This is a recent TED talk given by Shashi Tharoor in Mysore, Karnataka. He describes what India is and why it is still together despite many different languages, cultures, cuisines, caste and creed. His idea is very simple. He feels India has survived because it has managed to maintain consensus on how to survive without consensus. The idea is very fascinating and very true. Since i reside in a campus that has people from 18 different states of India, I can understand it more clearly as the campus becomes a micro model of the reality. Anyways, we all can agree and disagree but by doing that we will just strengthen the idea. Here is the link of the video of the talk by Tharoor. Hope you enjoy it…

http://www.ted.com/talks/shashi_tharoor.html

]]> http://mooneyes.wordpress.com/2009/11/30/getting-old/ Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:02:46 +0000 miwalyric http://mooneyes.wordpress.com/2009/11/30/getting-old/

I can’t believe I used to do this every single day. Bouncing from one place to another, auditions to shows; work to studio, barley getting any sleep. I finally got my pass back for the entertainment world, and damn, it was tiring! From the journeys I have gotten mentally stronger, but perhaps physically weaker? I blame it on my age.

Anyway, it was an interesting day at the Embassy getting the visa stuff taken care of to go overseas, ugh, still lots to do. Then I paraded my way over to the great Universal City for Usher’s Music Video Castingamajig… it was interesting, and lots and lots of energy and talent.

Back at the photo lab working on some new projects and trying to get stuff set for the new Soula Wear-ness. Website coming soon, ahhhh! I’m just hyped up.

Oh the way back from the Embassy early morning.

So Tiger stiffed-armed the law. He stood off the Windermere, FL, police for two days, then sent out his own edict of denial, with the stern admonition that anything else relating to what happened at the Woods’ home in the early morning hours of Thanksgiving past was “absolutely false.” Strange, since little – true or false or otherwise supposed – has yet been said by anybody, including police.

All evidence points to a household spat that became so physical that Tiger sought escape, and it was an extension of much displeasure. In a news picture of Tiger and Elin at a Stanford football game earlier, the expression on her face was not one of a contented wife. Obviously, the story of the New York hostess—is that a profession?—and Tiger being in  Australia at the same time had reached Palo Alto.

We may now learn just how original or creative Tiger can become under such real life pressure. I’m not  certain he can  be given to leaning toward the truth under serious pressure. In a press conference at the Tour Championship, I asked him why he had not shown up for the TC in 2006, and he replied:

“I don ‘t remember.” And repeated it when asked again.

He also couldn’t remember having taken off to Shanghai to play in the HSBC Championship—for a $3-million appearance fee—in which he finished two strokes behind the winner, Y.E.Yang. (Ah, you recall that name, the Korean who beat him in the PGA Championship at Hazeltine this year.) Obviously a fractured memory. The Tour spokesperson hastily moved forward.

Tiger has always been bullet-proof, but this is one time when his armor begins to betray him. As much cover-up as can be applied—and it will be, fast as his security force can tighten the loopholes—he will get all the pieces in place. Meanwhile, Elin will assume her position as the loyal mate, at least for the time, even with the story of said hostess landing in Los Angeles, near where Tiger’s next golfing event is scheduled.

This should set up a fascinating following chapter.

With Thanksgiving now behind us and the Holiday Season fast approaching, we are all looking at finding that perfect gift. Using the web, you can usually find it but can you get it at that bargain basement price. Well, unfortunately scammers know what we are looking for too. Fraudulent and malicious sites are popping up all over the internet, at this time of year, promising to ship the items you are looking for at real cheap prices. We all know about looking for TLS (Transport Layer Security), formally known as SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificates before entering any personal information on any e-commerce site. We all know about checking URL’s to ensure that the site we are entering our personal information is, in fact, the site we intended to visit. But sometimes in the hustle and bustle that comes with the season, we forget, and get careless. Well, this is what the scammers are depending on. With phishing, scareware, browser hijacking, and malware on the rise, we could use all the help that we can get.

This is where WOT (Web Of Trust) comes into play. It is a lightweight plug-in that works in either Firefox or Internet Explorer and will alert you should you visit a known malicious site due to the “spirit of the season”. But this is not a certified authority, like VeriSign, that is a singular authority that verifies sites. WOT is made up of a large team that has checked over 25 million websites and will alert you before you click where you should not. WOT works with Google, Yahoo, and other search engines. Before you click on a search result, you will notice either a green, yellow, or red indicator as to the websites safety rating.  Green means that the site is safe, yellow indicates that caution should be taken, and red is telling you that the site you are about to enter is known as a malicious site.  WOT will also warn you should you click on a link to download software from a known malicious site. It will give you the option to over-ride the warning, but I would take the recommendation seriously.

To use WOT, download the add-on for your browser of your choice. Once it is installed, and you do a search, you will notice colored circles to the right of the search result. By hovering your mouse over the circle, a drop down window will appear showing the rating for the site in various categories including trustworthiness, vendor reliability, privacy, and child safety. Should you click on a known malicious site, a large warning will appear on your screen. Think carefully about clicking on a site in which you get this warning. You do get the option to proceed, but again, I would seriously consider against the click on the link. Sites, in which, WOT does not have sufficient information will be marked with a question mark.

Especially, during this festive season, it is imperative that we get all the help that we can in order to keep our computers malware free. But more importantly, it is imperative to keep our personal information out of the hands of the cyber-criminals.  WOT is a great tool that is lightweight and will aid you in ensuring that you do not click on something that could harm either yourself or your computer. This is not fool proof, and should be used along with your best weapon…..common sense!!!!

To view a video about the Web Of Trust, click HERE…

To download the Web Of Trust, click HERE…..

Just another tool to help keep you safe.

Happy Holidays!!!

This is the response Peter gave to Jesus after he asked the twelve in John 6:67, “Do you want to go away as well?”  Many of Jesus’ followers had turned back and no longer walked with him, so Jesus asked his twelve disciples if they wanted to do the same.  Jesus knew that some of his followers were not his genuine disciples and were following him only because of the physical benefits he gave, such as healing and multiplying food to fill their stomachs.  John tells us in his Gospel in John 2:24,”But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.”  So if Jesus knew what was already in the hearts of his twelve disciples, then why did he ask them if they wanted to go away as well?  It was clearly not because he did not know the answer.  He asked the question for the benefit of his twelve.  Peter’s response rightly implies that there is no other teacher who can lead people to eternal life and to true fellowship with God himself.  Peter goes on to say in John 6:68, “You have the words of eternal life, and we (the twelve) have believed, and have come to know that you are the Holy One of God.”  ”We have believed” implies that Jesus’ disciples (with the exception of Judas Iscariot) at this point had genuine, saving faith (though they would still have to learn much more about Jesus’ death and resurrection and the meaning of these things for them).  Peter’s confession of Jesus as “the Holy One of God” implies Jesus being set apart for service to God.

What is your response to Jesus in the midst of a world that has turned their back on him and are not following him?  Do you sincerely believe that Jesus is the only way?  The only one who has the words of eternal life?  Do you set him apart as “the Holy One of God?”  These are important questions to ask yourself.  As A.W. Tozer said, “What you think about when you think about God is the most important thing about you because it determines everything you do.”  Your view of Jesus has a direct impact on how you live your life.

Regardless of your feelings or your view about Jesus, he is “the Holy One of God.”  He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).  We can gladly submit to his Lordship, or we will be made to one day!  Philippians 2: 9-11 says, “God has highly exalted him (Jesus) and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”   We must realize, like Peter, that we have nowhere else to turn, but to Christ.  ”Whom have I in heaven but you?  And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you” (Psalm 73:25).

Stella bit her tongue, unable to cope with the horrendous pain. She felt a sob chugging out of her throat, but when it reached her open lips, it became a scream.

The bones in her body all throbbed at once, with a sensation similar to one that would have been felt if they were breaking.

“Help” the word came out between several miserable thrusts of her chest “m-me!”

Tears came streaming from her face. Her entire body writhed around in torture.

Sucking in once more, her lungs gave a final, bellowing attempt.

“Durus!”

Stella could see nothing, her eyes squeezing shut as she tried to endure it. Much longer, and she knew she would die. The earth started spinning underneath her. Dizzy and confused, Stella’s only companion now was her pain.

Her teeth gnashed together, and she though she might vomit.

The spinning slowed, her breathing stopped, and next came only blackness and silence.

© Copyright 2009

You’re an airhead, not a bimbo.

You have a helium-filled mind
connected by a breakable string
to a clown that keeps it down

until the coming of the Scissors
to set it frightfully free.

12 foot high Zippy in the salt flats

Wake up in canyon country, so easy to picture Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid meandering through town as the story goes.  Next day jump in an old Toyota Landcruiser for a dusty, bumpy 4 day tour up through the southern Bolivia desert toward Salar de Uyuni.

Highlights include more llamas than New Zealand has sheep, a green lagoon bordering Argentina, a red lagoon bordering Chile, flamingos in all shades of pink, rabbit-looking creatures with long furry tails, crazy rock formations created by centuries of wind and sand, slept a night in a hotel made completely of salt and of course the pinnacle at the end being the salt flats of Uyuni that extend around 12,000 square kilometres, 25 times larger than the Bonneville flats in Utah.  OJ, Burt Munroe would have loved this one! 

Back to Tupiza via a road that only exists in the dry season since for a good portion of the way the road is a river bed.  Hoping to find some asphalt on our bus ride to Buenos Aires which is next up.  All 25 hours of it…

Mum, not as dangerous as it looks

Feeling decidedly satisfied with ourselves after our Inkan trekking, we head over the border to Copacabana in Bolivia and sucumb to the flu.  Quick trip out to Isla del Sol on Lake Titicaca.  Understandably barren considering it lays at around 4000 metres above sea level.

Being clever in saving 5 Boliviano´s buying our ticket on the bus instead of the agency foils us due to a bus strike, bridge strike and any other reason needed to strike as there is only 1 bus to La Paz on the day and it´s full up.  Back over to Peru to catch one going the other way round and land in La Paz 6 hours later than we should and 80 Boliviano´s poorer.

La Paz – diesel fumed colonial/indigenous looking city didn´t help the flu.  A week spent here looking for phone lines and good internet connections for job interviews in New Zealand was more challenging than expected!  Feeling marginally better, jumped on mountain bikes down the ¨World´s Most Dangerous Road¨, made slightly less dangerous by the new road taking most of the crazy truck drivers off in another direction.  Spectacular scenery.  Finish at the bottom at La Sende Verda, an animal sanctuary housing specled bear, boa constrictor, caymen (alligator), parrots and such, weird spotted hens, spider/squirrel/and some other kind of monkeys, and an Andean mountain cat.

Head south to Sucre, a white-washed colonial city.  After a day of wandering decide to jump the bus to Tupiza, only to be foiled again with the ¨no bus today¨ explanation, so go via Potosi and realize enroute that there is no paved roads in southern Bolivia.  Not the most comfortable 16 hour bus ride!

Ah, a mystery starring Tiger Woods. A case for the eminent Belgian detective? We may need Hercule Poirot before the air is cleared in Windermere, FL, the Woods’ residence until Tiger’s new estate is completed in Jupiter.

It’s 2:25 in the morning. The hour for serious slumber, but what do we have here? Tiger Woods exiting his driveway in a Cadillac Escalade. The car strikes a fireplug, then a tree (in a neighbor’s yard) and the rest is fogged over. In fact, nothing is verified yet, the mystery heightened by the fact that more than 12 hours pass before it was reported by the local police. And all of us know that a celebrity such as Woods can hardly develop a cold before it’s a headliner.

Now, first of all, where was Tiger going at 2:25 in the morning? Some kind of emergency? One of the children ill? Couldn’t have been Mrs.Woods. She reported she came out with a 9-iron in hand—in any golf story the club must be identified—and she reports that she used the 9-iron to break a back window in the SUV to help her husband free himself.

Then we read that he “is in and out of consciousness” as he lay on the ground. Much of this was reported, it is said, by Glenn Greenspan, identified as “Woods’ spokesman.” Glenn is a straight arrow, a friend of many years, chief press officer at Augusta National when Tiger hired him to conduct his public relations affairs. Poor Glenn now has a hot potato in his hands.

Rumors will fly. Dissension in the Woods household at this early stage of their marriage? Just on the fringes of Tiger’s 34th birthday? With one of his “silly season” tournaments coming up in California?

Some of us writers have wondered how Tiger might be able to blend being a husband, a father, a demanding professional career, and all the other travails that accompany such an amalgamation. This, however, is somewhat beyond whatever we might have imagined. Stand by for further developments.

Just found sound some amazing videos of visual pieces made by frequencies of sound. Each note’s frequency produces a different pattern giving stunning visual results.

This first video is an example of cymatic art. It features salt crystals on an enamel plate moving according to sonic vibrations induced by a violin bow. The artist demonstrates three different patterns created by three specific notes.

Click on the image to the left to watch the live art by Jodina Meehan.

Here’s an example of live electronic music creating visuals through a specially designed computer program. Lasal is a VJ (video jockey) who uses music to create visuals, digitally at multimedia events.

Here’s Kristallographie. Click the image above for the video. Visuals by Lasal, sound design by Iqbit

I managed to get a bit more filming done over the weekend which means I now have more footage to work with. One of the shots is of the girl walking away from the camera with doll in hand into the darkness – however, when i finally filmed the shot exactly how i wanted it after many tries the location which we were at was also being used by other people and so I have faint outlines of cars and reflections from the lights on my film which i really don’t want so i tried editing it on photoshop. I was shown this page on the ehow website which told me how to use garbage matte to get rid of anything i didn’t want : http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_5192582_remove-background-video-adobe-premiere.html?cr=1

However, part way through got a little difficult to follow and didn’t quite make sense so we tried looking on help on premiere 2 but again it had a stage we couldn’t really figure out at first but i managed to find it in the end! :

 This is what I ended up with - one of the frames in this shot was cut out which is just what i wanted! However when i played it the cut out shape stayed the same but the image kept moving which really didn’t work and wasnt actually what i wanted – if i wanted this effect i’d have to edit each frame! which would take too much time, it’s easier just to go out and film the scene again without the cars in the abckground which is what i’m going to do.

I really needed to start editing my trailer, or what filming I had done so far so I opened a few of my shots into premiere and played around with some of the video effects to see whether i wanted to use them. At the beginning I was just playing around to see what effects looked like and here’s some of the things I tried, most of them i probably won’t use but they’re still useful to look at:

This one was the bend effect, it could possibly be used if the shot was part of a dream sequence or maybe had something to do with aliens and although my film/trailer is meant to be quite weird I don’t think it’ll be suitable.

 This one is the ripple effect, similar to the previous, again there are circumstances under which this could be sued especially to portray something weird, or to portray a scene that creates a ripple effect however I don’t think it’s suitable for my trailer.

One my shots in thr trailer was going to be the shadow of a teddy bear/ animal like thing as a way of introducing new characters but in such a way that i stayed within my genre, even following conventions of the genre however to keep the feeling of it dark the lighting was quite dark and I wasn’t majorly happy with the outcome of the shot, the shadow is visible but the light had a yellow tint to it which i actually wanted as dark blues and greys however, i managed to solve this issue using editing on premiere 2 and on photoshop.

This is the first thing I tried, i started by changing the contrast so that the shadow was slightly more defined/visible then I used the ‘colour tint’ effect – i gave the image a tint of dark blue, almost grey, i wanted to colours in this bit to be colder to reflect the creepy, fantasy genre.

I created this image on photoshop using the gradient control and picking the colour myself, like in the above, i chose the blues so that the shot is filled with the colder tones. I then put this image into premiere elements and changed the opacity of the shadow shot and layered them.  It kind of works, I think the ‘colour tint’ works better but I think this is a useful technique to know in case I ever decide to use it and if I did use it I would probaby be more exact with colour and opacity so that it would look as best it could.

This was the third technique I tried, also on photoshop. I opened up the shot in premiere 2 and saved the frame which I then opened up in photoshop, I edited it as if it was a photo so I used contrast to darken the shadow, I then used channel mixer to pick a main colour which was a purply blue and then went through the different types of light effects on the channel mixer, overlay was the best because it created this eery supernatural like light – it looks almost ultra violet. I then opened this back up into premiere 2 as a still image and added it to the potential sequence of first shots – it looked ok but you could definitly tell that it was a still image rather than a piece of film.

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Innocent vehicle owners continue to be victimized, harassed, and burdened with erroneous photo enforcement tickets. Despite promises and claims by officials that all tickets are reviewed for accuracy prior to being issued, many obvious erroneous tickets are issued every day.

In this latest article in the Arizona Daily Star, we learn that the designer of the novelty plate ‘N JOY AZ’ who has the one and only real license plate on his vehicle constantly receives tickets that should have been issued to vehicles displaying the novelty plate. Despite obvious vehicle description mismatches and the fact that novelty plates are often placed on the fronts of vehicles rather than the rear, DPS, Redflex, and other scamera companies are unable or unwilling to let these discrepancies deter their quest for profit.

Novelty plates in the wrong location aren’t the only problems that scamera companies have with being correct. A couple in Wyoming tells us that Redflex has trouble telling the difference between a Wyoming truck and a car license plate.

Of course, there are the classic incidents where parked vehicles received speeding tickets in the Netherlands and the UK.

And then there are the incidents where the equipment malfunctions or is set wrong, like when 600 tickets in Scottsdale were tossed due to a faulty sensor.

Don’t speed any you have nothing to worry about? Think again… We ALL need to be worried about this theft of time and resources taken from the innocent drivers who are burdened with spending time and money and incurring expenses in order to clear their records.