The Last Photo I will Ever Take of Rico and Chase

Not that I've taken all that many to begin with, but now that Rico has moved away, there are unlikely to be any more. I'm glad it turned out so well.

Memorial Day hours

We will be open this coming Monday, Memorial day, from noon-5pm. Enjoy the weekend!

Educational Technology Librarian

As reported earlier today over at the PennWIC blog, we've just started a search for an Educational Technology Librarian here in the Information Commons. This librarian will develop and teach workshops, work with faculty, and promote the use of new media technologies. Read the full job posting (and instructions for applying) at http://www.library.upenn.edu/employment/professional/educationaltech.html

Awareness

A former lab consultant of ours had gone on to make wonderful digital things (don't they all). His name is Michael Highland and his creation is Awareness. His description: Awareness helps you become more aware of time spent on the computer by playing the sound of a singing bowl to mark every hour of continuous computer use. It also displays how long you've been using your computer without a break in the menu bar. $1.99 from the Apple store. Can't beat Awareness. Thanks Mike!

Congraduations!

Congratulations to our graduating seniors Chase, Rico, Terry, and Thomas! We will miss them immensely when they are gone, and wish them the best of luck. "Fall Forward," guys!

Closing Wednesday

Hi all. We'll be CLOSING Wednesday, May 18, so that we can do inventory and spruce the place up a bit. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Graduation Ceremony

Come by the lab Monday morning and watch the graduation ceremony and speeches (President Gutmann, Denzel Washington, and more!) on the big screen in the lab while you work on your media project! Plus, you won't have to get wet out in the rain.

Congrats Anu!

Congratulations to Dr. Anu Vedantham, Director of the Weigle Information Commons, who will graduate tomorrow, earning her doctorate in Higher Education Management from Penn's Graduate School of Education.

Mashup Contest Voting

The Mashup Contest Entries are in! And they're up for your voting pleasure. Check them out and cast your vote at:


http://wic.library.upenn.edu/wicideas/mashup/2011voting.html

The Future of Music?

Music fans aren't just consumers anymore... they are tastemakers, music distributors and even collaborators with artists. How does this impact artists' careers? Will anyone get paid for making music anymore? How does this up the ante for concerts and festivals? Is touring and playing out 200 times a year the future of music?

Visit WHYY's Philadelphia Studios on Friday, May 20th as Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot, hosts of the nationally distributed rock 'n' roll talk show Sound Opinions, discuss the impact of the unprecedented changes in the new music world.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO/TO REGISTER

Prior to the discussion with Jim and Greg, guests to this event will enjoy a cocktail reception sponsored by Maker's Mark. Following the event at WHYY, guests are invited to a post-discussion after-party (also sponsored by Maker's Mark) at Philadelphia Bar and Restaurant.

EVENT INFORMATION*:
Sound Opinions: The Future of Music
Friday, May 20, 2011
WHYY (150 N. Sixth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106)

Pre-Event Reception (Sponsored by Maker's Mark) - 6:00 pm
Discussion - 6:30 pm
Event Conclusion - 8:00 pm
Post-Event After Party (Sponsored by Maker's Mark from 9 pm - 11 pm) - Philadelphia Bar and Restaurant (120 Market St. Philadelphia PA 19106)

WHYY Members - $8
Non-Members - $12

* You must be at least 21-years-old to attend this event.

Mashup entries due

Don't forget that your Mashup entries are due by 9pm today!
Fill out our online submission form and get your masterpiece in.
In case you've forgotten here are some of our guidelines:

Length: Run time not to exceed 2 minutes

Format: DVD quality video and/or online video (through YouTube, Vimeo, etc.).

Eligibility: Currently enrolled Penn undergraduate and graduate students (individuals or teams). Each student can be the lead filmmaker on only one entry.

WIC Chosen for 2011 Senior Parents Project

Each year, the parents of the graduating senior class select a project for their fund-raising focus. We are very grateful to the Parents Fund for selecting the Weigle Information Commons for the 2011 Senior Parents Project.

The “Parents of the Class of 2011 Fund” will allow WIC to offer advanced programs to undergraduates on a range of topics and enable the Commons to provide students with access to the most up-to- date technologies – poster printers, video cameras, graphic design software – for their projects.

originally posted to the PennWIC Blog.

What the heck is Fring?

Well, I'm glad you asked. Fring is an app for iPhone and Android that allows you to make phone calls, video calls, and text message. Um ok? I already have Skype, right? What's the deal? There is a new feature with Fring that supports group video chats! So now you and three friends can all video chat at the same time. Check out this Youtube promo video (sorry the song is a little annoying).

The Googlization of Everything - and Why We Should Worry

Penn Libraries will be hosting a lecture by Siva Vaidhyanathan, Professor of Media Studies at the University of Virginia about his latest book The Googlization of Everything - and Why We Should Worry

It will be held Tuesday, May 10 from 9:30 - 11:30 in the Class of '55 conference room.

Siva Vaidhyanathan is a cultural historian and media scholar, and is currently a professor of media studies at the University of Virginia. Vaidhyanathan is a frequent contributor on media and cultural issues in various periodicals including The Chronicle of Higher Education, New York Times Magazine, The Nation, and Salon.com. He is a frequent contributor to National Public Radio and to MSNBC.COM and has appeared in a segment of "The Daily Show" with Jon Stewart. In March 2002, Library Journal cited Vaidhyanathan among its “Movers & Shakers” in the library field. In November 2004 the Chronicle of Higher Education called Vaidhyanathan “one of academe’s best-known scholars of intellectual property and its role in contemporary culture.” He has testified as an expert before the U.S. Copyright Office on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. He is noted for opposing the Google Books scanning project on copyright grounds. He has published the opinion, that the project poses a danger for the doctrine of fair use, because the fair use claims are arguably so excessive that it may cause judicial limitation of that right. (more info at http://www.law.virginia.edu/lawweb/faculty.nsf/prfhpbw/sv2r)

There will also be three respondents from the University of Pennsylvania:

• Joseph Turrow, Robert Lewis Shayon Professor of Communication at the Annenberg School for Communication
• Shyam Balganesh, Assistant Professor at the School of Law
• Roch Guerin, Alfred Fitler Moore Professor of Telecommunication Networks at the School of Engineering

This invitation is extended to the entire Penn community

Mac Defender

From Penn Information Systems and Computing:

Information is trickling in from both on and off campus about the distribution of fake security software targeted directly at the Macintosh desktop OS. The program, MAC Defender, is similar to existing "rogueware" which has existed on the MS Windows platform for a while.
The app claims that the Mac is heavily infected with malware. An unsolicited install dialog box appears prompting the user to type in an administrator password.

Once installed, software alerts users with pervasive pop-ups indicating that their system is infected and that only the "full" program will remove the threats. The full program, of course, is easily downloaded once the user types in a valid credit card number.

Symantec's response, including Antivirus Protection Dates (pending):

http://www.symantec.com/business/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2011-050313-0713-99

Additional information from Intego:

http://blog.intego.com/2011/05/02/intego-security-memo-macdefender-fake-antivirus/

Please let us know if you are seeing the above behavior. We'll share any additional information that we receive about this threat.

Now Lending Macbook Chargers

We're now lending Mac laptop chargers for you forgetful (or lazy) Mac owners who left yours at home. You can check one out for up to 4 hours at a time. Now that we're lending these in an official capacity, we are allowing borrowers to take them out of the lab as well.

More Flip Videocameras!

The Flip videocameras have proven so popular that we've purchased an additional 10 for our equipment lending program. They shoot Hi-Def video and they hold up to 2 hours of footage. Plus they're super easy to use--just press the big red button to record, then press it again to stop recording. You can charge the battery or transfer the footage to your computer with the built-in USB plug.

Reserve one online now at http://wic.library.upenn.edu/wicfacilities/lending.html