Random Acts…

Thinking today about “doing good” it strikes me there is little financial gain on offer to businesses to do inherent good without some kind of quid pro quo; and I’m reflecting on an old tweet from a usability and user experience chap:

If organisations will never do good (as there’s no business case) or won’t do good until there’s scale for gov funding: perhaps doing good needs to be a side hustle in projects by individuals #SmallGoods pic.twitter.com/czV5WKlpPV

— Alastair Somerville (@Acuity_Design) February 9, 2018

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Interesting Times

Not, I regret, a review of the fine Discworld novel of the same title, but a reflection upon 2020. Since taking a job where my personal opinions could have an impact on my professional standing, I consciously moved away from regular blog posting and I miss writing for whoever will actually read this.

But as 2020 draws to a fevered close, I am reminded of the apocryphal Three Curses: “May you live in interesting times”; “May you come to the attention of important people”; and of course “May you find what you’re looking for.”

RSCM – A church music organisation with local interests

Before I became Director of Music at St James, I had already heard of the RSCM – an organisation dedicated to developing and preserving the very best in church music in the UK and overseas.

What I didn’t realise was how interested they are in their local members.

Asgard Rises!

Only days ago I was left bereft with the news that Vince and the wonderful community of gamers that is Asgard were to depart our Town Centre, and their future was deeply uncertain.

Tonight, wonderful news!

Check yourself

Today, The Rotary Club of Walsall is holding a Health Awareness Day in conjunction with the NHS and Stroke Association. You can pop in at The Crossing, any time between 10am and 3pm.

Last year local businessman Dave Gill stopped me in the street, and asked me to get checked. Only blood sugar, blood pressure, and BMI.

Hope for Sutton Project Launch

I’m some six months (and a bit) late in writing this, but it’s been a busy time.

The Hope for Sutton project, which encompasses a range of activities and initiatives supporting the local community in and around Mere Green launched last October. As part of the celebrations I was delighted to present an original piece of composition recorded and performed by students from three local primary schools. In return for their hard work I decided to keep the recording online for free, so they would have easy access to hear themselves in what is technically a world premiere.

Ragnarok

I was very unhappy today to hear that local stalwart and all-round good egg Vince is shutting up shop. Truly, Ragnarok has come to Asgard.

I’m sad to see this day dawn. Asgard and Vince in particular gave me the confidence to launch two successful Kickstarter campaigns and to explore the joy of creating games. My latest game is in development and even has a dwarven theme in honour of the Asgard mascot.

In the outpouring of emotion and support for Asgard, its communities of gamers and wider customer base, it’s important to note a couple of key things.

Sinking the Ark

It’s funny, isn’t it, how difficult its can be to express an idea. I had a concept of what I wanted to do, but I was under the impression the work already existed and I would be presenting somebody else’s genius.

Social Learning

The inestimable Dan Slee has come up trumps again. His précis of the Ofcom annual communications report is here.

It’s a wonderful set of insights into the big numbers and trends.

Social Media use is already commonplace, but I think understanding it is still quite a niche thing. I particularly enjoyed the observations about using messenger apps to link up people of all ages.

Have a read and see what you think.

 

The “Lottery Test”

I have been encouraged in recent weeks to apply the “Lottery Test” to things I undertake in everyday life. The test is simple. Were I to win the the lottery and be free of financial worries, would I continue doing the things that occupy my week?