Other Interests: pursuing your passion

Hearing our father's stories

There comes a time in our lives when we need to hear our father's stories.

I recently read two totally different books with similar themes: Barack Obama's Dreams From My Father and Art Spiegelman's Maus 1: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History.

Obama's is the story of his search for the father he didn't know, culminating in a visit to his family home in Kenya. It is well-written and reflective on issues concerning race and family.

Spiegelman's story is told through words and pictures. Even though Spiegelman's father is still alive, what he has to say is so painful, Spiegelman has to turn it into a cartoon. But the words accurately reflect his father's language and story about the Holocaust.

Both are worth reading.

Showing the passion and the difference

It's hard to get frequent plane travellers interested in the usual announcements but this steward does it

Avi's Tropfest short

Avi Lewin didn't win Tropfest 2009 but he was a worthy finalist!

His movie Left Unspoken is on YouTube here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_xy7am7cRI

Anna Jacobson exhibits Doll Awakenings videos

Anna is showing some video works at the 123 Days Photo-media exhibition at the Queensland Centre for Photography from 28 February to 29 March 2009.

Exhibiting Artists:

"Doll Awakenings" by Anna Jacobson, "Birds" by Marian Drew, "Natural Progression" by Paul McCann, "123 Days" by Adrianne Hayward and Aaron Burton, and "Under Currents" by Lindy Wissler.

Anna Jacobson Photographer

Anna now has a website at www.annajacobson.com.au.

Worth a look.

Tropfest 2009

I'm delighted that my nephew Avi Lewin is one of the 16 finalists (out of 600 entries) for this year's Tropfest short film festival.

Avi is the only Queensland finalist. (Interview in The Australian).

Results will be announced on 22 February.

Obama

The election and inauguration of US President Barack Obama are sign of change embraced internationally.

So I've adopted an Obama Icon in support of hope.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

At the risk of developing a morbid theme, I have to recommend the movie The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.

The true story of a man who suffers a stroke which almost totally paralyzes his body; only his left eye isn't paralyzed and he uses it to communicate.

As told on film, the story is beautiful and sensitive and not overwhelmingly sad.

Michael Jacks My Life My Food

Michael Jacks is dying of motor neurone disease but has a passion for food. So he wrote a book My Life My Food containing the recipes he used as a chef and photos and stories about his family. He is encouraging people to achieve their passions.

Buy the book.

Herald Sun story.

UPDATE: MIchael passed away in December 2008.

Randy Pausch dies

I wrote about Randy Pausch's Last Lecture here.

Yesterday I bought his book.

This morning I learnt of his death here.

We need more optimism and inspiration in our lives.