Come molti di voi sapranno, ho il piacere di cantare in un coro polifonico. Per fortuna il repertorio è vasto e spazia fra molti generi. Purtroppo non abbiamo ancora avuto occasione di avvicinarci al metal, ma sto insistendo con il direttore perché si provveda al più presto.

Un buon esempio, del resto, lo affrono gruppi come quello che (su segnalazione altrui) vi presento oggi:

Ecco a Voi i Van Canto:

Wishmaster (Cover dei Nightwish)

Fear of the Dark (Cover Iron Maiden)

Bard’s Song (Cover dei Blind Guardian)

Per quest’ultima forse ho trovato sponda in altri coristi…. Speriamo!

Dopo molti anni dall’uscita del primo, imperdibile, The Gamers, ecco…

THE GAMERS II (Sottotitolato in Italiano!):

Ribadisco: su internet si trova di tutto e di più. Si può persino trovare la risposta ad una domanda che nessuno si era mai posto prima…

…oppure una risposta astrusamente seria ad una domanda scema, tipo quella che mi permetto di riportare ora (mettete a letto i bambini):

Non credo sia il caso di commentare…

Please click on link to read the first article in this series of 3:

‘Astrology as a healing and a wounding art 1′

Part Two: From art to actual life – the student / practitioner’ s view

In further pursuing the exploration which my chance encounter with Lisa had begun, I asked my ongoing students for their comments. I was particularly keen to receive feedback from those in my monthly study/supervision group who had been students and practitioners for seven to eight years or more, feeling that they would have a more rounded perspective to offer, based on going through many different stages in their relationship with astrology.

They were asked to reflect on the healing and wounding aspects of working within the astrological model, from the viewpoint of the impact their involvement had had on their personal lives.

Here is their feedback which I found rich, eloquent and varied.

1) – Marie (52) -

Marie's Horoscope

“I came to astrology when you read my chart in May ‘87. Suddenly, after twenty one years, old pain I had partly buried, partly learned to live with, resurfaced.  I had to come to terms with it,  heal it, if I were to live with myself.  I had had a difficult time when I was nineteen.   At the time of the consultation, Uranus was squaring the Uranus of those events in 1966, and Pluto was conjunct my Chiron -  for me, astrology has always been a healing tool.

More recently, it helped me through the period of my father’s death in 1993 by enabling me to detach and accept by understanding the process.The Uranus/ Neptune conjunction was exact, squaring his 19 Libra sun. At the moment of his heart attack, the Ascendant was exactly conjunct my natal Chiron; Mercury was squaring my Chiron when he died.

For me, astrology is an invaluable tool. I trust more now in my own intuition, especially where the timing of events is concerned. I think we all subconsciously know when the time is right to take a decision, make a phone call, accept an offer or whatever. I   regularly run up charts for significant moments and find the Ascendant reveals the flavour of the moment, the Moon the timing of the event, Mars the motivating force underlying it and Mercury often literally brings the message.

An interesting example of this is when I began to realise that the house I lived in was playing a part in my healing process.  Being convinced of the significance of certain moments in time, I ran up a chart for the exact moment my husband and I  entered the house for the first time as owners.  It was Hallowe’en 1984 and the sun was at 8 Scorpio conjunct my Chiron.  Not only that, the house’s Chiron was conjunct my Moon and Node at 7 Gemini, the Moon was on my Ascendant and Venus on my MC.  Even more incredible, the Ascendant of the house chart was 29 Cancer 27, which turned out to be the Jupiter of  W.G. Morton, the artist who had  had it built in 1912 – his Jupiter was 29 Cancer 30 !   Morton’s  ghost haunted the house ; I   felt I could help him let go and move on.  My Pluto at 11 Leo is exactly conjunct his Moon and IC at 10 and 11 Leo.

These amazing synchronicities prove to me how finely tuned our lives are, and what a gift astrology is in helping me interpret the meaning of my life, face up to the dark side of my nature and co-operate as best I can with transits as they ebb and flow.

We don’t always get what we expect. My Mum’s Sun, Venus and Mars are at 2,6 and10 Sagittarius respectively.  With Pluto crossing these degrees and also opposing my Moon Node conjunction at 7 Gemini, I was scared I was going to lose her.  She is 84 ; when I looked ahead to these Pluto transits, it seemed a likely outcome. I’m sure you would agree that  projecting fear onto upcoming transits is one of the most obvious facets of the wounding side of astrology…….

However, as Pluto stripped away all that was unnecessary in her life, she began to give away her money and her jewelry and to talk about her death in a very matter-of-fact way. How  could she see us enjoy our inheritance if she’d gone?  Better still, she began for the first time in my life to tell me she loved me and  was proud of me, words I had waited for all my life. I no longer live in fear of her death, but accept all our time together now as a bonus.  During this period, Chiron was also busy. On the day she gave me , out of the blue, a large sum of money, Chiron was 2 Sagittarius ,conjunct  her sun, and the IC of the moment!

I can only sum up by saying that whenever I feel I’m stumbling around in the dark, astrology restores my faith in life by reconnecting me to a sense of meaning  and purpose.”

2) – Andrea (39) -

Andrea's Horoscope

“ On the whole, I’ve been very lucky with the astrologers I’ve met. Almost all have been good people, good astrologers and have definitely helped me on my way. From a personal viewpoint, astrology has helped me to open my heart and my soul to a way of being centred on self-acceptance and love; I’m not sure I would have managed that otherwise. I’ve learned to treat myself with a bit more sympathy and understanding – and hopefully treat other people the same way. My experience of astrology has opened me to the deeper mysteries of life – even if I can’t put that into words or fully understand it, I know it’s there. That’s such a healing experience, because the sense of awe makes me want to try harder to be responsible for my life, to live it in a positive way.

Having said all that, for a while I didn’t look at the Ephemeris or any astrology. Partly, the reason for that is that astrology can turn me away from my own life. That seems a complete contradiction to what I’ve just said.

Maybe, for me, this is the wounded/wounding side of astrology  - being so busy reading astrology, looking at charts, thinking about aspects, looking at planets, transits, progressions, or midpoints meant I was too busy to live my life in the present – I would be thinking about the past or looking to the future.

Recently, when looking at my transits, (which I hadn’t looked at  for  months) I had a sharp intake of breath as I saw Saturn, Chiron, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and progressed Moon all triggering off planets in my natal chart. The sense of trepidation  was almost overwhelming. I have to work hard to just meet life as it comes. For me, that’s a real challenge – astrology can help me to be more aware, but I have to resist the urge to think I know what it means before I get there.”

3) – Charlotte (35) -

Charlotte's Horoscope

“ I’ve never really been asked to consider the wounding aspects of astrology in such a direct way before. I did have a bit of a job focusing on the question without the more positive aspects coming up all the time! I think the serious study of astrology knocked me out of the idyllic vision I had had of my family background. I had to accept that my parents weren’t perfect, and the overall effect of this was enlightening but also disappointing. It kind of knocked me into the real world and showed me things as they were which I found quite hard to come to terms with.

Seeing things in black and white on the astrological chart  led to a lot of resentment on my part, raising a lot of difficult questions which I’m still working hard to understand. I think this can sometimes sidetrack me and stop me getting on with things, and lead to some disasters which might not have occurred otherwise – although I would say I do have a natural tendency to analyse things anyway. Astrology just provides more scope for this.

There is also the question “ why me? Why did I have to have this chart?” which may be quite childish, but did lead at one time to some resentment at the apparent unfairness of it all. Especially when you are grappling with hard Pluto and Saturn aspects. You know you have your work cut out for you, and that life is not going to be easy. The prospect of living your life with these aspects can be quite daunting and depressing, and lead to a lot of despondency at times.

Another factor that’s hard to take on board is that you are responsible for yourself. You can’t go around blaming other people for your misfortunes all the time. You have to take responsibility for your part in the drama. It’s your stuff, and you’re the only one who can deal with it. This can lead to a lot of self criticism on my part, and a good deal of depression if things aren’t working out.

Looking at  it from a promethean point of view, Prometheus stole fire from the gods. He knew he would suffer for it, but he also, I think, knew on some intuitive level that he was doing the right thing. And in the end he was released from his suffering. Personally, I couldn’t not know. Otherwise I wouldn’t have pursued the subject as long as I have. I just hope it works out for me in the end too. “

4) – Alice (35) -

Alice's Horoscope

“ My first experience with ‘real’ as opposed to ‘Sun Sign’ astrology was at night school. My birth chart was not what I had expected. I was a true Sagittarian, adventurous, lucky, fun loving and optimistic, wasn’t I ? Oh yes – I was pleased with my grand trine in fire. That made sense; but a meek, mild, service-seeking Virgo ascendant was not exactly me. Oh well, I suppose I could come across that way to some people.

Then I see it – a small black glyph sitting right on top of my Ascendant. It must be a mistake. I feel like scrubbing it  out. I don’t want Pluto there on my lovely chart. I’m nothing like a Scorpion type – moody, emotional, secretive, jealous, controlling. My Venus sitting smugly in Capricorn does not enhance my frame of mind. I take small consolation from hearing it is earthy and loyal. I feel cheated, and continue to long for Venus in Taurus.

Gradually over the term, astrology stripped me of my pre-conceptions of myself, and left me exposed to the facts. I could no longer carry on in blissful denial of the deeper, darker side of my nature.

A significant  turning point came when I was asked to explain the types of things which had been happening to me, since I was experiencing my Saturn return at that point. I couldn’t explain. I hadn’t a clue what was going on. Where did I start? My teacher then summarised, in a couple of minutes, the way I had been feeling and how it was all part of a process. The light had been switched on. It was an amazing experience. I felt understood, accepted, and not alone.

The more I learned about  the interacting energies within my chart, the more I could accept myself and stop having to put on an act. The energy I had previously been using to keep Pluto well at bay, could now be directed towards more constructive pursuits. I felt freed. The healing had begun.”

to be continued

1900 words copyright Anne Whitaker 2009
Licensed under Creative Commons – for conditions see Home Page

Soooo alike…       ~       Soooo different…

A quick review of genealogy blogs shows that many bloggers have made resolutions to write more about genealogy in 2009. Yes, you should blog more about genealogy! Carve out a little time for yourself (that means make an appointment for YOU and put it on your calendar). If you have a little writer’s block, don’t worry. Help is on the way!

Have a family member be a guest blogger. Let a family member take the reins and provide a different perspective for a post or two. If you can’t find anyone to take the job, interview a relative and spotlight the person yourself.

“I try to allow family members to help write every post. It’s a group effort and this is how we learn. We agree to disagree.” ~ Sheila Jean Adkins Metcalf

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sisters are two different flowers from the same garden.

©2009 by Donna Cunningham, MSW

 The Moon passes through the twelve signs of the zodiac in its monthly orbit. You can track it through an astrological calendar or an ephemeris. Clearly, a calendar is no match for the kinds of social problems we are facing, but it can be a helpful stress reduction tool. Following the Moon’s monthly and yearly cycles helps us keep on an even keel emotionally and cut our stress levels. Doing things during a Moon sign alien to what you want to accomplish builds up inner friction that can be wearing. When you work against the flow of lunar energies, you work harder and less effectively than when you work with them.

 One clue to understanding the Moon signs is the repetition of the four elements‑‑fire, earth, air, and water‑‑throughout the twelve signs. Signs within the same element share basic energy patterns and concerns.  To summarize, while the Moon passes through the water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces), people are more emotional and introspective. The fire signs (Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius) put people in a more energetic, lively, assertive mood. When the Moon transits the air signs (Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius), communication and mental pursuits are highlighted more than feelings. As the Moon travels through the earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn), people focus on practical, down‑to‑earth concerns. Understand, however, that these patterns go around in a circle, rather than a straight line.

As you learn the nature of each sign, avoid wasting energy by taking advantage of its most constructive qualities. For example, the Moon traveling through Cancer seems to put many people in a domestic mood. They may enjoy working around the house, cooking, visiting family, or just being quietly at home. A Cancerian who goes off on a business trip then might feel especially homesick. Taurus, Virgo, or Capricorn–the earth signs–are good for taking stock of your financial situation or embarking on small business endeavors. A party? Moon in Leo, Libra, Aquarius, or another outgoing fire or air sign.

Wanting to organize the closets or files? Try Moon in Virgo. If you did it while the Moon was in Pisces, you’d probably never find anything again! Moon in Gemini isn’t the greatest for closets either. You’d spend the day on the phone and at the end shove everything back in a worse mess than before . . . but at least you’d catch up on the gossip.

This technique can help with much more important issues than that pile of junk at the back of your closet. I’m using these small matters to show how much more productive it is to work with the zodiac than against it. To give an example, the Moon in Gemini produces the urge to communicate. Being stuck at home alone with dreary, routine tasks will only create frustration and restlessness. It’s a good day to do lunch with someone you’d like to know better. If you’re homebound at a time like that, ditch the routine and pursue worthwhile Gemini activities. Catch up on correspondence or write that story that’s been rumbling around in the back of your mind. If you do want to write, I’d suggest you deliberately block off communication so the verbal energy will pour out in words on paper rather than in a big phone bill.

Ah, but you say, “If I butterfly under Gemini, how will those dull household tasks get done?” The zodiac to the rescue! The Moon goes into Cancer next and you’ll feel more like tending the home fires. That’s the fascinating and profound thing about the zodiac‑‑the sequence of the signs seems to take care of problems like these. If your thinking about an issue is too rigid and traditional while the Moon is in Capricorn, wait a day or so. When the Moon goes into Aquarius, you’ll be more innovative. Moon in Pisces got you dreamy and a bit lazy? That’s because you need to rest, regroup, and be in touch with your spirituality. Don’t worry or feel guilty. The Moon hits Aries next, and you’ll spring into action with all those creative ideas you dreamed up under Moon in Pisces.

People sometimes wonder how I get so much accomplished and yet work so little.  One way that happens is that for all the years I’ve been involved with astrology, I’ve consciously worked with the energies of the current Moon sign rather than try to force my work into rigid agendas and to do lists.  When I flow with the Moon, the work flows.

More Posts about the Moon on this Blog:

• Using the Daily Moon Sign to your Advantage  
• The Moon Signs and their Emotional Habits 
• Why Transits to the Birth Moon are so Challenging
• The Void of Course Moon–A Lunar Sabbath? 
• Eclipses and Their Effects 
• Cancerians, Memory and Emotion
• Fool’s Gold—the Slippery Slope of the South Node

NEW: FREE BOOKLET FOR SKYWRITER SUBSCRIBERS! (Mothers, Daughters, and the Moon)    Note:  This was adapted from my hardcopy book The Moon in Your Life, published by RedWheel/Weiser and now out of print.  You may also find it under the original name (first edition) of the book, which was Being a Lunar Type in a Solar World. Used copies can still be obtained through Amazon.com.  You might also check out a place where people swap books for free.   http://www.paperbackswap.com.   All it costs is postage.This place is a gem. It has several hundred astrological and metaphysical paperbacks among the several million books on a variety of subjects that people can swap.

Prima o poi qualcuno inventerà le spade laser.

E per allora sarà il caso di essere preparati.

Loro, intanto, fanno esercizio; non sia mai che alla chiamata dell’Impero (mica vorrete stare dalla parte sbagliata dei ribelli?!?)  nessuno sia in grado di rispondere!

Per il reclutamento, seguire le indicazioni:

Il primo film non aveva brillato né per trama né per “chiarezza espositiva”: tanti effetti speciali con scontri corpo a corpo dove non si capiva assolutamente nulla (se chi era impegnato nel combattimento era un decepticon o meno, chi vinceva, chi “moriva”…)

Il secondo film non solo non elimina i difetti del primo, ma addirittura ne aggiunge altri:

-  trama inesistente;

- mancanza totale di qualsivoglia tensione;

- scenette ridicole che si susseguono con intensità imbarazzante in un parossismo stucchevole (per non dire nauseante);

- recitazione nulla;

- personaggi ignobili, inutili, evanescenti, sovrabbondanti.

Raramente ho visto un film tanto insensatamente brutto!

Per dar sostanza al giudizio, potrei elencare una miriade di episodi ed esempi. Mi limiterò a ricordare: il drone che simula amplessi animali sulla gamba della coprotagonista; il decepticon “anziano” arteriosclerotico che cammina con un bastone (!!!!!); il “cattivone”-mostro finale che appare sulla scena giusto per essere distrutto; il robot che piange…

Una serie infinita di “vaccate” (utilizzare lo strumento della perifrasi per esprimere il concetto non esplicherebbe con sufficiente intensità il disgusto che mi sovrasta non appena i ricordi ritornano alle scene del film) che vogliono forzatamente far ridere, ma al più annoiano.

Il peggio: la trama si risolve in questi surrogati di commedia dell’assurdo con risultati stordenti. Durante la proiezione viene da chiedersi: ma gli sceneggiatori avevano un cervello oppure hanno assoldato scimmie ammaestrate?!

Svolgere una critica sensata e particolareggiata sarebbe ultroneo e fuoriluogo: il film non vale nemmeno la fatica di premere i tasti sulla tastiera del computer.

Giudizio:

Fate un favore a Voi stessi: evitatelo accuratamente, se siete ancora in tempo.

Trama: 0 (ma c’era un trama?)

Sviluppo della storia: 1

Effetti Speciali: 3 (troppi, mal dosati);

Personaggi: 3 (ridicoli, inutili, sovrabbondanti macchiette).

Media: 1.75

[Per chiarezza: i voti sono espressi in decimi]

Invece, per chi fosse interessato alla storia dei Transformers, mi permetto di rimandare al mio precedente post sull’argomento: Transformers e Diaclone.

Anche grazie a segnalazioni di amici, su internet si riescono a recuperare foto di stranezze o meraviglie incredibili.

Ecco ad esempio cosa è stato capace di fare, dopo 4 anni di lavoro, un giovane studente universitario di Tokio:

Sì, un meraviglioso castello “impossibile” costruito interamente con la carta, dotato di luci elettriche ed una ferrovia perfettamente funzionante.

L’autore si chiama Wataru Itou; l’opera ha il titolo “un Castello sull’Oceano” e si trova ad Umihotaru, un’isola artificiale tra Tokio e la prefettura di Chiba.

Tutte le foto le trovate sul blog dal quale ho tratto la notizia: Tokyobling’s Blog

[Su segnalazione (e fonte rindondante): Death's Lord blog]

Quando ieri notte, alle 23 circa, ho sentito la notizia al telegiornale, mi sono lanciato su internet per trovare conferme. Primo a dare la notizia in America era stato un noto sito di gossip e ho quindi sperato in un errore o, al limite, in una pessima trovata pubblicitaria.

Non ho scritto nulla. L’Oracolo dei Venti è rimasto muto.

Quando questa mattina mi sono svegliato, ho ripensato alla notizia della notte prima con crescente preoccupazione. Ho acceso la televisione sperando nella smentita e nella burla svelata.

Mi ero illuso: Micheal Jackson ci ha davvero lasciato. A 50 anni, nella sua villa di Los Angeles, apparentemente per un attacco cardiaco.

Forse un abuso di farmaci; forse il fisico debilitato non ha retto gli allenamenti intensivi programmati per tornare sul palco. Per l’ultimo saluto.

Scoprire la verità, sinceramente, non mi interessa molto. Quel che conta è che un mito vivente che mi ha accompagnato fin dall’infanzia non c’è più.

E mentre al bar, per la prima colazione, e poi sotto l’ufficio, le radio trasmettevano i suoi più grandi successi, il mio pensiero tornava a più di 20 anni fa, quando comprai su cassetta Bad, l’album grazie al quale l’ho conosciuto… e ho così preso a rivivere, in immagini vivissime che la sua musica aveva impresso indelebilmente, i ricordi di tante giornate trascorse allora sognandomi capace di raggiungere, nei miei campi, le sue inarrivabili vette.

Ora potrei scrivere molto. Potrei ricordare le sue canzoni…e i tanti momenti della mia vita che a quelle sono rimasti legati.

Una volta, alle medie, ho disegnato una rappresentazione teatrale di Thriller; una mia compagna, che tutti prendevano in giro, aveva fatto un ottimo disegno di Smooth Criminal. Ho litigato per giorni con il mio migliore amico di allora sostenendo la superiorità di Michael Jackson su qualsivoglia altro artista emergente. Cantavo le sue canzoni nella mia vecchia casa, che ora vedo solo di sfuggita, da fuori, mentre passo in una via che è stata mia per quasi trent’anni e che ora vedo quasi straniera.

Avrei tanto da raccontare.

Ma la mia mano indugia sulla tastiera, come quando, davanti ad un capitolo che ho tutto nella mente, non riesco a dar forma a ciò che vedo.

Sento uno strano vuoto.

Addio Michael.

Addio all’unico vero Re del Pop.

For those of you who don’t know there is an online Ephemeris, Cyberworld Khaldea is committed to posting Ephemerides for all of the years that you need – check them out at:   http://www.khaldea.com/ .  It’s wonderful!

For those of you who use your at home astrology software (I love my Matrix), now you can do charts on the go when you are away from home by joining Astrodienst.  Astrodienst has built in astrology software with all of the bells and whistles and a whole lot more – go to http://www.astrodienst.com

Last but certainly not least:  The Astro Databank Wiki Project – Awesome!  The Astro-Databank wiki publishes the huge collection of astrological data collected by Lois Rodden and her cooperators, so that these data can be used for astrological research, for astrological publications and for serious astrological discussion.  The access to the data for these purposes is free of charge.  Astrodienst is committed to preserve the idealistic spirit of Lois Rodden and to continue her work. The Astro-Databank has been transformed into an open wiki project. We are now forming a community of volunteer data collectors and maintainers, who will expand and maintain this uniquely valuable collection of astrological information in the future.  http://www.astro.com/astro-databank/Main_Page

Il Goodwood Festival è una ricorrenza oramai annuale dedicata alla presentazione di macchine da corsa di tutti i tempi, con un occhio di riguardo per quelle più particolari e di sicuro interesse per il grande pubblico, tanto da attirare ogni volta almeno 150.000 visitatori.

Una davvero simpatica trovata che si ripete oramai ogni anno è una corsa del tutto particolare…

Ricordate la famosissima e celeberrima serie animata televisiva di molti anni fa  “Wacky Races“?

Sicuramente sì:

(Purtroppo non è possibile incorporare sul blog i video italiani su youtube…Vi basterà fare una breve ricerca.)

Ebbene…eccone una rivisitazione!

Cosa si scopre su internet!!!

[*per ulteriori informazioni sul Goodwood Festival, consultate la pagina dedicata di wikipedia]

One of my favorite eye candy programs from the past is xplanet (the other one is electricsheep ). It works perfectly with almost all window managers and the final product is not only beautiful but also very informative. The documentation is pretty straight forward and easy to understand but i haven’t seen any configurations lying around in the web. Anyway i provide here my own along with a small (wannabe) guide for it. As of the images or scripts that were used for this, i’ll just provide the necessary links.

Lets assume that we got xplanet sources and have them installed and working. As the README suggests, i took the default configuration provided and xplanet and built upon it. The base configuration provides sth like this:

Very nice huh? The default image provided is very nice but if you want to move a step forward or want sth with a bit more resolution you can get one of the monthly versions of Nasa’s Visible Earth.

The first 3 things that are missing from the image are, the moon, clouds, and finally background stars.

Well by default, all celestial objects of our solar system are loaded so you ll probably see it if you have xplanet refreshing every (eg 10 minutes) the problem is that moon is small and you ll likely see it rarely. So to watch the moon more ofter i added to my conf

[earth]
magnify 40
[moon]
magnify 10

A little bit more magnification to moon and it will look like a twin planet

Next step is the clouds, which are explained pretty much in the main page. There are 2 scripts that are used to fetch the cloud image. Both will do the job, i just altered them a bit to get the 4096 version of the clouds and save them to my .xplanet dir to keep things tidy. The cloud images are updated every 3 hours so i just added the script to a cronjob with
0 */03 * * * /path/to/script/
If you’ve created a .xplanet dir to store your configuration just throw the image in and add
cloud_map=clouds_4096.jpg
to your xplanet.conf. If you prefer to store it in another folder eg. images in .xplanet just add
cloud_map=images/clouds_4096.jpg

Finally you need a nice background to complete the picture. According to documentation all you must do is to start xplanet with xplanet -config xplanet.conf -starmap /usr/share/xplanet/stars/BSC. I even used the commands that are suggested by the FAQ but it wasnt very nice. I found out that the provided solution is very nice if you set the -fov(field of view) option to eg 50. If you prefer this solution its a good idea to use the constellations marker file and start it by adding

marker_file=constellations
marker_file=brightStars

You can find it in /usr/share/xplanet/arcs/constellations.
This will draw all the constellations around and with brightStars you’ll get the names.
Personally i dont use the above method. I just got a nice star field from an image search, played a bit with its contrast and brightness and used it as a background with the -background option. I also changed the default earth and specular images with the ones found here and the result looks like this:

Take a closer look at the marker_file option. With default supplied marker files you can add borders, coastlines, hamradio stations, capital names etc. You can also add information about volcanoes, storms, satellites and quakes using the Totalmarker binary. For example in my setup i have set a cron job that connects every hour to Norad and gets the appropriate tle files to mark the position and path of the requested satellites on the xplanet image.
0 */01 * * * /path/.xplanet/Totalmarker -Norad

Well all that info about earthquake and volcanoes and such its really nice but it gets pretty crowded so i prefer to keep track only of the satellites (ISS, HUBBLE, etc)

All the above is for earth alone. Its possible to view all planets of the solar system with the -body option and of course gather info for their artificial satellites and moons. In my setup i use the images provided by this site, which are very very nice and detailed. You can get my conf from the downloads page. To launch it and update it every 10minutes you can use the below command:
nice -n 19 xplanet -config ~/.xplanet/xplanet.conf -transparency -utclabel -background ~/.xplanet/starfield-1.jpg -wait 300 -hibernate 600

Another nice option here is -random

A volte i sogni si realizzano, magari con un po’ di ritardo, ma accade.

Ecco allora che una donna di 47 anni (portati malissimo) dall’aspetto dimesso e tutt’altro che affascinante,  in uno degli spettacoli più noti e seguiti del Regno Unito*, tenta l’impossibile: afferma di aver sempre voluto diventare una cantante professionista ed azzarda un difficile pezzo, I dreamed a dream da “I Miserabili”.

Il pubblico ridacchia quando la donna sale sul palco; i Giudici, perplessi e divertiti, pregustano già uno spettacolo esilarante.

Dovranno ricredersi.

Signore e signori, ecco a Voi Susan Boyle

Susan Boyle sta diventanto su internet un personaggio, una fiaba moderna. Provate a cercare: trovere fan’s club, video, foto e notizie di ogni genere.

[Si tratta di Britain's Got Talent, nato dallo stesso creatore di X-Factor: per ulteriori informazioni, vedi wikipedia]

Hoje, quase 39 dias depois do início oficial do Projeto 701 (1° de março de 2009), temos na blogosfera jurídica 25 novos blogs! Isto significa que foi criando, em média, pelo menos um blog jurídico novo a cada dois dias! Esse resultado é simplesmente sensacional.

Na lista dos novos blogs, verificamos a presença de autores falando ou pretendendo falar sobre diversos assuntos interessantes relacionados ao direito. Vemos variedades de abordagens como a jurisprudencial, a internacional, a trabalhista e a tecnológica, além de outras.

Parabéns a todos que estão colaborando, especialmente aos que estão iniciando na bela tarefa de escrever na blogosfera jurídica brasileira!

E vamos avançando no incentivo à criação de mais ephemeridis!!

Pensando bem, é meio constrangedor chegar perto de alguém e dizer “eu tenho um blog”. Não que eu não goste de blogs (pelo contrário, eu adoro). Mas, por exeperiência própria, dizer “blog” afasta algumas pessoas. Parece que estou com alguma coisa na garganta…. blog… Ou com alguma bactéria chamada… BLOG!

Quem entende de blogs nem pensa muito nisso. É que geralmente quem entende de blogs tem mais contato com gente que entende de blogs também. No meio forense a questão é um pouquinho diferente. Blog parece coisa muito distante, sem significado… coisa passageira… 

Ocorreu-me, então, que a palavra blog talvez prejudique a entrada de novos blogs jurídicos na blogosfera jurídica brasileira. Pode ser verdade. E, sendo assim, a tradição juridiquesa vai ter que entrar em cena mais uma vez: termos que dar um nome aos blogs jurídicos, pelo menos os brasileiros.

Eu os chamaria de ephemeris, que significa diário em latim. Então, quando você for convidar alguém para ler o seu blog jurídico, simplesmente diga: “acesse a minha ephemeris“.

E participe do Projeto 701 ephemeridis (blogs jurídicos, law blogs).

Alguma sugestão melhor?

Dopo Yattaman (vedi il trailer nel precedente post), anche un altro eroe dei cartoni aminati targati anni ‘80 ritorna in una nuova veste…

Certo molti di Voi ricorderrano

SAMPEI

Bella la sigla di allora, spesso fatta oggetto di numerose rivisitazioni poco garbate…

Ebbene, incredibile ma vero! Anche Sampei vedrà una realizzazione cinematografica con attori in carne ed ossa!

E’ questa una realizzazione che sinceramente non mi aspettavo, dal momento che di tutti gli anime di allora, Sampei era decisamente uno dei meno spettacolari, con poca trama, poco sviluppo della storia e personaggi troppo lineari.

L’anime si caratterizzava però anche per una notevolmente apprezzabile trasposizione, in chiave di lettura per ragazzi, di miti contadini e pratiche di pesca tradizionali, presentando uno spaccato di vita rurale giapponese quantomai attento. La rilettura fantastica aggiungeva ovviamente pesci dalle dimensioni spropositate o dalle caratteristiche tanto uniche da risultare quantomeno poco credibili, ma si trattava comunque di elementi non disturbanti e che aggiungevano semmai quel tocco in più tale da aumentare l’interesse.

Per l’elenco completo degli episodi: wikipedia

Purtroppo, anche questo film difficilmente raggiungerà le nostre sale (intendendo anche quelle casalinghe…)

Non mi sarebbe comunque dispiaciuto dare un’occhiata…

Sono passati secoli (23 anni) da quando, nel 1986, la voce potente e melodica di Joey Tempest, cantante degli Europe, recentemente tornati sul palco, affascinava folle deliranti di migliaia di persone con la notissima “The Final Countdown“…

…proprio ieri, mentre mi aggiravo in vena di amarcord tra le pagine di youtube incontro questa versione un po’ particolare di quella nota canzone:

Non potevo risparmiarvela!

Ma girando per internet ho anche trovato questo:

Un fake?

Ehm…come dirvelo…NO!

Senza parole!

Dopo una serie di immagini poco significative ma suffcientemente evocative, ecco finalmente il trailer attesissimo di

YATTAMAN

con tanto di esplosioni fatte a teschio, maialini che sanno arrampicarsi sugli alberi quando vengono adulati e miriadi di trovate incommentabili.

Dubito si possa dire: ” a presto su questi schermi”…ma chissà!

Yatta Yatta Yattaman!

Non da molto ho superato la soglia dei trent’anni. A cagione degli strani ed al contempo straordinari meccanismi della mente e della memoria, mi capita spesso di avere ricordi vividissimi di eventi risalenti e confusi invece per accadimenti verificatesi magari solo il giorno prima.

Con logica non diversa, rammento ancora chiaramente serie animate lontanissime nel tempo e mai più trasmesse in televisione…e molti giochi con i quali mi dilettavo nella ormai altrettanto lontana infanzia.

Un gioco che fa in parte eccezione è TH3 Project. Ricordo benissimo le scatole, le pistole, i proiettili. Ricordo le action figures ed il casco con il quale giravo per casa. Non ricordo invece notizie utili per ricostruirne storia e fonte d’ispirazione.

O meglio, vagando per internet sono incappato in una serie notevole di accenni, rimandi, spunti…ma tutti tanto parziali od imprecisi da rendermi impossibile una ricostruzione attendibile che non si limiti solo a qualche breve nota. Sfortuna ha poi voluto che tutti i links utili che ero riuscito a recuperare in una notte di ricerca siano andati perduti con la prematura scomparsa del mio precedente computer; altri, che sono riuscito a ritrovare, rinvierebbero oggi solo a pagine vuote.

Detto questo, non posso ugualmente esimermi dal segnalare e  ricordare ai lettori TH3 Project!

Dobbiamo fare un salto indietro di di più di trent’anni…

Allora avremmo potuto incontrare questi simpatici figuri:

che senza maschera sarebbero apparsi così:

Su internet, specie su Ebay, ho anche rinvenuto foto delle confezioni originali:

Ricordo poi un lettore che aveva rammentato, in occasione di un precedente post relativo ad una mitica serie di giocattoli, di aver posseduto un braccio sparaproiettili appartente alla serie. Non sarà per caso…questo?

Come anticipato le notizie sulla serie e sui giocattoli sono molto limitate. Sembra, ma anche la fonte che rammento era dubbiosa sul punto, che i giocattoli traessero ispirazione da una serie fantascientifica trasmessa dalla Rai agli inizi del 1970. La ricerca in allora effettuata non aveva comunque dato risultati apprezzabili.

Certo è che a realizzare molti accessori come pistole e proiettoli fu la Edison Giocattoli, ancora in attività, e che sorprendentemente, ancora nel catalogo 2008 presentava come acquistabili i prodotti della linea TH3 Laser Line

Ecco nel dettaglio un’immagine del mitico fucile TH3

…ed un’immagine dei ben noti proiettili di allora:

Spiace sinceramente di non poter essere di maggior aiuto, ma ahimé quando ero bambino io, il gioco stava già lentamente scomparendo. Come detto, TH3 è per me un’eccezione: l’unico gioco da me posseduto (e che posseggo ovviamente ancora) del quale non ricordo praticamente nulla.

Se avete notizie, fatevi avanti!

]]> http://mentore.wordpress.com/2009/02/02/coro-polifonico-citta-di-albissola-superiore-natale-2008/ Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:08:32 +0000 mentore http://mentore.wordpress.com/2009/02/02/coro-polifonico-citta-di-albissola-superiore-natale-2008/

Come promesso, per coloro che se lo fossero perso, ecco alcuni brani dal concerto di Natale 2008.

Coro Polifonico Città di Albisola Superiore

Maestro Andrea Ravazzano:

Ring Christmas Bells – Mykola Leontovich

Magnificat – Frisina (scritto per Mina)

Solista: Eliana Zunino

Be thou my vision – J. Rutter

Pacem in Terris – Frisina

Solo coro:

Aria sulla Quarta Corda – J.S. Bach

An Irish Blessing

E’ stato un grande concerto: “tutto esaurito” e spettatori  soddisfatti.

Ecco il coro (io sono il terzo da sinistra nella penultima fila) con alcuni degli orchestrali all’inizio del concerto…

…ed ecco coro e orchestra al gran completo con in primo piano la solista (e mia maestra di canto) Eliana Zunino:

Grazie a tutti coloro che sono intervenuti…

…e per coloro che non hanno partecipato, l’invito per il prossimo anno!