julianhopkins.net

**Sticky post until 13/08/08 - Scroll down for new posts**
In a way, it’s a story about blogs – you know how you randomly spot something in PPS or Innit, then click here then there, and end up somewhere you never expected?

It all started with a post by yinhao – through him I came to Nikkiko who was promising a link to anyone who posted a photo showing how not to use plastic bags. So, I did, and also set up a space in my sidebar for Bloggers who hate plastic bags.

Then I got a comment and an email from The Tiny Tapir: she has this online shop full of great enviro-friendly stuff, and was asking me if I wanted to review some reusable bags! Cool! My first review, and for environmentally friendly stuff summor

So, I’ve been using them for a couple of months, and here it is… Oh and you can win one, details at the bottom!

The first thing I noticed, was how small they pack up; the manufacturers say “our patent pending enclosure system enables three bags to roll up to about the size of your cup of coffee.” Actually, the ‘patent enclosure system’ is a couple of velcro straps sewn onto the top, but they work very well and the bags arrived in one A3-size envelope, delivered two days after ordering online.


Radioactive Man vs. RuMe!
Continue reading "RuMe review and giveaway competition! Get a free reusable bag!"

Sticky post. Scroll down for the most recent post
Hi and thanks for dropping by – this sticky post is to explain (a bit) the anthropological research I’m doing on Malaysian blogs and bloggers for a PhD in Social Anthropology at Monash University.

If you’re a Malaysian blogger, or a blogger living in Malaysia, my research is about YOU!

Please read on if you would like to learn more about my research, give some feedback or even participate in the research. Otherwise, just skip to the post below.
Continue reading "Anthroblogology – Commercialisation in the Malaysian Blogosphere)"

I finally did my presentation, and I’m now officially on holiday! Aaaaahhhh feels good

After paying for the rooms at the Bako National Park, I wandered back to the hotel through some of the old streets of Kuching – it’s a charming place, with old shophouses still thriving (apparently anyway).

Here are some photos of shop signs – they show the old and new overlapping, and the different languages and scripts reflect the pluralistic foundations of Sarawak.

Malay, Chinese and Jawi


Malay, Chinese and English


The blinds are used to shade from the sun, and as decorative space


...and the ever-present, real thing

For those who don't know, 'kuching' means 'cat' in BM


This is a statue in the centre (? I haven't really worked out where the 'centre' of Kuching is yet - it seems to sprawl along either side of a large river, with large buildings sprouting up amongst scattered low housing).

I can't help noticing how the human patriarchal family structure has been reproduced in the statue. Note the female cat gazing adoringly at the tomcat who stands proudly over his brood: in real life he's off as soon as he's delivered his dose of feline goo!

Here's the same at night


I took it after interviewing my second A-list blogger - very interesting interview, quite long (thanks again! ). It's really confirmed how important these interviews are for my research - there's so much information I could never get myself, unless I worked for years to become a top blogger.

OK, gotta rush and get back to the conference - there are a number of papers on blogs today, I'll try to report back the gist of them.

It's 4.20 am - I woke up after some dream that involved I can't remember what, and my upcoming presentation. I'm getting pretty nervous about it... I woke up with the order of the slides running through my head: authenticity, blogwars, values,... I'm going to do some work on it, but got a little distracted by the view from the back.

We're staying at Lodge 121; which is so far very pleasant - a basic, clean, budget hotel with shared bathroom and free wireless. RM79 for both of us. The room is not much larger than the bed, but it's fine.

What is a bit spooky is the view from the back bathroom area


at moments like this, I'm so glad I'm on the outside looking in, rather than the opposite! (Touch wood )

Arrived in Sarawak! I'm here for a conference and a short holiday, will try to give updates as I go along

I took a couple of photos from the aeroplane - this was my first sight of Sarawak and East Malaysia


I like the way the clouds follow the coast.

This is clouds and - I think - haze. You can see a band of dark stuff which I think is the haze, it looked kind of different from the rest of the clouds.


Fortunately, the sky here is clear, so maybe it was not haze.