Thanks to JETAA NY Webmaster Lee-Sean Huang for passing this on:
Just received a subarashii email from Smitha Prasadh (Tokushima-ken, 2005-07) who is part of an effort to revitalize JET alum activities in Pittsburgh-shi (which is officially part of the JETAA New York chapter). JetWit wants to say good luck to “yins guys” (that’s Pittsburgh-ben, fyi :-) and keep us updated on how everything is going.
A small but determined group of us in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA are attempting to jump-start the JETAA – New York sub-chapter here. We’re located kind of in the middle of a rough triangle composed of New York, Washington DC, and Detroit (all of which are at 200-400 miles away), and would like to restart the subchapter to establish a local JETAA presence, form ties with the Japanese community, and spread awareness of the JET Programme.
In the last couple of weeks, we’ve gotten official permission from JETAANY and established affiliations with the Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania and the Asian Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh, and we’re currently in the process of choosing officers and getting the word out. (We’ll be putting up a website in the near future, too.) At the moment, we know we’ll be hosting a Nihongo Dake dinner (date/time/location TBA) and quarterly events/meetups.
Like other JETAA chapters, we’re open to all JET alums, prospective applicants, and any friends of the JET Programme. We’re based in western PA, but people in neighboring areas who are also too far from their regional JETAA chapters to participate actively (eastern Ohio, West Virginia, etc.) are welcome to join us.
Any interested parties can send an e-mail to pittsburghrep [/at/] jetaany [/dot/] org.
Smitha Prasadh (Tokushima-ken, 2005-07)
Note: JetWit just checked out Smitha’s website (http://skprasadh.com) and realized that Smitha also does sugoi design work (graphic and web), illustrations and photography.
Update: Turns out that JETAA Southern California has also recently updated its website: http://jetaasc.org (can’t tell if it’s Joomla, Wordpress or something else) (Thanks to JETAA SC Prez Jason Porath for the update.)
This just in from JETAA Northern California:
Hey everyone,
After talking about it at the national conference for I don’t know how long, our new website is finally up (jetaanc.org)! Check it out and let us know what you think.
Rod McLeod
JETAANC President
Meanwhile, JetWit has checked out the new JETAA Northern California website and thinks it’s cho-beri kakkou ii. We also voted for “Easier Navigation” as our favorite thing about the new site. But feel free to vote as you see fit.
On the website topic, you may notice that JETAA Northern California is using Joomla (an open source Content Management System) for its website. Several other JETAA chapters use Joomla as well. Meanwhile, JETAA NY and a few other chapter sites use Wordpress (a blog program which is also a Content Management System for all intent and purpose). Together, Joomla and Wordpress do seem to be the most popular choices among chapters. The primary reason being that they have nice layouts and, once set up, multiple users can easily participate in adding content rather than having to rely on one webmaster to add content each time.
The issue of websites and content management systems will be further discussed at the end of January at the Regional Conference being hosted by JETAA Portland (which I just noticed doesn’t use either Joomla or Wordpress). JETAA NY and JetWit webmaster Lee-Sean Huang will be there to contribute to the conversation along with several other knowledgeable and tech-savvy JET alums.
What does your chapter use? How do you feel about it? Do you have a preference between Joomla and Wordpress, or something else altogether? Share your comments below. There’s no one right answer, so the more feedback provided, the better we’ll all be served in the long run.
Thanks to Lee-Sean Huang (Oita-ken, 2003-06) for sharing this job opportunity. (FYI, Lee-Sean is the webmaster for both JETAA NY is doing part-time work. and for JetWit.) The opportunity is with a start-up for which Lee-Sean is currently doing part-time work.
To Apply: Please respond to design (/at/) purposecampaigns (/dot/) com with a cover letter, resume, link to your portfolio, and rate requirements.
Part Time Freelance Visual Designer (Web)
We are looking to hire a part time visual designer on a project-based freelance retainer basis to complement our small interdisciplinary team of strategists, designers, and programmers. A more permanent role may be considered as our relationship develops. Telecommuting is a possibility, but you must be able to available to attend meetings in our Union Square office two to three times a week. Read More
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JetWit webmaster Lee-Sean Huang (Oita-ken, 2003-06) comments after the jump on The Cove, a new documentary about dolphin hunting in Japan. Please feel free to share your own thoughts regarding this controversial film in the comments section of this post.
JetWit has become increasingly aware of JET alum artists doing interesting work and making names for themselves in the art world. Below is a little background on a few of them (though there are many more out there). Click here for more JetWit posts on art and JET alumni. You can also see a more complete list of JET alums in the art world in the Art section of the Library.
Zandra Ellis (Nagasaki-ken, 2005-09) – Bronx, NY
- Painter and writer -http://www.flickr.com/photos/zmongoose/
Born in the Bronx to Jamaican immigrants, Zandra Ellis cut her milkteeth on Marley, manga and museums; 17 years later, she emerged blinking in the sunlight, from LaGuardia High School with a diploma stamped “Art.” Somehow she ended up studying English Literature in college. Nagasaki Prefecture’s Emukae Town (pop. 6,700,) warmly embraced Zandra as an ALT who loved drawing on the board and attending the local pottery class (‘05-’09). Currently working on: freelance gigs/portraits for hire.
Manya Tessler (Wakayama-ken, 1998-2000) – Brooklyn, NY
Jewelry – www.MANYAandROUMEN.com- Children’s book illustrations – Yuki’s Ride Home (See interview with her from JETAA NY Newsletter at http://jetwit.com/wordpress/library/profiles/tessler-manya.)
- Read the “engaging” story of how she and her husband met and began designing jewelry together.
Manya’s children’s book “Yuki’s Ride Home” was published by Bloomsbury in 2008. (Read more) She received an Honorable mention in Category 1 of the Women’s Jewelry Association 2009 DIVA Design Competition. (Read more) She and her husband, Rouman, received the Mort Abelson New Designer of the Year Award at the JA NY Summer Show. (Read more) And the independent film “Adam” being shown at the 2009 Sundance Festival features several of Manya’s illustrations. (Read more)
Lee-Sean Huang (Oita-ken, 2003-06) – New York, NY
Lee-Sean Huang is New York-base multimedia artist who explores the creative and social possibilities found in the junction of technology, design and art. Recent works include:
- A computer-generated portrait of Mao constructed from the text of the Little Red Book
- An interactive music installation consisting of headphones that create a unique listening experience based on the wearer’s movements
- And a Japan-inspired animation and performance piece based on a poem by Catullus
Lee-Sean is a co-founder of Hepnova Multimedia, an interdisciplinary design collective and genre-defying band, and is currently a masters student at ITP, the Interactive Telecommunications Program at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Catch up with Lee-Sean at leesean.net. (JetWit Editor’s Note: Lee-Sean is also the JETAA NY webmaster, helped me get the JetWit site set up and is the one I call whenever there’s a “JetWit emergency.”)
JETAA Pacific Northwest recently held its bounnenkai which apparently included a trivia game contest. Photos from JETAA PNW’s Treasurer/Webmaster Shun Endo can be seen on the JETAA PNW site at the link below.
Hi Alumni,
I hope everybody is staying positive in this unstable economy. Reach out, get support, and maintain hope! You’re not alone.
I finally got around to posting the pictures that I took at the PNW JETAA Bounenkai. There are a lot of fun pictures, including a nice group shot! check them out!
http://www.pnw. jetalumni. org/?p=549
Shun
To get JetWit in the Year of the Ox spirit, Meredith Hodges-Boos (Ehime-ken, 2003-05) has come up with yet another great Zazzle twist on A.J., the JetWit mascot, created by Zi Mei (Saitama-ken, 2002-05).
JetWit Year of the Ox Greeting Card
JetWit Year of the Ox T-shirt
JetWit Year of the Ox Postcard
Via JETAA Pacific Northwest:
Be Part of a Global Team in an Innovative Company!
Seeking: Japanese – English Bilingual Web Developer
Location: Greater Salt Lake City Area
Responsibilities:
The right candidate will be part of the head office IT team to work for the Japan market by liaising with the Read More
JetWit will be on hiatus during the Christmas/New Year’s break. But we’ll be back posting in the New Year.
明けましておめでとうございます!
Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu!
Happy New Year!
JETAA NY webmaster and NYU ITP grad student Lee-Sean Huang (Oita-ken, 2003-06) was pleased to see his ITP presentation from Wednesday and Thursday written up and photographed in a post today on Gizmodo (the gadget blog).
Lee-Sean used an accelerometer to create headphones that change the music depending on your head movements.
Lee-Sean Huang (Oita-ken, 2003-06), JETAA NY’s webmaster and a grad student in NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program, will be presenting his interactive music interface, the head(banger)
phones, at the Interactive Telecommunications Winter Show at NYU this
Wednesday and Thursday nights (tonight and tomorrow night). So drop in to take a look. (721 Broadway, 4th Fl – just east of Washington Sq Park)
The show features a variety of interactive sights, sounds and physical
objects created by student artists. The show is FREE and open to the
public. No need to RSVP. Just show up any time during the 2 nights.
http://itp.nyu.edu/shows/winter2008/
Dec. 17th & 18th from 5pm to 9pm
@ 721 Broadway, 4th Fl
Lee-Sean AKA JETAANY.org Webmaster
http://leesean.net
From Shun Endo, PNW’s Treasurer & Web Guy, who posted the notes on the JETAA PNW website:
Career Day was a very successful event, bringing in many motivated participants, solid speakers, and even vendors from several companies. Many people stayed until the end, and went afterwards for drinks and comradery. The content of the speeches was very helpful, and it covered a broad range of topics. As promised, we have the notes to the speeches, as well as resources to the information given!
Thanks again to Steven Pascal-Joiner of Idealist.org , and Rob Uy from Microsoft HR, and the panel speakers for their respective insights. They were: Amy Fenning , Amanda Wolfman , Keith Nitta , David Sandler , Megan Bernard , Rob Uy , Matt Austin , Steven Pascal-Joiner. Thanks to Ben for moderating the discussion.
Here are the links:
Rob Uy Speech Notes
Steven Pascal Joiner Speech Notes
Idealist.org Presentation by Steven (PDF of E-book, and links to different topics covered by Steven)
We’d like to introduce JetWit (nickname: A.J.) , the new mascot for JetWit.com, created by Zi Mei (Saitama-ken, 2002-05)!
Below the jump, Zi Mei explains the origin of the nickname “A.J.” and shares an early sketch: Read More
Click here to see a recent blog post from Lee-Sean Huang (Oita-ken, 2004-06) on the Electric Chair Bear project he’s working on with his classmates. Lee-Sean, who is the JETAA NY webmaster as well as the JetWit.com webmaster, is currently doing grad work in alternative media at NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP) which requires a great deal of blogging on topics that are simultaneously fascinating and completely esoteric.
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