Mulltie Meedeeuh & Dijitool Ahttz

INSPIRATION FROM GRAPHIC MAGS CONT.

2008-11-09T16:18:00.000-08:00

INSPIRATION FROM GRAPHICS MAGS CONT.

2008-11-09T16:10:00.000-08:00

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INSPIRATION FROM GRAPHIC MAGS CONT.

2008-11-09T01:40:00.000-08:00

INSPIRATION FROM GRAPHIC MAGS

2008-11-09T01:35:00.000-08:00

Links to My Research/Reference Material and Inspiration.

2008-11-09T01:15:00.000-08:00

Research on Colour Psychology and the meanings of colours.

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/colors1.html
http://freshome.com/2007/04/17/room-color-and-how-it-affects-your-mood/
http://desktoppub.about.com/cs/color/a/symbolism.htm
http://www.color-wheel-pro.com/color-meaning.html
http://www.new-age-spirituality.com/spirit/color.html
http://www.essortment.com/all/meaningcolours_rgcj.htm

Research on projected image, surfaces and installation.

www.acmi.net.au
www.horsebazaar.com.au
www.looponline.com.au
http://jsteinkamp.com/

Research on lighting, coloured lighting, projection and installation.

http://www.theglowcompany.co.uk/

Inspiration for concepts.

http://moodstream.gettyimages.com/usa/

Documentation of space (eg. Sketches, floor plans)

2008-11-09T00:53:00.000-08:00

Sketch/diagram of entrance, hallway and outer space.

Sketch/diagram of inner space.

Re-worked sketch/diagram of whole space and arbitrary measurements

Sketch/diagram of whole space with indication of facilities including placement of doors, and projectable walls, location and number of power points and internet connections, projectors, vents and railing.

Exhibition Proposal Part 1

2008-11-09T00:43:00.000-08:00

Title of the work
The Effects of Colour on Mood – Exhibition Design

Synopsis outlining the concept

Theme

My theme for the end of year exhibition is about exploring Colour Psychology, which is, the effects of colour on mood. There is a lot of research in this area that suggests that there is a strong link between colour and mood.

http://www.colour-affects.co.uk/how.html

Background

I have chosen this theme as I see strong connections between Colour Psychology and Digital Arts. Firstly colour constitutes everything we experience visually and therefore is an inevitable part of everything we create as digital artists and secondly Digital Arts has the ability to manipulate colour and visual stimuli, which means it can create visuality, and experience and also it shares the common property of being able to invoke emotion.

Concept

This phenomenon, which is innate in life as well as a fundamental tool in digital arts, forms the basis from of my concept for the design of our final year exhibition space. There are three main rooms in the exhibition space and so I have decided to light each of them in a different colour in order to invoke certain moods in the viewers. The first room is red, the second is yellow and the third is blue. I have chosen these colours as being the primary colours there will be the highest degree of variance between them. The moods/behaviours associated with these colours will be outlined in the research/reference materials section of this proposal.

Projected Animation

My animation is of autumn leaves falling to the ground. I chose autumn leaves because leaves are part of nature and autumn leaves fall to the ground, which is a process that occurs in naturally. This relates to multimedia on two levels
Firstly, leaves are naturally in the external environment and multimedia has the ability to replicate reality. Secondly, Multimedia also has the ability to create that, which cannot exist in reality but that which is of fantasy or only exists in the fictional world. Therefore setting up this natural element (leaves) in a constructed space (coloured space) juxtaposes the real and the fictional.
In other words, multimedia can create experience, we are fabricating natural experience and whilst at the same time manipulating the experience by invoking moods.

Description of your methodology

There will be three versions of the falling leaves in red, yellow and blue. Each will be played in the room of its matching tone. Each room will include the animation on its feature wall, the wall will be covered in white paper so that the projection displays well, the other walls will be lit up in pure tone to wash the whole room in colour, the walls and lights will be covered in the matching cellophane to immerse the viewer in colour. The rooms will include same-coloured lanterns hanging from the railing on the ceilings. Leaves will also hang from the railing, spread across the floors and will also be stuck on walls surrounding work and defining the spaces for work to be displayed.

The hallway will have all 3 colours of cellophane and some overlapping to create intermediate colours such as orange, green and purple. There will also be leaves hanging from the railing running along the hallway.

Work will be placed according to room colour. Red room will be print, blue room will be web and interactive and the yellow room will be animation and video. Print will be viewed standing, there will be chairs to sit at computers for web and interactive work, as well as stools and beanbags for sitting and lounging around to view animation and film. Audio for pieces will be accessible through individual set up of headphones. To add to the experience there will be chilled music and incense throughout the entire space. Having the same animation, music and incense and overall setup in each room, creates constant factors so that the test variable is the tone of the room, this give guests the experience of colour psychology.

Description of your approach to exhibition design
My approach to exhibition design:

-Research projected-media exhibitions via the internet which are hosted by spaces such as ACMI, Loop and Horse Bazaar as well as research the works and concepts behind the works of incredible installation artists such as Jennifer Steinkamp and others.

-When researching the exhibitions I took note of the projected media itself, the surfaces that media were projected onto and the exhibition spaces in which the media was displayed, and the interaction between the projection, surface and space.

-Photograph and document entire exhibition space. I roughly sketched the exhibition space and estimated measurements throughout. I took over two hundred photographs of the exhibition space and documented the space and facilities including placement of doors, and projectable walls, location and number of power points and internet connections, projectors, vents and railing.
See documentation of the above in the research/reference materials section of this proposal.

-Brainstorm concepts for projected media, projection and surfaces and designing exhibition space.

-Explore concepts: shadows, flip-book, magic eye and colour psychology. More details on these concepts will be in the research/reference section of this proposal. Choose the best one.

-Using documentation of space and facilities, mock-up the exhibition space by hand and then in Photoshop.

-I planned and shot a video of leaves being thrown from a tree to appear like Autumn leaves falling to the ground. That did not work out well, so plan B came into action, I photographed the leaves and then edited them in Photoshop, and animated them in After-Effects.

PHOTOGRAPHY AND DIGITAL IMAGING INSPIRATION FROM GRAPHIC MAGS 2

2008-11-06T04:56:00.000-08:00

PHOTOGRAPHY AND DIGITAL IMAGING INSPIRATION FROM GRAPHIC MAGS 1

2008-11-06T04:55:00.000-08:00

An Outfit for all Occasions DVD Cover

2008-11-06T02:00:00.001-08:00

An Outfit for all Occasions CD Label

2008-11-06T01:59:00.000-08:00

Blurb for DVD cover

2008-11-06T01:58:00.000-08:00

When attending a party, Harry was prepared for approaching different types of guests, but he wasn’t prepared for rejection. In failing to mingle at the party Harry attempts to change himself to fit it. He takes this idea to a new depth, in fact guests don’t seem to recognise Harry at all. That is until it gets difficult to keep up with his new personas.

AUDIO AND OPEN SOURCE SITES

2008-11-06T01:53:00.000-08:00

MORE STORYBOARDS AND NOTES ON AN OUTFIT FOR ALL OCCASIONS

2008-11-06T01:52:00.000-08:00

STORYBOARDS FOR AN OUTFIT FOR ALL OCCASIONS CONT.

2008-11-06T01:51:00.000-08:00

STORYBOARDS FOR AN OUTFIT FOR ALL OCCASIONS

2008-11-06T01:50:00.000-08:00

Open Brief - Idea 3

2008-11-06T01:49:00.001-08:00

TECHNICAL Q&A ON FILMING PROCESS

2008-11-06T01:48:00.000-08:00

STORYBOARDS FOR FIRST TIME VIDEO

2008-11-06T01:42:00.000-08:00

STORYBOARD for FIRST TIME VIDEO

2008-11-06T01:40:00.000-08:00

Notes on First Time Video

2008-11-06T01:39:00.000-08:00

RESEARCH – VISUAL – BLACK AND WHITE EFFECT WITH REMINISCENCE VISUAL TECHNIQUE

2008-11-06T01:38:00.000-08:00

RESEARCH – VISUAL – BLACK AND WHITE EFFECT/OLD STYLE FILM

2008-11-06T01:37:00.000-08:00

RESEARCH – VISUAL – BLACK AND WHITE WAR FOOTAGE

2008-11-06T01:31:00.000-08:00

RESEARCH – VISUAL- MEMORY/REMINISCING

2008-11-06T01:29:00.001-08:00

RESEARCH – VISUAL – WEDDING VIDEOS

2008-11-06T01:24:00.000-08:00

2008-11-06T00:41:00.000-08:00

‘Synesthesia an Artistic Experimentation’

The following portion of paper was take from Psyche Monash website. This article discusses the connection between synesthesia and art. It discusses both the condition and the relationship synesthsia effect has on artists and their product. The paper is written as a response on another paper by Cywic (1995).

“By the mid-nineteenth century synesthesia had intrigued an art movement that sought sensory fusion, according to Cytowic (1995, section 3.7; 1993, pp. 54 ff). The union of the senses appeared more and more frequently in the writings of musicians and visual artists. Multimodal concerts of music and light became popular. Cytowic argues that "such deliberate contrivances are qualitatively different from the involuntary experiences that I am calling synesthesia in this review" (Cytowic, 1995, section 3.7). He defines synesthesia as the involuntary physical experience of a cross-modal association. That is, the stimulation of one sensory modality reliably causes a perception in one or more different senses. He sharply distinguishes its phenomenology from "metaphor, literary tropes, sound symbolism, and deliberate artistic contrivances that sometimes employ the term 'synesthesia' to describe their multisensory joinings" (Cytowic, 1995, abstract).”

“Cytowic places artistic experiments with sensory fusion outside the domain of synesthesia research. He sharply distinguishes the sensory perception of synesthesia from mental cross-modal associations by non-synesthetes in metaphoric language, and in artistic aspirations to sensory fusion (Cytowic, 1995, section 3.2; 1993, pp. 54ff). Cytowic has proposed five criteria to define or diagnose synesthesia and to distinguish it from sensory fusion, sound symbolism, metaphor etc. Synesthesia is characterized by phenomena of cross-modal association that are involuntary (but elicited), projected, durable (discrete and generic), memorable, emotional (and noetic)”
“As most of the artistic reports of sensory fusion do not meet these five criteria, Cytowic concludes that artistic experiments may be historically interesting but are not relevant to the present study of synesthesia. He lumps various deliberate multi-sensory contrivances under the term "sensory fusion", and places them outside the history of involuntary synesthesia.”
“On the basis of the published facts about the lives and work of Scriabin and Kandinsky, it can be concluded that their synesthetic experiments were based on involuntary experiences that met Cytowic's criteria of synesthesia in general. However, it should be noted that the criteria of involuntarity and projection were not clear enough to enable a proper evaluation.”

“A historical review may shed a different light on Cytowic's view that artistic experiments were historically interesting but not relevant for the present study of synesthesia. It appears that Scriabin's and Kandinsky's experiments were based on involuntary experiences of synesthesia. They investigated emotional and perceptual mechanisms of synesthesia that could help them in creating art. Their experiments with movement and dissonance are interesting explorations of aspects of synesthesia, which have been hardly studied in the current scientific research of synesthesia.”
“Contrary to Cytowic's view, I conclude that artistic experimentation is not only historically interesting, but can also contribute to the present synesthesia research. For instance, the experiments of Scriabin and Kandinsky have revealed important synesthetic aspects of perception. Scriabin's experimentation with color-key correspondences offer alternatives to the current research into color-letter and color-tone correspondences. Kandinsky's explorations of the consonance and dissonance of simultaneous auditory and visual stimuli offers alternatives for Gestalt experiments to the current experiments with elementary stimuli (letters, tones). And their ideas on the interplay of auditory and visual stimuli can be elaborated and tested with multimedia instruments.”

“In my opinion, Cytowic's sharp demarcation of science and art is not fruitful for the study of synesthesia. From a broad perspective, Cytowic considers art and science as two sides of a coin and perceives a sharp demarcation line in history between scientific study and artistic experiments (Cytowic, 1989). However, in the study of perceptual phenomena, scientists and artists have often used each others' discoveries to start new directions in their own disciplines (Gombrich, 1960; Kemp, 1990; Gage, 1993). In this way, artistic experimentation can contribute to new directions in synesthesia research too.” (Campen. C 1997)

http://psyche.cs.monash.edu.au/v3/psyche-3-06-vancampen.html

RESEARCH – THEORETICAL – SYNESTHESIA

2008-11-06T00:38:00.000-08:00

‘Synesthesia in Art’

The following abstract of the paper and photos were taken from doctorhugo.org website. (I have not included the entire paper here but just a sample of the key ideas).

“The objective of this study is to come to a better understanding of the 'synesthetic experience', especially in the context of art. It consists of two parts: in the first part, I review naturally occurring synesthesia. In the second part, I discuss created forms of synesthesia in art. My starting point is the hypothesis that 'synesthesia-phenomena' are at the roots of all artistic practice. The approach is multidisciplinary and from a philosophy of art perspective. It will be argued that 'art as a synesthetic experience', and 'synesthetic experiences by synesthetes', share certain basic concepts: the making of new connections between the senses. In the arts, the search for correspondences and complementarities between the senses is essential. Artists have brought the 'synesthetic experience' to the surface —to share their vision with the world. The intention is to analyse the impact of synesthetic approaches as experiments in art. The focus will be on a visual presentation of artworks by artists/pioneers, as study case examples of early modern art movements; Expressionism, Futurism, Dada, Surrealism, De Stijl and Abstract Expressionism. “

“Synesthesia is an important key to understand the human mind, especially creativity, because the connection between art and synesthesia can reveal precise aspects of human consciousness with great clarity. Synesthesia and metaphor are also playing an important role in the understanding of what goes on in our brains when we look at a work of art —neuroesthetics (art as an extension of the functions of the brain).

Synesthesia has influenced many artists in various fields and provided a rich background for the development of new (syn)esthetics. Modernism created the conditions for a multidimensional pictorial autonomy —perception precedes meaning, and medium precedes message. In periods of intense creativity, the search for correspondences and complementarities between the senses are increasing. Artists are the tastemakers of our experience of reality. In the arts, 'the synesthetic experience' became something to be shared. "What remains of the past", as Walter Benjamin advises, "is what we use". The complementary power of art and science are extending our horizon of perception. With the use of telematic hypermedia, synesthetic art forms will become much more sophisticated in their own right. There is a future for tele-synesthesia, to bring synesthetic experiences further into our daily awareness.” (Heyrman, H.2005).

http://www.doctorhugo.org/synaesthesia/art/index.html

Open Brief-Idea two

2008-11-06T00:31:00.000-08:00

CONCEPT

I will be creating an original and creative music video. The song I have chosen is ‘First time ever I saw your face’. This song was written in 1957 by Ewan MacColl and most famously sung by Roberta Flack. The version featuring in my video will be by Leona Lewis. This song recounts the emotions felt by one lover for the other as they shared a romance.

My aim here, as can be seen in the theoretical research, is to explore the connection of memories on emotions and the effects of reminiscing on emotions. I also aim to explore the use and effects of synaesthesia in art, as I strongly believe that audio and visual media define the interpretation of each other.

My video will reflect the meaningful and deeply emotional lyrics and melody from the song. I have chosen to create my video based on my interpretation of this song as being bittersweet, but ultimately, joyful. I will be using the technique of synaesthesia to convey my interpretation of the song.

My video will be of a couple at their wedding day ceremony. They are getting married after years of separation. He was drafted off to the army for many years and for much horror, whilst she struggled on her own, through pregnancy, motherhood and social change. As they both prepare for the ceremony and while the ceremony takes place, they each reminisce on the memories they have from being together as children, teenagers and young adults, their separation, and all the events and experiences that took place in their lives up until the point where they re-unite.

STYLE

The entire video will be in black and white and use new and old videos and photos. The video will capture the wedding ceremony in the present time and will transition to their memories through the use of older footage and photos. The video will oscillate between the present time and the reminiscent footage, and this will be clear as to which is which. The footage may be made to have nostalgic characteristics of warn down photo edges and noisy video footage. The older footage will have a dream-like quality to it, perhaps misty and hazy and framed different. The photos will be digitally edited in Photoshop and the video transitions and black and white effect will be done using cross-fades and other effects from Final Cut Pro.

STYLE INSPIRATION AND EXAMPLES

Vanilla Sky – The movie
Even when I’m sleeping by Leonardo’s Bride – Music Video

Relationship Logo Research

2008-11-06T00:20:00.000-08:00

I found some great logos for relationship sites:

Layout and design examples of relationship websites

2008-11-06T00:09:00.000-08:00

Sitemap of Relationship Website

2008-11-06T00:08:00.000-08:00

Open Brief-Idea One

2008-11-05T23:31:00.000-08:00

‘I RELATE TO YOU’

‘I Relate To You’ is a welcoming and cosy corner online in which a person can find information and opinions on romantic relationships, discuss relationship issues and dilemmas or share their contentment with others. The purpose of this site is to cater for the needs and wants of a person operating on any level of the relationship spectrum. The goal of this site is to create an accessible and comfortable space for people whom are in, out, or in between relationships. ‘I Relate To You’ is an international one stop relationship spot for all one’s relationship-related matters. It is a place to give and receive advice or simply indulge in romantic paraphernalia. It is an open-minded and relaxing place to explore differing views and hang out.

‘I RELATE TO YOU’ CONCEPT

I have created a social networking site called ‘I Relate To You’ which is all about romantic relationships. It is an insightful resource that explores the psychology of persons and their methods of relating to their current, past or potential romantic partners. It informs people about society’s opinions and lifestyle trends in regard to relationships. Users can read articles, tips, and expert advice, find out about the latest relationship books and enjoy a variety of collection of quotes, stories and poems. However, signing up for our free membership, allows the user additional access and the ability to post personal or confidential questions for our experts, post on the forums, it gives them access to private messaging and chat with other members and the ability to post their own relationship quotes, stories and poems. Members can also save and view all their saved articles, forum threads and contacts on their personal page.

YouTube's funniest unite for music video

2008-05-24T18:30:00.001-07:00

I Thought this article and video were interesting. The band Weezer uses some of Youtube's fifteen-minute-fame characters as the core of the video clip. I think it's interesting that they used a tactic of making reference to internet meme's in their video only to become one itself.

Here's the article...

A host of YouTube favourites have been granted another 15 minutes of fame after appearing in a rock video clip.

American band Weezer chose some of the internet's biggest viral stars to cameo on the video for their new single 'Pork And Beans'.

Chris "Leave Britney Alone" Crocker once again dons his trademark running mascara, but this time he receives a consoling hug from lead singer Rivers Cuomo.

Pageant blooper queen Miss South Carolina, 'Chocolate Rain' singer Tay Zonday and the 'Evolution of Dance' performer Judson Laipply also appear in the clip.

The quirky band, who shot to international fame with "Undone - The Sweater Song" in 1994, even reenact the famous Mentos and Diet Coke experiment.

Other lampooned internet 'memes' — bizarre jokes that quickly spread through email and blogs — include the 'Peanut Butter Jelly Time' Dancing Banana and the 'Star Wars kid'.

"Only a band as nerdy as Weezer could make a music video this nerdy with this many references," summed up one YouTube comment.

The video itself has quickly become an internet favourite in its own right, receiving almost a million views in one day.

Miss South Carolina and Chris Crocker

Weezer perform in front of exploding Coke bottles.

The article and video can be found at the url below:
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=568802

Terrible music video

2008-05-19T18:08:00.000-07:00

This music video is up there with the worst music, dance moves and GRAPHICS!

Notice the cross-media effect of seeing this music video on tv an then it being posted online then kids downloading the song to play on their phone and then getting filmed imitating the video which is then posted back up on the internet and then being blogged about by me.

http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-au&brand=ninemsn&mediaid=193189&from=39&vid=75822ABF-B500-4DA6-9AFD-C3FB21B997A9&playlist=videoByTag:mk:en-AU:vs:0:tag:aunews_auentertainmentnews:ns:MSNVideo_Top_Cat:ps:10:sd:-1:ind:1:ff:8A

Post-post-modern society

2008-05-16T12:13:00.000-07:00

Technology and science are advancing along with society and humanity. The positive correlation between technology and humanity is evident as each provokes the other to expand. In other words, technology creates posibilities that are avante garde which test the human mentality, perceptions, morals and views as a society an as individuals. As we change we need and desire more advanced tools and processes, which must be answered with technology. It is a vicous cycle and currently, I think that the positive and negative effects weigh equally.

Here's an article that gives an example of our post-post-modern society...

"A transgender man who is six months pregnant said in an interview aired by Oprah Winfrey on Thursday that he always wanted to have a child and considers it a miracle.

“It’s not a male or female desire to have a child. It’s a human desire,” a thinly bearded Thomas Beatie said. “I have a very stable male identity,” he added, saying that pregnancy neither defines him nor makes him feel feminine.

Beatie, 34, who lives in Oregon, was born a woman but decided to become a man 10 years ago. He began taking testosterone treatments and had breast surgery to remove glands and flatten his chest.

“I opted not to do anything with my reproductive organs because I wanted to have a child one day,” he told the talk show host. Beatie’s wife Nancy said she inseminated him with a syringe using sperm purchased from a bank.

Now, he said, his size 32 jeans are getting a bit tight and his shirts are a bit stretched.

Nancy, to whom he has been married for five years and who has two grown daughters by a previous marriage, also appeared on the show, saying the couple’s roles will not change once the baby is born.

“He’s going to be the father and I’m going to be the mother,” she said. Their marriage is legal and he is recognized under state law as a man.

The couple was shown on video provided by People Magazine, which collaborated with Winfrey on the show, showing the room that will be the baby’s nursery. Beatie said the little girl was going to be “daddy’s little princess.”

The couple was also filmed in their hometown of Bend, Ore., where he underwent an ultrasound showing the baby in his womb.

“I can’t believe it. I can’t believe she’s inside me,” Beatie said while watching the ultrasound image. “We see her as our little miracle.”

His obstetrician, Dr. Kimberly James, who practices in the Oregon town, told Winfrey, “This is a
normal pregnancy.”

She said Beatie stopped taking testosterone two years ago and his levels of the hormone are normal.

“This baby is totally healthy,” she said. “This is what I consider a normal pregnancy.”

The couple said they had been turned down by a number of other doctors before James agreed to take him as a patient.

The couple said an earlier attempt at pregnancy failed when he developed a tubal pregnancy, resulting in surgery that removed his Fallopian tubes.

The couple said they decided to go public with the pregnancy because they wanted to control the way the news got out. “We’re just going to have the baby now,” Nancy said. “If we have to, we’ll go hide.”

The couple runs a small business in Bend and has some savings, she said. In addition, Beatie is working on a book about his childhood, his mother’s suicide and his life growing in Hawaii where, as a girl, he was a teen beauty pageant contestant and earned a martial arts black belt.

Winfrey called the development “a new definition of what diversity means for everybody.”"

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23942218/

http://images.huffingtonpost.com/gen/16842/original.jpg

Julie Rrap

2008-05-14T09:45:00.000-07:00

Julie Rrap is an amazing artist, focussing in the areas of photography and sculpture.

She has alot to say/show through her representation of the female form and society's (and men's) conceptions of women and their "supposed" roles.

This is a list of her solo exhibitions:

Julie Rrap: Body Double, 2007 - Museum of Contemporary Arts, Sydney
Body Double, 2007
Fall Out - 2006
Soft Targets, 2004
Fleshstones, 2003
Fleshed Out, 2002
Overstepping, 2001
A-R-MOUR, 2000
Porous Bodies, 1999
Persona and Shadow, 1984 [Julie Brown]

http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.roslynoxley9.com.au/images/galleries/Julie_Rrap_ARMOUR_Nov_2000/0006.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.roslynoxley9.com.au/artists/32/Julie_Rrap/81/38041/&h=487&w=500&sz=28&hl=en&start=4&um=1&tbnid=HH0WcVEiqyLxDM:&tbnh=127&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djulie%2Brrap%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

Her most recent exhibition was called Body Double, 2007

30 August 2007 - 28 January 2008

"This major exhibition of the work of Julie Rrap, one of Australia’s most
prominent artists, brings together photography, video, sculpture and
installation from the past twenty-five years of the artist's practice. Curated
by Victoria Lynn, the exhibition explores the persona of the ‘trickster’ in
Rrap’s work, the theme of the ‘body double’, and considers the ways in which the
artist oversteps the margins of bodily representation."

http://www.mca.com.au/default.asp?page_id=10&content_id=2977

The image below is an example of her work from Body Double, 2007:

http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.roslynoxley9.com.au/images/galleries/Julie_Rrap_ARMOUR_Nov_2000/0006.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.roslynoxley9.com.au/artists/32/Julie_Rrap/81/38041/&h=487&w=500&sz=28&hl=en&start=4&um=1&tbnid=HH0WcVEiqyLxDM:&tbnh=127&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djulie%2Brrap%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

From all her exhibitions, I really like the works below from A-R-MOUR, 2000.

My favourite work by Julie is the work (below) called Overstepping, 2001.

Please chekout this video (on ninemsn website) about Julie Rrap and her works, it is really interesting!

http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-au&brand=ninemsn&tab=m165&mediaid=193088&from=39&vid=2FDD9628-5A61-4306-A9AB-CDDA218C14BB&playlist=videoByTag:mk:en-AU:vs:0:tag:aunews_ausunday:ns:MSNVideo_Top_Cat:ps:10:sd:-1:ind:1:ff:8A

Top Ten Free Time Wasting Sites

2008-05-11T10:26:00.000-07:00

Here are some random time wasting sites...

"Some would say that the personal computer and the Internet have revolutionized how much we can accomplish in a day. That may be true, but they have also revolutionized how much time can be wasted in a day. But then again, I would contend that if you are having fun, you are not wasting time. Enjoy my picks for the ten best time wasting sites on the Internet. And don't blame me if you don't get anything done for the next few weeks!
Share these Time Wasters with a Friend so they can waste time too!

1. Falling Sand
This is an absolutely incredible interactive toy. I won't spoil your fun by giving you details on how to play. Just experiment with everything and realize you can use the choices at the bottom to change your "drawing tool" and rate that things happen. I guarantee you will play with this for hours and hours.

Sponsored Links

Free Australian SamplesAwsome free stuff and deals for Australian residentsFreeStuff.net.au

Aussie Free StuffCool Free Stuff, Free Offers, and Great Opportunities, Updated Daily!TotallyAwesomeFreebies.com

Free Stuff AustraliaFree Offers Discounts Promotional Samples Paid and Prize Surveyswww.zoomdirect.com.au

2. Not Pr0n
Not Pr0n is essentially a puzzle game -- a very hard puzzle game. But it is also very addictive and a lot of fun. Each new page has a puzzle to be solved to get to the next one. There is a forum where you can find subtle hints to help you when you and stuck -- and you will get stuck. The site is very enjoyable and you can waste an enormous amount of time there.

3. Someone keeps stealing my letters...
Imagine the chaos and the fun of having dozens of people trying to spell out words with virtual letter magnets on a virtual refrigerator. Actually, you don't have to imagine it -- just give it a try and you will have a ball wasting more time than you will care to admit.

4. Samorost
If you have not experienced the incredible graphics and engaging point and click game play of Samorost you must give it a try. There are a limited number of levels, so the danger of wasting lots of time is reduced, but there is no time wasting that is so creative unless ...

5. Samorost 2
... you count Samorost 2. After you have mastered the original, Samorest 2 awaits your head scratching attention. You will laugh out load at some the bizarre contraptions and pure creativity in this sequel.

6. Subservient Chicken
I refuse to admit how much time I wasted playing with this little gem. Your wish is the Subservient Chicken's command. Doesn't this guy ever get tired?

7. Stuff on My Cat
This one is not interactive, but there are so many pictures and many of them will make you laugh so much, that it can take hours to get through the site. The pictures range from cute to bizarre and even if you are not a cat lover it is worth checking out this site.

8. Spirograph
I had a Spirograph as a kid and loved spending hours making amazing geometric drawings with it. Now you can have all the fun without using up reams of paper and ounces of ink.

9. Sodaconstructor
Ever wish you could create a moving robot from masses, springs and muscles? Now you can spend hours playing with the constructor. Create your masterpiece and watch it walk and dance around.

10. SymmetryLab Machine
This is a work in progress, but you can still have a lot of fun and waste a lot of time building animated machines form a simple set of parts."

http://freebies.about.com/od/710/tp/timewasting.htm

Dreams

2008-05-09T14:28:00.000-07:00

Thinking about what interests me, I came up with dreams. So I decided to research dreams.

The first site I came across is called 'Dream moods" and is "An online guide to dream interpretation".

"We realize that your dreams are unique. No other individual can have your background, your emotions, or your experiences. Every dream is connected with your own "reality". Thus, in interpreting your dreams, it is important to draw from your personal life and experiences.

Remember that a dream unifies the body, mind, and spirit. It provides you with insight into ourselves and a means for self-exploration. In understanding your dreams, you will have a better understanding and discovery of your true self. So stay awhile -- explore, discover, have fun, make friends, and find out what's in your dream!"*

Dreams is defined in Webster's Dictionary as a "sequence of sensations, images, thoughts, etc., passing through a sleeping person's mind" . Dreams have been a topic of study dating back to 4000 B.C. One may say that dreams have been around as long as the first civilization came to be and are just a normal part of human existence.

In our dreams, we can go anywhere, we can be anybody, and we can do anything. When we dream, we are like passengers on a moving train, unable to control our actions and choose
surroundings. We let our mind take over. Sometimes, dreams can be understood in the the context of repressed thoughts. Dreaming serves as an outlet for those thoughts and impulses we repress during the day. When we go to sleep at night and slip into our dream state, we feel liberated and behave and act in a manner that we do not allow ourselves in our waking life.

Visions and ideas can come from your dreams. Authors, screenwriters and poets turn to their dreams for stories. Artists and musicians explore dreams for their inspiration. Dreams can help us find solutions to our daily problems and see things from a different perspective.

In this section, you will find a vast array of information on dreams, from its early beginnings, type of dreams, how to remember your dreams, babies and dreams, and much more. Hopefully, you will learn some interesting things about dreams.*

*http://www.dreammoods.com/

Wiki's definition and explanation of a dream is:

"Dreams are the images, thoughts and feelings experienced while asleep, particularly strongly associated with rapid eye movement sleep. The contents and purpose of dreams are not fully understood, though they have been a topic of speculation and interest throughout recorded history.

Dream theories
Activation-synthesis
In 1976, J. Allan Hobson and Robert McCarley proposed a new theory that changed dream research, challenging the previously held Freudian view of dreams as subconscious wishes to be interpreted. The activation synthesis theory asserts that the sensory experiences are fabricated by the cortex as a means of interpreting chaotic signals from the pons. They propose that in REM sleep, the ascending cholinergic PGO (ponto-geniculo-occipital) waves stimulate higher midbrain and forebrain cortical structures, producing rapid eye movements. The activated forebrain then synthesizes the dream out of this internally generated information. They assume that the same structures that induce REM sleep also generate sensory information.

Hobson and McCarly's 1976 research suggested that the signals interpreted as dreams originated in the brain stem during REM sleep. However, research by Mark Solms suggests that dreams are generated in the forebrain, and that REM sleep and dreaming are not directly related.^[7] While working in the neurosurgery department at hospitals in Johannesburg and London, Solms had access to patients with various brain injuries. He began to question patients about their dreams and confirmed that patients with damage to the parietal lobe stopped dreaming; this finding was in line with Hobson's 1977 theory. However, Solms did not encounter cases of loss of dreaming with patients having brain stem damage. This observation forced him to question Hobson's prevailing theory which marked the brain stem as the source of the signals interpreted as dreams. Solms viewed the idea of dreaming as a function of many complex brain structures as validating Freudian dream theory, an idea that drew criticism from Hobson.^[8]

[edit] Continual-activation

Combining Hobson's activation synthesis hypothesis with Solms's findings, the continual-activation theory of dreaming presented by Jie Zhang proposes that dreaming is a result of brain activation and synthesis; at the same time, dreaming and REM sleep are controlled by different brain mechanisms. Zhang hypothesizes that the function of sleep is to process, encode, and transfer the data from the temporary memory to the long-term memory, though there is not much evidence backing up this so-called "consolidation." Non-REM sleep processes the conscious-related memory (declarative memory), and REM sleep processes the unconscious related memory (procedural memory).

Zhang assumes that during REM sleep, the unconscious part of a brain is busy processing the procedural memory; meanwhile, the level of activation in the conscious part of the brain will descend to a very low level as the inputs from the sensory are basically disconnected. This will trigger the "continual-activation" mechanism to generate a data stream from the memory stores to flow through the conscious part of the brain. Zhang suggests that this pulse-like brain activation is the inducer of each dream. He proposes that, with the involvement of the brain associative thinking system, dreaming is, thereafter, self-maintained with the dreamer's own thinking until the next pulse of memory insertion. This explains why dreams have both characteristics of continuity (within a dream) and sudden changes (between two dreams).^[9]^[10]

[edit] Dreams and memory

Eugen Tarnow suggests that dreams are ever-present excitations of long-term memory, even during waking life. The strangeness of dreams is due to the format of long-term memory, reminiscent of Penfield & Rasmussen’s findings that electrical excitations of the cortex give rise to experiences similar to dreams. During waking life an executive function interprets long term memory consistent with reality checking. Tarnow's theory is a reworking of Freud's theory of dreams in which Freud's unconscious is replaced with the long-term memory system and Freud's “Dream Work” describes the structure of long-term memory.^[11]

Location of hippocampus

[edit] Hippocampus and memory

A 2001 study showed evidence that illogical locations, characters, and dream flow may help the brain strengthen the linking and consolidation of semantic memories. These conditions may occur because, during REM sleep, the flow of information between the hippocampus and neocortex is reduced.^[12] Increasing levels of the stress hormone Cortisol late in sleep (often during REM sleep) cause this decreased communication. One stage of memory consolidation is the linking of distant but related memories. Payne and Nadel hypothesize that these memories are then consolidated into a smooth narrative, similar to a process that happens when memories are created under stress.^[13]

[edit] Functional hypotheses

There are many hypotheses about the function of dreams.^[14] During the night there may be many external stimuli bombarding the senses, but the mind interprets the stimulus and makes it a part of a dream in order to ensure continued sleep.^[15] The mind will, however, awaken an individual if they are in danger or if trained to respond to certain sounds, such as a baby crying. Dreams may also allow the repressed parts of the mind to be satisfied through fantasy while keeping the conscious mind from thoughts that would suddenly cause one to awaken from shock.^[16] Freud suggested that bad dreams let the brain learn to gain control over emotions resulting from distressing experiences.^[14] Dreams also let the mind express things that would normally be suppressed in the waking world, thus keeping itself in harmony. Dreams may also offer a view at how future events might proceed; this is similar to running future events through the mind, for instance: a work presentation, a job interview, or a first date.

Jung suggested that dreams may compensate for one-sided attitudes held in waking consciousness.^[17] Ferenczi^[18] proposed that the dream, when told, may communicate something that is not being said outright. There have also been analogies made with the cleaning-up operations of computers when they are off-line. Dreams may remove parasitic nodes and other "junk" from the mind during sleep.^[19]^[20] Dreams may also create new ideas through the generation of random thought mutations. Some of these may be rejected by the mind as useless, while others may be seen as valuable and retained. Blechner^[21] calls this the theory of "Oneiric Darwinism." Dreams may also regulate mood.^[22] Hartmann^[23] says dreams may function like psychotherapy, by "making connections in a safe place" and allowing the dreamer to integrate thoughts that may be dissociated during waking life. More recent research by Griffin has led to the formulation of the 'expectation fulfillment theory of dreaming', which suggests that dreaming metaphorically completes patterns of emotional expectation and lowers stress levels.^[24]^[25] Coutts^[26] hypothesizes that dreams modify and test mental schemas during sleep during a process he calls emotional selection, and that only schema modifications that appear emotionally adaptive during dream tests are selected for retention, while those that appear maladaptive are abandoned or further modified and tested.

[edit] Dreams and psychosis

A number of thinkers have commented on the similarities between the phenomenology of dreams and that of psychosis. These include thought disorder, flattened or inappropriate affect (emotion), and hallucination. Among philosophers, Kant, for example, wrote that ‘the lunatic is a wakeful dreamer’.^[27] Schopenhauer said: ‘A dream is a short-lasting psychosis, and a psychosis is a long-lasting dream.’^[28]In the field of psychoanalysis, Freud wrote: ‘A dream then, is a psychosis’,^[29]and Jung: ‘Let the dreamer walk about and act like one awakened and we have the clinical picture of dementia praecox.’^[30]

McCreery^[31]^[32] has sought to explain these similarities by reference to the fact, documented by Oswald,^[33] that sleep can supervene as a reaction to extreme stress and hyper-arousal. McCreery adduces evidence that psychotics are people with a tendency to hyper-arousal, and suggests that this renders them prone to what Oswald calls ‘micro-sleeps’ during waking life. He points in particular to the paradoxical finding of Stevens and Darbyshire^[34] that patients suffering from catatonia can be roused from their seeming stupor by the administration of sedatives rather than stimulants."*

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreams

Digital Editing 101

2008-05-05T19:19:00.000-07:00

I am really into photography and digital imaging, so I thought I would look up some tutorials on deigital editing. I found this site which seems quite useful.
It is called 'Kitchen Wench' and is a mostly personal site which documents a lady's cooking, recipes and photography.

The url is:
http://www.insanitytheory.net/kitchenwench/

Here is an excerpt from the 'about me' page:

"The eldest of three children, I was born in South Korea and immigrated to Australia with my parents at the age of 4. Having grown up mostly in Australia (with a brief 2 year stay in Korea when I was 14 - 16), I’ve grown up in a strange hybrid existance of Korean and Australian attitudes and mentalities, which very much crosses over into fields such as my cooking - I love my kimbap just as much as I do a good chicken parma or pavlova!

I keep this site running mostly for myself, in order to document my progress in both my cooking and photography, and also to document my mother’s Korean recipes for the future - for both myself and those who browse the internet in search of good, home-style Korean recipes

My equipment is simple - I use a point and shoot camera, the Canon Powershot G7, and I do most of my photo editing in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop."

http://www.insanitytheory.net/kitchenwench/about/

Here is the tutorial on digital editing basics:

"Firstly - remember, with photo manipulation, LESS is MORE. Especially if you’re not sure of what you’re doing and using a destructive editor (an editor that makes the changes to the actual file, thereby ‘destroying’ the original data). If you’re using one of these editors, never ever make the changes to your original photo, instead you should create copy the file to a new folder (good idea to keep all the edited photos together) and make the changes to the duplicate file. That way, if you muck something up, you still have the original photo to create a new copy from.

Secondly - photo editing is meant to enhance the image, it is not some kind of voodoo magic, it cannot turn a crap photo miraculously into a good one. You should always try and take the best photo possible with your camera, paying particular attention to focus/sharpness, white balance and exposure, this will mean you have to spend far less time fiddling with the photo in post-production and the editing process will be far less painful.

Thirdly - another camera related point is that you should always take your photos at the best quality and highest resolution possible. Why is that? Because this means you’ll experience less of a drop in quality when editing and resizing the photo later on! Sure, the file sizes may be pretty big (each photo off my camera is roughly between 6-10 mb each) but I think that in the end, its pretty worthwhile!

Fourth - STAY AWAY FROM OBVIOUS EDITING! One thing that I notice a fair bit is an almost obsessive overuse of the blur and smudge functions that must image editors offer. Whether it is to try and simulate DoF (depth of field) or blur out an unattractive background, the results do very little for enhancing the natural beauty of the food you’re photographing, and often serve as more of a distraction. A sheet of thin white cardboard or a roll of wrapping paper is just a few dollars, and is a better alternative to hand-blurred photos. Another thing that really gets my goat is over-lightening, but I’ll discuss that a bit later.

Fifth - Make sure your monitor is displaying colours probably, i.e. calibrate your screen. Now, my current LCD monitor has an iffy white point which I, for some reason, can’t fix, so I know that images that I view on my machine will probably appear slightly differently on others or when printed. This site has a great, easy to understand series of pages on monitor colours and calibration which is a good starting point for you."

http://www.insanitytheory.net/kitchenwench/2008/01/06/digital-editing-101-working-out-the-basics/

Photoshop Tutorial - Face Shaping

2008-05-01T16:52:00.000-07:00

I want to gain photoshop skills and I've always wanted to learn how to re-touch those model/celebrity photos. There are heaps of tutorials on youtube which are awesome! This one is about face shaping. It is really easy to follow, with well-paced step-by-step instructions and explanations. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyfbvqiXp3c&feature=related

MMD GROUP PROJECT - ARG

2008-04-30T22:37:00.000-07:00

So we've gotten the final group project which is creating an Alternate Reality Experience.
It sounds like fun and it's definitely something different and more hands on.
We are split into 2 groups and each group is split into 4 teams: Concept, Web, Video, Print.
Each Team is to come up with a concept for an ARG.

Some new key terminology relating to this genre:*
-Cross-Media
-Transmedia
-Aternate Reality Game (ARG)
-Location Based Game
-Virtual Reality
-Mixed Reality
-Augmented Reality
-Augmented Virtuality
-Simulated Reality
-Virtuality Continuum
-Multimodal Interaction

Crossmedia*
(also known as Cross-Media, Cross-Media Entertainment, Cross-Media Communication) is a media property, service, story or experience distributed across media platforms using a variety of media forms. It refers to the journey or linkages across devices and through forms and is most evident in branded entertainment, advertising, games and quest based forms such as Alternate Reality Games where there are a range of dependencies between the media placed across devices and fragments there-of. There are potentially ref four main categories or levels of cross-media:

There are potentially ref four main categories or levels of cross-media*
Cross-media 1.0 – Pushed.
Cross-media 2.0 – Extras.
Cross-media 4.0 – Experiences.
Cross-media 3.0 – Bridges.

Aternate Reality Game (ARG)*
An alternate reality game (ARG) is an interactive narrative that uses the real world as a platform, often involving multiple media and game elements, to tell a story that may be affected by participants' ideas or actions.

Mixed reality (MR)*
(also referred to as augmented reality or augmented virtuality) refers to the merging of real and virtual worlds to produce new environments and visualisations where physical and digital objects co-exist and interact in real time. A mix of reality, augmented reality, augmented virtuality and virtual reality.

Unique terminology*
Among the terms essential to understand discussions about ARGs are:
Puppetmaster* - A puppetmaster or "PM" is an individual involved in designing and/or running an ARG. Puppetmasters are simultaneously allies and adversaries to the player base, creating obstacles and providing resources for overcoming them in the course of telling the game's story. Puppetmasters generally remain behind the curtain while a game is running.The real identity of puppet masters may or may not be known ahead of time.
The Curtain* - The curtain is generally a metaphor for the separation between the puppetmasters and the players. This can take the traditional form of absolute secrecy regarding the puppetmasters' identities and involvement with the production, or refer merely to the convention that puppetmasters do not communicate directly with players through the game, interacting instead through the characters and the game's design.
Rabbithole* - Also known as a Trailhead. A Rabbithole marks the first website, contact, or puzzle that starts off the ARG.
Trailhead* - A deliberate clue which enables a player to discover a way into the game. Most ARGs employ a number of trailheads in several media, to maximise the probability of people discovering the game. Some trailheads may be covert, others may be thinly-disguised adverts.
This Is Not A Game (TINAG)* - Setting the ARG form apart from other games is the This Is Not A Game aesthetic, which dictates that the game not behave like a game: phone numbers mentioned in the ARG, for example, should actually work, and the game should not provide an overtly-designated playspace or ruleset to the players.

Examples of ARG's*
www.worldwithoutoil.org
www.cloudmakers.org
www.ilovebees.com
www.thelostexperience.com
www.argn.com (ARGNetwork)

Examples of Location Gaming*
www.pacmanhattan.com
www.mogimogi.com
www.perplexcity.com
www.parallelkingdom.com
www.inrainbows.com

*Taken from www.wikipedia.org

Youtube Rotoscoping Tutorial!

2008-04-25T17:34:00.000-07:00

I have always been interested in rotoscoping and have wanted to learn how to do it. It's a unique style of animation/video. Thanks to youtube you can learn anything online for free! Here's the tutorial. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5aayQz0sEw

Workout whilst you're at work video!

2008-04-20T13:29:00.000-07:00

I found a video on working out at work, which is a good idea, because with people's busy work and life scheduals, people don't have the time to go to the gym or do something to stay fit and tone up, because they are really stagnant they put on weight.

There is no embed option for this video so here's a screen shot from the site with the video playing.

Checkout the full video at the url below.
http://officeworkout.msn.com/default.aspx?source=email§ion=home&contentType=video&contentId=12>1=25043

On a side note I also really like this website's look and functionality, it's a very simple layout and it has that web 2.0 functionality and feel.

Motion Graphics

2008-04-16T01:11:00.000-07:00

After seeing the classes presentations the other day, it inspired me to check out some motion graphics. I found some pretty good ones on youtube.

This first show reel has some great examples of commercial work:

Designomotion Motion Graphics & Broadcast Design

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9ZdQVxUNjo0

This second one is useful in giving ideas as to what can be achieved in after effects. I really like the morphing effect used in the part where they advertise "Retail Week".

After Effects Show Reel
http://youtube.com/watch?v=klbEN9cpx_I&feature=related

This thrid one is quite entertaining:

ORIGINAL DESIGN GANGSTA
http://youtube.com/watch?v=yJexyQT0l1c&feature=related

I really like the colour palette, texture, masking and transitions in this last one:

Shilo Design Motion Graphics
http://youtube.com/watch?v=7EaglZAN4fU

Blind Ambition

2008-04-08T12:51:00.000-07:00

"University of North Texas (UNT) student John Bramblitt paints beautiful works of art in vivid colors, despite the fact that he's been blind for years. www.bramblitt.net (#976, 3/13/06)"

I saw this video on youtube about a blind artist named John Bramblitt. I think he is really good at painting. I like the texture, the shading technique and the impressionist style of his works.

To hear John's story (by Texas Country Reporter) and to see John's paintings and how he creates them, watch the video below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P84bfFpVWE

Invitation Design

2008-04-04T15:37:00.000-07:00

I am still on my hunt for some funky invitation designs. I found some sites that let you design electronic invites. They offer templates, images and the option of uploading photos.

This first site has some pretty basic invitation designs and few options. The styles offered here are not at all what I'm looking for. Outdated too.

http://www.evite.com/app/invitations/dyo/custom.do

This second site is much more comprehensive with some really appealing designs and style. There are alot of options, including uploading photos. The designs are detailed and contemporary.

http://www.pingg.com/event/view/ZQzZ09E-Z0Azo?new=true

Incredible Etch a Sketh Artist

2008-04-01T11:03:00.000-07:00

This guy has incredible talent, you should defintiely watch both videos. How does he move across to a spot without drawing and how does he erase stuff? I haven't used those type of etch a sketches, mine was simpler: a thick pen with a magnetic tip that drew the metal pieces to the top of the board and a lever thing that erased it all...

"See for the first time Etch A Sketch artist George Vlosich creating his one of a kind artwork. This five hour etch of LeBron James is sped up so that you can see every line he makes and step he takes to create a unique piece of pop art. This piece of artwork was created for the Quicken Loans Arena. Look for more of George's upcoming Etched In Time artwork. For One Town, One Team, One Dream Tshirt or song go to:
http://www.timlesstees.com/
http://gvetchedintime.com/"

NBA Finals Lebron Etch A Sketch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYM__s3R5q0

Carmelo Anthony Etch A Sketch All Star

"Famed Etch A Sketch artist George Vlosich's 2nd YouTube video is of Carmelo Anthony. It took 25 hours and was done in time lapse. His first video of Lebron was a featured video and was one of the top videos of 2007. To see more of George's one of a kind artwork go to www.gvetchedintime.com.
This unique piece of pop art was captured on film and created for Key Bank's promotional night with Melo and the Denver Nuggets. Look for more on the way. Thanks for watching. visit www.myspace.com/keyclubcolorado for behind the scenes"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_lwUF_9ZEk

The Other Boleyn Girl

2008-03-26T20:14:00.000-07:00

I saw "The Other Boleyn Girl" the other night, which was developed from the novel. The plot was really interesting and the characters were portrayed really well by the cast.

The cinematography was enjoyable and it caught my attention the way the dramatic feel of the story was created with sharp cuts, intense music, dramatic lighting and a real sense of flow and motion, whether that was done by following the character in haste or by keeping the camera still and having the character zoom by.

However there was a particular cut in the film of which the timing seemed off and looked as though they were cutting to a commercial.

The movie was filled with gruesomeness, the threat of violence, and evoked a constant sense of angst throughout the viewing. This film is well worth seeing.

Here's the synopsis from http://villagecinemas.com.au/Movies/The-Other-Boleyn-Girl.htm

Based on the best selling novel by Philippa Gregory, The Other Boleyn Girl is an engrossing and sensual tale of intrigue, romance, and betrayal set against the backdrop of a defining moment in history.

Two sisters, Anne and Mary Boleyn, are driven by their ambitious father and uncle to advance the family's power and status by courting the affections of the King of England. Leaving behind the simplicity of country life - and what began as a bid to help their family develops into a ruthless rivalry between Anne and Mary for the love of the King.

As the Boleyn girls battle for the love of a King - one driven by ambition, the other by true affection - England is torn apart. Despite the dramatic consequences, the Boleyn girls ultimately find strength and loyalty in each other, and they remain forever connected by their bond as sisters.

Image from:
http://www.moviewallpapers.net/images/wallpapers/2008/the-other-boleyn-girl/the-other-boleyn-girl-1-1024.jpg

Watch the trailer below:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=axCxSAohKlA

"Hilarious" Mini online games

2008-03-24T20:36:00.000-07:00

I searched for "hilarious online games" and found a mini online games site that's good for passing time and definitely has some funny games...Although I think some of these are funny because they are so lame...Have a play of the games below or checkout the site for heaps and heaps of other mini games at
http://www.miniclip-games.net/

Ball of Death

Help Homer collect objects riding his motorcycle in the deathball. A game preview of the new "The Simpsons Movie". Have Fun. .

Play more games on Miniclip-Games.net

http://www.miniclip-games.net/category/Hilarious/1.html

Hammered

Hit the nail as close to the center as possible. .

Play more games on Miniclip-Games.net

http://www.miniclip-games.net/games/3101.html

Shrek Contest

This is the belching showdown of the century. Select Shrek or Fiona as your belch contender. Once they start belching, keep clicking on their belly as fast as you can to make the burp last as long as possible. .

Play more games on Miniclip-Games.net

http://www.miniclip-games.net/games/3156.html

Mon The Monkey

Help the monkey catch the fruits. Right and Left keys to aim at the falling fruits. Up arrow key to catch and eat them. Help the monkey eat as many fruits as possible to get to the next level. .

Play more games on Miniclip-Games.net

http://www.miniclip-games.net/games/3328.html

Marc Smiler Video Artist

2008-03-20T15:09:00.000-07:00

First, let me just say that I really like this site's design, it is really simple and kept minimal. It is very visual without much text.

(I noticed at the bottom of the home page it says "this entire site, design, layout concept, and text (copyright symbol)2007 by Marc Smiler Video Artist).

Chekout the work and the great web design at:
http://www.thevideoartist.com/MSVA/home.html

He also has a blog with some work so check that out too.
http://www.thevideoartist.com/MSVA/blog/blog.html

Fun little free online games

2008-03-17T18:25:00.000-07:00

I found some little free online games-they are cute and fun to play.
Even though they are simple and for a younger age, you get into them when you're totally bored!

http://www.playedonline.com/

http://www.playedonline.com/game/1876/Busy-Burger.html

The url of the free online games is: http://www.playedonline.com/

More Starry Invitation designs...

2008-03-14T17:53:00.000-07:00

In addition to my first post, I found some more bright and colourful stars for invitation design...really captivating stars!

http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/1108444/2/istockphoto_1108444_colourful_stars.jpg

http://us.123rf.com/400wm/127/242/geopappas/geopappas0711/geopappas071100021/2138366.jpg

Photography

2008-03-12T21:30:00.000-07:00

After getting some inspiration from some awesome photography books, I've started browsing some online galleries and will post the urls here. This first url is to an Artist named Katrina Christ whom is a family-portrait photographer. More sites will be added shortly.

http://www.katrinachrist.com.au/?gclid=CLaoy_ysh5ICFQ0wiQod8Fpa-A

The Simpsons house in real life

2008-03-09T10:19:00.000-07:00

This is really awesome, I really like things that turn the imaginary into reality.

The Simpsons house in real life:

http://www.fresh99.com/simpsons-house.htm

Underwater car

2008-03-07T15:08:00.000-08:00

Thought this was awesome.

OK, so the Swiss have invented a car that runs on land and underwater. But did they REALLY have to make it a convertible?
It's called the ''sQuba,'' and conjures up memories of James Bond's amphibious Lotus Esprit from ''The Spy Who Loved Me.'' That fictional vehicle traveled on land and, when chased by bad guys in a helicopter, plunged into the water and became an airtight submarine — complete with ''torpedoes'' and ''depth charges.''
But ''Q'' isn't responsible for this one.
The concept car — which unlike Bond's is not armed — was developed by Swiss designer Rinspeed Inc. and is set to make a splash at the Geneva Auto Show next month.
Company CEO Frank Rinderknecht, a self-professed Bond fan, said he has been waiting 30 years to recreate the car he saw Roger Moore use to drive off of a dock.
The sQuba can plow through the water at a depth of 30 feet and has electrical motors to turn the underwater screw.
You'll have to break out the wetsuit, however.
The car has an open top, meaning that the two passengers are exposed to the elements.
''For safety reasons, we have built the vehicle as an open car so that the occupants can get out quickly in an emergency,'' said Rinderknecht, 52.
Passengers will be able to keep breathing underwater through an integrated tank of compressed air similar to what is used in scuba diving.
The sQuba's top speed on land is about 77 mph, but it slows down to 3 mph on the surface of the water, and 1.8 mph underwater.
Working with engineering specialists, Rinspeed removed the combustion engine from a sports car and replaced it with several electrical motors. Three are located in the rear — er, aft — with one providing propulsion on land and the other two driving the screw for underwater driving.
''We always want to do cars that are outrageous, which nobody has done before. So we thought, 'Let's make a car dive,''' said Rinderknecht, whose innovative company has made transparent, flying and voice-activated cars in previous attention-grabbing displays at the Geneva Auto Show.
The company calls the sQuba the first real submersible car. Unlike military amphibious vehicles, which can only drive slowly on a lakebed, the sQuba travels like a submarine — either on the surface or submerged.
The interior is resistant to salt water, allowing the skipper to drive into a lake or the sea.
''Many concept cars introduce important new technology,'' said John Cabaniss at the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers in Washington. ''Anything to improve the efficiency of a vehicle, streamlining or reducing the weight of materials, while maintaining strength ... is put into concept cars first.''
Cabaniss said the lithium-ion batteries in Rinspeed's car were ''state-of-the-art'' and added that the car industry in general would be looking for more ways to make things work electronically. But he was skeptical of the overriding idea.
''Other than some kind of a movie situation, for Bond-like stuff with lots of gimmicks, I can't imagine it will have any practical value,'' Cabaniss said. ''Maybe people will need to go from land to water, and traverse a body of water, but underwater? Especially as it gets your suit wet.''
Rinderknecht said it cost more than $1.5 million to make the sole sQuba in existence, and that it was difficult to make a car watertight and pressure-resistant enough to be maneuverable underwater.
''The real challenge, however, was to create a submersible car that moves like a fish in water,'' he added.
Rinspeed is in discussion with commercial manufacturers about making a limited number of the cars. The price? ''It would be cheaper than a Rolls-Royce,'' he said. A 2008 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe has a sticker price of more than $400,000.
Rinderknecht said it was unlikely that people would soon spot the sQuba tolling down the highway or popping up in your nearby lake.
''They might sell as toys for rich people, perhaps,'' he said. ''I don't see mass transportation switching to cars that dive.''

http://www.happynews.com/news/2142008/land-locked-swiss-invent-underwater-car.htm

Homelessness is a vicious cycle

2008-03-04T10:23:00.000-08:00

When I was researching information about human rights, I came across the HREOC site and couldnt stop reading about one of the new issues brought up. Here's a small excerpt from the comprenhensive article.
Homelessness is about human rights
People experiencing homelessness face violations of a wide range of human rights.

Access to safe and secure housing is one of the most basic human rights. However, homelessness is not just about housing. Fundamentally, homelessness is about lack of connectedness with family, friends and the community and lack of control over one’s environment.

A person who is homeless may face violations of the right to an adequate standard of living, the right to education, the right to liberty and security of the person, the right to privacy, the right to social security, the right to freedom from discrimination, the right to vote, and many more.

These human rights are protected by a number of international human rights treaties, in particular the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). As a party to all these treaties, Australia is under legal and moral obligations to promote, protect and realise the human rights of all people.

This paper explores the many ways that homelessness impacts on a person’s ability to enjoy basic rights and freedoms. It shows that homelessness is more than just a housing issue. Homelessness is about human rights. Homeless people are not merely objects of charity, seeking help and compassion – like all Australians, they are individuals entitled to the protection and promotion of their human rights. Since human rights belong to everyone, it is in the interests of the Australian community as a whole to ensure that the rights of homeless people are respected and protected.

http://www.hreoc.gov.au/index.htm

Entertaining stop-motion videos and how to do it

2008-02-29T14:16:00.000-08:00

I was searching for some stop-motion videos because I think they're fun to make and to watch.
They have a cartoony animatedness to them which you can't get from making animation or video.

This youtube video by Phil Neary contains some stop-motion pieces he made.
He also explains step-by-step how to make stop motion videos and even shows you the equipment he uses, which is great.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i83EjND4xLw

Starry nights

2008-02-28T02:01:00.000-08:00

I've been searching images for invitation design ideas and really like the vibrant colour palette here. More to be uploaded soon.

http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumb_103/1165359512iot4WH.jpg