Week Four Tasks

1) The first task is for library searches: search the library catalogue and check out the full-text database search via the library website and find three academic articles that relate to the topic of your first essay. Write a report to post in your blog that summarises the key points in the articles, and comment on how this task has helped you formulate your topic.

I am choosing to to do my essay on 'Moral Panics'. I will firstly outline the meaning and interpretaions of what a moral panic is, and I will be doing this by using past and present examples of moral Panics. I am going to also include the characteristics in regards to a moral panic so that society knows how to identify with one. But of course I am also going to include moral panics in regards to Communications and technologies and use exmaples of such panics.
I have come across thus far a couple of Academic referernces, those being:

‘Deviancy amplification and moral panic’, in Jones, M. & Jones, E., Mass Media, 1999
which is a course reader, and also a Journal that has an example of a modern moral panic

Wright, R (2000) ‘I’d sell you suicide': Pop music and moral panic in the age of Marilyn Manson’ Vol 19 pg.365

2) Complete the Scavenger Hunt questions by using a search engine that isn't Google, and post your answers in your blog.

1. What is the weight of the world's biggest pumpkin?
1,502 pounds, www.howarddill.com

2. What is the best way (quickest, most reliable) to contact Grant Hackett?
On his one website, www.granthackettonline.com

3. What is the length of a giraffe's tongue?
45 – 50 cm in length, http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/giraffe.htm

4. How would you define the word 'ontology'? In your own words, what does it really mean ?
The branch of metaphysics that studies the nature of existence or being as such, www.dictionary.com

5. What was David Cronenberg's first feature film?
Transfer 1966 , http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000343/

6. When was the original 'Hacker's Manifesto' written?
Jan 8th 1986, www.yak.net/fqa/120.html

7. Why do all phone numbers in Hollywood films start with '555'?
30 years ago, when the use of exchange names as part of the telephone number was still popular in the USA, dials had letters as well as numbers and the first 3 letters of the exchange name were dialled followed by numbers. An example might be CENtral 78978. You dialled CEN 78978 or, using all numbers, 236 78978. It so happened that 5 on the dial corresponded with J K and L and you can’t make any English place names using any combination of J, K and L as the first 3 letters. So the 555 code was allocated to service levels such as Directory Assistance, Operator, Repair Service, etc. Due to the "low fill" of the 555 code, Hollywood was encouraged to quote 555 numbers in their productions to prevent real subscribers being harassed by members of the public trying out the numbers quoted on the screen.
http://www.ask.com/web?q=why+do+all+hollywood+numbers+start+with+555&qsrc=1&o=0&l=dir

8. What is the cheapest form of travel from Crete to Rhodes?
Flight = $229.14 Expedia
http://www.ask.com/web?q=what+is+the+cheapest+form+of+travel+from+crete+to+rhodes&qsrc=1&o=0&l=dir9.

9. What song was top of the Australian Pop Charts this week in 1965?
Do the Clam by Elvis Preseley (although I'm not certain about that, the website it really difficult to understand.)
http://www.ask.com/web?q=why+do+all+hollywood+numbers+start+with+555&qsrc=1&o=0&l=dir

10. Which Brisbane band includes Stephen Stockwell on keyboards and vocals?
The Black assasins - Brisbane punk band, www.blackassasins.net