FAQs - Cinnaminta

Q: What is Cinnaminta?

A: Cinnaminta is a free online service which allows you to speak out from the Internet in places that you can't easily get to through readings, petitions and campaigns.

Cinnaminta allows you to help other people around the world by reading their requests.

Cinnaminta is an interactive social networking web site for people who want to take the internet beyond an environment in which they simply post their work in public and wait for comments to one in which they can:

• interactively help others through reading out aloud;
• communicate with like-minded people around the world;
• change things for the better.

Cinnaminta enables you to "reach out from the internet".

Cinnaminta is hosted in the UK, under UK and EU privacy and data protection laws. Cinnaminta is run on goodwill.

For more information read What is Cinnaminta?

Q: Why do I need Cinnaminta?

A: You need Cinnaminta if you want to have something read out aloud in a location that you can't get to or you feel like performing a reading for somebody else - See Why do I need the Cinnaminta Reading Out Aloud Services?

You need Cinnaminta if you want to have a recording of the sights and ambient sounds of a location or specific item that you can't get to or if you feel like doing a recording for somebody else - See Why Do I need the Cinnaminta Sights and Sounds Services?

You also need Cinnaminta if you want to start a petition, sign up to a petition, deliver a petition or get one delivered to the right person - See Why do I need the Cinnaminta Petition Services?

Q: How does the Cinnaminta Reading Out Aloud Service work?

A: The basic form of the Cinnaminta Reading Out Aloud Service is a reading of a short piece of your original writing. The process, at its simplest, is as follows:

1. you join Cinnaminta (we don't ask for ID - you can have any on-line name you like - and there are no charges);
2. you write your text into the request form, specify the preferred reading location and style and submit your request;
3. a member who can get to your specified location reads it aloud at that location and makes a recording of the reading;
4. the reader puts the recording on the Cinnaminta web site and you share it with your family and friends.

There are lots of options, for example:

• you can search the profiles to choose a specific reader who will turn the reading into a special performance;
• you can share the recording with your family and friends only through your private archive or you might want to share it with the whole world in the public archive;
• you can ask for an audio recording and a digital photograph rather than a video recording;
• you can become a reader and, if you want to, you can record yourself reading your own texts and put them in the public archive.

Before you start we suggest that you read the following:

• how to request a reading
• how to perform a reading
• guidance notes on safety
• FAQ on how to filter out material that you might find offensive

Q: How does the Cinnaminta Petitions Service work?

A: The basic form of the Petitions service is delivery of a petition which has been electronically supported (signed) by a large number of Cinnaminta members. The process, at its simplest, is as follows:

1. You join Cinnaminta - we don't ask for ID and there are no charges.
2. You search the petitions and add your Cinnaminta name to one or more petitions that you agree with.
3. You are alerted when the petition is delivered and can then access the multi-media recording of the delivery.

There are lots of options, for example:

• if you don't see a petition that you agree with then you could start one yourself;
• you can offer to deliver a petition message yourself if you have access to the target;
• you might send the petition message to the target person / organisation with a link to the location in Cinnaminta.com which contains the list of people who signed the petition and the recording of the delivery of the campaign massage.

Before you start we suggest that you read the following:

• how to support or start a petition
• guidance notes on safety
• FAQ on how to filter out material that you might find offensive

Q: Why do I need the Cinnaminta Reading Out Aloud Services?

A: You need Cinnaminta's Reading Out Aloud Services if you want to:

• develop a unique style of writing, reading or performance;
• share your culture, language or religion with the world;
• offer respect, show affection, recall past events or link with the past;
• celebrate birthdays, Valentine's day, engagements, marriages or other great events in your life;
• get a special holiday video to cure the "back to work" blues;
• shout at people who drop litter or businesses that pollute the planet;
• help to break down the artificial political, religious and cultural barriers that are being erected in an increasingly polarised world;
• obtain readings or translations of texts to help with learning foreign languages;
• read softly spoken healing words in a tranquil place;
• mourn the loss of a loved one or celebrate the lives of the departed;
• appear in countless readings, celebrations, acts of remembrance, etc. which will be watched all over the world.

Some examples of reasons for requesting readings using the Cinnaminta reading out aloud services are:

• I would like a video of my latest poem being read out near a waterfall.
• I would like a special birthday message for my friend / wife / husband / partner.
• I would like a quiet remembrance of my uncle who died in a battle and would like somebody to go to the cemetery where he is buried and read a poem that he wrote during the war but I am too old / can't afford to go there.
• I am working /living away from my home town and would like to look at a video of my town during my lunch break.
• I have had a very stressful day and would like to remember my holiday in a beautiful place but I don't have any video of the visit and can't afford to go there again for a few years.
• I would like some video of a holiday location that I visited with my parents many years ago but don't want to travel there myself because of the high carbon dioxide emissions which would be generated in flying there and back.
• I am writing a book and need to find out how my latest thoughts will be received in the location in which one chapter of the book is set.
• I would like to read a prayer at the location in which I lived / my parents lived / my grandparents lived and died but I can't get there because the civil war split the country.
• I really would like to know how to pronounce the text that I have just translated.

Typical reasons for performing readings are:

• I have had several requests read out and saw one for my location so I offered to do it.
• I want to build a portfolio of readings as part of my development as an actor / news reader.
• I want to show the world the wonderful place that I live in.
• I find reading out other people's writing is very therapeutic - it helps me to understand my life.
• I want to actively participate in this new revolution of words and understanding.
• I want to rediscover the joy of giving and sharing.

Q: Why do I need the Cinnaminta Sights and Sounds Service?

A: You need the Cinnaminta Sights and Sounds Services if you want to:

• remember a loved one through the sights and sounds of a location that you shared but cannot easily visit;
• chill to the relaxing sounds of a calming video;
• thrill to the spine tingling sounds of a passing train or plane.

Some examples of reasons for requesting recordings using the Cinnaminta Sights and Sounds services are:

• I would like to occasionally revisit the port that my parents took me to when I was a child but I am too old / can't afford to go there.
• I have had a very stressful day and would like to chill to the sounds of the tide coming in.
• I would like some video of a holiday location that I visited with my parents many years ago but don't want to travel there myself because of the high carbon dioxide emissions which would be generated in flying there and back.
• I went on a safari but I didn't get a good recording of the elephants or the cheetahs.

Typical reasons for making recordings are:

• I have had several reading requests read out and saw one for a recording in my location so I offered to do it.
• People are often asking for recordings of the wind in the pine trees - I live on a windy hill with lots of pine trees so it was easy to do.
• I have retired and have plenty of time and would like to help those with busy jobs to relax with something other than the television.
• I saw a request for some film and sounds of a low flying Spitfire passing overhead and have just transferred my father's films of these aircraft to digital media.

Q: Why do I need the Cinnaminta Petitions Service?

A: You need the Cinnaminta Petitions Service if you want to:

• protest about outrages, iniquities, corruption or pollution;
• protest about global poverty or global warming;
• protest at authoritarian government or about the erosion of civil liberties;
• complain about the lack of a critical service or unfair taxes in your location;
• organise and deliver petitions with global support.

Some examples of reasons for using the Cinnaminta Petition Services are:

• I would like to persuade my government that they have not thought through the unintended consequences of their new law.
• I would like to help to persuade a foreign government that they are not acting responsibly with respect to their national debt.
• I can get to the hill overlooking the factory which is polluting the river and read the statement with a very loud megaphone.

Q: What does the terminology in this site mean?

A: Cinnaminta public name: This is your alias, non de plume or nickname which you chose at registration. It is the name that members and other users of Cinnaminta will see. You can change it but this is not recommended. Note: If you do change your Cinnaminta public name then all uses of the name including those in other members' address books will be updated to show the new Cinnaminta public name in an attempt to minimise confusion.

User name: This is the name that you use to log in and should be kept secret. Initially, it is the random name that the Cinnaminta system will give to you during registration. You can change it to make it easier to remember but we suggest that you keep it totally different to your Cinnaminta public name to minimise the risk of somebody else logging in as you.

Password: This is the text which is only known to you for logging in and should be kept secret.

Tabs: Tabs are links to sections. Click on the tabs to go to the relevant section. There are two main sets of tabs visible around the top and right hand margin of each page:

• The white tabs across the top of the page set into the magenta Cinnaminta banner ('home', 'reading', 'assistance', 'what is Cinnaminta?' and 'archive') are for access to general information and "public" activity.
• The yellow shaded tabs down the right hand margin are for access to your activity within Cinnaminta, e.g. your requests, readings, setting font sizes, email address, etc. You can set the font type using the 'T T' tabs and the font size using the 'a a a' tabs.

There are also tabs within pages like the ones near the top of this FAQ page ('Top 10', 'Making a request', 'Performing readings' and 'Cinnaminta') which link to sub-sections.

Links: Red text which is underlined, such as how to request a reading is a link. Click on the link to go to the section, perform the task, etc.

Upload: Transfer computer files (videos, digital pictures and digital recordings) from your computer across the internet to the Cinnaminta system.

Buttons: The buttons in pages cause actions to occur, e.g. 'Add request', 'New message'. Click on the button to perform a task or action. Note that some buttons are located under a box for the password, in which case you need to enter your password before the button will work properly.

General internet terminology: There are whole web sites dedicated to explaining internet terminology. One example is http://www.netlingo.com/. Paste this link into a new window or tab in your browser address bar. The search box is in the top right hand corner of the page that this link takes you to. When the netlingo page opens up enter the word you don't understand into the search box under "Search Netlingo" and click on "Go". The netlingo system might provide a few underlined options to pick from. Pick one, read and then return to Cinnaminta, please.

Q: How can I practice filling in the reading request form without actually making a request?

A: You can fill in the whole of the reading request form as a practice session and then abandon the request by simply moving to another page without clicking on the 'Add Request' button, e.g. you can work through a practice request for a reading and then click on the 'Assistance' tab (or any another tab) without entering your password or clicking on 'Add Request'. The data entered will not be stored and you will not have make a request.

Note: If you try to go back to the form using your Browser arrows to 'Go back a page' then you will usually get a warning that 'The data you are trying to view contains POSTDATA that has expired from cache'. Do not panic. This is a warning that the data will not be re-entered into the form, i.e. this is as expected in this practice case. You can click on 'OK' to go back to the form or click on 'Cancel' and then select another tab.

However, if you are making a real request then you should try not to accidentally navigate away from the form before you have entered your password and clicked on 'Add Request' because the real data will really be lost (using the Browser arrows to 'Go back a page' does not work).

Q: What equipment do I need to join Cinnaminta?

A: You need a Computer with Internet access and a web browser.

You should protect your computer with a suitable firewall and anti-virus software. You should consider adding anti-spyware software. See the Software Software Suppliers Links for typical software.

If you are going to record performances that can be uploaded to Cinnaminta then depending on the type of requests you offer to perform, you will need a digital camera, video camera or mobile phone with a built-in video camera. See the Hardware Suppliers' Links for typical hardware (down page).

Depending on the complexity of the recordings that you offer to carry out, e.g. slide shows or multi-scene videos, you may also need picture or video editing software. See the Software Suppliers' links for typical software (bottom of page).

Note: You will need to carefully assess your requirements and existing facilities before purchasing any additional hardware or software.

Q: Why do I have to enter my password every time I make a request or change information?

A: This is security feature which is largely designed to avoid the occurrence of malicious events like the worm that invaded MySpace. It also minimise the risk of somebody pretending to be you while you are away from your computer which could cause embarrassment or, possibly, legal problems.

Q: Are there any comfy, well paid jobs at Cinnaminta?

A: No.

Q: When will Cinnaminta be available in languages other than English?

A: The plan is to provide a Spanish service as soon as funds allow and then monitor usage and requests by members.

If you would like to offer to translate the site's text pages that you can see on the Internet into your mother tongue then please contact us via the message service.

Q: When can I access the Cinnaminta Services?

A: You can use the Cinnaminta Services any time you like but if you are an employee in a company please do not do so during paid work time. Doing so gives social web sites a bad name and may result in the site being blocked from workers who have to live away from home for days, weeks and months at a time who can only access the internet from their work place outside work hours. These will probably be some of the people who can benefit most from the free Cinnaminta services, so please try not to compromise their opportunity to access Cinnaminta.

Q: Who are the Cinnaminta team and why are they providing this service?

A: The Cinnaminta team is a group of enthusiastic writers, artists, IT professionals, engineers and scientists who have developed an interactive social networking web site for people who want to take the internet beyond an environment in which they simply post their work in public and wait for comments (which often seem to degenerate into abuse) to one in which they can:

• actively request readings or performances;
• help others through reading or performing their requests
• enter into constructive two way communication with people around the world through shared reading of prayers, acts of remembrance, poems, celebrations and original writing
• change things for the better.

In their professional lives, the Cinnaminta team have travelled extensively around the world and know the joy of involvement in projects within different cultures. The experience is always an education, breaks down cultural barriers and helps with understanding, tolerance and global harmony.

However, the team have observed that almost everywhere people feel increasingly trapped and isolated in their busy modern lives and would like to maintain some spiritual attachment to their friends, families and ancestors within the peace and tranquillity of an idealised environment and to have some influence on the way in which the world is developing. Sadly, for most people the idealised environment is becoming more and more remote and they feel that there is no obvious opportunity for their views on the world to be heard.

Cinnaminta has been developed to solve both of these problems through private readings and public petitions.

The team also see Cinnaminta as an opportunity to bring people from different cultures across the world into constructive contact across the barriers set up by politics, religion, distance and time, without any preconceptions. We hope that people will enjoy the experience and develop both intellectually and spiritually from these unique interactions. We hope that this will help to counteract an increasing global polarisation into "them and us" by allowing people to discover the surprising similarities between the cultures around our ever shrinking and increasingly overcrowded and polarised world.

This internet based service now has a timely resonance due to the growing awareness of mankind's increasing environmental impact, especially in remote and tranquil places. Further, with more and more people living longer, Cinnaminta fills a very real need that many people have to revisit places to leave a final, very personal, non-physical mark - 'leave no footprints, just vibrations'.

Q: Why is there so much text in these web pages?

A: The Cinnaminta development team thought that the idea was a bit novel and required some explanation, especially for people who are relatively new to the internet and / or new to social web sites.

Q: Why can't I comment on a request or archived reading?

A: As a member you can discuss a request with the originator but this is not made public.

You can add written comments to the recording file just before it is archived but only if you are the requester or reader. The requester can choose if the comments are made public with the archived reading.

The main reason for not having a public comments page for each reading is that on many networking sites people seem to abuse the anonymity and the comments rapidly descend into vile abuse. On some sites this has become so offensive that the comments service has simply been discontinued. The Cinnaminta development team took the view that it was best to limit the comments to the requester and reader.

We suggest that you limit your use of the comments system to simple factual discussion of the way in which the recording was done and observations to help other requesters and readers because the requester may want to make the comments public. If you want to discuss other issues then we suggest that you use the messaging system because discussion within the messaging system will remain private.

Q: What can I do if the system will not accept my e-mail account for registration?

A: Use another email address with a different provider to register with Cinnaminta.

Ensure you add noreply@cinnaminta.com to your email address book, contacts list or whitelist to prevent e-mails from Cinnaminta being marked as spam.

You do not need to close your old e-mail account and can continue to use it for other activities.