Tuesday 27 October 2009

Testing Moving to WordPress

Have been thinking for a while, am getting to know WordPress pretty well, and want to move this content, and the content from http://www.bex-lewis.co.uk/ across to: http://bexlewis.wordpress.com/, and then combine them as self-hosted under bex-lewis.co.uk. We'll see!

Wednesday 21 October 2009

Testing Embedding from "Break"


Trampoline Master Shows Off - Watch more Funny Videos

Looks like it's going to work! About to post this as a delayed post on Super Fun Days Out: check out our Adrenablog!

Friday 16 October 2009

Speak: Corporate Abuse


I've just signed a card for Jack Straw, produced by Speak, a network of students and young adults who pray and campaign about issues of global injustice. I signed up to something at Greenbelt, received some cards yesterday - I'll take them and put them in the Chapel on campus.

Wednesday 14 October 2009

The World's Deepest Bin

I did think that these 'viral' adverts (the piano stairs one is doing exceptionally well on Facebook - I've seen it several times today!) were from a car company - they were so smooth and polished - and yes, there we are Volkswagen, doing some social action work - and having fun whilst at it. I heartily approve of this!

So Far:

Monday 5 October 2009

Operation Christmas Child

OK, so I'm very organised this year. Last week I was reminded about Operation Christmas Child, which I always used to to do, but what with being here there and everywhere for the last 2-3 years, haven't done. It's a really nice scheme, and quite a lot of fun - as buying presents for kids always is
The Scheme
You fill a shoe-box with presents for a child from Africa, Eastern Europe or Central Asia (you don't get to choose where the present goes, but do get to choose whether it's for a boy/girl, and what age-group they are in.
It is possible that your box may be re-organised for more equitable distribution, especially if unsuitable items are included in a box, so please included appropriate items and wrap them nicely!

Sunday 4 October 2009

Portwiture

I talked about Portwiture on my Digital Fingerprint blog, and in writing about it for Super Fun Days Out Adrenablog, thought I'd check again to see what I'd been tweeting about - and just thought this was so colourful that I'd put it up! Not sure what the Coke bottles are about - don't like the stuff - even when it's "good for you"!

P.S. In case you're wondering, I chose pair 4: as my specs, should be ready by 17th October!

Saturday 3 October 2009

Black Eyed Peas: I Gotta Feeling (LIPDUB Video)

Students at the University of Montreal prepared for a month for this dubbed version of the Black Eyed Peas 'I Gotta Feeling', had 2 rehearsals, 2 takes, and above is the 2nd take, done ALL the way through! CNN even picked it up!

Brazil Candidate Video(s)


To celebrate peace, culture, friendship, etc....
That tune...

Friday 2 October 2009

Rio to Host 2016 Olympics


I've visited Rio de Janeiro a couple of times, first in 1994, and again in 2008 (I have family there - and thanks to Facebook and other social media, we're now able to keep in touch!). As I was aiming to visit again in less time than 14 years, what about 7 years... just in time for the Olympics (always wanted to see the Olympics - maybe I'll have enough money to pay for a ticket by then!).

I only hope that Brazil can truly afford to host the Olympics - it appears to have been problematic (financially) for recent countries hosting it (including London) ... and in Brazil it's a well-quoted "fact" that 95% of the wealth is owned by 5% of the people... and of course vice versa. Brazil has enough poverty problems without this adding another layer, so I really hope that this boosts Brazil's economy (and it is encouraging that the Real introduced as currency in 1994, was still going in 2008, and not looking close to collapse!)

Twazzup

Interesting tool for identifying who you interact with most (recently) on Twitter:Twazzup.

Thursday 1 October 2009

Camilla Kerslake



I just had to post about this video, it's so beautiful! Yes, I have met Camilla, yes I do know her Mum, but I wouldn't be so enthusiastically posting about this if I didn't like the music!

I'll be posting on Digital Fingerprint about her use of social media later this week!

Wednesday 30 September 2009

Does God Exist?

Interesting video, purporting to be the story of Albert Einstein (say some), asking "Does God Exist?" Hosted on Facebook.

P.S. If you're wondering what's happening on the specs, I can't find my new prescription right now, and haven't had time to take it further. I will!

Saturday 26 September 2009

3 More Specs

OK, I've had my sight test, and yes, my prescription is worse... -1.50 in each eye, so still not too strong! I stuck with my plan to allow myself a limited amount of time to think about it (so preferably this week), rather than exploring EVERY option, and there's a couple in here that both the lady in the shop (and yes, she laughed at me in quite a few others) loved, and then a friend who was in Tesco, had a look, and thought they were good choices... so, further thoughts?!

14)

15)

16)

These specs are on 2 for 1, so could have 2 Tesco pairs... or find 2 Specsavers. I tried Vision Express the other day, and whoever the optical assistant was, just slouched against the counter wondering aloud if he could go home, and even though I was trying them on for about 10 minutes, no one came up to ask if I wanted any help!!

And he, he, found online ordering - was thinking I didn't have any pics of me without glasses...


The online world, you have to love it...

New Specs?

OK, I'm having my eyes tested this afternoon. Since I got my last pair of specs (in 2004 or 2005!) my prescription has changed, but I've been waiting to know that I had enough money to buy some! So far I've only tried Specsavers and Tesco (who are giving away free sight-tests in their new branch in Winchester), and picked out the following, but I'm not sure any of them are quite right (and one of the other customers when I put my own on, said "ooo, they're nice"...!!) - all do strange things to my face :-) Most stores are currently doing 2-4-1, but I really just want 1 pair, with a free upgrade to photochromatic - anyone know who might be doing that at the moment?

Which do you think are getting closest - which the worst - and excuse the expression on my face!

Specsavers

1)
2)
3)
4)

5)
6)
Tesco
7)
8)
9)
10)
11)
12)
13)
P.S. This is my current pair:

Tuesday 22 September 2009

Bex: Crazy Timetable

2009 So Far
This year has been amazing so far. I returned from Oak Hall in November, just as the credit crunch hit, really unsure where/whether I'd be able to get work, but returned to Winchester, as I knew I had a good reputation there, and was sure I could pick up a few bits! Friends put me up in their spare room whilst I applied for work, but after about 3 months, I had enough bits and pieces coming in to rent a room closer to the University of Winchester, where I was picking up most of my work, with every small project leading to another one... and at one point having to turn down work!

Summer
In May, I wasn't sure how I was going to get through the summer, as teaching was coming to an end, but I picked up a couple of summer projects, went to France with Oak Hall, and in fact haven't completed my own studies this summer, and teaching commences again next week! I then started conversations with a few others, and look what's happening now...

2009-2010 Timetable
Semester 1
I have quite a full timetable:
  • Monday 3-6: Introduction to Media Studies
  • Tuesday 9-12: 20th Century British History
  • Wednesday 11-12: Landmark (The Internet as a Landmark in History)
  • Wednesday 1-4: STUDYING the PGCLTHE
  • Thursday: 7.5 hours "Blended Learning Research Fellowship"
  • 5 Final Year Project Students for Media Studies
  • Media Studies Website
  • SkillsNet Website (we're applying for further funding for this, so not confirmed)
To also fit in:
Christmas
  • Cooking at Lauterbrunnen for Christmas Week (may be JA2 instead?)
  • New Year, who knows yet...
  • Book Proposal (Thesis to Book), Complete VD poster article.
Semester 2
I have an extremely full timetable:
  • Monday 3-5: Introduction to Media Studies
  • Wednesday 9-12: Dreams and Nightmares
  • Thursday 9-11: Film History
  • Thursday 2-5: Creating and Consuming History
  • Friday 9-11: Researching Media Studies
  • 2 hours for 6 weeks: Reflecting
  • History Independent Study Module, Dissertation/Second Marking
  • Tuesday or Friday: 7.5 hours "Blended Learning Research Fellowship"
  • 5 Final Year Project Students for Media Studies
  • Media Studies Website
  • SkillsNet Website (continuing?)
To also fit in:
Easter
  • Cooking at Engelberg, I've not confirmed yet... I need to find some time to chill out!
Summer
The summer is yet some time away, and the Blended Learning is permanent, so I guess if I'm sensible with my money... Although waiting for the dates of Oak Hall in Israel, and may go there next summer... I know it's quite tiring, but invigorating in other ways.

So if you're wondering why I go quiet for long periods of time, this may kind of explain it, as there's usually approximately 3 hours of preparation for each hour of teaching... and then the marking, well, we try not to think about the marking (e.g. Intro to Media, around 40 students, 2 assignments, about 1/2 hour + per assignment)! Some weeks there's tutorials, and some courses run alternate weeks rather than all term, so manageable - with a few late nights, I suspect!

Tuesday 15 September 2009

New Email?

I signed up with Freenetname back in the mists of time, and have stuck with it since that time. I am having a few problems, and am looking for recommendations to change:
  • It provided a free domain name (http://www.bex-lewis.co.uk), 100MB of storage space, and an associated POP3 email account for £20 per year, which I still think is a good deal.
  • The account was originally on dial-up, but I've not had to use that for a long-time, using wi-fi anywhere I can access it (or 3G on my phone if not!)
  • I want to retain my domain name and email address (downloadable into Outlook), but will be transferring my website onto WordPress.org, so will be looking for an easy to use host which allows that (and then I will integrate this blog into it).
  • I have never been able to send emails using the POP3 account on my iPhone (or through my workplace wi-fi, but that is never going to happen), although I can receive in both places, and this is becoming a problem.
I already have a g-mail account, but I like having the email under my domain name. I play with social media more than I know about lots of technical stuff, although I have a reputation as a bit of a geek girl! Let me know: bex at bex-lewis.co.uk

Wednesday 9 September 2009

Toilet-Twinning

Check out "ToiletTwinning.org"

For just £60 you can twin your toilet at home, work or school with a latrine in Burundi. Your smallest room will be twinned exclusively with your own individual latrine in the remote Giharo Commune of Rutana Province. Only your toilet will be twinned with that particular latrine.You can even locate your twin deep in the African bush via Google Earth!

A suggestion: From We Are What We Do. Put a money pot on top of your toilet, and spend a penny every time you spend a penny!

For fun: check out the "toilet-shaped house"

Idea picked up from talk from Greenbelt 2009 by Euginie Harvey.

Tuesday 8 September 2009

Music sounded better on record


It was "I am the one and only" by Chesney Hawkes, I think!

Just got rid of my car with the cassette player - still have a few cassettes, but nothing to play them on... should just throw them away (have already converted them to MP3!)

What was the first format you played music on?
Post your own answer on Plinky!

Hannah J Image Consultancy: Events For Your Diary


A series of events hosted by Hannah J Image Consultancy designed for fun loving fashionistas to polish up their fashion saavy in a relaxed social environment.


Dates for your diary:

1st October @ 6pm A/W 09/10 Trends

Preparing you and your wardrobe for winter - as well as covering key trends, we will highlight chic investment buys and smart ways to update your wardrobe.

12th November @ 6pm Beautifully Made-Up

Discover how to make the most of you by spending an evening with our team of professionally trained dermatologists/make-up artists who will share their tricks of the trade.

3rd December @ 6pm Christmas Party Prep

Ensure you are equipped for the party season by knowing exactly what you want from your perfect party dress by finding out what colours and styles suite you.

Each evening will be held at the Hannah J Image Consultancy studio located just off Brick Lane, drinks/nibbles wil be provided and the cover charge is a chiconomic £10.

Please book with hannah-at-hannah-j.com

drbexl: Highly Influential

According to Topsy, I'm highly influential on Twitter! Be interesting to see their rationale for that, as my other Twitter feeds are not demonstrating the same accolade! Nice.

Well, I guess I do spend quite some time on Twitter... I get all my news, etc. from there!

ALT-C 2009: In Dreams Begin Responsibility


Watching ALT-C 2009, streaming live from the University of Manchester, from today through Thursday 10th August 2009. There's also some other sessions being streamed via UStream.

Follow the stream on Twitter. (#altc2009 seems to be the main hashtag, but there are other's noted!).

Beware of the concept of Digital Natives:

Tuesday 1 September 2009

Greenbelt 2009

I had a great time at Greenbelt, and it was nice to get away and do something different! I spend quite a lot of time at academic conferences, so I didn't go to a huge number of talks, as I knew I could get most of them (well, I thought all, but the above is awaiting Rob Bell producing his own similar video, so not included) online afterwards, so I wanted to do some practical stuff!

Video Footage
I decided to try out taking some video footage with my camera (Panasonic Lumix 10 x zoom, was great for travelling, but I never used the video footage much!)... apologies if it wobbles, is the wrong way up, etc... it was all a bit experimental!
Art Sessions
Next year I plan to return and do a whole load more of this!
This year, I was one of around 300+ people to download the Greenbelt Festival iPhone app. This was great whilst my phone was charged, but every time it went down I didn't know what was going on. Greenbelt do have a charging station (charged for!), and occasionally I found plug points, and generally found it pretty helpful, but next year I'd like to have a wind up charger - suggestions?!
Order your tickets by 30th November to get 20% discount!

Other Blogs:
Feel free to add more to the comment feed - Facebook groups, blogs, any which way the community is growing!

Tuesday 25 August 2009

A New Gift: Venereal Disease

OK, I know the Keep Calm and Carry On poster is a hit, but really, WHY would you want to wear this on your t-shirts! I'm giving a conference paper on health propaganda next week, most likely Coughs and Sneezes Spread Diseases, but VD was also another area that I researched (not personally, I hasten to add), and this is what came up when I searched for "Venereal Disease": http://www.zazzle.co.uk/venereal+disease+gifts?pg=4

Sunday 23 August 2009

My first plane trip, from Heathrow, London to Sao Paulo, Brazil

Air France, what a great airline...

I was excited all the way up until getting on the plane... I'd been planning the trip for nearly a year, as part of my "Gap Year" - I'd never flown before, and as it was Air France, it stopped in Paris, so my Mum came with me for that bit. The short flight was fine - hadn't seen enough stuff on TV etc to be too worried about crashing, etc., so it was just another new experience (yes, I like those) to savour... First landing was fine too!



Said goodbye to my Mum, I think finally realising that I was going to a strange country for 5 months and didn't really know what was going to happen! If I was on the same flight now (the long one), I'd probably kick up a whole lot more. The films didn't seem to work - so we watched that little plane move across the screen veeeeeeeeeeery slowly, and when the meals came round, looked like someone had been sick in it... but that actually did all tie in with what people had said about airline food! We flew into Rio for refuelling and to get rid of some passengers, at which point someone drove into one of the propellors/engines - but gave me a chance to talk to a Brazilian couple who tried to teach me some Portuguese and then invited me to stay in the Pantanal - which I did about 4 months later...



Be open to those new experiences!



Thursday 13 August 2009

I'm Back, I'm Back, I'm Back

I'm back from France (via Spain... long story), but I'm not unpacked, cleared up, or opened post yet, but I have faffed around on the internet for a considerable time... partly after 3 weeks without it, there's a lot built up - and I still haven't finished it all!

However, see: Digital Fingerprint on Facebook.

Wednesday 22 July 2009

Loire Valley Tomorrow

Dear all

I hope that you have a great couple of weeks. I will be wearing my "Keep Calm and Carry On T-Shirt", and "Keep Calm and Carry On Apron" whilst I cook for 82 people on a campsite in the Loire Valley with Oak Hall, and as I then bike-sit, and drive down to Provence on the wrong side of the road, before coming back to get back on track with my projects.

Looking forward to taking up my 0.4 post as a Lecturer in History at the University of Winchester on my return, along with a number of projects to finish! And I suspect I may have a blog entry or two to do.. I've set a number up on my other blog: ww2poster!

Bex

Damaris Culturewatch: My Sister's Keeper (review)

In My Sister’s Keeper, Kate Fitzgerald (Sofia Vassilieva) is diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia when she is two years old, and the prognosis is not positive. Her parents, Sara (Cameron Diaz) and Brian (Jason Patric), and her brother Jesse (Evan Ellingson) are not genetic matches. Sara, at least, will do anything to save Kate, and Dr Wayne (Jeffrey Markle) suggests, off the record, that producing another child in a test-tube would provide a perfectly matched donor. Anna (Abigail Breslin) is the result. The initial expectation is that only the blood from the umbilical cord will be used, but by the time Anna is 11, she’s undergone a number of medical procedures, including bone marrow transplants, and the latest call is for a kidney.

Read the rest of this article (be aware, it contains plot spoilers), which I wrote.

Tuesday 21 July 2009

Bex is totally addicted


"Bex is totally addicted: she can’t resist a sale sign, can’t ignore a new pair of Prada shoes and can convince herself that she ‘needs’ it all. Shopping to Bex is better than falling in love:
‘You know that thing when you see someone cute and he smiles, and your heart kinda goes like warm butter sliding down hot toast? Well, that’s what it’s like when I see a store, only its better’.

Bex is a shopaholic. She sees shopping as infinitely satisfying, unlike men: ‘You see, a man will never love you or treat you as well as a store. If a man doesn’t fit you can’t exchange him seven days later for a gorgeous cashmere sweater."

Woah, thought somewas was defaming me, but no, it's Becca Cockram's review of 'Confessions of a Shopaholic'. I think my friend Kate would say that I'm capable of convincing myself that I "need" what I buy, but after having to hoik a load of stuff around whilst travelling, I'd rather have less "stuff" and have more fun!

Monday 20 July 2009

Brian Draper: Spiritual Intelligence: Book Launch Speech

Feels like a conspiracy here tonight.


"A small crowd gathering in an old bookshop, gathering around an idea, spilling onto the streets, albeit in genteel, Winchester fashion, quietly determined, perhaps, to connect, and to make a difference.


Quietly determined to whisper conspiratorially that there must be more to life than slavishly serving money or massaging ego;


Quietly determined to stop sleep-walking through life, and start waking up to the moments of clarity, to the gifts of epiphany, to the glimpses of magic we are all presented with every day, if we did but realise them.


Quietly resolved, perhaps, to try living as if less really is more.


As if you’ve got to lose yourself to find yourself.


As if you’ve got to die, somehow, in order to truly live."


Read more

Sunday 19 July 2009

Tango in the Aisles

I've just enjoyed watching this video on Sadler's Wells Global Dance Contest, as a couple of my friends (Karen & Vicky) are in it. I think it's a well thought out piece, and much better to see on video, than the various Facebook stills I'd seen! Clever!

Saturday 18 July 2009

It's hard to apologize when I know I'm wrong

In many ways it's easy to apologise when I know I'm wrong, because then at least I do know why I'm apologising, but many times, it takes a while to work up to saying I'm sorry!! It depends on how badly I think I'm wrong, and how badly I think I might have hurt someone else's feelings in the process..

Friday 17 July 2009

"Calm Down and Carry On" campaign for @drbexl

Ha ha, bit of crowd-sourcing continuing (without success yet, but it's got to happen sometime right!), using Paul Windo's idea of #freedrbexl, started by @emptybelly, with @Ulfilas coming up with the most appropriate slogan!

[17th July] It worked, I'm back on Twitter @drbexl!

Dr Bex Lewis, awaiting resurrection... of @drbexl on Twitter!

Still awaiting the un-suspension of my @drbexl account. Still can't work out why it could possibly have been suspended, aside from the fact that I tweeted roughly every minute for certain sections of the conference! Got the conference guys starting a campaign - well, you never know!!

Check out #freedrbexl!

Wednesday 15 July 2009

Christianity in the Digital Space



http://digitalsymp.blogspot.com/; Churches' Media Council; CODEC

DRAGONS! I'll be back with more!

16/7/9
  • My Twitter account @drbexl has been suspended due to "suspicious activity" - would that be the 1-per-5-mins tweets going on from my account? We'll see, currently 6pm, so been down for around 24 hours, I am feeling rather bereft of part of my identity!!
  • Mark Howe gives a great summary of the conference, ready to LOL?
22/7/9
My Twitter account came back up after about 50 hours downtime! Meantime, if I've missed your blog off the list, please feel free to comment it!

Sunday 12 July 2009

Winchester Festival 2009

Yesterday, I took a little wander into town to check out the Contemporary Art, Craft and Design Fair (finishes today 6pm), which runs as a part of the Winchester Festival. I find it difficult to find belts that I like, that fit, and that I'm not allergic to (and that I can afford), and I was happy to find the one above from Beaubags. Some great stuff on display in the tent, but you know, not much of a budget at the moment for such things!

Saturday 11 July 2009

Fail Blog

Great blog to follow, fail blog collects together a number of pictures and videos which demonstrate "#fails" (a common term since social media has taken over!). Checkout failblog.

Trip Advisor: "Cities I've Visited"

Thursday 9 July 2009

San Sharma @ Scanner Central

Last night I went to my first Scanner Central event. I've been meaning to go for quite some time... although as I said to John Williams when he asked me how I'd heard of them, I can't remember any more, but it was something to do with reading Barbara Sher 's book and then finding that John had been on one of her holidays abroad, and had since set up something in London! It's a bit of a trek from Winchester (about 1.5 hours each way), so I may not be able to go every month, but it's great to meet other people who change interests so often, and John wants to encourage people to work together to get some of those ideas into production, rather than giving up as soon as you're bored with it! I guess I'm more of a longer-term scanner, as I DO have lots of short-term interests, but also have some long term ones, centred around learning, academia, learning, contemporary contemporary Christianity, and wartime posters!

San Sharma gave a really interesting talk (apparently only his second time of public speaking: wouldn't have known if he hadn't said!), most of which was familiar to me, but it's always great to see that I'm on the same wavelength as others, and there's always a couple of things you come across that you go "ah ha" to! Most of the tools are listed from San's presentation (see below), but gave some interesting context for social media also!
  • Any business not in social media is not likely to survive for long in the modern world.
  • Social media allows you to express different parts of yourself, as you talk you find a theme/style that you like and others who like it. So you connect with others with whom you have things in common.
  • Social media - offers accessible publishing tools for everybody, for many to many dialogues.
  • It has changed the fundamental nature of news media, from institutions to the media, the masses decide what's hot (see how quickly the news about Michael Jackson's death got out)
  • It's now about how good you are, not who you know, or who you work for.
  • Twitter is rather like a city, where you overhear random conversations. A lot of the conversation is random, but this is similar to real-life where chit-chat hold human groups together. No one cares what you had for breakfast except you, but you'll tell others anyway (we're talking offline, as much as online!)
  • Social media is just another tool, you can write a novel with a biro, typewriter, computer, blog... all different tools, although changes the writing/reading experience somewhat.
  • Social media offers an opportunity to build meaningful relationships, and follow industry news (whether you're pulling it down or pushing it up)
  • Twitter: Should it change it's question from "What are you doing?" to change the kind of responses that it gets?!
  • Mass media offers a mass experience for events, for example, for the final of the Apprentice, felt a bit like was watching it with the rest of the nation in the front room, following Twitter feeds!
More Information:
  • See San Sharma's presentation here (6MB, PDF) (picture)
  • I have been using Vistaprint, but love the Minicards that Moo uses (San does some work for Moo, and a number of Scanners had the cards)
  • Handy tools: Knowem; DandyID
Other Presentations

Tuesday 7 July 2009

Brian Draper @ CCW: Sunday 5th July (Report)

On Sunday 5th July, Brian Draper had a busy day at Christ Church Winchester, speaking at 3 of the services!

Brian used the passage Matthew 7:13-29 as the basis for the evening, in which he was explaining the 4-step plan that he's developed with regards to Spiritual Intelligence.

  • In life there are no easy short-cuts or "quick-buys", and we need to clarify the life/faith connection. Spiritual Intelligence was designed as a "giveaway book", and one that would likely be purchased at airports.
  • God wants to challange you, and breathe grace/comfort into you.
What is intelligence?
Our understanding of intelligence is no longer just judging people by how clever they are through IQ quizzes, etc., but we now have emotional intelligence, and the idea of spiritual intelligence is also gaining momentum.

What is coaching?
Coaching is all about embracing ourselves as part of a bigger picture. Whether we're dealing with a business or with people, we want to become part of the solution, rather than being part of the problem.

Would you like your life to have significance?
How effectively are you using your innate spiritual intelligence now? What part would you like to play in your local/global world? What will you do with your "one wild and precious life"?

How do you define success?
We need to re-evaluate the nature of success by what we celebrate, as what we define as success tends to identify our priorities. We need to say enough is enough and love those in our communities becasue of our differences. We're all unique and have different things to contribute [how boring would it be otherwise?]. God has set eternity in our hearts and won't let us rest or settle into mediocrity.

The Road of Life
On Finding "the road", we need to live life in all its fullness. Often in Christianity the life now is not seen as important as heaven, but God created us for a purpose and to enjoy our life on earth, so we need to appreciate NOW. The challenge is to become more fully aware, observant and ready, nurture those seeds of awakening into life.

Staying Alive!
When do you come most fully alive? To whom? To what are you giving your life? What is the higher cause you serve? Christianity is a description not a prescription, it's a journey of faith. What is the context of spiritual transformation in your own life? Malcolm Gladwell describes in The Tipping Point that if the context is right for transformation only need a 1degree change at a time for true change. Think about snowflakes, each tiny flake is like nothing, but as they settle, everything changes.

So how are you living?
Are we living hurried, stressed lives, against a constant background of noise? We need to get to a place where we can expect the unexpected, where radical change can be expected. (You can gain an idea of how Brian has been living recently)


The Four Stage Iconic Journey of Spiritual Development
A brief summary of the four icons.

Alarm Clock
Every day offers the chance for (spiritual) awakenings, if only we noticed them! Are you awake to what is unfolding around you?

We need contemplative times, otherwise we rush around building a false ID of ourselves using our ego-driven minds, which drags us back to the past, or forward to the future, never enjoying the moment!

What can give us those small seeds of awakening?
  • Conversations
  • Art
  • Scenery
  • Smells
Eye
"Leisure" by William Henry Davies.

Once you awaken to something, you begin to see the world/your place in it changing. How is your life different? What do you look for in life? The scales can fall from your eyes fast or slowly! What do your friends and family see that is different about you?

Your eyes are your windows on life. If you are squinting, you won't let the light in and your life will be dark, if your eyes are wide open, you allow it all in!

U2: "Walk On" (interesting words that Bono chose for 64forsuu).

With some music in the background, we considered this image for a couple of minutes - each of us will something different - and this is how it is in the world, we all picture the world differently. What we see/believe affects how we act.

Paint Palette
How do we respond uniquely/creatively to the world? We need to glimpse our potential as children of God! We need to lead a charge as we're in a battle for life (and it's hard to lead the battle if you think you look stupid on a horse). As Gandhi said [and one of my favourite quotes]: "You must be the change you wish to see in the world".

Pass It On
Jamie Oliver offers a contagion of cooking - he's passing it on. Why don't we do the same with our faith, and the benefits that we receive from them?! We're not teaching or telling others how to live, but allow those around you to benefit from the fruits of your own life.

The "fruits of the spirit" - you can't put a price on that kind of benefit! We need to begin to live a life less ordinary, offering a contagion of HOPE, and of the infinite potential in life [so many people are strangled by fear, and never live up to their potential]. We can be more fully human!

For the soul to flourise, we need to shake off the idea that we are passive partakers in this world, we can shape our own lives and those of the whole world.

We have an opportunity for a new culture created by those prepared to risk/try. Fear causes a hold on the old ways, which are ineffective!

Read more in Spiritual Intelligence, see information from the book launch (I'm looking forward to seeing Brian's speech once he gets it on his website.

This report should have come before Winchester Web Scene, but never mind!