Happy Halloween, Word of the Day & Jack O Lantern photo tips

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Urban Word of the Day

www.urbandictionary.com

October 31, 2007: Hallowthanksmas

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Hallowthanksmas&defid=1033500

The period of time starting in late October and ending on New Year's Eve, so named for the commercial tendency to put up Christmas displays before Halloween. See also [Christmahanukwanzakah]

Once October comes, we have to celebrate hallowthanksmas for 3 months!

"Pro Tip: Capturing Jack-o-Lanterns

Filed under: Professional Photos — Penny Adams, Photo Editor at 10:58 am on Monday, October 29, 2007

Halloween is fast approaching—are you (and your camera) ready? While you’re out trick-or-treating with the kids, why not take photos of your favorite jack-o-lanterns along the way? Follow these tips to ensure that your photos turn out wicked…in a good way!

Tips for Capturing Jack-o-Lanterns

1. Lighting on the Inside
While you’re carving your pumpkin, make sure the holes in the design are large enough to emit a good amount of light. Once you have your jack-o-lantern, light it from inside with a bright light source: Try a flashlight or a battery-operated light—instead of the traditional candle—for best results. Be sure to position the light so that it doesn’t shine directly out of the holes and into the camera lens.

2. Lighting on the Outside
Turn off your camera’s flash, and set your ISO to 400. Then, allow your camera’s meter to recognize that the jack-o-lantern’s glowing expression is the brightest highlight of the scene. If you desire to show more details of the jack-o-lantern itself, light some candles near the outside of it, turn on a lamp, ask a friend to shine a flashlight at it or turn on the porch light. My favorite time to photograph a jack-o-lantern is at dusk, when you can take advantage of the natural light.

3. No More Blurry Photos
To avoid blurry photos, use the cable release or the timer to trip the shutter. You can also try a tripod to keep the camera very still. Also, you don’t want to get too close to the jack-o-lantern as your camera may have difficulty focusing on a subject that’s less than two feet away. Instead, try standing about four feet away and zooming in to fill the frame.

4. Spooky Effects
For an added special effect, photograph your jack-o-lanterns on a shiny surface in a dark room—they’ll look extra spooky!

Happy Halloween!"

http://blog.webshots.com/?p=757&tag=nl.e201

Zombify Yourself

Just in time for Halloween is a neat page from Kiwee Messenger, it lets you make you (and/or your friends) into zombies complete with black & white effects and fake blood. It even turns you into a little moving zombie movie!


http://email.kiwee.com/a/hBHIj8lAkYeaxBfPQdOAmQsGfqE/kiw1

Song of the Week

"Freakin' at the Freaker's Ball" - Dr. Hook

Well there's gonna be a freaker's ball (ha ha)
Tonight at the Freaker's Hall
And you know you're invited one and all
Uh oh

Come on baby's grease your lips
Grab your hats and swing your hips
And don't forget to bring your whips
We're going to the freaker's ball (yes)

Blow your whistle, and bang your gong
Roll up something to take along
It feels so good, it must be wrong
We're freakin' at the freaker's ball

Well all the fags and the dykes they're boogie-in' together
The leather freaks are dressed in all kinds of leather
The greatest of the sadists and the masochists too
Screaming please hit me and I'll hit you

The FBI is dancin' with the junkies
All the straights, swingin' with the funkies
Across the floor and up the wall
We're freakin' at the freaker's ball, y'all
We're freakin' at the freaker's ball

Everybody's kissing each other
Brother with sister, son with mother
Smear my body up with butter
And take me to the freaker's ball

Pass that roach please, and pour the wine
I'll kiss yours if you'll kiss mine
I'm gonna boogie 'til I'm cold blind
Freakin' at the freaker's ball

White ones, black ones, yellow ones, red ones
Necrophiliacs looking for dead ones
The greatest of the sadists and the masochists too
Screaming please hit me and I'll hit you

Everybody ballin' in batches
Pyromaniacs strikin' matches
I'm gonna itch me where it scratches
Freakin' at the freaker's ball, y'all
We're freakin' at the freaker's ball

We're at a ball
We're freakin' at the freaker's ball

Halloween Hangman

This is kind of a fun Halloween hangman game, it talks and moves too :-)

http://www.dedge.com/flash/hangman/hangman.swf

IMVU Outfit Contests

IMVU, a chat site that my sister primarily uses, runs a monthly contest for best outfit, the winners for these contests are actually quite stunning! It's amazing how versatile the range of skins and moderations you can make on your IMVU avatar!

The winner "Gangsta Ghost":

http://www.imvu.com/outfits/contest/index.php?contest_date=2007-10-20

The Winner "Beauty & the Geek":

http://www.imvu.com/outfits/contest/index.php?contest_date=2007-10-24

The contest Main page:
http://www.imvu.com/outfits/contest/

Facebook Closing?

Recently I wrote an e-mail to Facebook asking if they had any plans to close down. I wrote this in regards to recent internet ramblings to the affirmative about a lawsuit issued by a man who said he came up with the idea first and that the idea was stolen by his corroborator and made into Facebook without his permission.

I wrote:

"I have heard a rumour circulating the internet that
Facebook is being shut down this month as a result of a
pending lawsuit. I am wondering if there is any truth to the
matter as I cannot find any news articles online to support
it although I have found quite a few mentioning a lawsuit.
Please advise.

Thank-you"


After a week or so of waiting for a reply I received this:

"Hi AJ,

We appreciate your email. Facebook does not currently
have any plans to close the site, and any rumors you have
heard to the contrary are false. Unfortunately we will not
be able to comment on any of these issues further at this
time. Please let us know if you need any other assistance.

Thanks for contacting Facebook,

Peter
Customer Support Representative
Facebook"

Somehow I'm still not convinced...

Taking Great Fall Photos

This is a great article from Webshots about taking fall photos:

"Pro Tip: Five Tips for Taking Great Fall Photos

Filed under: Professional Photos — Penny Adams, Photo Editor at 12:01 am on Monday, October 1, 2007

Even though it still feels like summer, fall officially arrived on September 23. Before you know it, the leaves will be turning brilliant hues of red, orange and yellow and pumpkins will be popping up everywhere. October is one of the most fun and creative months for capturing dramatic and evocative fall images, so heed these five tips for taking great fall photos to get that classic shot!

1. The window of opportunity for photographing fall colors at their peak is short. Keep your camera with you at all times, and be prepared to shoot what inspires you at a moment’s notice. Don’t put off taking that photo because you think it will probably look the same tomorrow—one windstorm or cold snap and the moment could be lost until next year.

2. During autumn, the sun sits lower in the sky, resulting in beautiful, warm afternoon light. For dramatic color, take your photos just before sunset and try a warm polarizer filter when you’re shooting colorful red and orange trees. If you desire really punchy colors, check your camera’s manual to see if you have the ability to boost the saturation settings; you can also boost the color using photo-editing software later on.

3. Fall often has overcast days, so use the filtered sunlight to your advantage and focus on the details, but don’t forget to crop out that gray sky! Try taking tight shots of fallen leaves, pumpkins or a curvy country road; you might also focus on waterfalls with surrounding fall color. If you think your image looks a little flat or dull, use photo-editing software to add a little contrast.

After you’ve taken your fill of fall foliage, turn your camera on your children, pets and local scarecrow to add some balance to your collection. You could even ask someone to pick up some colorful dry leaves and toss them in the air for an action shot. The even light and lack of harsh shadows makes cloudy days the best for taking portraits, so if the family is together, why not take that holiday photo now?

4. Bring your tripod so you can take photos in low light, use a aperture setting such as f/22 or f/32 (for greater depth of field—if you prefer) or shoot with a longer exposure. Even after sunset, during the magic hour of light, you can still capture stunningly beautiful images with brilliant color.

5.Take lots of close-ups, such as a grouping of mums, a pile of pumpkins or a single leaf against a contrasting background. Sometimes, fall landscapes can be so stunning that we try to capture everything in a single wide-angle photo, but these images often don’t have as much visual impact in smaller prints. When you’re shooting your close-ups, use Don Paulson’s composition tips about using the rule of thirds as images always look stronger when they have a focal point.

"

http://blog.webshots.com/?p=732&tag=nl.e201

Doomsday Clock Moves Ahead

This one is a little depressing...

"Edging Closer To Doomsday
Updated:19:22, Wednesday January 17, 2007

The world has moved two minutes nearer to nuclear disaster.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has moved the minute hand of the Doomsday Clock to five minutes to midnight.

It was the Clock's first move since February 2002.

The Clock was first set in 1947, with the aim of becoming an easily-recognised symbol of the perils posed by nuclear weapons.

Its latest move has been prompted by the nuclear ambitions of Iran and North Korea and the escalating terror threat.

The amount of unsecured nuclear materials in Russia and the 'launch-ready' status of 2,000 of the 25,000 nuclear weapons held by the US and Russia have also been cited.

The pressures from climate change for more nuclear power stations could also increase the risks.

First set at seven minutes to midnight, the Doomsday Clock had its closest brush with midnight in 1953 when it stood at two minutes before.

That came after the US and USSR tested hydrogen bombs within nine months of each other.

It was furthest away from midnight in 1991 - 17 minutes - when the two superpowers signed a treaty to reduce arms."

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30400-13563444,00.html

The Sims On Stage

A new Sims game from EA of sorts, this one is called "Sims On Stage" and it's an online community for Sims players:

" Hello! We are super-excited to introduce a brand new, exciting addition to The Sims family - The Sims™ On Stage! Whether you want to showcase your talent to the world or just want to entertain your friends, the site is full of incredibly fun ways to express yourself. Here are some of the features awaiting you:

Karaoke, poetry, comedy and stories – Sing your version of popular songs, show off your writing skills, and capture your performances using a microphone/webcam. Every category has its own charts that make it easy to find fun and entertaining content.

Movie "Mashups" – quickly and easily create music videos and movies by “mashing up” your own creations and performances with a huge library of movie clips & still images from The Sims games.

Create-a-Sim – create a customizable "avatar," or character that you can use as your Profile photo that appears across the site.

Read on for recommendations and reviews of the best content and find out what The Sims On Stage is all about. We think you’re gonna dig it!"

http://thesimsonstage.ea.com/takeatour.html

Song of the Week

"Welcome to the Black Parade" - My Chemical Romance

When I was a young boy,
My father took me into the city
To see a marching band.
He said,
"Son when you grow up, will you be the saviour of the broken,
The beaten and the damned?"
He said
"Will you defeat them, your demons, and all the non believers, the plans that they have made?"
Because one day I leave you,
A phantom to lead you in the summer,
To join the black parade."

When I was a young boy,
My father took me into the city
To see a marching band.
He said,
"Son when you grow up, will you be the saviour of the broken,
The beaten and the damned?"

Sometimes I get the feeling she's watching over me.
And other times I feel like I should go. Through it all, the rise and fall, the bodies in the streets.
When you're gone we want you all to know We'll Carry on,
We'll Carry on
Though your dead and gone believe me Your memory will carry on
Carry on
We'll carry on
And in my heart I cant contain it
The anthem wont explain it.

And we will send you reeling from decimated dreams
Your misery and hate will kill us all
So paint it black and take it back
Lets shout it loud and clear
Do you fight it to the end
We hear the call to
[ Welcome To The Black Parade lyrics found on http://www.completealbumlyrics.com ]
To carry on
We'll carry on
Though your dead and gone believe me Your memory will carry on
We'll carry on
And though you're broken and defeated You're weary widow marches on

And on we carry through the fears
Ooh oh ohhhh
Disappointed faces of your peers Ooh oh ohhhh
Take a look at me cause
I could not care at all Do or die
You'll never make me
Cause the world, will never take my heart
You can try, you'll never break me
Want it all,
I'm gonna play this part
Wont explain or say i'm sorry
I'm not ashamed,
I'm gonna show my scar
You're the chair, for all the broken Listen here, because it's only..
I'm just a man,
I'm not a hero
Just a boy, who's meant to sing this song
Just a man,
I'm not a hero
I -- don't -- care
Carry on
We'll carry on
Though your dead and gone believe me Your memory will carry on
We'll carry on
And though you're broken and defeated You're weary widow marches on
We'll carry on
We'll carry on
We'll carry on
We'll carry
We'll carry on

Pin Number Reversal E-mail

I've gotten this e-mail a few times in the past week:

" PIN NUMBER REVERSAL (GOOD TO KNOW)
If you should ever be forced by a robber to withdraw money from an ATM machine, you can notify the police by entering your Pin # in reverse. For example if your pin number is 1234 then you would put in4321. The ATM recognizes that your pin number is backwards from the ATM card you placed in the machine.The machine will still give you the money you requested, but unknown to the robber, the police will be immediately dispatched to help you.This information was recently broadcast on CTV and it states that it is seldom used, because people don't know it exists.

Please pass this along to everyone."

I checked on Snopes.com and just so everyone knows... IT'S FALSE!!

"PINned Hopes
Claim: Entering one's PIN in reverse at any ATM will summon the police.
Status: False.
Example: [Collected via e-mail, 2006]

Origins: This seemingly helpful heads-up began circulating on the Internet in September 2006. However, "seemingly" is the best that can be said of it at this point, in that entering one's Personal Identification Number (PIN) in reverse at Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) does not summon the police.

Such a system was first imagined in 1994 and patented in 1998 by Joseph Zingher, a Chicago businessman. His SafetyPIN System would alert police that a crime was in progress when a cardholder at an ATM keyed in the reverse of his personal identification numbers. The flip-flopped PIN would serve as a "panic code" that sent a silent alarm to police to notify them that an ATM customer was acting under duress. Because palindromic PINs (e.g., 2002, 7337, 4884) cannot be reversed, Zingher's system included work-arounds for such numeric combinations.

However, Zingher has had little success in interesting the banking community in SafetyPIN despite his pitching it to them with great persistence over the years. He did in 2004 succeed in getting the Illinois General Assembly to adopt a "reverse PIN" clause in SB 562, but the final version of the bill watered down the wording so as to make banks' implementation of the system optional rather than mandatory: "A terminal operated in this State may be designed and programmed so that when a consumer enters his or her personal identification number in reverse order, the terminal automatically sends an alarm to the local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the terminal location."

No one in the banking industry seems to want the technology. The banks argue against its implementation, not only on the basis of cost but also because they doubt such an alert would help anyone being coerced into making an ATM withdrawal. Even if police could be summoned via the keying of a special "alert" or "panic" code, they would likely arrive long after victim and captor had departed. There is also the very real possibility that victims' fumbling around while trying to trigger silent alarms could cause their captors to realize something was up and take those realizations out on their captives. Finally, there is the problem of quickly conjuring up the accustomed PIN in reverse. Even in situations lacking added stress, mentally reconstructing one's PIN backwards is a difficult task for many people. Add to that difficulty the terror of being in the possession of a violent and armed person, and precious few victims might be able to come up with reversed PINs seamlessly enough to fool their captors into believing that everything was proceeding according to plan. As Chuck Stones of the Kansas Bankers Association said in 2004: "I'm not sure anyone here could remember their PIN numbers backward with a gun to their head.""

http://www.snopes.com/business/bank/pinalert.asp

Random Squirrely Light

Look what I found on amazon.co.uk!!!



It's seriously got to be one of THE tackiest lights EVER!!!

Even the name is awful "Garden Party Disco Lighting Squirrel"

The sad part is I kinda want it. :-D hehe (I also kinda want to have a garden disco party! :-P)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Garden-Party-Lighting-Squirrel-chasing/dp/B000TLPKYG/ref=sr_1_8/202-2567512-0702204?ie=UTF8&s=kitchen&qid=1211328799&sr=1-8

Chris Pine to Play James T. Kirk!

In the new Star Trek movie Chris Pine will be playing James T. Kirk. This I find to be really surprising as Pine doesn't remind me of Kirk in the least, but I guess Hollywood knows what they are doing. I'll be interested to see what he does with the role.

The article:

"10.17.2007
The New James T. Kirk: Chris Pine

We have received word that Chris Pine has been confirmed to play the role of James T. Kirk in the new "Star Trek” movie directed by J.J. Abrams.

As previously reported, Pine had been in talks for the coveted iconic role, but had a potential scheduling conflict. Today's confirmation ends speculation on whether the actor would choose "Star Trek” over another film he was offered called "White Jazz,” to be directed by Joe Carnahan and starring George Clooney. Carnahan's own blog dropped strong hints that Pine chose "Trek" over his film, but the details of his signing on to the Trek movie have not been finalized until now.

The 27-year-old Pine is one of Hollywood's hottest young actors right now, gaining prominent attention as Lindsay Lohan's love interest in "Just My Luck" and as a neo-Nazi assassin in Carnahan's "Smokin' Aces." His father, Robert Pine, has played a couple of roles in Star Trek ("Liria," "Tavin") and performed with Michael Dorn on CHiPs.

Related Links:
Chris Pine bio
Chris Pine: A Possible Kirk in the the Works
New Sulu: John Cho Cast in "Star Trek" Movie
Pegg Beamed In For Scotty
Bana Cast as Villain in New Movie
Zoë Saldana Cast in J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek" movie
Check Off Another Cast Member: Yelchin as Chekov?
Big Movie News from Comic-Con - Nimoy and Quinto
Star Trek XI "

http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/news/article/2310413.html

LiveJournal Photos

On my LiveJournal the other day someone commented on one of my posts who I'd never met before... the way in which they'd found me is that they went to this neat site:

http://www.toothpastefordinner.com/livejournal-pictures.php

that shows the most recent 250 images posted on LiveJournal, my pictures were recent enough to put me in the running! Some of them are actually quite awesome, and 'cuz it updates all the time it's constantly changing! Who knows, you might even find a new blog to read as a result of it! LOL

Interac Online

Just in case people didn't have enough ways to spend their money online, here's a new one! Going right along with Interac e-mail money transfers from the bank and having PayPal linked directly to your bank account you can now do Interac Online payments at select online stores!

Personally I think the internet is making it way to easy to make impulsive, non-refundable purchases and then have to wait weeks in shipping just to realize how silly you've actually been!

Of course the other side of the coin is that it makes it convenient for people who cannot get out much to do their shopping just like everyone else.

If you're interested, here's the list of retailers:

http://www.interaconline.com/consumers_where.php

Song of the Week

"In Bloom" - Nirvanna

Sell the kids for food
Weather changes moods
Spring is here again
Reproductive glands

He’s the one
Who likes all our pretty songs
And he likes to sing along
And he likes to shoot his gun
But he don't know what it means
don't know what it means
and I say

He’s the one
Who likes all our pretty songs
And he likes to sing along
And he likes to shoot his gun
But he don't know what it means
don't know what it means
and I say yeeeaaahhh

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

We can have some more
Nature is a whore
Bruises on the fruit
Tender age in bloom

He’s the one
Who likes all our pretty songs
And he likes to sing along
And he likes to shoot his gun
But he don't know what it means
don't know what it means
and I say

He’s the one
Who likes all our pretty songs
And he likes to sing along
And he likes to shoot his gun
But he don't know what it means
don't know what it means
and I say yeeeaaahhh

He’s the one
Who likes all our pretty songs
And he likes to sing along
And he likes to shoot his gun
But he don't know what it means
don't know what it means
and I say

He’s the one
Who likes all our pretty songs
And he likes to sing along
And he likes to shoot his gun
But he don't know what it means
Don't know what it means
Don't know what it means
Don't know what it means and I say yeeeaaahhh

Youtube lied

A recent video on YouTube



prompted my friends and I to go out and try our own glowing mountain dew:

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=12408140402

it didn't work out so well... darn you YouTube for lying to us!!!


Later we found this video:



and we felt a little silly... oh well! :-)

This is also neat:

Hosting a Halloween Party

This is another really good article I recently got in my inbox on Halloween parties:

"How to: Host a Halloween party with Future Photo.

There's no better time of year to host a party than at Halloween. Party planning can be especially fun when you get to choose from such a huge range of themes, activities, and decorations. Plus, you always get the best photos at Halloween: from spooky jack-o'-lanterns glowing in the misty night air to adorable kids dressed up as Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, there are photo opportunities galore.

Choosing a theme.
The first step in creating a great Halloween party is to choose your theme. There are lots of options, but one great family theme is the Pumpkin Carving Party. Try holding it the Saturday before Halloween, and invite families to bring their own pumpkins. Set up carving stations outside, so each family has a place to create their own jack-o'-lantern. You can award a small prize for each pumpkin – best teeth, scariest, funniest – and then give one bigger prize to the grand puba of pumpkins.

A fun way to celebrate the night itself is with a Halloween movie night. There are many family-friendly titles, such as "Corpse Bride ", "Casper" and the "Harry Potter" movies. Or, if you have an older crowd, go with some of the great scary movies of the last few years, like "The Ring", "The Grudge" or the hilarious "Shaun of the Dead".

Preparing for the party.
Great invitations are the key to creating a buzz about your monster Halloween bash. You can create your own spooky invitations at futurephoto.ca and have them delivered directly to your door in as little as three days. That way you can send out your eye-catching invites early so guests won't have already made other plans.

Next, it's time to plan the decorations. Of course you'll need fake cobwebs, an assortment of creepy crawly creatures, and lots of candles and jack-o'-lanterns. You could also make your own wall-size prints of past Halloween fun, or get creative and edit photos of friends and family. Add witches' hats, fangs or red eyes to their photos. If you get them printed at Future Photo, they'll be at your door in just a few days.

The right music and food set the mood.
It's amazing how much atmosphere is created by Halloween music and scary sound effects. The right Halloween sounds can really 'creepify' your home. Depending on the age and tastes of your guests, you could try the "Nightmare Before Christmas" soundtrack CD, "Music From Scary Movies", or for great sound effects, "Scream: The Ultimate Halloween Experience".

Food should be scary and tasty all at the same time. Bake up some cupcakes and decorate them with candy eyeballs, and don't skimp on the pumpkin pie. If there will be lots of little fingers around, easy to eat warming treats like hot dogs, chili, and hot chocolate are always popular. For the grown-up guests, enhance cocktails or punch by adding a few gummy worms, wax teeth, or a slice of blood orange to the mix. Of course, you'll also need a good supply of Halloween candy on hand.

Don't skimp on the party fun.
There are hundreds of activities to try at your ghoulish gathering. A Halloween classic is the old bobbing for apples. And there's nothing like a blindfolded trip through the mad scientist's lab. Bowls of peeled grapes for eyeballs, cooked corkscrew pasta for brains, hot dogs for fingers, and licorice ropes for intestines. Instant creep out!

The most important thing is to make sure you capture it all for posterity. To make sure one person doesn't get stuck with the photo duties, why not encourage everyone to bring their digital camera with them? You'll get a great range of photos and still be able to have a good time at the party.

Keep the party fun coming.
Just because the party is over, doesn't mean the fun has to stop. You and your guests can upload your photos to Future Photo so everyone can relive the memorable evening - and they can even order prints of their favourites. You can also put your favourite photos together in a calendar or Photobook so you can enjoy the scary memories all year long.

Future Photo is a great place to keep those photos safe – they'll come in handy when you're decorating for next year's Halloween bash. "

http://newsletter.futurephoto.com/2007/news/10_15/article1_en.html?CMP=NLC-email_weekly

Fall Photo Tips

An interesting article on fall photo taking:

Pro Tips: Five Tips for Taking Great Fall Photos
— Penny Adams at 12:01 am on Monday, October 1, 2007

Even though it still feels like summer, fall officially arrived on September 23. Before you know it, the leaves will be turning brilliant hues of red, orange and yellow and pumpkins will be popping up everywhere. October is one of the most fun and creative months for capturing dramatic and evocative fall images, so heed these five tips for taking great fall photos to get that classic shot!

1. The window of opportunity for photographing fall colors at their peak is short. Keep your camera with you at all times, and be prepared to shoot what inspires you at a moment’s notice. Don’t put off taking that photo because you think it will probably look the same tomorrow—one windstorm or cold snap and the moment could be lost until next year.

2. During autumn, the sun sits lower in the sky, resulting in beautiful, warm afternoon light. For dramatic color, take your photos just before sunset and try a warm polarizer filter when you’re shooting colorful red and orange trees. If you desire really punchy colors, check your camera’s manual to see if you have the ability to boost the saturation settings; you can also boost the color using photo-editing software later on.

3. Fall often has overcast days, so use the filtered sunlight to your advantage and focus on the details, but don’t forget to crop out that gray sky! Try taking tight shots of fallen leaves, pumpkins or a curvy country road; you might also focus on waterfalls with surrounding fall color. If you think your image looks a little flat or dull, use photo-editing software to add a little contrast.

After you’ve taken your fill of fall foliage, turn your camera on your children, pets and local scarecrow to add some balance to your collection. You could even ask someone to pick up some colorful dry leaves and toss them in the air for an action shot. The even light and lack of harsh shadows makes cloudy days the best for taking portraits, so if the family is together, why not take that holiday photo now?

4. Bring your tripod so you can take photos in low light, use a aperture setting such as f/22 or f/32 (for greater depth of field—if you prefer) or shoot with a longer exposure. Even after sunset, during the magic hour of light, you can still capture stunningly beautiful images with brilliant color.

5.Take lots of close-ups, such as a grouping of mums, a pile of pumpkins or a single leaf against a contrasting background. Sometimes, fall landscapes can be so stunning that we try to capture everything in a single wide-angle photo, but these images often don’t have as much visual impact in smaller prints. When you’re shooting your close-ups, use Don Paulson’s composition tips about using the rule of thirds as images always look stronger when they have a focal" point.

http://blog.webshots.com/?p=732&tag=nl.e201

Word of the Day

I prefer to call it afternoon tea... but to each his own, and where I come from lunch & dinner are the same meal)

Urban Word of the Day
www.urbandictionary.com

October 10, 2007: Linner

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Linner&defid=228282

The meal between lunch and dinner, just as brunch is the meal between breakfast and lunch.

We went on a hot linner date at 3pm.

PostSecret Community

The PostSecret Community website is launching this week. Watch PostSecret videos, upload audio secrets, join up in the chat rooms and more.

http://www.postsecretcommunity.com/

Word of the Day

(I think this may be mostly what I have in my head...)

Urban Word of the Day
www.urbandictionary.com

October 09, 2007: infoporn

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=infoporn&defid=2553556

Information that serves no purpose and consumes valuable space in your head.

Sun Magazine is infoporn.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

HAPPY TURKEY DAY!!!!

Song of the Week

"The Riddle" - Gigi D'Agostino

I got two strong arms
Blessings of Babylon
With time to carry on and try
For sins and false alarms
So to America the brave
Wise men save
Near a tree by a river
There's a hole in the ground
Where an old man of Aran
Goes around and around
And his mind is a beacon
In the veil of the night
For a strange kind of fashion
There's a wrong and a right

Near a tree by a river
There's a hole in the ground
Where an old man of Aran
Goes around and around
And his mind is a beacon
In the veil of the night
For a strange kind of fashion
There's a wrong and a right
But he'll never
Never fight over you

Near a tree by a river
There's a hole in the ground
Where an old man of Aran
Goes around and around
And his mind is a beacon
In the veil of the night
For a strange kind of fashion
There's a wrong and a right

Near a tree by a river
There's a hole in the ground
Where an old man of Aran
Goes around and around
And his mind is a beacon
In the veil of the night
For a strange kind of fashion
There's a wrong and a right
But he'll never
Never fight over you

I got plans for us
Nights in the scullery
And days instead of me
I only know what to discuss
Of for anything but light
Wise men fighting over you

It's not me you see
Pieces of valentine
With just a song of mine
To keep from burning history
Seasons of gasoline and gold

Wise men fold
Near a tree by a river
There's a hole in the ground
Where an old man of Aran
Goes around and around
And his mind is a beacon
In the veil of the night
For a strange kind of fashion
There's a wrong and a right
But he'll never
Never fight over you

I got time to kill
Sly looks in corridors
Without a plan of yours
A blackbird sings on bluebird hill
Thanks to the calling of the wild

Wise men's child

Word of the Day

(This one is sooo true! darn awkward arm!)

Urban Word of the Day

http://www.urbandictionary.com/

October 07, 2007: awkward arm

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=awkward+arm&defid=2173606

That arm that has nowhere to go when [cuddling], [spooning] or sleeping next to someone else. It usually leads to wishing arms could be pulled off and then put back on afterwards. *after trying to settle into a comfortable spooning position

* uh oh, it's the return of AWKWARD ARM!!!

Microsoft Sucks!

I thought I would post this e-mail that I received from Hotmail in regards to my not being able to opt out of Windows Live Hotmail. They finally e-mailed me back after 3 e-mails that went unanswered with this:

"Dear Amby,

Thank you for writing back to Windows Live Hotmail Technical Support. My name is Celeste and I am responding to your inquiry on how to opt out from Windows Live Hotmail. I understand how important it is to have your concern addressed immediately.

Amber-Joy, I regret to inform you that there is no way to go back because MSN Hotmail is being decommissioned. We know you have a choice of email service providers, and we hope you will give Windows Live Hotmail a chance.

MSN Hotmail has recently been replaced by Windows Live Hotmail (WLH) in order to better provide users with the features and functionality they have requested. We understand this change may have come as a surprise to you but we feel strongly you will soon have a much better experience with WLH. Most users have agreed, as 3 out of 4 customers who upgraded preferred Windows Live Hotmail to MSN Hotmail. We hope you will too. As always, your satisfaction is our main goal.

Of course, all your information (contacts, calendar, and email address) is still the same, and there are some great new features customers have requested. In addition to personalizing the look of your Inbox, you are protected by the improved spam protection, and a 5 GB of storage.

We recognize that a change like this can feel unexpected and surprising, and we are eager to hear your feedback (both positive and negative) about the auto-upgrade process.

To send your feedback:

1. Please go to http://feedback.live.com/eform.aspx?productkey=wlmail&page=wlfeedback_home_form
2. Select the first option in the drop-down list, “I want to provide feedback on the automatic update to Windows Live Hotmail.”

Want to learn more about Windows Live Hotmail? We have put together a great tutorial to walk you through the new and upgraded features. Please visit:

http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/LearnMore/default.html

Please also see the FAQ’s we have collected from the customers who used Windows Live Hotmail Beta to better address some of your concerns:

“I was upgraded without my consent and/or I wasn’t told I was being upgraded”.

We are sorry if you did not receive one of the many notifications that were sent, or that you did not notice the in-product messages we have been displaying for the last several months. Our goal was to surprise no one, and we apologize if you feel surprised about the upgrade.

“The user interface is too complicated.”

Sometimes when new features are added to a tool you use frequently, it can feel more complicated. The vast majority of our beta users told us they needed a little time to become familiar with some of the new features, and then grew to enjoy Windows Live Hotmail more than MSN Hotmail. We hope you will take the time to get comfortable, and we have tried to make the transition as simple as possible. This site was designed to help users familiarize themselves with Windows Live Hotmail: http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/LearnMore/default.html

Thank you for your time and continued loyalty to Hotmail.

Sincerely,

Celeste G.
Windows Live Hotmail Technical Support"

Word of the Day

(How many times has this happened to people I know... )

Urban Word of the Day
http://www.urbandictionary.com/

October 05, 2007: bricked

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bricked&defid=1600855

To render your computer useless, as useless as a brick.

Usually the result of tampering with the insides and doing irreversible damage. Bricking your hardware leaves you with a new paperweight. Can be the end effect of a faulty flash or [firmware] update, a [modification] (mod) gone bad or being struck by lighting, to name a few.

He managed to get his new iMac bricked while trying to boot WinXP on it.

I tried to change graphics cards while my computer was running but I only managed to get my machine bricked.

New Blizzard Fan Club Website

I get the monthly newsletters from Dairy Queen about the Blizzard of the Month and news and on my birthday they send me a free blizzard voucher, but this is what came today... I feel perhaps their PR people are trying a little too hard!

"Your wish is our command. Seriously. You want a private jet? Done. You want unconditional bliss? Enjoy. You want to live forever? Just say the word. You're a Blizzard Fan Club Member and in our minds, that makes you more important than oxygen. That's why DQR is proud to announce your dreams have come true. (Well, at least one of them. Not the jet.) You and the other one million plus Blizzard Fan Club members now have a new place to call home. No, this isn't a new creepy reality show... We have a new Blizzard Fan Club website!!!

And it's not just any website. It's a fresh website fit for a Blizzard aficionado.a soft serve savant.a Blizzard Fan Club member. Imagine all the creamy Blizzard info you've ever dreamed of. Plus, fun new experiences like the Blizzualizer, where you can make your own digital Blizzard by mixing ingredients with musical beats and Spoontones, where you select a musical genre and watch Artis the Spoonman, well, do his thang. Not to mention a sweet Blizzard flavour timeline, member counter (now over 1.3 million!) and more stuff that we can't even discuss, legally.

But enough talky talky. Go check out the new home of the Blizzard Fan Club at BlizzardFanClub.com today!"

Career Cruising

I took this thing called "Career Cruising" off of a website that helps determine which job you are best suited for, the first time I took the test was in April and the 2nd was in September, so less than 6 months apart. The interesting part was how different the sets of results were. I give you the list: (after each number the first one is the one from April and 2nd is the one from September.)

01.
Career Counselor
Director of Photography

02.
Director of Photography
Clergy

03.
Set Designer
Music Teacher / Instructor

04.
Social Worker
Foreign Language Instructor

05.
Costume Designer
ESL Teacher

06.
Addictions Counselor
Special Effects Technician

07.
Clergy
Computer Network Specialist

08.
Music Teacher / Instructor
Corporate Trainer

09.
Humanitarian Aid Worker
Actor

10.
Sport Psychology Consultant
Computer Trainer

11.
Special Effects Technician
Child and Youth Worker

12.
Psychologist
Probation Officer

13.
ESL Teacher
High School Teacher

14.
Website Designer
Director

15.
Foreign Language Instructor
Social Worker

16.
Actor
Set Designer

17.
Dental Assistant
Costume Designer

18.
Fashion Designer
Professor

19.
Animator
Addictions Counselor

20.
Desktop Publisher
School Counselor

21.
Librarian
Casting Director

22.
Cartoonist / Comic Illustrator
Musician

23.
Child and Youth Worker
Comedian

24.
Computer Trainer
Composer

25.
High School Teacher
Telephone Operator

26.
Director
Gerontologist

27.
Adoption Counselor
Art / Music Therapist

28.
Professor
Film Editor

29.
Multimedia Developer
Administrative Assistant

30.
Religious Worker
Marriage and Family Therapist

31.
Community Worker
Religious Worker

32.
School Counselor
Community Worker

33.
Marriage and Family Therapist
Occupational Therapist

34.
Funeral Director
Recording Engineer

35.
Nail Technician
Career Counselor

36.
Magician
Human Resource Specialist

37.
Graphic Designer
Foreign Service Officer

38.
Artist
Sport Psychology Consultant

39.
Casting Director
Humanitarian Aid Worker

40.
Computer Animator
Home Economist

It's so weird how much things can change in a few months....

Geico Commercials

I just find these commercials hilarious and I wanted to share them :-)

Flinstones:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSR1wZMJd08


Cabbage Patch Dolls:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh81YFnIwq0

Song of the Week

"Crazy" - Gnarles Barkley

I remember when, I remember, I remember when I lost my mind
There was something so pleasant about that place.
Even your emotions had an echo
In so much space

And when you're out there
Without care,
Yeah, I was out of touch
But it wasn't because I didn't know enough
I just knew too much

Does that make me crazy
Does that make me crazy
Does that make me crazy
Possibly [video version]
Probably [CD version]

And I hope that you are having the time of your life
But think twice, that's my only advice

Come on now, who do you, who do you, who do you, who do you think you are,
Ha ha ha bless your soul
You really think you're in control

Well, I think you're crazy
I think you're crazy
I think you're crazy
Just like me

My heroes had the heart to Lose their lives out on a limb
And all I remember is thinking, I want to be like them
Ever since I was little, ever since I was little it looked like fun
And it's no coincidence I've come
And I can die when I'm done

Maybe I'm crazy
Maybe you're crazy
Maybe we're crazy
Possibly