drbexl on the 'net

drbexl, dr bex lewis, moving from dreamweaver to wordpress

Does God Exist? September 30, 2009

Filed under: Albert Einstein,christian,God — drbexl @ 8:28 pm

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!
 

3 More Specs September 26, 2009

Filed under: crowd-sourcing,photos,spectacles — drbexl @ 7:45 pm
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? September 26, 2009

Filed under: choice,crowd-sourcing,photos,spectacles — drbexl @ 2:33 pm
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:

 

Bex: Crazy Timetable September 22, 2009

Filed under: bex,teaching,Time management — drbexl @ 9:51 am

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 (Finishes 5th February)
I have quite a full timetable (all modules include preparation/marking):

  • Monday 3-6: Introduction to Media Studies
  • Tuesday 9-12: 20th Century British History
  • Wednesday 10-11: Landmark (The Internet as a Landmark in History)
  • Wednesday 1.30-5: STUDYING the PGCLTHE + associated 3 x 4,000 word projects
  • Thursday: 7.5 hours “Blended Learning Research Fellowship“, including Learning Website
  • 5 Final Year Project Students for Media Studies (Due 5th May 2010)
  • Media Studies Website (for March 2010)
  • History Website (for March 2010)
  • SkillsNet Website (Content, Staff/Student Evaluation)

To also fit in:

Christmas

  • Cooking at Lauterbrunnen for Christmas Week (may be JA2 instead?)
  • New Year, who knows yet…
  • Complete VD poster article. Start to think about Book Proposal (Thesis to Book)

Semester 2 (Finishes 18th June)
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 11-3 (2 hours of): Creating and Consuming History
  • Friday 9-12: 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 (Due 5th May 2010)
  • Media Studies Website (for March 2010)
  • History Website (for March 2010)
  • SkillsNet Website (Content completion – for May 2010)
  • Adding French content to ARCA website (awaiting translations).

To also fit in:

Easter

  • Unconfirmed as yet…

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 September… 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!

 

New Email? September 15, 2009

Filed under: email,ISP,madasafish — drbexl @ 7:32 pm

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
 

Toilet-Twinning September 9, 2009

Filed under: inspirational,Social Enterprise,Toilet-Twinning — drbexl @ 9:09 am

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.
 

Music sounded better on record September 8, 2009

Filed under: Plinky,random thoughts — drbexl @ 10:46 pm


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 September 8, 2009


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 September 8, 2009

Filed under: drbexl,influential,twitter,web 2.0,what's online? — drbexl @ 5:22 pm

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 September 8, 2009


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:
 

 
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