MAPPING MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION RESEARCH

The Communication Research Centre (CRC) in University of Helsinki has
completed a project "Mapping Media and Communication Research" in 
Finland, Estonia, Germany, France, the United States and Japan.

The reports can be found in pdf-format from:

http://www.valt.helsinki.fi/blogs/crc/en/mapping.htm (CRC) or

http://www.hssaatio.fi/en/completed_projects.html (Helsingin Sanomat 
Foundation)

Each report provides an overview on current issues, main trends and 
future challenges to communication research in respective country.

Hi from China! Becky, you're awesome!

Quick update from here. Went to Bejing over the weekend. Climbed the Great Wall, got dehydrated and over-heated, was miserable. BUT I made it up to the top of the darn thing (then had to get down). Although, I want to do it again--this time I'll drink extra water and take more medication. :) Or, maybe go to a part of the wall that is not so incredibly steep. It was a very difficult and dangerous climb. The incline was very severe at times. In fact, a little boy (about 3) took a tumble not far ahead of us. Scrapped up his face and got a bloodly nose. Dan and I gave his mother our water--proved a bit costly for me a bit later. OH well.

Also went to the forbidden city and tinnamen (sp?) square. Was really amazing. Took lots of pictures and got ripped off by a street dealer--ok so they conned $2 off me (not really sure I was the one being ripped off).

Anita, the hotel was really nice and the food really good and really cheap. Many thanks to your Mom. I spent the day at the pool working on the talk show book. Christine, I'll get you the chapters in the next few days. If you haven't sent me yours, please do as soon as they're ready. I don't have steady internet access, so it might take me a day or so to get them and get Dan to print them out at work for me.

Adios amigas,

Ok, here's what I most enjoyed in Shanghai

First, the old town shopping area. Really liked spending time there and the dumpling stand across from the tea house is a must. Also, there are several antique/novelty stores there that are several levels. I usually went to the one across from the Haagen Das ice cream store. You'll be approached by a number of young women trying to sell art. If you're interested in getting some art, go to that department/novelty shop and ask for Rebecca (entrance is also next to the Ten Fu? tea shop). She is a really wonderful young woman and her English is excellent!

My favorite place was the indoor antique market not far from the old town area. Its like a flea market and there is lots of bargaining to be done. Go once and look around. Make a second trip to buy. You'll see many of the same items over and over so don't be afraid to walk away if they can't meet your price. They know someone else has the same thing in the next stall. On the other hand,
there are some unique items there. So, I'd recommend surveying the place first and making a second trip once you know what you really want. Then, decide how much you want it and what you want to pay for it. I did leave with a few regrets--things I didn't purchase that I wish I had. Oh, and just a gift item tip. If you need to buy for people and aren't sure what to get, at the indoor antique market, you can get the circular stone carvings. They're called bi and come in different sizes--several sellers have them on the third floor. They've been a huge hit with my family and friends. In fact, my mom just recently called and asked when Dan might be going back because she wants some more. To get an idea of what I'm talking about, do a search on ebay for "jade bi."

I walked the Bund by myself. I really enjoyed it and felt like a super star. Don't be surprised if people ask to take your picture. It happened to me several times.

If you're at all interested in consumer culture and the city in transition, then I would just do a day walking through the malls. They're amazing.

I didn't do any river boat tours, but will if I get a chance to get back there.

For specific deals and the like, you're probably better off asking Chen or Patrick about that sort of thing.

Oh, I did visit the Shanghai Arts and Crafts museum. It was ok--not spectacular but not bad either.

I didn't like the outdoor fashion/clothing market. People were very aggressive and items looked pretty cheap.

Hope you have a wonderful time. Wish I was there!

Katy

I miss breathing.
The feel of air moving in and out of my nasal passages and filling up my lungs.
A good, life-giving breath.


Ok, so I was sitting on the couch dealing with a migraine and I smelled cat pee. Poor cat is 13 years old. She will sometimes pee in the plants if she thinks the litter box is too dirty. I had just cleaned it but I checked the plants anyway. I'd rather her pee there than on the floor or furniture. Smell all the big plants. No cat pee. Then smell the small potted plant. BINGO! But, there's no way she could fit in there. When I lean closer to the plant, I can't smell it. I move away from the plant, I smell it. Maybe its the plant itself. Its one of those "exotic" plants you see in the mall courtyards with the pink cactus-like flower coming out of a cone-like formation of long spiny leaves. Its never flowered since I bought it years ago but it has sprouted new cone-formations while the older ones die off. So, I thought maybe its just the plant decaying. Just to be sure, I get on my hands and knees and sniff the carpet below and around the plant. No cat pee. A while later I am sitting on the love seat--about 10 feet from the cat-pee plant and I get a whiff of cat pee again. NOOOO! Please don't tell me I was wrong and that the cat has peed on the furniture. I lean over and start sniffing the cushions on the love seat. Damn! I smell it very strongly on the outer edge of the cushion. However, I don't see a stain or outline of pee. The love seat is a camel color, so maybe she was very well hydrated. I take off the cushion cover to check the cushion underneath. No stain on that either. I put my nose to the corner of the cushion. No cat pee. I wonder if I have the right part of the cushion. I proceed to smell the entire cushion, both sides. No cat pee. I return to sniffing the cushion cover. No cat pee. I'm very confused. I did smell cat pee.

At this point its time to get up and move away to get some fresh air--cleanse the nostrils so to speak. I return to the love seat again--cushion is still dismantled. I smell it again, this time from the floor. Down on my hands and knees, I've found it again. On the floor in front of the love seat. But still no stain or outline. I rub my hand over the spot. I sniff my hand. No cat pee. I get my nose to the floor. No cat pee. Move a few inches away from the floor. Cat pee. I'm back to the floor, and taking a nice LONG sniff. No cat pee. Finally Dan comes in. I ask him to smell the floor. He does not smell cat pee. I then ask him to smell the cushion cover. As he is moving it around smelling it, I smell the cat pee. He does not smell the cat pee. By this time, the inside of my nose is starting to burn.

In the end, there was no cat pee. It was a phantom smell associated with my migraine. I awoke the next morning feeling like I was swallowing glass. Probably an infection I picked up from sniffing my carpets. That was Monday. Now the throat is only mildly raw, but there is major congestion in my head. If I learned nothing else, its that I need new flooring.