links for 2007-07-03

An Adelaide woman has been arrested in the United States for allegedly trying to kidnap a 17-year-old boy she had met playing role-playing game World of Warcraft on the Internet.

“Plasma televisions are sending home power bills sky high as more people install bigger and more energy-intensive screens. Electric hot-water systems remain the No.1 energy guzzler in the home but plasma TVs are fast overtaking…”

“Richard Dawkins, the British ethologist and author of The God Delusion… reveals in a recent interview … that he has a digital alter ego — an avatar — who frequents the virtual world Second Life.”

Little website to FLIP text upside down and then lets you cut’n’paste the upside-down version.

“Channel Seven will broadcast two of its cult import dramas, Heroes and Prison Break on the same day as their US screenings in a ploy to lure drifting audiences away from DVDs and the internet.”

Alex Malik notes that Australian commercial TV broadcasters also have a nasty habit of editing US shows to fit timeslots and more ads in, especially in the late-night slots (eg Boston Legal).

Outsourcing social networking profile building?

Miles, Adrian. “Blogs in Media Education: A Beginning.” Australian Screen Ed.41 (2006): 66-9. (Good introductory piece/)