Last night I went along to the Birmingham Bloggers Meet-up as I heard lots of interesting things about the last one via twitter feeds and Brum blogs. I wanted to rep the ladeez- since I heard few female bloggers had attended previous ones (for whatever valid reasons). I was also curious to meet other bloggers. [...]
April, 2008
Robot to Conduct Orchestra
Last night there was brief discussion about the future of robots as music makers. In 2108 will humans pay to watch robots play jazz? Most at last night’s event said no- we want eye balls, sweat, nerves, mistakes and a human presence. I read on the Wired music blog/Frankel’s blog that Robots are trying their [...]
Creative Networks – Performance, innovation and all that Jazz
Tonight, I went along to Creative Networks, I really enjoyed myself! Soweto Kinch was tonight’s guest speaker; whilst he was talking I turned round and saw how enthralled his audience were, they became putty in his jazz hands (sorry couldn’t help myself), but seriously, the smiles and grins I witnessed!- wow! He is an excellent [...]
Ejos Ubiribo- Gun Crime in the UK
Just read an article by Ejos Ubiribo in the Guardian- an excellent, yet moving account of how after the tragic death of her brother, she channeled her energies into combating and exploring the different facets that enable gun crime to destroy inner city London communities. I found this paragraph the most poignant: “Sir Ian Blair, [...]
Have your say! The Music Igniter Final Round-up session
Today was the final Music Igniter session. It was a chance for everyone to share the projects they had delivered, discuss the processes and whether the guinea-pig test worked; if you put 10 teachers and 10 community musicians together and ask them to work towards creating innovative, fun, successful fun projects- does it work? The [...]
The Future of Education: 1967 stylee
A cool video (link from James Frankel) made in 1967 about the future of education, its over reliance on the Internet and computers.
Blogging for the Artist
Props to Created in Birmingham for this article! Blogging as a working artist!
Pacemaker
I had two Birmingham City University students James and Lee, pop round to show and try and sell me the Pacemaker- a hand-held DJing piece of equipment that has just been released. I could see the appeal- small, sexy gadget, lets you load mp3s relatively easily and tries hard to mimic the operations of a [...]
Japan Travels: Story Time
Whilst on a bus/coach heading back to Yamagata, quite a few special needs people/students got on the bus. (I had to work with special Ed students each week at my school in Sendai- so could tell straight away). Chris thought they were drunk because of the atypical rowdiness and most seemed to be drinking out [...]
Japan Travels- Tsukiji Fish Market
Chris and I awoke very early- 5am to get to Tsukiji Fish Market. It was something I had never been to before so was quite excited! It was a very vibrant, noisy (and for little people), scary place. Fishermen would rapidly run around selling and packaging newly arrived fish. For a more comprehensive, informative account [...]