Alex Harries's diary

... here's the new UPSU.net Media homepage:

As usual, send comments, suggestions, and reports of any factual errors to somebody else, 'cos I don't care (ok, I'm joking - contact me here if you need to :o).

I know it's no work of art, and it's hardly pushing things forward for web design, but it's a colourful template for us to build on over the next 12 months, so to that end I'm happy with the result. Of course, you might think otherwise - tell me how you'd change it in the comments box, below.

p.s. Sharp-eyed viewers among you might have spotted the Google AdSense box on the left, under the menu. It's still being trialled (i.e. no-one particularly wants it turned "on" yet), so it only appears on UPSU.net pages viewed through my account. 

/al - bedtime! 

You know those days where you get comfy on the sofa and just, well, vegetate? I tend to do something similar at work - I just park up at the desk and start working through my Never Ending To Do List (TM). Ok, so it's not as relaxing, but I guess it helps to get things done.

Anyway, today started out with my first SAGA meeting. Not the over-50's holiday and insurance company, but the University's Students' Academic and General Affairs committee, which (according to the Uni website - I'm not claiming to know anything about anything here, naturally...) is the Board of Governors' main way of getting feedback on the matters that are affecting the students of Portsmouth, through the Union's Sabbatical officers.

SAGA also makes sure that the information fed back to them via. the Sabbs is properly listened to and actioned. To save me rambling even more than usual, you can find out more from this page on the interweb.

So why have I been annoying people then? Well, after coming back from SAGA with a long list of Really Important Things That I Must Do Right Now If Not Sooner, I had to go round trying to track down the various bits of information to complete these odd jobs.

Of course, pretty much everyone I asked was also up to their collective eyeballs in their own workloads, so I ended up feeling like I was going in circles and annoying people on the way, so my mantra for the next couple of days is going to have to be "stop being so bloody annoying", otherwise I think I may lose my kneecaps...

Today I have mainly...

• ... been to SAGA and learnt lots of new things (which I then promptly forgot),
• ... played about with exporting the AU Dinner video so we can put it on t'interweb,
• ... PDF'd 160 Union Council motions, amendments, agendas and meeting minutes from 2002 to 2007, ready to build a shiny new archive of Union Council goodness,
• ... bugged people to get the AGM agenda ready to go (it's on its way, and my annoyance tactics aren't helping it go any faster, so I'll try to stop pestering now!),
• ... bugged Jodie Austin for details of the AU Dinner awards (sorry!). They're online now, so panic over,
• ... finally put Elle's tenancy deposit news article online (only a month after I was asked to do it - sorry!),
• ... turned on the new Get Involved template (and I'll be polishing the Get Involved pages over the next few weeks),
• ... done some more bug fixing on the site to repair the RSS feeds after the upgrade to the database broke a few things (again, sorry, and a thankyou to hosting bod Clive Garder for helping fix it!
• ... tidied up the AGM pages and found out where the AGM agendas and minutes are kept so we can build an archive of that, too...
• ... and a load of other really boring, boring things no-one cares about, too.....

...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz /al ;o)

(I wrote this last Friday, but I've only just managed to get this approved by the powers that be, so this entry's a bit late. Sorry!) 

Today's been my first day of doing Sabb-like things, although at the moment I think most, if not all of the incoming Sabbs are feeling a bit disconnected from reality as the reality of the position's responsibilities probably haven't quite kicked in just yet. It'll come with time though, I'm sure.

As part of our (gentle, at the moment) introduction, we sat in on the Board of Trustees' meeting today with the University Chaplain, Peter Jones, the Union's accountant bod, the current Sabb team, the two student trustees, Rena Ellis (the Union's Chief Exec), Jo Bower (Rena's secretary), and Tracey Anderson (the Financial Controller, aka Big Chief Bean-counter).

As a Trustee of the Union charity, it's each person's responsibility to run the business - much like a company director - in the spirit of the business. Because it's a charity, this means we have to make sure the Union is working towards its aims, which are basically to provide a range of support and opportunities for students (it's a lot more detailed than that, but I can't remember the aims, and since it's just gone 3am and I have an episode of Lost to watch, I'm sure you won't mind that I won't be looking them up just now...).

While the contents of the meeting aren't something I can discuss (on pain of death, so I'm told), Yorkie's Lux proposal got a mention and I have to admit I'm hoping that it will mature into a committed dialogue between the Union and the University to make the most of the Union's "fridge-with-a-light-on".

Personally, I suspect (ok, I hope) it might not take a lot more than some good "artist's impressions", and a well-thought-out assessment of what can be achieved for the money, to provide the University with a workable plan to create a truly multi-purpose venue. I don't think that our pedigree sound system and lighting rig (possibly the best in Pompey) should be the only highlights of the venue I can think of. Time, and a lot of work, will tell...

This evening, I attended the Pure:FM AGM. Blessed with possibly the largest committee in the world, the voting side of things took up most of the event's two-hours, with an awards ceremony - which ranged from the silly ("Worst mispronunciation of a performer's name" award) to the coveted ("Best show" award) - providing some expected and not-so-expected-but-still-rather-nice results for the night.

I can't remember everyone who was elected, so instead of upsetting any more Pure members than I already have tonight, I'll just say I am genuinely looking forward to working with them all next year. Pure can look forward to a strongly-led, experienced group of people with a wide range of talents, skills and knowledge running their show, and - but don't tell anyone - I've almost got the warm fuzzies about what I think they'll achieve if they keep the hard work up.

That's not to say I don't for a second doubt they will do their best to make my life a living hell, because I wouldn't have it any other way, and no doubt they will soon become sick of me thinking I know more about radio than I do - truth be told I would probably have difficulty identifying the business end of a microphone without some help... ;o), but I do hope that whatever happens, the next 15 months give Pure:FM plenty more achievements to be proud of, starting with the Societies' Carnival on May 11th (make sure you go - it's going to be great!!).

Ooh, one last ...

I've just had a quick chat with Carl, Pure:FM's resident web guru, and he's beginning work on a brilliant little pop-up Pure:FM player.

This will mean no more having to hunt around Purefmdotcom to find out how to listen to their shows; you'll just have to click a link on any UPSU page (in the "now and next" box - pic somewhere on the right there) and away you go.

Naturally there'll be some things that have to be tackled first; a lot of computers have either one type of media player progam - e.g. Windows Media Player - or the other - Real Player. Some don't have either, for example a number of the University PCs, so we need to make sure that the end result is able to work on the widest range of systems possible.

With a little bit of luck, and a not-inconsiderable amount of work on Carl's part, I'm confident we'll be able to get this up and running in time for the elections. Fingers x'd then!

Alex is the UPSU.net web monkey, and loves adding new toys to the site. He's also running in the UPSU Elections for Media & Publications officer, and trying to finish off his degree as well. He's also half Welsh, but please don't hold that against him...

Yes, it's true - I'm running in the 2007 Sabbatical elections.

I'm running for the Media & Publications position, because it's the area in which I have worked almost constantly for the last 4 years, and because I think I could probably do a fairly good - ok, a very good job of it.

That, of course, is assuming I don't insert my foot in my mouth any more than is absolutely necessary, that I don't upset too many people, and that I don't inadvertently break the rules due to me being daft.

Oh, and of course, I'll have to beat the socks off the competition - I've heard rumours that there are no less than six candidates running for MAPO this year, including myself. Apparently, that means 2nd and 3rd place candidates will get a boost from the transferable votes of those in 4th, 5th and 6th places as they're knocked out.

All I have to do now is figure out how this transferable voting thingbob works...

Sleep deprivation. And stimulation... 

In the last 28 hours I've had 10 minutes' sleep, and in twenty minutes I'm off to start my first Pure:FM radio show. Today has been a haze of caffeine- and nicotine-induced consciousness, but as long as I stay awake long enough to finish My First Ever Pure Radio Show (TM) and don't break the studio too badly, I reckon I'll be ok... Uhhm, don't hold me to that though.

Over the coming days I'm afraid I'm planning to fill up this blog with more ramblings - this time about how my elections campaign is going. There will doubtless be neuroses and tears, tantrums and even some hair pulling - all from me, of course - so I really should warn you now; unless you like reading the inane babblings of a sleep-starved grey-head, maybe now's a good time to tune out...? ;o)

Seriously though, if you're reading this, I hope you'll stay tuned - the best way is to subscribe to the RSS feed up there on the right somewhere - and you can even chat to me - and ask me awkward questions - using the comments boxes (below each article) as my campaign continues....

With all that said, it's just starting to sink in just how much effort this campaign is going to take. While I don't mind the effort, I really do want to make sure it stays fair and friendly.

I'm also under no illusions that this will be an easy ride; even today I handed in my candidate pack with only a minute to spare because of some last-minute design tweaking on my flyers; seat-of-the-pants doesn't really begin to describe it...

Right, I'd better get off to my radio show. Sloppy's waiting for me, and the Channel 4 film crew should be heading out any minute.Ooh, note to self - must create a campaign logo... I have a cunning plan....

Peace out :o) /al