Bubbl us
Posted on June 7th, 2009 by judy53
I’ve just learnt how to use this simple but effective mindmapping tool!
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Filed under: Uncategorized tagged mindmapping, Web 2.0
Wordle
Posted on April 25th, 2009 by judy53
Have you seen Wordle? It is a simple, free application, which makes word clouds. Word clouds are used to show the most frequently used words in a piece of text.
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Brett Whitely Travelling Exhibiition
Posted on February 21st, 2009 by judy53
It was too good an opportunity to miss - the travelling Brett Whitely Exhibiition at the Newcastle Regional Art Gallery.
Art Express was also being exhibited. The creative thinking and expression of 118 year old artists is phenomenal. I will make a point of seeing this in the future!
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Painted Veil
Posted on August 3rd, 2008 by judy53
It’s a love story, a history lesson and a travelogue!
Set along a tributary of the Yangtse - I knew I’d been there before. The peaks along the gorges were magnificent. It is a beautiful story, which observes the growth of young love, based on a developing understanding and appreciation of strong character and humanity.
1920s China was still a primitive frontier world - superstition, catholic missionaries, British colonialisation, disease, cholera, and the threat of political upheavals!
It was not considered a place for a woman - but from this experience the flippant society girl developed into a thoughtful and caring young woman. From tragedy grew personal strength.
Highly recommended!
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Filed under: Uncategorized tagged China, movie, Yangtse
The Phantom of the Opera
Posted on July 26th, 2008 by judy53
Magnificent! Incredible!
16 years ago we went to Melbourne to see the Phantom. We’d learnt the songs and were blown away by the depth of the performance. We were a little disappointed that we weren’t going to see Anthony Wharhole perform and would see the understudy instead - Rob Guest - easy to see why he soon became a star in his own right.
But today we went to the matinee at Star CIty and Anthony Warhole was unexpectedly performing! Karma!
The show was again, breathtaking. There were differences in the actual performance - mainly due to the constraints of the theatre itself - but the modern effects and staging were thoroughly engaging.
This is our favourite show. We have decided that we are going to see it whenever it comes to town!
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Filed under: Uncategorized tagged live theatre, musical, phantom
Bodacious Cowboys
Posted on July 20th, 2008 by judy53
Last Friday night I went out with friends to the Life Church cabaret night, which raises funds to keep Newcastle’s Soup Kitchen up and running. THe band plays there at a reduced rate to support Father KEv’s program and all of the staff are volunteers - it’s just like a schoo fundraiser! - with a big difference
What a fantastic night - friends, food, wine and amazing entertainment. The cowboys are brilliant musicians - the guitar work of Rex Goh and Pete Northcott has to be seen to be believed! They play together so well and I loved the way that all the members of the band played off each other and watched and encouraged each other during the many solos! The performance was a wonderful experience and I am now a fan!
Bodacious Cowboys live at the Basement
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Filed under: Uncategorized tagged music
KEATING
Posted on June 4th, 2008 by judy53
Keating, the musical!
If ever a politician was a contrast of stereotypes - “He da man!”
From Bankstown fibro to Eastern suburbs grandeur. Double breasted Amani was his signature - but he still had a passion for equity and the underdogs. Keating paved the way for Reconciliation and helped to keep some of the bastards honest.
From beginning to end, Keating the musical is a hoot - his colleague Prime Ministers are fair game and provide a rich backdrop for this hysterical version of Australian political history. I will always see Mr Downer in fishnet stockings and Dr John …. not sure about him!?
Clever staging - the band’s role in the show was really interesting the way they moved between players and conscience like a chorus in a Greek tragedy.
Enjoy!
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Filed under: Uncategorized tagged Add new tag, comedy, music, politics
Henry 1V
Posted on May 26th, 2008 by judy53
THe Shakespeare Festival at Gloucester has become a well known local festival for both Shakespeare and medieval enthusiasts!
The markets kept us occupied with interesting local produce and throughout the day there were exhibitions of knights fighting and archery. None of this was staged - it was real and fast!
We went to the matinee of an incredibly polished futuristic version of Henry 1V. What good is valour and pride in world decimated and destroyed! THe production, by Newcastle theatrical group was wonderful, thought provoking and at times comical.
The feast was fun - come dressed up and get into the swing of it! The decorations and conviviality are to be commended. We stayed at a motel in easy walking distance and have decided that we will definitely be back
with lots of our friends - hopefully!
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Web 2.0?
Posted on May 18th, 2008 by judy53
I have to be honest and admit that Web 2.0 is not something that I was really aware of or realised that I even had a need to know about it. I recall that early in my teaching career I borrowed the brand new school Apple 2C to learn how to operate a computer and practise on it. I could type and play games like Space Invaders and Pacman. Frankly, I wasn’t sure that this very expensive toy even had a real future in education!
As it turned out others were a little more far sighted and understood the potential. In two short decades those clumsy Macs have changed the world. They are more than tools, but are an integral component of our modern lifestyle. Today those of us who have a foot in both the pre and post digital worlds are struggling to come to grips with the concept of technology as a social medium - we still see it as an isolator!
… and so I play with blogs, facebook. second life in an effort to better understand the learners of the 21st century. For me , it is not a social imperative but more of a contrived introduction to social networking. I still think I’d rather just go to the pub - I know I don’t quite get it.
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Filed under: Uncategorized tagged Web 2.0
