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Showing posts from November, 2013

Luckily the carnival is not yet over

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Saturday the 16th November was a very special night. Sydney was blessed with the presence of Australia's original pop group. The Seekers are lucky to be together after 50 years. They deserve recognition for staying together for so long. And, as highlighted in the news, Judith Durham is lucky to be with us. Her brain haemorrhage was a serious shock. The State Theatre in Sydney was once again home last night to the iconic sound of The Seekers. They truly are a blessing to Australian culture.   The show's format stayed very similar to the original format they used in May. The boys sung Louisianna Man. Judith's solo was The Olive Tree. New anniversary songs were included. The group closed the night, after the encore, with The Carnival is Over. This was a top quality show, after extraordinary circumstances. We are so lucky to have The Seekers playing again. They continue to serve fans despite all odds. The entire band has coped with a lot over the years. Athol Guy lost h

Asperger's and Acceptance

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  It's really great to see people these days accepting Asperger's Syndrome for what it is. AS is only an aspect of a person. It is not the entire picture. It's real, whether it's a category in the DSM or not. Asperger's is high functioning. It is barely a 'disability.' It's a unique perspective.  Asperger's Syndrome should not be a taboo. Many famous people have Asperger's. Temple Grandin used her visual thinking and focused interest to her advantage. It meant she could specialise in a unique industry - cattle. Her books and speeches on Asperger's are still projects 'on the side' of her main career. Other famous possible Aspies include Bill Gates and Mozart. This simply means they all had focused interests and were slightly less social.   AS is not a life sentence. Everyone in the world can learn over time. Aspies are the same. Aspergians adjust to changes in routine. They figure out what to say to people. They make

Completely Wired

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  Are we becoming entirely 'plugged in' these days? To be honest, I am struggling to apologise for this techie overload. It might be a different lifestyle to that of previous generations. But, like many products and brands, gadgets become extensions of ourselves.   A simple travel on a train now consists of three gadgets for me. First: Make a few calls on the iPhone. Second: Play a quick Sudoku or check social media on iPad apps. Third: Edit documents on the Macbook for college & fun. All these activities are the most essential ways to spend a 40 minute train ride.  Then I get home to strangely 'plugged in' entertainment. It wasn't so long ago that watching TV involved just switching on a TV. But now the TV logs onto iView. Then the recorder plays an old episode. An disc appears, and we have to decide if it's more suited to the DVD or the blue ray. Then something else is bought on iTunes, so we have to connect the iPad to the TV. Before all that

The Seekers are back - again

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The Seekers are returning to the stage. They will be performing in Sydney on 16th November. Judith Durham has made an extraordinary journey to prepare for this tour. Judith showed signs of a brain haemorrhage on May 14th 2013 . This was just days after I had seen her at the State Theatre in Sydney. At a time when everything was turning upside down, life became uncertain for a musician who has been adored by generations. It was a scary time. Everyone wondered if she would live. We all waited to see if her brain would recover. Judith Durham has toured during serious hurdles in the past. Judith's husband Ron Edgeworth was diagnosed with MND during the 25 year reunion of her iconic band. She suddenly became a carer. Ron went from professionally playing piano, to losing muscle function. Judith Durham has managed to repeatedly reunite with The Seekers no matter what it took. The top priority this year has been for Judith to get better. A nation-wide tour is extremely impressi

9GAG

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Memes are insightful or hilarious phrases on photos. They comment on the world in an eye catching way. Social commentary can definitely be funny.  The world is a very serious place. That's why it's always good to have a laugh at the end of the day. Laughter actually improves people's health.    9GAG is a whole social network of memes. There are whole categories for everything. Trending items get just as much attention. This proactive post  (by Reynolds) reminds us to act, not just ponder.