12min @burgerfiction clip - Every Best #Visual Effects Winner. Ever. (1929-2018 #Oscars) - Updated

Text based on that on youtube An update to their VFX award video from last year. They've added the winner from last year, this year's nominees, and a whole bunch of great updates throughout the video entirely. 

12min @TheCrashCourse clip - #Roman #Theater with Plautus, Terence, and Seneca: Crash Course Theater #6

 
Text from youtube "In which Mike delves into the theater of ancient Rome. It wasn't all gladiators and Christian-killing, you know. There was theater, too. Roman drama drew heavily on Greek drama. So heavily, in fact, that many of the stories and characters were lifted directly from Greek plays. This time around, you'll learn about Plautus, Terence, and Seneca, and just what they owe to Menander. "

#ruralpresence - Seedtime

(this post was 1st published on the Rural Presence Blog)

Reflecting on what it means to lead churches in a rural context. 

The Germinate Leadership course from Germinate: the Arthur Rank Centre is an 18-month programme that "combines leadership theory, theological reflection on the nature of leadership in ministry, the development of co-consultancy groups and practical leadership issues including conflict resolution, team building and group dynamics, and the importance of deepening emotional intelligence." 

This latter area - a session on emotional intelligence - from consultant Jill Garrett of LT Consulting - was one of the best elements in the residential gathering I attended and provided some valuable insight into my own practice as well as helping to understand others I work with. 

Also excellent was the session on models and skills for leadership in rural churches from Amiel Osmaston, until recently Ministry Development Officer for the Diocese of Carlisle and contributor to to Reshaping rural ministry (the lecture was largely based on her chapter in this book - well worth a read). 

Course members are a mix of lay and ordained, from different denominations and levels of experience of rural church. And this is one of the course's strengths: the opportunity to meet and share with people from across the country, so you get a wider perspective on the present realities of rural ministry. The co-consultancy groups look to be a helpful addition, as does the provision of a mentor for the duration of the course. 

If you're interested, apply , the next round starts in September 2018.

5min 44sec @TheEconomist clip - Are #Americans trashing the English #language ?

Text from youtube "Britons often grumble that Americanisms are creeping into British English. Lane Greene, our language guru, asks where American words really come from—and whether they pose a threat to the Queen's English. 

Are American's trashing the English language? 

The Economists language expert, Lane Greene, knows a thing or two about English. Lane is a fan of words, lots of words, and Lane is an American living in London. He's become accustomed to British English slang. But Lane often hears Britons complain that there are too many American words and expressions creeping into British English, these are called Americanisms. British writer Matthew Engel can't stand Americanisms being used in Britain and even wrote a book about it.

1min 19sec @wef clip - How #learning a new #language makes you more #tolerant

#fridayfacts Households take up of digital communication devices - 2007 to 2017 - from Ofcom's 2017 Report on the UK's Communications Market

1min @circulareconomy clip - New #Plastics Economy: #Circular Materials Challenge

Text from youtube "How do we stop millions of tonnes of plastics entering our oceans every year? Despite innovation, collaboration and investment to clean up waste, the three biggest clean ups tackle less than 0.5% of the plastic entering the ocean each year. We need innovation that tackles the root cause of ocean plastics, and not just the symptoms. Our $2M Innovation Prize winners demonstrate some of the possibilities to radically rethink the ways we make, use and reuse plastic packaging."

5min 16sec @TEDEd clip - The most successful #pirate of all time - Dian Murray

Text from you tube "At the height of their power, infamous Caribbean pirates like Blackbeard and Henry Morgan commanded as many as ten ships and several hundred men. But their stories pale next to the most successful pirate of all time, who commanded 1,800 vessels, made enemies of several empires, and still lived to old age. Dian Murray details the life of the fearsome Madame Zheng. 

Lesson by Dian Murray, animation by Steff Lee."

4min @LSENews clip - Introduction to #Social #Psychology by Dr Sophie von Stumm at the LSE

 
Text from youtube "Dr von Stumm gives an overview of her introduction course to Social Psychology that is available to all undergraduate students with an offer from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). The video also includes a summary of the types of assignments that students will complete for this course. "

#ruralpresence - Independent review calls for greater #community use to give #church buildings a sustainable future

(this post was 1st published on the Rural Presence Blog)

Commissioned in 2016 to report to the Chancellor and Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport - this review considers the funding and sustainability of listed church buildings.  Published on 20/12/17, the press release for the review says....

" The review panel highlighted the best practice of many churches and of volunteers around the country, with buildings adapted and used for cafes, playgroups, and in some cases NHS and post office services. The panel said it wants to see more innovation of this kind."

But the press release also commented that....

"Congregations are individually responsible for the care of their own buildings and despite the commitment and hard work of volunteers, the panel found a lack of consistency in the ability of many churches to carry out routine maintenance and repairs."

The press release goes on to summarise the reviews recommendations as shown below - and says that these should be tested through pilot schemes in both rural and urban areas.

• "creating a national network of Community Support Advisers to help churches identify and strengthen wide ranging relationships within their local area".  The review hopes that "through greater community engagement, churches will be used more frequently and can maximise new funding options reflecting this broad community involvement."
• "creating a group of ‘Fabric Support Officers’ who have practical heritage buildings expertise to ensure that all churches have access to high quality advice"
• churches should "develop annual minor repairs plans. This will mean that repairs can be addressed immediately and prevent the development of more costly major repair."
• churches should prepare " a rolling ten-year major repairs plan" and that these be "kept up to date so that larger works can be planned and given the best chance of being properly funded."

It's worth looking at the letters in response to the report in the Church Times this week.  These wondered about the role of the proposed Fabric Support Officers and Community Support Advisers and questioned how far community use ideas for church buildings were viable for remote rural churches.

And it's also interesting to compare the current report's proposals with recommendations in the Church of England's Church Buildings Review report, issued in 2015.