pecha kucha nights are fun, eclective and informative

NOTE: This photo has nothing to do with my presentation at the pecha kucha night - I just thought you may like it. I took this in Penang, Malaysia, some years ago.

Pecha Kucha Night is a presentation format for creative work originally devised by Astrid Klein and MarkDytham of Klein-Dytham Architecture (KDa) in Tokyo, Japan in 2003. 

The name derives from a Japanese term for the sound of conversation ("chit-chat"). A Pecha Kucha Night is a non-profit orientated event that is part of an international network and consists of a format where presenters show a data slideshow of 20 images, each of which is shown for 20 seconds, giving a total presentation time of 6 minutes 40 seconds.

Each event aims to have a maximum of 14 presenters. Presenters (and much of the audience) are usually from the design, architecture, photography, art, music and creative fields. The event format has been replicated in more than 172 cities including London, San Francisco, Seattle, Rotterdam, Shanghai, and Berlin, as well as in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Events are usually limited to one each month per city and to a minimum of four events per year. Pecha Kucha Nights Auckland is currently organising their twelfth event, Wellington hosted their fourth event in late 2008, and Nelson, Hamilton and Dunedin have recently joined the New Zealand contingent.

The next ecent in Christchurch is on 2nd April 2009 and this bloger is presenting 20 photographs.

Below are some additional links to more information about Pecha Kucha Nights in New Zealand and internationally:

http://pecha-kucha.org/

http://www.pechakucha.co.nz/

also see kiwitravelwriters blog here

green politics and blog -give to charity or what?

Interested in green politics?   

Check out this blog on the frogblog

is there nothing like a dame?

Oh no, here we go again with the old left-right political swings that our MMP (NZ) voting system had started to get rid of. 

The National party (right/conservative) has just re-instated the terrible old British class and title system  after  New Zealanders threw it out some 10 years ago: why on earth has it been bought back to life - after all we have had no discussion about this idea.

Its interesting to note that many people who are eligible to 'upgrade' (???) their awards presented in the past 9/10 years are ambivalent about it ... it seems the idea - that when travelling,  because of a 'title', they could possibly be upgraded on air-flights: an attractive carrot to accept the gongs. 

However, as someone who was upgraded to the Royal Silk class by Thai airways recently I can understand that - the service and seats were fabulous! Thank you Thai Air.  

Is Thailand safe?

Although I have been blogging about my trip to Thailand last week - I suspect some of you may still be wondering: “Is Thailand safe?“

Now I have to admit when the political protesters blocked the airport I found it hard to be sympathetic for travelers who were bleating about being ’stuck’ in Thailand. That may have been unfair of me, as, as a passionate nomad, as a traveller who makes her own arrangements as to how, where and when I’ll travel, and where I’ll stay, my thoughts were ‘Thailand is the easiest of countries to leave’

So what were my conclusions? READ more here

have you written a full lengh play?

have just had this infomation sent me

PLAYWRIGHTS ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND INC. (PANZ)

COMPETITION FOR FULL LENGTH PLAYS, 2009 

you must be a member to enter this competition.

for more info see the website -  http://www.playwrights.org  

are you a baby boomer: are you BAD?

Babyboomer baddies?

It's a puzzle this one. In newspapers, books and other media you find increasingly hostile references to babyboomers. It ranges from religious condemnation by those who believe we strayed from the Light and embraced rock and roll, flower-power,  sex and rebelliousness, to Gen Y bloggers who just seem to hate this  cohort. The reality is a little different. The Sixties swingers all but built suburbia.  read more here  http://www.kiwiboomers.com/