What a fantastic afternoon!

What a great band today - the group were fantastic...with some stand-in singers etc...
Right, next week, no excuses... end of project...!

It's Sunday - have a break! :)

Go on...you can spare an hour or so!
Instead of sitting in your room, all alone with a coffee, come to the Eagle Tavern this afternoon, and have a coffee there! You never know, the excellent live jazz might just inspire you some more...

I will be in there from abour half past one, and it finishes at about half three...but of course you don't need to stay for the whole set. Remember, it's free to get in! (But there is a raffle - £1 a strip - which goes towards paying the band.)

Today's band is the Quentin Collins (trumpet) and Brandon Allen (sax) Quartet. Haven't seen this lot before, but looking at the biogs, they have played with some pretty big names, so they should be able to hold a tune! :)

http://theeagletavern.org.uk/

Hope to see you there!

Haiku

For some reason, I woke up this morning with the need to write Haiku!
I have never tried it before, and am not quite sure that this qualifies properly, but it was there in my head already formed, so I wrote it down quick!


A moment together
the air fills with song
my heart sings



I think maybe it's quite a useful exercise in brevity. I found a good website, if anybody else wants to give it a try -

http://www.ahapoetry.com/haiartjr.htm

- but be warned, it could be addictive!
The overall aim, it seems, is to say something meaningful 'using an economy of words to paint a multi-tiered painting, without "telling all".'

Please send me your efforts !

One of my favourites...

This is one of my favourite pieces of music, played here by the scrummy Johnny Depp... originally by Duke Ellington. I like this version better !

Caravan, from the film Chocolat.

I thought I would add this for good measure - come to think of it, the whole soundtrack is pretty good!

Read the book, if you get the chance... much better than the film, although the film is brilliant!

Yesterday's lecture...

...don't forget, you can hear it all again on the podcast on myUCA!
If you go to the lecture material, there is an extra bit that Chris did not get round to discussing, which is interesting as it relates to Norman Bates in Psycho...

After a spot of self-psychoanalysis, I have decided that my tripartite identity is out of balance, and my Superego needs a kick up the backside!

A fairytale cottage...

...taken in January in Bremen.

PS - Phil...

...yes, I did know that she was Jamie Lee Curtis's mother! Meant to say that in the original post...Tony Curtis for dad and Janet Leigh for mum - with such an acting pedigree, Jamie Lee was destined for greatness !

And you must be a nutter, feeling sorry for Norman Bates! :)

Psycho!

It's been years since I last watched this brilliant film, and even though I obviously knew the twist at the end, it didn't take away from the tension at all; in fact it almost made it worse, as you knew what was coming!
Norman Bates has to be the creepiest motel owner in the world - I haven't seen the remake, but can't imagine anyone else playing the part with such detached madness...that look he gives the audience at the end....*shudder*!

Looking forward to tomorrow's talk...

BBC Audience info...

Here is the link for getting your hands on BBC show tickets...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/tickets/

Video tutorials as per Alan's class today...

Here's the address in case anyone didn't catch it!

www.videocopilot.net - Free tutorials..

Well done everyone!

I bet you are all glad that today is over and done with!
I'm sure a few lessons have been learned, and not just about Romanticism either... take today's experience forward, and remember it for next time!
On a lighter note - Final Cut Pro was hilarious, what with all the odd sound effects flying around...and the 'extra' entertainment provided by those sitting between me and Ruben...you know who you are! :)

Anyway, sleep well tonight - back to the grindstone tomorrow!

Good luck, all groups!

Hope you are all just about done now... looking forward to seeing the results tomorrow! By the looks of it, you have been working hard!

Jazz, anyone?

Just another quick reminder that on Sunday lunchtimes in the Eagle Tavern, Rochester High Street, you can hear some brilliant jazz musicians - band start around 1pm until about 3.30. Tomorrow it is Henry Lowther (trumpet/flugelhorn) with the Jim Mullen Quartet.
It a really good atmosphere, free to get in, lots of different ages of customer, and if you're lucky, free roast potatoes!

http://theeagletavern.org.uk/

Maybe see some of you there!

Today's Lecture

I wish I had had that lecture when I was writing my dissertation - it would have come in really handy!
Don't forget, you can listen to it again on myUCA as many times as you like, until it all becomes clear! :)
I am currently trying to get my head around the idea of Empiricism and Rationalism... I believe what I am trying to do is think dialectically. I may need some help!

To infinity...and beyond! WARNING !!

WARNING!! THIS PROGRAMME CONTAINS SCENES THAT MAY DISTURB SOME VIEWERS ! DO NOT WATCH IF ALLERGIC TO JUGGLING !! (ie Godwin!)


Hi Guys!

Have just watched a really interesting documentary on the idea of 'infinty' - Horizon BBC1,
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00qszch/Horizon_20092010_To_Infinity_and_Beyond/

Great if you have a head for maths (which I don't!) but all the same, it makes you think...

Also, has anyone read the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy... very similar theories discusssed in that, but obviously on a much more lighthearted level... (the book's much better than the film)
The idea that we are so small and insignificant in an infinite universe, is sometimes what we need to remind ourselves to keep things in proportion.

Podcast up and running!

Hi Guys!

Just to report that the recording of today's lecture is up and running on myUCA.
Very helpful!