articles for some useful tips, advice, and real life experiences.

Coming off antidepressants - includes a podcast – we speak to a GP and Bonnie who's struggled to come off antidepressants.

Understanding mood swings - includes a podcast – we speak to two experts who offer advice and techniques on how to control your moods.

Alternatives to antidepressants

Dealing with anger

Being positive

The positive side of depression

Fighting back from depression (True story)

Recovering from abuse (True story)

Posted by Julia ( 2:07 PM ) Link to this post  |  Comments[0]

Wednesday Apr 09, 2008

Driving test

When I took my first driving test I had everything planned. My cassette ‘Drive with Jules’ was completed and would be played relentlessly in my first car, a rusty little Fiat Panda. Filled with songs mixed off the radio and cheesy tunes, I was ready to pose with my sunroof down and my windows open. I was mentally prepared to pass and get out there into the real world where I didn’t have to rely on lifts from parents or friends. The thought of failing didn’t enter my head (and I did that twice), but nevertheless I was terrified. Well Joe is in the same boat, optimistic, but scared sh*tless. Check out his next diary entry to hear about the run-up to booking his test. Good luck Joe!

Posted by Julia ( 1:43 PM ) Link to this post  |  Comments[0]

Friday Apr 04, 2008

Minging loos

Once I actually gave my bag (with everything in it including wallet and keys etc) to a complete stranger on a static train because I was worried it would get ruined if I took it into the nasty train toilet. Very stupid I know, but a sure sign that they really are gross. Luckily the person was kind and honest, so I got my bag back when I returned to my seat. The latest rant in our real life section is all about train toilets and captures the horrors vividly. 

Posted by Helen ( 2:24 PM ) Link to this post  |  Comments[0]

Thursday Apr 03, 2008

The Dominatrix

I'm sad to say that our Digital Interactive Services Director Dom Waghorn will be waving goodbye to TheSite.org at the end of this week. You may be wondering - what's the big deal? People come and go from jobs all the time. This change is a big deal though as Dom has pretty much become part of the furniture at TheSite towers having notched up a grand total of 9.5 years 'service'! So if you count backwards then you'll soon realise that Dom was involved in TheSite.org when the internet was a creaky and let's face it, pretty ugly, domain. This means that he's seen a lot of changes and helped shape the website to create the brilliant resource we've come to know and love.

Anyway, that's enough from me. I asked some TheSite.org users who have been kicking around for a fair while to share their thoughts on his departure. Here's what they had to say:

Aladdin

"Thank you very much for a splending job for all these years! It seems you were at the helm when the internet had barely been invented. Moderating a forum cannot be an easy job at the best of times, specially one catered to helping young people.

All the best for the future!"

Man of Kent

"What can I say about Dom?

Those of us who have been on the boards for years now have missed his witty inputs over the past couple of years as he's moved to other jobs in YouthNet. That doesn't mean that we won't be disappointed to hear that he's finally completed the tunnel and is on his way out of "thesite towers".

Seriously, for a Charlton (ha!) supporting colonial, he was alright I suppose."

go_away

One of my favourite Dom moments came from that satirical article published by the register:

Quote:

The editor of the site, Dominic Waghorn - obviously a pseudonym for some drug-crazed Nazi - attempted to justify his site thus: "We try to provide information and advice. We don't tell people how to live their lives or what is right or wrong." Ridiculous. How would people know what to do if we didn't tell them? It'd be bloody anarchy.

I'm trying not to write from a perspective as if I was writing an obituary, but Dom put so much into TheSite.org and I'm sure hundreds of people (including myself) benefitted in the many ways that TheSite has to offer. I was 17 when I joined, I'm still rattling about at 24, which says a lot about the community that was created, and the effort put in from the people above, much of which came from the Dominatrix!  

 

Posted by Helen ( 10:14 AM ) Link to this post  |  Comments[3]