You're surfing the net and without fail you find something interesting that you don't want to forget or you just know you will go back to at a later date. What do you do? You bookmark it. You hit that little star in the whatever corner of the browser you're using and you save the page.
Sounds like a great idea. Always having those handy dandy webpages at your finger tips. Never not having a page that you know you'll want to go back to later. It's all fun and games until you realize you've collected hundreds of pages that you haven't looked at nearly as often as you thought you would when you saved them? They add up. And going through all of those pages is oh so much fun.
Oh sure, you could just throw caution to the wind and delete all of your book marks without looking at them or batting an eye at the loss of what could be. Lucky you. I however am not that ledge living. My OCD self has to go through, at the very least the titles, to see what link is what. And that's if I can recognize what the page might be without opening the link. If I can't, now I'm opening up hundreds of links that I have no clue what they could be.
And even then I find myself looking over bookmarked pages just knowing I will, one day, go back to that page of whatever and do what it is that I saved it for in the first place.
From recipes, to gift ideas. Hollywood tidbits to fashion pages. Articles on hometown news to world wide events. Really? Why am I saving all of these pages? Am I ever going to make cookies that look like hydrangea flowers? As beautiful as they are, and I'm sure the icing techniques are awesome, probably not. Do I really care anymore about that fifth page of fonts that I saved? Not really. Here's the really great part. Most of the pages I have bookmarked, I end up Goggling for later anyway. So again, I ask myself, why am I saving all of this?
If you need me, I'll be cleaning out my bookmarks folder. This time I mean it.
18 September, 2013
15 September, 2013
Message boards.
Over the past few years I have belonged to my fair share of message boards dealing with one fandom or another. Most of them have been pretty easy going. However, you do get that one board you join where you're the new kid on the block and you slowly feel your way around and wonder, "Is this the right place for me?"
That's kind of where I'm at now. I've recently discovered a particular fandom that shall remain nameless. In the interest of finding out more about this fandom, I found a message board dedicated to all things fandom related. It's an extensive board. There are a number of topics to choose from to discuss from movies to tv to specific episodes. There is a lot of room for lots of different discussions. For someone new, this is very helpful in find out more about said fandom.
Most, if not all, message boards have a certain set of rules that the mods or admins like to see carried out. This is something that every message board or community needs to have. There needs to be order and continuity throughout a board community or it all just goes to hell quickly. As a member on boards, as well as an admin to a few, I get it.
The levels of rules seem to vary from board to board. Some boards you have admins who set the rules and trust in their members to behave in a mature, civilized manner. Only having to step in and remind posters of the rules and why they are there. A lot of admins generally leave it up to the members to reconcile any differences they may have between one another and remind them a board is a place for discussions on common interests and not a school yard fight. They aren't there to babysit the members.
And then there are those admins who are rather drill sergeant like in the carrying out of their rules. They have a set way of how they want their board to look and are obsessive over it looking just that way. No copyrighted material. Post only picture links and not the actual picture. No mentioning of illegal downloads or watching video/movie/shows online. No mentioning of any personal information in relation to directors, actors, producers, publicists. Your signature is too large. Your avvie is not large enough. You need to post xxx amount of posts within xxx of time or you will be kicked out. The list goes on. While I'm all for continuity on a board and can see the validity of some of these examples, the way some admins monitor their board can boarder on a full time job. A job that they aren't getting paid to do. At this point, how much stress over a message board is worth it?
I like message boards. It's a great place to meet people from all over the world who have a shared interest. I've met some amazing people through message boards and I talk to these people on a daily basis. Yes, you really can make friends via the Internet and I have. It's important in finding a message board that suits your needs and interests. If you're getting stressed out over members or rules from admins, maybe it's time to find another message board to post on. The most important thing to remember is that this is supposed to be fun. When it stops being fun, it's time to move on.
Oh, and one last thing and I know that everyone does this, but it needs repeating. Post safely.
That's kind of where I'm at now. I've recently discovered a particular fandom that shall remain nameless. In the interest of finding out more about this fandom, I found a message board dedicated to all things fandom related. It's an extensive board. There are a number of topics to choose from to discuss from movies to tv to specific episodes. There is a lot of room for lots of different discussions. For someone new, this is very helpful in find out more about said fandom.
Most, if not all, message boards have a certain set of rules that the mods or admins like to see carried out. This is something that every message board or community needs to have. There needs to be order and continuity throughout a board community or it all just goes to hell quickly. As a member on boards, as well as an admin to a few, I get it.
The levels of rules seem to vary from board to board. Some boards you have admins who set the rules and trust in their members to behave in a mature, civilized manner. Only having to step in and remind posters of the rules and why they are there. A lot of admins generally leave it up to the members to reconcile any differences they may have between one another and remind them a board is a place for discussions on common interests and not a school yard fight. They aren't there to babysit the members.
And then there are those admins who are rather drill sergeant like in the carrying out of their rules. They have a set way of how they want their board to look and are obsessive over it looking just that way. No copyrighted material. Post only picture links and not the actual picture. No mentioning of illegal downloads or watching video/movie/shows online. No mentioning of any personal information in relation to directors, actors, producers, publicists. Your signature is too large. Your avvie is not large enough. You need to post xxx amount of posts within xxx of time or you will be kicked out. The list goes on. While I'm all for continuity on a board and can see the validity of some of these examples, the way some admins monitor their board can boarder on a full time job. A job that they aren't getting paid to do. At this point, how much stress over a message board is worth it?
I like message boards. It's a great place to meet people from all over the world who have a shared interest. I've met some amazing people through message boards and I talk to these people on a daily basis. Yes, you really can make friends via the Internet and I have. It's important in finding a message board that suits your needs and interests. If you're getting stressed out over members or rules from admins, maybe it's time to find another message board to post on. The most important thing to remember is that this is supposed to be fun. When it stops being fun, it's time to move on.
Oh, and one last thing and I know that everyone does this, but it needs repeating. Post safely.
15 August, 2013
The life of being in a fandom
The world of fandoms have seemingly gone nuts. Again.
Haters to the left. Fandom police to the right. And somewhere in the middle are the fans who are trying to just enjoy it all.
Recently E! posted an article about Robert Pattinson now living in the 90210 zip code. They mentioned him enjoying his single status with new digs as well as who he has been spending his time with. No one romantically mind you, but the mention of him hanging out with Mischa Barton (I don't get it either) send the "difference of opinions" into a tale spin.
One side couldn't understand how he could be spending his time with someone who has had past issues as complicated as Barton has and how this would reflect poorly on him. How they just want him to be working. Never mind the fact that he just wrapped on David Cronenberg's star studded "Maps to the Stars" and has three more films lined up.
The other side questioned her being mentioned at all, that it appeared a rather random mention. Even taking it so far as to suggest maybe her publicist got the name drop. After looking at her iMDb list of films coming up, if I was her publicist, that's what I would have done. Not exactly a cream of the crop list of films. But hey, she's working right.
Pattinson has recently been seen hanging out with Michelle Rodriquez as well and that doesn't seem to be sitting well with fans either. Mind you, all this "hanging out" seems to be a lot of them being seen in the same place at the same time. Neither one arriving or leaving with the other.
Those who didn't agree were called "Fandom Police". Really?
"Fandom Police". Can this phrase please be retired? Since when does having a difference of opinion involve being a police force of any kind? Isn't having differing opinions what makes the world of fandom so wonderful? Apparently not. I find it ironic that someone dictating what anyone, celebrity or otherwise, should be doing, how they should be spending their time, being told to get to work, etc. are calling others "police" or any other form of authority.
When a tabloid site, and lets face it that is exactly what E! has become, have their interns trolling twitter to talk to people who mentioned seeing certain celebrities, you know there's a good chance that there isn't going to be a lick of truth to what they are going to publish. And yet people eat it up with a knife and fork.
I don't really care if you seek out tabloid gossip and hold it as gospel. Go right ahead. However, I reserve the right to call you out for buying into the bullshit. Tabloids are in the market to make money and they are going to tell you what they want based on popular trends. They want your hits. Hits equals money.
Not that I'm telling anyone what to read or how to interpret it, but let's think about what we're reading when treading into the world of entertainment gossip.
Haters to the left. Fandom police to the right. And somewhere in the middle are the fans who are trying to just enjoy it all.
Recently E! posted an article about Robert Pattinson now living in the 90210 zip code. They mentioned him enjoying his single status with new digs as well as who he has been spending his time with. No one romantically mind you, but the mention of him hanging out with Mischa Barton (I don't get it either) send the "difference of opinions" into a tale spin.
One side couldn't understand how he could be spending his time with someone who has had past issues as complicated as Barton has and how this would reflect poorly on him. How they just want him to be working. Never mind the fact that he just wrapped on David Cronenberg's star studded "Maps to the Stars" and has three more films lined up.
The other side questioned her being mentioned at all, that it appeared a rather random mention. Even taking it so far as to suggest maybe her publicist got the name drop. After looking at her iMDb list of films coming up, if I was her publicist, that's what I would have done. Not exactly a cream of the crop list of films. But hey, she's working right.
Pattinson has recently been seen hanging out with Michelle Rodriquez as well and that doesn't seem to be sitting well with fans either. Mind you, all this "hanging out" seems to be a lot of them being seen in the same place at the same time. Neither one arriving or leaving with the other.
Those who didn't agree were called "Fandom Police". Really?
"Fandom Police". Can this phrase please be retired? Since when does having a difference of opinion involve being a police force of any kind? Isn't having differing opinions what makes the world of fandom so wonderful? Apparently not. I find it ironic that someone dictating what anyone, celebrity or otherwise, should be doing, how they should be spending their time, being told to get to work, etc. are calling others "police" or any other form of authority.
When a tabloid site, and lets face it that is exactly what E! has become, have their interns trolling twitter to talk to people who mentioned seeing certain celebrities, you know there's a good chance that there isn't going to be a lick of truth to what they are going to publish. And yet people eat it up with a knife and fork.
I don't really care if you seek out tabloid gossip and hold it as gospel. Go right ahead. However, I reserve the right to call you out for buying into the bullshit. Tabloids are in the market to make money and they are going to tell you what they want based on popular trends. They want your hits. Hits equals money.
Not that I'm telling anyone what to read or how to interpret it, but let's think about what we're reading when treading into the world of entertainment gossip.
13 June, 2013
Photography
I've recently gotten back into a passion of mine. Photography. I used to shoot 35 mm back in the day, took photography classes in college and always seemed to be the designated picture taker at most family functions. However, over time, I let this previous passion of mine slip through my fingers. Not anymore.
I have been shooting with a Nikon Cool pics, not the best camera on the market, but it does what I need it to do and it was affordable, as well as my iPhone, always with me and takes pretty good shots.
A lot has changed since the days of 35 mm and it's made photography rather fun. There are tons of websites that can help you edit your shot to improve on what you've taken. I like that. It's amazing what simple cropping can do to a shot. And don't even get me started on filters. You either love them or hate them, but the bottom line is they can enhance a bad photo into something much better.
With the explosion of the digital and virtual age comes vast amounts of photography apps. From Instagram to Flicker, people are posting pictures all over the web and everyone is a budding photographer. There are some really talented eyes out there. And just like American Idol finds new talent off the streets, who knows who might be scanning Instagram for someone to shoot for them.
Bottom line is I've again found my passion for taking pictures. One of them most memorable times I've had with doing so was this past August while in New York City. On our last day there and after having said goodbye to the dear friends we were spending time with, my friend Clarissa and I took a walk on the Upper East side of Manhattan. Starting at 51st Street, we meandered our way to 5th Ave, took a right and kept on walking. We just wandered. While we did, we took pictures from architecture to art, balconies on high rise apartment buildings to fire escapes on seven story walk ups, building details to ornate fixtures. Anything that caught our eye. We walked for almost ninety minutes before having to get back to the hotel and make our way home. It was beyond a pleasurable afternoon and one of my favorite New York memories.
I have been shooting with a Nikon Cool pics, not the best camera on the market, but it does what I need it to do and it was affordable, as well as my iPhone, always with me and takes pretty good shots.
A lot has changed since the days of 35 mm and it's made photography rather fun. There are tons of websites that can help you edit your shot to improve on what you've taken. I like that. It's amazing what simple cropping can do to a shot. And don't even get me started on filters. You either love them or hate them, but the bottom line is they can enhance a bad photo into something much better.
With the explosion of the digital and virtual age comes vast amounts of photography apps. From Instagram to Flicker, people are posting pictures all over the web and everyone is a budding photographer. There are some really talented eyes out there. And just like American Idol finds new talent off the streets, who knows who might be scanning Instagram for someone to shoot for them.
Bottom line is I've again found my passion for taking pictures. One of them most memorable times I've had with doing so was this past August while in New York City. On our last day there and after having said goodbye to the dear friends we were spending time with, my friend Clarissa and I took a walk on the Upper East side of Manhattan. Starting at 51st Street, we meandered our way to 5th Ave, took a right and kept on walking. We just wandered. While we did, we took pictures from architecture to art, balconies on high rise apartment buildings to fire escapes on seven story walk ups, building details to ornate fixtures. Anything that caught our eye. We walked for almost ninety minutes before having to get back to the hotel and make our way home. It was beyond a pleasurable afternoon and one of my favorite New York memories.
02 March, 2013
well, look what the cat drug in...
How in the hell do you screw up a red carpet appearance? You have people to dress you, to do your make up and hair. When this is not your first time to the rodeo, I ask...HOW DO YOU SCREW IT UP??
The only other person she came close to talking to was Josh Horowitz from MTV.
She never stopped to talk to him, he never asked her more than that. I can only imagine how sad he must have felt seeing as he seems to feel they are BFF's and all.
Funny how her "injury" wasn't mentioned during the Oscar rehearsals. Her outfit sure was though
You can clearly see the right foot is bandaged and she does appear to be walking with a limp. Is it severe enough to need crutches. Considering she was wearing two different shoes on the red carpet, something fishy sure was up. You can clearly see in the bag, attached to her crutches, two different shoes. One peep toe heel and one silver flat. Now why the hell not just wear the flats if you have a foot injury?
And if your injury is so "severe" why the hell not just stay home? Oh wait. There's a dvd that goes on sale the following weekend. While she was not nominated for anything, "Snow White and the Huntsman" was, Best Costume and Visual Effects. They lost in both categories.
Bottom line is that this appeared to be a stunt to get her noticed on the red carpet and it worked. Forget the terrible hair, bags under her eyes, thrown together dress from 2009. Yes, people had plenty to say about that, but it seemed to be her injury that got the most attention.
Those that can't be nominated, fake their way through it.
ETA:
Two days later and we see this. No bandaged foot, no crutches, putting weight on the "severely injured" foot even. It must be a dvd miracle.
She looked like she wanted to be anywhere but where she was. Even Guiliana Rancic from E! said, "There is a side door right over on Hollywood Blvd that says exit, ya know, and you can get in that way and just call someone and say, 'can you open the door for me'. You do not have to walk the carpet. Not every star has to walk the carpet."
Oh if only she had taken your advice Guiliana.
Further more, what in the hell happened in the span of three year?
While walking the red carpet, Kristen did not do any interviews. None. However, she did have time to interrupt second time nominated Best Actress Jennifer Lawrence while she was being interviewed. Coincidence? I think not.
The only other person she came close to talking to was Josh Horowitz from MTV.
MTV News correspondent Josh Horowitz reported seeing the Snow White and the Huntsman actress and asking why she needed crutches. "Just exchanged a quick hello with Kristen Stewart. I asked her what happened to her and she screamed 'I'm an idiot!'" Horowitz tweeted. Source
She never stopped to talk to him, he never asked her more than that. I can only imagine how sad he must have felt seeing as he seems to feel they are BFF's and all.
Funny how her "injury" wasn't mentioned during the Oscar rehearsals. Her outfit sure was though
And if your injury is so "severe" why the hell not just stay home? Oh wait. There's a dvd that goes on sale the following weekend. While she was not nominated for anything, "Snow White and the Huntsman" was, Best Costume and Visual Effects. They lost in both categories.
Bottom line is that this appeared to be a stunt to get her noticed on the red carpet and it worked. Forget the terrible hair, bags under her eyes, thrown together dress from 2009. Yes, people had plenty to say about that, but it seemed to be her injury that got the most attention.
Those that can't be nominated, fake their way through it.
ETA:
Two days later and we see this. No bandaged foot, no crutches, putting weight on the "severely injured" foot even. It must be a dvd miracle.
The Art of the Pin Up Girl
Gil Elvgren, born Gillette Elvgren, was an American painter of pin-up
girls, advertising and illustration. Elvgren was one of the most
important pin-up and glamour artists of the twentieth century. Wikipedia
Elvgren was a classical American illustrator. He was a master of portraying the all-American ideal feminine[citation needed],
but he wasn't limited to the calendar pin-up industry. He was strongly
influenced by the early "pretty girl" illustrators, such as Charles Dana Gibson, Andrew Loomis, and Howard Chandler Christy. Other influences included the Brandywine School founded by Howard Pyle.[4]
In 1937, Gil began painting calendar pin-ups for Louis F. Dow, one of
America's leading publishing companies, during which time he created
about 60 works. Around 1944, Gil was approached by Brown and Bigelow, a
firm that still dominates the field in producing calendars and
advertising specialties. He was associated with Brown and Bigelow from
1945 to 1972.[5]
Elvgren was a commercial success. Elvgren lived in various locations,
and was active from the 1930s to 1970s. His clients ranged from Brown
and Bigelow and Coca-Cola to General Electric and Sealy Mattress Company. In addition, during the 1940s and 1950s he illustrated stories for a host of magazines, such as The Saturday Evening Post and Good Housekeeping.[6]
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