Other Interests: pursuing your passion

Anna Jacobson exhibits Doll Awakenings videos

Anna is showing some video works at the 123 Days Photo-media exhibition at the Queensland Centre for Photography from 28 February to 29 March 2009.

Exhibiting Artists:

"Doll Awakenings" by Anna Jacobson, "Birds" by Marian Drew, "Natural Progression" by Paul McCann, "123 Days" by Adrianne Hayward and Aaron Burton, and "Under Currents" by Lindy Wissler.

Randy Pausch dies

I wrote about Randy Pausch's Last Lecture here.

Yesterday I bought his book.

This morning I learnt of his death here.

We need more optimism and inspiration in our lives.

J.K.Rowling on the benefits of failure and the value of imagination

JK Rowling's Harvard commencement address is worth watching (Parts 1 and 2) :

Weekend in Sydney

We recently had a terrific family weekend in Sydney.

Also enjoyed a visit to the Brett Whitely studio and listening and dancing to Monsieur Camembert.

Exhibition

Anna had her 3rd year student exhibition last night.

Here's the invitation (the photo in the middle is hers)

Are you aware?

As you do things during the day, are you fully present, mindful and aware of what you do?

In this video Jon Kabat-Zinn introduces us to meditation and your mind.

Al Gore's 2008 update on climate change

Al Gore's talk at TED in March 2008 brings a new sense of urgency to the climate crisis with updated slides and data.

Watch it here. (time: about 20 minutes plus questions)

I've been Andy Warhol'd

The size and depth of the Andy Warhol exhibition at the Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane is awesome.

There was so much going on around Warhol and he seems to have been at the cutting edge in creating icons of the time.

Here's a photo booth picture of me done in the Warhol style.

Moving Opera

My son was lucky to be chosen to attend a 4 day workshop run by Opera Queensland's Moving Opera program for schools.

At the end they did a presentation of the different activities the 25 boys and girls had done during the week: theatre sports, tableaux, diction, singing, drama. They did short ensemble pieces from Don Giovanni, Little Shop of Horrors and Pirates of Penzance.

Considering most of the boys had no musical background the results were a credit to all involved. And it looked like they had a lot of fun.

Here's Tarantara (When the foreman bears his steel) from Pirates of Penzance captured on a mobile phone.

Right brain, left brain

This video of a presentation by Neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor is a knockout: a powerful personal story told clearly by a scientist!  Watch this.