Sunday

In ♥ with TED


TED (short for Technology, Entertainment and Design) is an enlightening and motivational non profit organisation who put together international conferences inviting inspirational, funny, powerful and unique speakers from all over the world to come and speak about their area of expertise or passion. I was lucky enough to be introuduced to the website last year. The fantastic thing about the conferences is that they can all be viewed online, completely free of charge. In some cases, the speakers are well known, in some they are not. There is pretty much something for everyone - from illusionists to brain scientists, from comedians to serious speakers on the topics of health, global or political issues.

One of the videos to really blow me away was a talk by William Kamkwamba, a 14 year old Malawian, who on deciding to attempt to build an elecricity powered windmill (as you do) did just that, with only the help of some rough plans that he found in a library book and scrap parts from around the village.

Inspiring stuff.

Monday

Hahaha!

On a hair extension packet near you....(if you happen to live in west Africa, to the best of my understanding.)


shall post them if/when I come across them. 
if you spot one first...give me a shout :-)

Friday

Monday

Marques Toliver

It happened like this...

in the summer of last year my friend Emilyne Mondo  and I were ambling around in East London's Brick lane (after some ill advised casting which neither of us were particularly suitable for) when I heard something special. It seemed to be coming from underneath the bridge. Recognising the sound immediately, Emilyne (already a huge fan of his) started running towards the cobbled street area, crying 'Oh, Marques is here...Yrsa, you have got to listen to him!'

I believe that there is nothing I can say to describe how beautiful I consider his music, short of giving you a little sample here. So that is all I will do, letting this incredible talent speak for himself.

Here he is on Jules Holland.



they talked... caught up...and then I sat in the sun and listened. He made me cry.

N.B Have seen him at gigs since and he is always wonderful.

Thursday