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Economic volatility, plus ethnic disintegration, plus an empire in decline: That combination is about the most lethal in geopolitics. We now have all three. The age of upheaval starts now.

The inward-looking self definition of identity as an ethnonational entity now not only effect the people's relation's with "the outsiders," but also the inter-ethnic groups' relations within the region. The expectations to achieve economic and political liberation on the basis of ethnic groups have led to feuds between the people groups within the region. Although a common enemy is still strongly felt to be "the outsiders," in the attempts to define one's ethnonationality, and in the struggle for "autonomy" and liberation, the more powerful neighbouring ethnic groups came to be identified as obstacles. The Naga-Kuki clash in recent years is a good example. If the trend continues as it is, we may expect to see more feuds among the ethnic groups.

Online video is renegotiating its (problematic) relationship with cinema. It deals with cinematographic principles versus the principles of the online age. We cannot directly transfer the cinematographic principles into the online age as new media has its own specificities. YouTube is not just video on the web but YouTube is a natively digital object. Ten years ago Lev Manovich proposed to consider the database as the (new) dominant media form. The database is the hegemonic media form online, as can be seen on YouTube, Flickr, MySpace and Google. We should think beyond technology now the database is also becoming a dominant social form. The database is shaping the social.

New social media behaviors Both hardware and software (and interfaces if we choose to put the interface between hardware and software instead of seeing it as software) direct new users to turn their media into social media. YouTube pushes you to interact by offering a wide abundance of “social options” such as Share/Post video/Add to groups etc. I recognize this trend in the use of my new mobile phone. Not only is it my first mobile phone with an integrated camera it also gives me the option to publish a picture on the web immediately. This has been made even easier by installing a piece of software called Shozu that immediately pops up a “Send to Flickr” dialog after I have taken a picture. This causes me to upload nearly every picture I take to Flickr. My mobile phone creates new social media behaviors.

E-Learning   Chronos   The e-learning tutorial Chronos deals with the business case for sustainable development. It is intended as a straightforward introduction for employees that can help organisations move sustainable development thinking into the mainstream.   Companies know that if sustainability is to be embedded in their organisations, their staff will need training. E-learning provides a practical and cost-effective alternative to a conventional training course.   There are now more than 200 organisations through the world using Chronos, with a total of around 150,000 user licences. Some, including Shell, Rio Tinto, and Philips, have customised Chronos to their own requirements, which can include corporate branding as well as video messages from their own executives. The software has been translated into Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese and standard Portuguese.   Chronos was developed in partnership with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. It is available via the Internet and on CD-ROM.

As the brand ambassador, Ranbir would be involved in "communicating the brand values of the company through multi-media campaigns", the company official said.

Opened in 1932, the history of the Broadway Theatre stretches back to the mid 1920s. Up until 1924 the current site was occupied by a Fire Station which was relocated to Ladywell, from where it still operates to this day.

Silent movie projectors were ordered but in 1929, Al Jolson’s famous ‘Jazz Singer’ saw the first commercial sound on film presentation revolutionise cinema.

During the 1930s up to the Second World War, the building was primarily used by local organisations, the Utopians being joined by the Eldorado and Lewisham Operatic Societies.

University of Florida faculty may be interested in the newest addition to Academic Technology’s Computer Labs: 86 computers for online testing using the E-Learning course management system are now available!

The e-Learning Research Group is now preparing detailed plans for its second year of research, beginning April 1 2009, in support of the UK Government’s Harnessing Technology strategy.

Participation - many are no longer satisfied to just consume the thoughts and opinions of professional experts - but want to be involved in the process of discussing and interacting with the news. Beyond this we’re seeing more and more focus upon citizen journalism where millions of people have the means to engage in the reporting of news - simply by getting their mobile phone out.

Relationality - many of the new forms of media that are emerging not only involve readers in the reporting and interpretation of news - but they create spaces where community springs up around the news and information being shared. People are no longer finding meaning in news alone - but together in social networks. Suspicion of Institution - Government, Church, Big Business and other ‘institutions’ are increasingly being viewed with suspicion. I’m finding in my own daily interactions that more and more people have a growing sense of disillusionment and suspicion of mainstream media outlets and are looking for alternative sources of information.

Customization - we live in an age where we have almost unlimited choice in many areas of our lives. New media allows people to customize the information and news that they want to consume. Using tools like news aggregation they can now choose specific topics that they wish to follow and control when and how they consume it. Immediacy - no longer satisfied to wait for tomorrows paper or tonight’s news broadcast - people are increasingly following events in real time online. While TV and Radio have live coverage of some big events with broad appeal - New Media is light footed, nimble, highly targeted to special interests and quick. Whether it be watching Apple release it’s new iPod live via a blogger at the press event or getting reports and pictures of a natural disaster from a blogger caught up in the middle of the action - new media is increasingly ahead of the rest in getting information out.