Vibes player Jim Hart brings his excellent Gemini quartet, featuring fellow Loop musicians Ivo Neame on saxophone, Jasper Hoiby on bass and Dave Smith on drums, to the Yardbird in Birmingham this evening for a gig organised by the Cobweb Collective. Read my review of Gemini’s album, Narrada, here, and hotfoot it to the Yardbird now – more info here.

Come a little closer
Flicker in flight
We’ll have about an inch space
But I’m here, I can breathe in
What you breathe out

Let me know if I’m doing this right,
Let me know if my grip’s too tight,
Let me know if I can stay all of my life.
Let me know if dreams can come true,
Let me know if this one’s yours too,

‘Cause I see it, oh,
And I feel it
Right here.
And I feel you right here

The vacuous night
Steps aside to give meaning
To Gemini’s dreaming.
The moon on its back
And the seemingly
Veiled room’s lit
By the same star

Let me know if I’m doing this right,
Let me know if my grip’s too tight,
Let me know if I can stay all of my life.
Let me know if dreams can come true,
Let me know if this one’s yours too,

‘Cause I see it, oh,
And I feel it
Right here.
And I feel it right here
And I feel you right here

Ooh, ooh…
Ad lib until fade

Hari ini, BlackBerry Bold 9700 a.k.a Onyx secara resmi diperkenalkan di Jakarta. Dalam sebuah perhelatan di Dragon Fly, Jakarta, smartphone itu dipamerkan ke hadapan para jurnalis nanti sore pukul 15.00 WIB.

Dijual dengan harga eceran Rp 6.450.000 (di luar pajak dan tanpa kartu), seri terbaru BlackBerry teranyar ini dijejali sistem operasi versi 5.0 untuk komunikasi high-end, wifi, dan koneksi GSM berbasis 3G — seperti yang sudah ada di Bold pendahulunya. Kabarnya, jaringan BlackBerry messenger di versi ini sudah tingkatkan sehingga jauh lebih nyaman dibanding pendahulunya.

Apa lagi yang baru? Seperti BlackBerry Gemini 8520, seri Bold 9700 Onyx juga telah mengganti Trackball dengan Trackpad yang lebih sensitif. Dengan alat navigasi tersebut, pengguna terhindar dari risiko tombol ngadat gara-gara debu yang menumpuk.

Mengenai spesifikasi lengkap BlackBerry Bold 9700, silakan baca-baca penjelasannya di sini. Soalnya, terus terang saya belum merasakan sendiri keasyikan memainkan perangkat baru ini.

Saya malah sudah lebih dulu menjajal BlackBerry Curve 8520 a.k.a Gemini. Ini BlackBerry tipe paling murah, dijual sekitar Rp 2,1 juta – Rp 2,4 juta (tanpa kartu dari operator). Di tengah eforia pasar Indonesia yang tengah tergila-gila pada semua produk buatan RIM Kanada ini, Gemini tampaknya cukup cepat terserap, terutama di kalangan first BlackBerry users.

Sosoknya mirip BlackBerry Curve 8900 (Javelin), lengkap dengan keyboard QWERTY. Curve 8520 atawa Gemini adalah produk pertama Research in Motion yang menggunakan trackpad optik sebagai perangkat navigasi menggantikan trackball yang juga terdapat pada seri Javelin dan Bold.

BlackBerry 8520 Gemini

Peranti anyar ini, bagi saya, lebih nyaman ketimbang trackball. Sebelumnya saya sempat memakai Curve 8310 dengan trackball. Dua kali saya harus membawanya ke tempat servis untuk dibersihkan dan satu kali membeli trackball baru. Navigator berbentuk bola ini cepat kotor dan membuat fungsinya terganggu. Trackpad nyaris bebas dari gangguan semacam itu.

Trackpad tampaknya merupakan jawaban RIM atas keluhan para pengguna terhadap trackball. Tak heran bila seri-seri BlackBerry berikutnya pun memakai sistem navigasi tarckpad sebagai pengganti trackball.

Curve 8520 juga dilengkapi media keys di bagian atas untuk mengakses musik dan video, seperti play, repeat, dan mute. Lalu ada BlackBerry Media Sync yang memudahkan sinkronisasi dengan iTunes atau Windows Media Player.

Untuk membantu orang-orang seperti saya, disediakan BlackBerry App World, bursa aplikasi khusus BlackBerry. Dengan fasilitas ini, saya bisa menjelajah situs BlackBerry untuk mengunduh, misalnya, theme, wallpaper, ringtone, dan sebagainya. Aplikasi itu ada yang gratis, ada pula yang berbayar.

Namun, ada sedikit pengurangan pada Curve 8520 seperti kamera hanya 2 megapiksel, sedangkan pada Javelin 3,2 megapiksel.

Layarnya 2,64 inci TFT LCD 320X240 piksel — lebih cerah dan tajam ketimbang 8310. Ketebalan bodinya hanya 39 sentimeter, panjang 10,9 cm, dan lebar 6 cm. Beratnya 106 gram. Fiturnya juga belum mendukung 3G, baru GSM/GPRS/EDGE. Tapi tersedia fasilitas WiFi dan Bluetooth.

Curve 8520 menggunakan prosesor 52 MHz, memori internal 256 MB, dan mendukung slot memori eksternal microSD/SDHC dari 16 GB yang kini tersedia hingga generasi berikutnya 32 GB.

Memori itu cukup memadai untuk mengakomodasi kegiatan saya sehari-hari, seperti browsing, membuka dan menulis email, berkicau di Twitter, Facebook, dan membaca blog. Jam pasir yang kerap keluar di BlackBerry 8310 saya dulu, sekarang tak nongol lagi di Gemini.

Bagaimana dengan daya tahan baterai?

Pada seri 8310, saya bisa menggenjot baterainya hingga sekitar 12 jam untuk pemakaian normal. Sedangkan daya tahan baterai 8520 sedikit lebih panjang, sekitar 18 jam dalam pemakaian normal. Mungkin karena lebih baru. Yang jelas, kalau saya pakai untuk membuka UberTwitter secara nonstop, daya tahan baterai, baik 8310 maupun 8520, menyusut drastis.

Last but not least, pilihan ada di tangan sampean. Setiap pilihan hendaknya didasari oleh kebutuhan, dan bukan sekadar gaya-gayaan atau mengikuti trend semata. Jadilah konsumen yang cerdas.

>> Selamat hari Rabu, Ki Sanak. Apakah sampean tertarik memiliki salah satu dari dua seri BlackBerry terbaru itu?

As a Gemini I’m a natural skeptic so I have to say I don’t believe in horoscopes.

Like Doranne, I find it hard to believe I can share the traits of a gazillion other people around the world! Hello, I’m an individual?

Plus there was that survey where they had group of randomers given a slip of paper with a description of their personality based on their star sign and they were all like OMGSOTRUE and each one of them had the exact description? So it is probably a case of selectivity and confirmation bias (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias).

But, having said that, there is no such thing as true individuality, is there? I also can’t deny they’re fun to read and tend to the narcissist in me. Personally speaking however, though I’m inclined to say the Gemini is the best sign of the lot,  I don’t really like how we’re portrayed. We seem to have more bad traits than other signs! Not cool. Maybe that’s why I don’t like to believe in horoscopes

So I went to http://www.findyourfate.com/astrology/Gemini.htm and decided to find out more…

The Geminis interact with the environment, investigate, learn, know and exchange ideas.  (True.)

The intellect dominates Gemini, and all things intellectual are valued greatly by them. As communication is also of importance to Geminis, knowledge is never a thing to be hoarded. Rarely is a Gemini more entertained than in the midst of exchanging ideas with others of an intellectual nature. (Thank you, I like to be seen as ‘intellectual’. This is extremely true.)

Being the most versatile of the signs, Geminis are seldom what they seem to be. Chameleon like, they will take a stand, voice an opinion, decide on an option and then completely change their mind tomorrow. (Yes, I am very mysterious; I also enjoy bullshitting…)

Nothing is ever written in stone by the Gemini. (That just means I cannot make up my mind. This is very true. And annoying.) They are truly a free soul, driven by curiosity and a desire to know . (Yes, I’m a true KPO, I don’t actually care, I just need to know)

They usually have several things going at once, and within such chaos, they thrive. (Man, story of my life. I’m not sure about the ‘thriving’ part though.)

Geminis are bright, witty, entertaining and rarely get deeply absorbed in any one task. They prefer to skim the surface of many things, than to get deeply involved in any one particular interest. Even if they do become drawn into something, they always feel they are missing out something. Anything they haven’t touched intrigue them the most. (Yes, I have a damn short attention span. Don’t know about witty / entertaining.)

Often gifted with their hands, it seems whatever they touch does turn to gold. (Really? Try telling that to the person who gave me a ‘D’ for my ‘Michael Jackson’ Sphinx GCSE Art project… but maybe I am gifted with my hands in other ways… heh. )

Their love of communication may also express itself as an affinity for languages. (Yes I am damn good at languages except Chinese but still I beat Pat at O-Levels so I would agree with this.)

Geminis have a knack of making life a little more interesting for the rest of the zodiacs. (Ask my friends I don’t know, I’m just trying to live my life…)

Geminis are optimistic people. (Actually despite popular notion and the fact I need medication I am an optimist.)

All things are fresh and fascinating for the them. (Ya, I’m a KPO, why they keep repeating this? Do Geminis not have any other good traits?)

Restless, with an active imagination and a keen intellect,  life must be lived to the fullest for theGeminis. Gemini analyzes everything.  (Yes, over analyze and drive myself crazy. Pure hell.) Gemini’s are usually affectionate, courteous, kind, generous, thoughtful and superficial

Main positive traits: Versatile, adaptable, inquisitive, intelligent, quick to learn

Negative Traits

On the turn of a moment, Gemini can become cynical, biting, moody and quickly angered. Inseparable as two sides of a coin, those born in this sign can be dazzling and irresistible or inconstant and irrational. Once something is familiar , the interest wears thin and the need for new worlds to investigate grows strong again. Geminis are fickle. This is not intentional, it is their basic nature to be so.

Main negative traits: Superficial, short attention span, restless, nervous, nervous, lacks concentration, conniving. (Conniving? Very insulting. Perhaps I’m not aware of that part of myself yet. Restless and nervous – they include nervous twice and a very big YES. Superficial? I’m not sure… I probably am if this says so. You be the judge.)

Also apparently Gemini’s are damn fickle ‘players’ when it comes to love. What a reputation-spoiler. People might shun a relationship with me if they believed in horoscopes. (So please don’t take it too seriously…)

So apparently all I am is a fickle KPO (but intelligent). Okay lah, I’ll take it I guess it’s better than being a bore.

Press here to move to the new Weekly Astrology prediction 22/11/09-28/11/09

beware of anyone that can predict the future for you…I found this on the street in NYC…I don’t know why I kept this..
She really knows all the buttons….and things people want to hear. I guess it’s not that hard if you think about it..

В этом месяце стала доступна для загрузки новая волна продуктов Microsoft Business Intelligence в составе:

• SQL Server 2008 R2 CTP3 (http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2008/en/us/R2.aspx);
• Microsoft Office 2010 beta (http://www.powerpivot.com/download.aspx);
• Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 beta (http://sharepoint2010.microsoft.com/try-it/Pages/Trial.aspx).

Далее перечислены основные новые функции в отношении Business Intelligence:

1. PowerPivot для Microsoft Excel:

• расширения Field List, в том числе: автоматическое определение связей между колонками из не реляционных таблиц, поддержка поиска поля по имени, поддержка именованных наборов;
• обновление данных и изменение параметров источников данных PowerPivot;
• поддержка новых типов источников данных: Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services, книги PowerPivot (опубликованные в Analysis Services, выполняющемся в интегрированном режиме SharePoint), текстовые файлы, книги Excel, Microsoft SQL Azure, Oracle, Teradata, Sybase, Informix, DB2, Enhanced Data Analysis eXpressions (DAX);
• расширение функциональности DAX: лучшее обнаружение ошибок, упрощение создания формул DAX, новые функции работы с текстовыми данными и временными преобразованиями, улучшения автоматического перерасчета, обработка несоответствий связей между таблицами, автоматический выбор типов данных для выражений.

2. PowerPivot для Microsoft SharePoint Server:

• панель управления для IT-службы, в том числе: опубликованы книги PowerPivot с отображением числе выполненных запросов и количества пользователей и размера на книгу, использования аппаратных ресурсов (в том числе процессоры и память), обновления данных;
• расширения инфраструктуры: поддержка отслеживания запросов пользователей;
• параллельное обновление данных PowerPivot, оптимизация производительности;
• новые варианты отображения книг PowerPivot на портале SharePoint и возможность просмотра книг в браузере;

3. Новые BI-возможности в Excel 2010 beta в отношении Business Intelligence при подключении к аналитическим кубам: Slicers, Sparklines, Custom Sets, Write-back.

4. Новое в Reporting Services: 

• Report Part Gallery  – публикация областей отчета на сервере отчетов с возможностью повторного использования;
• Shared Data Sets – наборы данных могут быть храниться, обрабатываться и кэшироваться отдельно от отчета;
• Расширенная интеграция с SharePoint 2007 и SharePoint 2010;
• Новые элементы визуализации данных (Data Bars, Sparklines, Indicators);

• Расширения Business Intelligence Development Studio – поддержка отчетов и проектов отчетов для SQL Server 2008 и 2008 R2;
• Агрегаты агрегатов – поддержка неограниченной вложенности;
• Расширения в RDL Expression Language.

5. Новое в Integration Services 2008 R2 CTP3 по сравнению с CTP2:

• В окне «ADO.NET Destination», появилась возможность включения функции “Use Bulk Insert when Possible”.

6. В CTP3 появились Master Data Services (MDS).

Дополнительная информация:

• The BI Blog. Business Intelligence is available in BETA!
• PowerPivot for SharePoint Installation Guides DRAFT
• PowerPivot for SharePoint Books-On-Line
• Master Data Services Books-On-Line
• SQL Server 2008 R2 November CTP – What’s New In Reporting Services?

Forget that fortune cookie and plan your week of chuckles with Wisecrack Zodiac!

Aries: Hardheaded? Your brain has more security than Gitmo but this week, a band of crazy ideas may infiltrate and crack it open so the thoughts can run free. Don’t worry, this bout of open-mindedness will only last a few minutes before the trained attack opinions arrive.

Taurus: If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you and pounds on the door in the middle of the night, get a restraining order and delete your Facebook page.

Gemini: Asking for the universe’s protection is fine, but if you suddenly find yourself surrounded on all sides by beams of white light, make sure you’re not meditating in the intersection again.

Cancer: Getting back on track doesn’t always mean you’ll end up zooming in NASCAR; sometimes you just end up in a road rally of drunk unicyclists. Relax and roll with the vodka-and-fruit punches; you’ll find the fast lane soon enough.

Leo: You love playing mad scientist, but this experiment may blow up in your face. Quit poking the mutant zombie Jell-O with a sharp stick before you become known as the idiot who started the Flesh-Eating Fruit Salad Revolt. On the other hand, it does sound pretty cool.

Virgo: You may always ride on the straight and narrow, but that will change after an encounter with an egg beater, a vibrating Snuggie and a fermented carton of orange juice. Keep track of the camera because memories may fade but photos can last a lifetime.

Libra: When you enter a room, every head turns. It could be your hotness, or it could be that tornado warning siren you’re using as a ringtone. Drop the twisters and let your natural assets blow everyone over.

Scorpio: You’re enjoying a ship passing in the night, but keep that lifeboat handy. Someone’s singing that Titanic love song and a big iceberg called commitment is drifting into your shipping lane.

Sagittarius: If you really wanted to hear all the answers, you’d get married or ask a kid. Sometimes ignorance is more than bliss, it’s a good survival technique.

Capricorn: Leading a logical life is a worthy goal, but even Spock let his hair down occasionally. Get your pointy ears off the practical path with some fun this weekend, before you snap and start singing Klingon folk songs.

Aquarius: A homemade holiday season is wonderful, but you’re one step away from Bedazzlers Anon. Step back from the glitter and enjoy some time with the family. You made them, too, and they shine just as bright.

Pisces: Don’t worry if you’re a one-track train in a multi-tasking world. Doing one thing at a time is so quaint, it’s practically trendy. At last, you’re with the ‘in’ crowd!

Ever wondered if you could change your luck if you knew what your future held?  Well guess what, Hottywood can help! 

Below are Hottywood’s cookie fortunes, as revealed by the moon and the sun, in addition to the itch on the bottom of his foot.   

Take heed.  Knowledge is power.

___________________________________________________________

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19 

If you like camel humps, then this is the week for you. Your soda will be extra fizzy and your french fries will stay hotter longer. 17 is your lucky number except on those days ending in the letter “y.”

___________________________________________________________

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

None of your booty calls will answer their phones this week. Cold showers and porn will be God’s way of telling you He still cares.  Stay strong.

___________________________________________________________

Pisces

February 19 – March 20   

Hot chicks will flirt with you even if you are a woman but they will only have one eye brow. Beware of one-heeled polar bears and hairless puppies. Someone will piss you off all week. Buy insect repellent and rope.

___________________________________________________________

Aries

March 21 – April 19 

Do you like cold pastrami on molded pumpernickel bread with brown lettuce and government cheese?

…me neither.

Yesterday was your lucky day, tomorrow is a little fuzzy and today you’ll be consumed with wondering what you did yesterday that will make tomorrow better. Good luck.

___________________________________________________________

Taurus

April 20 – May 20 

Am Amish person will invite you to a polka dance and your paycheck will be short $58.13. Your grocery bill will be sky high and your bank account will be negative (-)$58.25.  Wear a paper bag over your broke ass head.

___________________________________________________________

Gemini

May 21 – June 20 

Dogs will bark and cats will scratch. But I guess I’m not telling you anything that you don’t already know. Flip more coins although it may not matter. Your week is either going to be good or bad.

___________________________________________________________

Cancer

June 21 – July 22 

Goat cheese is your enemy. Your supervisor will not get laid this week and will take it out on you. Block-the-Hater shades will be on sale only in department stores that are outside of your state. Buy some paperclips. They are sharp and inconspicuous.

___________________________________________________________

Leo

July 23 – August 22 

A little birdie is going to tell you you look fat. Purchase a new baking dish, you’re going to have chicken all week. Count to 5 backwards three times in your sleep.

___________________________________________________________

Virgo

August 23 – September 22 

You won’t win any congeniality awards this week because you are selfish, rude and right about everything. You’re going to have a good week because no one will want to be around you to get on your nerves. Use your time wisely to reflect on how arrogant you are.

___________________________________________________________

Libra

September 23 – October 22 

This week you will be cursed with slouchy socks and extra tart morning breath. Avoid the subway. Everyone will view you as a moving target.

EVERYONE.

___________________________________________________________

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21 

Invest in a plus-sized vocalist association. Your lover will stop being an ass only when the fat lady sings.  

…let me know how that works out for you.

 ___________________________________________________________

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21   

Any gift you receive will be broken. Then again you may not receive a gift at all so you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t. Christmas will be better for you as long as anyone who might give you a gift this week does not give you a damn thing for Christmas.

___________________________________________________________

Quote of the Week:    “I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I’m sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.” 

Follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/mrhollywood2009

For the first and only time in 2009 while the moon becomes full at 11 degrees Gemini on Dec 1^st – 2^nd, no planets are retrograde (from December 1^st to December 20^th  ).  Uranus stations direct at 23 degrees Pisces, twelve hours before this Full Moon reaches its peak, indicating a need for radical change with no hidden agendas.  What you see is what you get, and what you say is what you mean.  It always helps when no planets are in retrograde, as it indicates no hidden stress, tensions or hidden innuendos we need to climb over, in reaching and resolving  our goals and wishes.  Pluto is still trying to force us to restructure our way of life, and if we have already done so, to reevaluate and rethink our goals.  This Full Moon is forcing us as a society and individually, to make a quantum leap into the future, while making radical and revolutionary changes in our thinking and lifestyle.  This is no time, for small steps, but giant and determined steps towards the future.  This is an important and vital moment to rethink, refine and fine tune our desires for the upcoming years.

 “The Sabian symbol for the Moon in 11 degrees of Gemini and for the Sun in 11 degrees of Sagittarius is taken from “The Sabian Symbols in Astrology by Marc Edmund Jones”, and what follows are my comments.

Gemini 11  A new path of realism in experience  This is a symbol of the enlarged understanding which comes from a personal and immediate participation in the affairs of an everyday world, and of the continuing rewards which result from trying one and another way of doing things.  Here is self-orientation as a consequence of a persistent weighing of the pros and cons in normal life relations, and a determination of values on the basis of their demonstrated usefulness.  Selfhood is refined through its constant self-analysis.  The keyword is identification.  When positive, the degree is effective mobilization of the self’s practical resources for the role it must play in daily living, and when negative, self-delusion through sheer fantasy.

Sagittarius 11  The lamp of physical enlightenment at the left temple  This is a symbol of the enlarged understanding which comes from an inner and spiritual outreaching, and of the rewards following on a ceaseless experiment with one or another mode of self-expression.  Here is self-orientation through a continual balancing of consequences and meanings in everyday activity and relationship.  The world is seen as a laboratory for the soul, able to provide each individual with the reality he seeks for himself.  The keyword is reconciliation.  When positive, the degree is personal effectiveness through an intelligent capitalization on past achievement, and when negative, witless trial and error leading to an utter confusion of ideas.

What this is teaching us is, that with the Full Moon in Gemini, it is the time for our thinking and actions to be versatile and mutable so that we can immediately switch and adapt to any situation for success.  It is a time to be active in the real world and to identify the problems and situations as they really are.  This is the time to be pragmatic and being one with the pros and cons of the matter, where we can feel the right outcome, because we are one with the Universe and are sensitive to our surroundings.  This is where we give reverence and respect to our thoughts and actions and give them a place in the holy temple of our mind to develop and manifest in the physical world.  In the inner holy sanctum of our subconscious mind is the creation of our hopes and wishes into reality.  When we honor our thoughts, creation begins, and like the sail boat on the calm seas with the beautiful sunshine, there will be smooth sailing ahead. 

After last week’s carpet incident, Venus starts Monday with the hump. Jupiter, who is making Brian Blessed seem retiring and softly-spoken these days,  goes in for a feel-better bearhug. Venus wallops him over the head with her hardback first edition of How To Win Friends and Influence People, which bounces off the big god’s thick skull and lands at Mercury’s feet.

Ever open to new methods of making connections, Mercury picks it up for a flick through. Neptune and Saturn read over his shoulders. Tuesday finds Saturn woodenly trying out Carnegie’s techniques on the Sun, who, feeling tip-top full of bonhomie and having nothing else to do, puts up with it for a bit.

By Thursday the others are fed up with Mercury having his nose in the book that they dare him to try to Win Mars’ Friendship and Influence Him. It’s been so long since anyone even knocked on the god of war’s bedroom door that it seems to go well, although this might have more to do with the bag of gingerbread men Mercury wisely took in with him. A concentrated biting-off of biscuit heads could be seen as harmony, I suppose.

Anyway, Uranus and Venus at least are too busy researching tickle spots to pay much attention. Neptune staggers over to help investigate the causal relationships among variables, but Venus asks him to go away and have a bath. A long one.

Mercury and Jupiter end the week by getting up to no good and having a right laugh.

*

Aries

When your troops tramp tramp tramp across new borders this week, remember to send them with fun size Mars bars to throw to the children. Why? Because it’s a nice thing to do, and when your actions compromise others’ future freedom and essential liberty, it’s nice to be nice.

Taurus

Do something known and loved in a whole different way* on Thursday and you’ll sleepwalk into the side of a bus on Friday morning. Still, not all bad: while they put you back together again the anaesthetic gives you time to catch up sleep, and it’s a known fact that there isn’t a single unattractive anaesthetist on the planet.

*For Thanksgiving-ing Taureans this probably means a new way with stuffing; the rest of the world’s bulls will want to be swapping the with with an of.

Gemini

While sorting stuff out for Sagittarius this week, I discovered that Green Eggs and Ham was written because Dr Seuss was bet $50 that he couldn’t write a book with only fifty different words. With thought, Gemini, I bet on Thursday, like Dr Seuss you can get your point across to partners in fifty words. It doesn’t matter what I bet because none of you will manage it … but I bet you could. Hand gestures are not included in the final count.

Cancer

Miss. Miss Miss Miss. Miss Miss MissMissMissMissMiss … I made Bethlehem in the bath … with ducks.

This week is perfect for expanding religious consciousness. Perfect for creatively contemplating new concepts of divine deliverance. Perfect for communicating your intuitive, individual experience of creation. Take a tip from the six-year-old, Cancer — it’s a dead good week for making Bethlehem in your bath. With ducks.

Leo

You can spout any old self-absorbed shite on Thursday and they’ll lap it up. You might even pull. Thankfully,  an enemy shoves a dog poo through your letter box on Friday.

Virgo

Go through your CDs, pull your iPod apart, and play every single track you have of a fat lady singing. Every one. She’s got a great pair of lungs. Before Thursday, you also need to decide what sort of relationship you want with your neighbour, or they’ll decide for you and you’ll be too drunk to care.

Libra

Early in the week someone twiddles the balance thingy in the middle of your kitchen scales, just ‘cos. This results in you accidentally inventing a new, super-rising scone, which feeds humanity and solves world hunger. Next, you must work on improving the logistics of jam and clotted cream transportation.

Scorpio

This week, Scorpio, Sagittarius is telling everyone how he likes it in the dark with a goat. Don’t get jealous, get even.

Sagittarius

Get scribbling, Dr Zeus, it’s time for your annual opus:

I am man.
Man-I-am.
Man-I-am, Man-I-am.
I do so like life. Man-I-am.

And I will like life in a boat
And I will like it with a goat.
And I will like it in the rain.
And in the dark. And on a train.
And in a car. And in a tree.
It is so good, so good you see.

So I will like life in a box.
And I will like it with a fox.
And I will like life in a house.
And I will like it with a mouse.
And I will like it here and there.
Say. I will like life ANYWHERE.

Happy Birthday.

Capricorn

Past choices you’d made about money making methods affect your social interactions this week. Test out your technique before you mingle:

Q: And what do you do, Capricorn?
A: I slaughter innocent people to harvest their fat for beauty creams for the European market.

Hmm. It needs a little work before you can be voted onto the board of school governors — you could always try the golf club.

Aquarius

I’ve been staring at this week’s chart for ages, and it still all looks like Space Invaders for you. Who am I to argue? Keep your head down. Move smoothly and slowly with no sudden movements, but keep moving. Stay on the person-side of the screen — the one without pixels. If anyone comes at you with a space bar or a joystick, run.

Pisces

You’re rolling bogies between your fingers this week, Pisces, while all around you colleagues are discussing what it is to be an adult. You could tell them that it’s about being responsible for your actions; about learning from experience and moving on; about keeping a sense of compassion without allowing yourself to be walked over. Well, you could if you weren’t too busy trying to flick that  green, squidgy monster without it sticking to the end of your fingernail.

*

and alternatively feel free to stalk my life here

available for order now…calling your inner-high priestess…all the girls of the zodiac…behind a beautiful mandala that represents fire, earth, air and water…printed in red,brown,blue and green. Printed on the softest baseball jersey..that feels awesome. Order yours today. you can also just send me a message here.
they are $45.00.
www.tminx.com

I recently had yet another chance to travel to Sydney and stay for a while whilst working. Sydney’s weather didn’t treat me too well but apart from that, it was a good time had by all, I shopped, partied, hung out with friends and family, explored new places, met some amazing new friends, and set some awesome things up that you’ll see in the future. Aside from all that I got two days of shoots in for the lovely Asia Power’s 2009/2010 summer capsule range of which you’ll see the finals for within the next few days…

So here are a few test shots, and setup shots from the two days of shoots enjoy while I sort through everything and get it up on my Flickr and the blog, there are many more shoots to edit and upload so keep your eyes peeled enjoy…

Photographer: Jason Paparoulas.
Model: Shara Gomez.
Make Up Artist: Allyce McDonald.
Designer and Stylist: Allyce McDonald.
Assistant: Allyce McDonald.
Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Strobist Info (this ordering may or may not have changed throughout the shoot):

- 1 x Bowens Gemini Esprit 500WS – shot bare camera left behind
- 1 x Bowens Gemini Esprit 500WS – shot through softbox camera left
- 1 x Bowens Travelpacks – powering 2 x 500WS strobes each

- Canon 5D Mark II w/ BG-E6
- 50mm f/1.4, 35mm f/2.0
- Elinchrom Skyport Universal Triggers

Finally finished editing all the photos and work that has backed up from the last couple of months, it’s so easy to get distracted and work on other things and soon enough one thing after another isn’t finished.
Anyways, this is a little shoot I did for friend and designer Allyce McDonald she designs pretty amazing stuff, and you should definitely keep an eye out for her name and her stuff. Rest assured you will see more of her stuff up on my blog here, and flickr here in the coming month, as I am heading down to Sydney for more work which just might include a couple of shoots with her, and a couple of shoots from up and coming designers so keep your eyes peeled…

Cheers to the lovely girls Shara and Allyce, for modelling, stylising, make-up, and putting up with us for most of the day, and showing me a little bit of a good time in a city I’m not so used to anymore.

So check it out…
and alternatively feel free to stalk my life here

Photographer: Jason Paparoulas.
Model: Shara Gomez.
Make Up Artist: Allyce McDonald.
Designer and Stylist: Allyce McDonald.
Assistant: Allyce McDonald.
Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Strobist Info (this ordering may or may not have changed throughout the shoot):

- 1 x Bowens Gemini Esprit 500WS – shot bare camera left behind
- 1 x Bowens Gemini Esprit 500WS – shot through softbox camera left
- 1 x Bowens Travelpacks – powering 2 x 500WS strobes each

- Canon 5D Mark II w/ BG-E6
- 50mm f/1.4, 35mm f/2.0
- Elinchrom Skyport Universal Triggers

Finally finished editing all the photos and work that has backed up from the last couple of months, it’s so easy to get distracted and work on other things and soon enough one thing after another isn’t finished.
Anyways, this is a little shoot I did for friend and designer Allyce McDonald she designs pretty amazing stuff, and you should definitely keep an eye out for her name and her stuff. Rest assured you will see more of her stuff up on my blog here, and flickr here in the coming month, as I am heading down to Sydney for more work which just might include a couple of shoots with her, and a couple of shoots from up and coming designers so keep your eyes peeled…

Cheers to the lovely girls Shara and Allyce, for modelling, stylising, make-up, and putting up with us for most of the day, and showing me a little bit of a good time in a city I’m not so used to anymore.

So check it out…
and alternatively feel free to stalk my life here

Photographer: Jason Paparoulas.
Model: Shara Gomez.
Make Up Artist: Allyce McDonald.
Designer and Stylist: Allyce McDonald.
Assistant: Allyce McDonald.
Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Strobist Info (this ordering may or may not have changed throughout the shoot):

- 1 x Bowens Gemini Esprit 500WS – shot bare camera left behind
- 1 x Bowens Gemini Esprit 500WS – shot through softbox camera left
- 1 x Bowens Travelpacks – powering 2 x 500WS strobes each

- Canon 5D Mark II w/ BG-E6
- 50mm f/1.4, 35mm f/2.0
- Elinchrom Skyport Universal Triggers

Finally finished editing all the photos and work that has backed up from the last couple of months, it’s so easy to get distracted and work on other things and soon enough one thing after another isn’t finished.
Anyways, this is a little shoot I did for friend and designer Allyce McDonald she designs pretty amazing stuff, and you should definitely keep an eye out for her name and her stuff. Rest assured you will see more of her stuff up on my blog here, and flickr here in the coming month, as I am heading down to Sydney for more work which just might include a couple of shoots with her, and a couple of shoots from up and coming designers so keep your eyes peeled…

Cheers to the lovely girls Shara and Allyce, for modelling, stylising, make-up, and putting up with us for most of the day, and showing me a little bit of a good time in a city I’m not so used to anymore.

So check it out…
and alternatively feel free to stalk my life here

Photographer: Jason Paparoulas.
Model: Shara Gomez.
Make Up Artist: Allyce McDonald.
Designer and Stylist: Allyce McDonald.
Assistant: Allyce McDonald.
Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Strobist Info (this ordering may or may not have changed throughout the shoot):

- 1 x Bowens Gemini Esprit 500WS – shot bare camera left behind
- 1 x Bowens Gemini Esprit 500WS – shot through softbox camera left
- 1 x Bowens Travelpacks – powering 2 x 500WS strobes each

- Canon 5D Mark II w/ BG-E6
- 50mm f/1.4, 35mm f/2.0
- Elinchrom Skyport Universal Triggers

Finally finished editing all the photos and work that has backed up from the last couple of months, it’s so easy to get distracted and work on other things and soon enough one thing after another isn’t finished.
Anyways, this is a little shoot I did for friend and designer Allyce McDonald she designs pretty amazing stuff, and you should definitely keep an eye out for her name and her stuff. Rest assured you will see more of her stuff up on my blog here, and flickr here in the coming month, as I am heading down to Sydney for more work which just might include a couple of shoots with her, and a couple of shoots from up and coming designers so keep your eyes peeled…

Cheers to the lovely girls Shara and Allyce, for modelling, stylising, make-up, and putting up with us for most of the day, and showing me a little bit of a good time in a city I’m not so used to anymore.

So check it out…
and alternatively feel free to stalk my life here

Photographer: Jason Paparoulas.
Model: Shara Gomez.
Make Up Artist: Allyce McDonald.
Designer and Stylist: Allyce McDonald.
Assistant: Allyce McDonald.
Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Strobist Info (this ordering may or may not have changed throughout the shoot):

- 1 x Bowens Gemini Esprit 500WS – shot bare camera left behind
- 1 x Bowens Gemini Esprit 500WS – shot through softbox camera left
- 1 x Bowens Travelpacks – powering 2 x 500WS strobes each

- Canon 5D Mark II w/ BG-E6
- 50mm f/1.4, 35mm f/2.0
- Elinchrom Skyport Universal Triggers

Finally finished editing all the photos and work that has backed up from the last couple of months, it’s so easy to get distracted and work on other things and soon enough one thing after another isn’t finished.
Anyways, this is a little shoot I did for friend and designer Allyce McDonald she designs pretty amazing stuff, and you should definitely keep an eye out for her name and her stuff. Rest assured you will see more of her stuff up on my blog here, and flickr here in the coming month, as I am heading down to Sydney for more work which just might include a couple of shoots with her, and a couple of shoots from up and coming designers so keep your eyes peeled…

Cheers to the lovely girls Shara and Allyce, for modelling, stylising, make-up, and putting up with us for most of the day, and showing me a little bit of a good time in a city i’m not so used to anymore.

So check it out…
and alternatively feel free to stalk my life here