Working on Uncensor project has allowed me to dig a little deeper into three interesting technologies: Django, Amazon Web Services (EC2, S3 and Simple DB) and Google App Engine.

Over the jump I talk a little about each and how they can provide benefits to an organisation’s web development efforts.

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I’m delighted to announce that I’ll be facilitating the Social media and Government workshop as part of the Web Directions South: Government conference program on 20 May in Canberra.

From the official blurb:

Social media – blogs, wikis, social networking services, online communities, folksonomies/tagging, social search – are reshaping what citizens expect from government services. Areas of government, from health and policy development to tourism and the cultural sector, are all being asked to deliver better, more interactive, more citizen-centric, more engaging, and personalised online services.

If you have any thoughts on e-government, sites that you think would be worth showcasing, or interesting workshop techniques, feel free to leave a comment :)

It’s a full day workshop, which will hopefully be a lot of fun as well as informative for participants. If you’re interested in attending, pricing and registration details are on the site.

(Astute observers will notice that the workshop takes place two days before I present at the CPA Centering on Excellence conference – so it’s shaping up to be a big week!)

These two posts landed side by side in my RSS reader today, and although on different topics, I thought they dovetailed nicely.

Seth Godin: Who answers the phone?: “Shouldn’t you be tracking in the finest detail what people have to say when they call in?”

Bruce Nussbaum: Loyalty: “For companies that build a very loyal base of consumers, it may be important for them to monitor the edges, where a few people are saying things that contradicts the majority.”

I found the point of intersection interesting…

Just a quick note to mention that yesterday, Amnesty International Australia’s Uncensor (link no longer active) site was launched. This is the project I’ve been involved in, though the work I’m doing isn’t on the site yet.

The site is part of Amnesty’s campaign in the lead up to the Olympics being held in August in China, focusing on internet censorship and repression. I’ve been following the blog for a couple of days now and the writing there is excellent – really informative.

The “Search for Freedom” function (in the right sidebar) shows first hand China’s censorship regime at work, and clearly highlights how Google is participating in the “Golden Shield” system.

You may have heard about the Fuwa, the Chinese Olympics mascot. Well it seems that they left someone out – meet Nu Wa (link no longer active) the Uncensor mascot. Nu Wa (who’s name means “outraged, angry young boy”, wants to set the record straight by speaking about the human rights abuses suffered by people in China.

I really dig the site, as does Priscilla. Well worth checking out…