A couple of years back there was a huge controversy regarding the movie "the DiVinci Code." Many devout church goes felt it was sacrilegious. The older folks were most concerned that movies would think that the story was real. There is no chance that this story is real.
In the sequel.. well sort of.. to "the DiVinci Code" Tom Hanks plays a professor that has tried to get the Vatican to open their archives. The Vatican is reluctant to do that. A series of serious events in the middle of a pope succession brings Hank's character back into the picture trying to rescue the lives of potential popes from the hands of a terrorist group of people who have infiltrated the Vatican governance.
The acting is above average for this kind of movie. The scriptwriting is spot on. The editing is traditional.. which I like. There are no hand held camera chase scenes to build intimacy or sense of urgency.
Its a huge budget "who done it". In many ways it could be compared in tone and plot development to the Mission Impossible movies.
Viewers need to be cautioned that there is some gore and a pretty disgusting scene with some small furry animals. These were not long but had a distinctive CSI feel to them.
The critics have pretty well panned it. I think it was a pretty good movie. It will take some head scratching in the end to figure out that there were actually two groups that were villians.
The cinematography is wonderful. Rome is Rome and it will bring back memories with its sequences.
Overall its a movie that should be seen this summer. It will definitely play better on the big screen than in netflicks. So.. go see in the theater!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Social Networking and the World of Gurus
I often will check out the blog that is published next to mine.
It is strictly a random blog and often it is something in a foreign language that I don't know. The photos are cool.. so it keeps me looking.
The blog next to mine one day brought an interesting subject to light.
Fayza.me - Fayza Elmostehi
Fayza
This blogger works as part of the Schipul web marketing company in Houston TX. They have a whole section on their website that focuses on consulting companies with websites to include social networking into the design. Fayza does this as part of her job.
One of her entities was the Houston Zoo. The usual corporate website was one of her responsibilities as well as as developing connections on social networking sites. She found that there were Flickr groups of photos of the Houston zoo that could be linked on a frequent basis and tied to the Houston Zoo website. She even developed a "Photo Day" where patrons of the zoo could upload on their site, the photos that were taken during a particular period of time. There were also many people that gave good advice to others going to the zoo that could be referenced in a live section in the website. We are all reporters, we are all photographers, we are all critics.
It is interesting that the new social networking tools are being used to fulfill a vital need for the gen x and millennial generations. If you have a particular need from a company the old email piece is often ignored while the customers that help other customers in social networking contexts is alike and well. What does that mean? Its pretty strange that the best corporate advertising in this era occurs from customer to customer with some interaction from the company. The movement away from top down interaction is huge.
What are the vehicles of this movement? Web pages with their structure tend to be the static source of information in this world. Little details may be targeted in branching so that the particular audience for subsets of information may be sourced. My friend Ron had trouble with his new washing machine. It was throwing up an error code. He went on the web and found his model but was unsuccessful in finding his error code translation. Doing a google search for a more general information about the washer, he was able to go out in specificity and found a pdf for his model along with many other models in a very as he would describe it "nasty looking website."
He downloaded the pdf file and was able to determine from the pdf file that the error code was coming from the drain filter. Using his trusty ohm meter he realized that the washer was still running the drain sequence when the drain was full. The little pump had burned out. From this pdf, he was able to figure out the number of the part he needed. The local appliance part supplier was pretty amazed that he had a part number for them. They did not have that part in stock (no surprise there) but he was able to order it on line.
It is this kind of focus in, focus out, focus in, we really need to be teaching our students in this new era. Many are doing this all the time. The old term paper pales in comparison.
It would not surprise me that there are people in my facebook group that could help in such a quest. The average facebook group is just over 150 people strong. Do you think that any of them have done some of this kind of search on the web?
Corporate America is monitoring what is said about them in these social venues as well. There are social network readers that may be set up to monitor mentions of a particular product or service. These specialized virtual robots, when connected to actual people in the offices are the most valuable asset to clear up tangential miscues.
I think the most interesting series of events occured with Linzi and her Ipod earlier this year. She sent in a Ipod for repair to a company that promised swift turnaround. That didn't happen. Her plight was revealed to many people also contemplating such a repair. A corporate black eye was sent out via other blogs and social networks and soon the company made many offers to correct the situation.
This kind of thing really rocks my generation. It hard to believe that we are so close to someone that can get soemething done!
I guess that is why they took the unincripted Blackberry away from Obama!
: ) Pat
It is strictly a random blog and often it is something in a foreign language that I don't know. The photos are cool.. so it keeps me looking.
The blog next to mine one day brought an interesting subject to light.
Fayza.me - Fayza Elmostehi
Fayza
This blogger works as part of the Schipul web marketing company in Houston TX. They have a whole section on their website that focuses on consulting companies with websites to include social networking into the design. Fayza does this as part of her job.
One of her entities was the Houston Zoo. The usual corporate website was one of her responsibilities as well as as developing connections on social networking sites. She found that there were Flickr groups of photos of the Houston zoo that could be linked on a frequent basis and tied to the Houston Zoo website. She even developed a "Photo Day" where patrons of the zoo could upload on their site, the photos that were taken during a particular period of time. There were also many people that gave good advice to others going to the zoo that could be referenced in a live section in the website. We are all reporters, we are all photographers, we are all critics.
It is interesting that the new social networking tools are being used to fulfill a vital need for the gen x and millennial generations. If you have a particular need from a company the old email piece is often ignored while the customers that help other customers in social networking contexts is alike and well. What does that mean? Its pretty strange that the best corporate advertising in this era occurs from customer to customer with some interaction from the company. The movement away from top down interaction is huge.
What are the vehicles of this movement? Web pages with their structure tend to be the static source of information in this world. Little details may be targeted in branching so that the particular audience for subsets of information may be sourced. My friend Ron had trouble with his new washing machine. It was throwing up an error code. He went on the web and found his model but was unsuccessful in finding his error code translation. Doing a google search for a more general information about the washer, he was able to go out in specificity and found a pdf for his model along with many other models in a very as he would describe it "nasty looking website."
He downloaded the pdf file and was able to determine from the pdf file that the error code was coming from the drain filter. Using his trusty ohm meter he realized that the washer was still running the drain sequence when the drain was full. The little pump had burned out. From this pdf, he was able to figure out the number of the part he needed. The local appliance part supplier was pretty amazed that he had a part number for them. They did not have that part in stock (no surprise there) but he was able to order it on line.
It is this kind of focus in, focus out, focus in, we really need to be teaching our students in this new era. Many are doing this all the time. The old term paper pales in comparison.
It would not surprise me that there are people in my facebook group that could help in such a quest. The average facebook group is just over 150 people strong. Do you think that any of them have done some of this kind of search on the web?
Corporate America is monitoring what is said about them in these social venues as well. There are social network readers that may be set up to monitor mentions of a particular product or service. These specialized virtual robots, when connected to actual people in the offices are the most valuable asset to clear up tangential miscues.
I think the most interesting series of events occured with Linzi and her Ipod earlier this year. She sent in a Ipod for repair to a company that promised swift turnaround. That didn't happen. Her plight was revealed to many people also contemplating such a repair. A corporate black eye was sent out via other blogs and social networks and soon the company made many offers to correct the situation.
This kind of thing really rocks my generation. It hard to believe that we are so close to someone that can get soemething done!
I guess that is why they took the unincripted Blackberry away from Obama!
: ) Pat
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Gold Country Memorial Day
Sue has always wanted to ride the train.
The Jamestown State Railroad Park has a train that departs their station every hour until 3 pm. It climbs over several gold rush claims and finally reaches a quarry 20 minutes later.
It used to be steam. The steam boiler for the train is broken and in the process of being repaired in Seattle. The desiel works to pull the restored cars along the route. We opted for the first class car. Its a 16 dollar ticket. This beauty used to ply the railroads between San Francisco and Santa Cruz near the turn of the century. It was part of the "Sunshine Special" that brought people to the beach. It also served north of San Francisco and was used in a Sausalito to the redwoods run. The beautiful restored pullman car has been lovingly brought back to life over the years. It has stained glass windows and inlaid wooden panels. We sat in the part of the car near the barber shop. The parlor section of the car had comfortable winged chairs and a couple of ladies dressed in the fashion of that era.
The train conductor told stories of the train line and filled us in on the history of the first class car. We had a great time. Sue made it up and into the car without a wheel chair. She also did that coming off. The steps were pretty steep but she was able to do it.
We had a hot dog special in the little cafe. They had some very cool potato salad that was definitely home made. Not mayo centered, it must have had some mustard seeds in it. A Hebrew National hot dog, a cup of potato salad and a can of soda for 5 dollars. I had mine with sauerkraut, onions and jalapenos. Yum Yum.
An older man in a powerchair came wheeling into the cafe. He ordered up a gatoraide. When the clerk delivered it, he offer up his credit card. "Nope, we don't take cards." the clerk said.
It was hot, so Sue and I bought him his gatoraide and delivered it too him. His face lit up to discover that someone had figured out his plight and provided for his needs.
Have a good One
Pat
The Jamestown State Railroad Park has a train that departs their station every hour until 3 pm. It climbs over several gold rush claims and finally reaches a quarry 20 minutes later.
It used to be steam. The steam boiler for the train is broken and in the process of being repaired in Seattle. The desiel works to pull the restored cars along the route. We opted for the first class car. Its a 16 dollar ticket. This beauty used to ply the railroads between San Francisco and Santa Cruz near the turn of the century. It was part of the "Sunshine Special" that brought people to the beach. It also served north of San Francisco and was used in a Sausalito to the redwoods run. The beautiful restored pullman car has been lovingly brought back to life over the years. It has stained glass windows and inlaid wooden panels. We sat in the part of the car near the barber shop. The parlor section of the car had comfortable winged chairs and a couple of ladies dressed in the fashion of that era.
The train conductor told stories of the train line and filled us in on the history of the first class car. We had a great time. Sue made it up and into the car without a wheel chair. She also did that coming off. The steps were pretty steep but she was able to do it.
We had a hot dog special in the little cafe. They had some very cool potato salad that was definitely home made. Not mayo centered, it must have had some mustard seeds in it. A Hebrew National hot dog, a cup of potato salad and a can of soda for 5 dollars. I had mine with sauerkraut, onions and jalapenos. Yum Yum.
An older man in a powerchair came wheeling into the cafe. He ordered up a gatoraide. When the clerk delivered it, he offer up his credit card. "Nope, we don't take cards." the clerk said.
It was hot, so Sue and I bought him his gatoraide and delivered it too him. His face lit up to discover that someone had figured out his plight and provided for his needs.
Have a good One
Pat
Monday, May 25, 2009
New student Movie
I have just finished one movie with the new ILife 09. This is program that can take you places. using just the movie feature on my Canon powershot 790 IS, I was able to take and compile the "Tell me a little about yourself" project for my students.
At first I was put off by the stripped down look of IMovie 09. Many of the old features of the software metaphor of two versions back seemed to be missing. The last version, Movie 08 or whatever it was,had Apple changing the editing metaphor significantly. Just jumping in, the only way that was comfortable with the old one was to to bring in all the clips and let the program make the transitions. All sound had to come out of garage band. It didn't seem to have acceptable clip editing tools and the list goes on. Overall, the approach was a combination of of Final Cut Express and magic movies.. the quickest way to get video from camera to DVD. This was not acceptable.
The new version, ILife 09, seems to have addressed many of these concerns. I really like the way the transitions are provided. They come in as drag and drop items. They may be edited in length by their band over the movie sections. Trim to clip is easily accessible. Track sound is still a bit of a mystery for me on this one.
Overall this program saved me a considerable amount of time over the last one I did that was very similar. The documentation is very slow in coming. The first books out on ILife 09 are just starting to show up. There are always some basic things that need to be done with video editing. These are not so evident when the metaphor is switched.
Have a great memorial day. Think of our fallen military people sometime today. As Grandma Nelly would say.. because it is decoration day.
: ) Pat
At first I was put off by the stripped down look of IMovie 09. Many of the old features of the software metaphor of two versions back seemed to be missing. The last version, Movie 08 or whatever it was,had Apple changing the editing metaphor significantly. Just jumping in, the only way that was comfortable with the old one was to to bring in all the clips and let the program make the transitions. All sound had to come out of garage band. It didn't seem to have acceptable clip editing tools and the list goes on. Overall, the approach was a combination of of Final Cut Express and magic movies.. the quickest way to get video from camera to DVD. This was not acceptable.
The new version, ILife 09, seems to have addressed many of these concerns. I really like the way the transitions are provided. They come in as drag and drop items. They may be edited in length by their band over the movie sections. Trim to clip is easily accessible. Track sound is still a bit of a mystery for me on this one.
Overall this program saved me a considerable amount of time over the last one I did that was very similar. The documentation is very slow in coming. The first books out on ILife 09 are just starting to show up. There are always some basic things that need to be done with video editing. These are not so evident when the metaphor is switched.
Have a great memorial day. Think of our fallen military people sometime today. As Grandma Nelly would say.. because it is decoration day.
: ) Pat
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Before there was Nascar there was Indy
Today the Indy 500 is being run.
Its a little different than it used to be.
In the 60's it was a "pay for view event" even before cable.
People bought tickets at the Circle Star Theater or the Cow Palace to see the broadcast. Today it is run with side by side advertisements on ABC one of the big three TV networks. In that era that was about what you got on TV except for a few high Frequency channels that mostly carried PBS programming.
There were no women drivers. Today there are two.. Can you name them? Danica Patrick, the original Go Daddy Girl, and Sarah Evans, the woman with the most starts at Indy.
There are many safety features built into the track that were not there. Many zero impact barriers. Collapsible axles and impact resistant drivers cockpits. There is some amazing crash technology on display. In the first half of the race, there were 6 very nasty crashes with the wall. All drivers got out alive and were talking to the interviewers within minutes. Most of the reason for the crashes were driver's errors. There is a very sophisticated set of rules about passing and opening lanes for drivers to follow.
The cars are running at top end about 215 miles an hour. This is pretty amazing because I remember when no car could go that fast. Now they all go that fast on corn juice ethanol.
The drafting and the dirty air (air turbulence) that occurs in this race makes it harder to drive from the back of the field to the front.
What can really make a difference it basically three things.
1. A driver that can drive at those speeds and doesn't get too emotionally involved with the other drivers. The driver must hit the mark at 60 mph when coming into the pit.
2. A pit crew that can send the car back earlier than the others during the race. Leads can easily change over this.
3. A cew of spotters and tech people that can determine how much fuel is being burned, who much tire tread is left, and who is passing who as they track the car whizzing around the oval.
The TV folks have great stories to tell about the crews and progress of who is in which team and what they have developed in practice.. but it is pretty lame considering you get to see a 200mph race in high def, in the middle of a beautiful day in Indiana.
: ) Pat
Its a little different than it used to be.
In the 60's it was a "pay for view event" even before cable.
People bought tickets at the Circle Star Theater or the Cow Palace to see the broadcast. Today it is run with side by side advertisements on ABC one of the big three TV networks. In that era that was about what you got on TV except for a few high Frequency channels that mostly carried PBS programming.
There were no women drivers. Today there are two.. Can you name them? Danica Patrick, the original Go Daddy Girl, and Sarah Evans, the woman with the most starts at Indy.
There are many safety features built into the track that were not there. Many zero impact barriers. Collapsible axles and impact resistant drivers cockpits. There is some amazing crash technology on display. In the first half of the race, there were 6 very nasty crashes with the wall. All drivers got out alive and were talking to the interviewers within minutes. Most of the reason for the crashes were driver's errors. There is a very sophisticated set of rules about passing and opening lanes for drivers to follow.
The cars are running at top end about 215 miles an hour. This is pretty amazing because I remember when no car could go that fast. Now they all go that fast on corn juice ethanol.
The drafting and the dirty air (air turbulence) that occurs in this race makes it harder to drive from the back of the field to the front.
What can really make a difference it basically three things.
1. A driver that can drive at those speeds and doesn't get too emotionally involved with the other drivers. The driver must hit the mark at 60 mph when coming into the pit.
2. A pit crew that can send the car back earlier than the others during the race. Leads can easily change over this.
3. A cew of spotters and tech people that can determine how much fuel is being burned, who much tire tread is left, and who is passing who as they track the car whizzing around the oval.
The TV folks have great stories to tell about the crews and progress of who is in which team and what they have developed in practice.. but it is pretty lame considering you get to see a 200mph race in high def, in the middle of a beautiful day in Indiana.
: ) Pat
Friday, May 22, 2009
Lucky LInzi
Linzi is headed for big D this weekend.
She is introducing a Disneyland newbee to the joys of Disneyland. We have had such a good time as a family there. She is looking forward to it. Its cool to see it from a newbie's perpective.
I watched the basketball playoffs tonight. Le Bron James was something else with a clutch 3 pointer at the buzzer. The Clevland Cavs seem to run away with the game early in the first half. Tonight they were ahead by early. By the end it took a miraculous shot to beat the Orlando Magic. Both teams have very different approaches to winning.
We are into some warm nights recently. That means that it never gets cooler than 65 degrees at night. The peaches and the apricots are really coming along. This weekend is usually the first weekend that we can get local boysenberries. Some years Linzi and I go picking them and make great batches of jam and pie filling. This year I have to get the weeds done first.. at least so that I can find the canning stove. There is some serious school work that needs to be done too.
So much for the Friday slump.
Have a good one.
Pat
She is introducing a Disneyland newbee to the joys of Disneyland. We have had such a good time as a family there. She is looking forward to it. Its cool to see it from a newbie's perpective.
I watched the basketball playoffs tonight. Le Bron James was something else with a clutch 3 pointer at the buzzer. The Clevland Cavs seem to run away with the game early in the first half. Tonight they were ahead by early. By the end it took a miraculous shot to beat the Orlando Magic. Both teams have very different approaches to winning.
We are into some warm nights recently. That means that it never gets cooler than 65 degrees at night. The peaches and the apricots are really coming along. This weekend is usually the first weekend that we can get local boysenberries. Some years Linzi and I go picking them and make great batches of jam and pie filling. This year I have to get the weeds done first.. at least so that I can find the canning stove. There is some serious school work that needs to be done too.
So much for the Friday slump.
Have a good one.
Pat
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Fried Eggplant
One of my adult discoveries.
I love fried eggplant. This Italian restaurant in Atwater makes yummy fried eggplant. It comes deep fat fried with red sauce and grated romano cheese on top. I never thought that I would like such a thing. I think that growing up as a baby I had some. As best as I can remember it, the ladies at the school cafeteria in Grand Junction had a wonderful recipe for eggplant casserole. I was under 5 but it seems like a memory. Mom made it because no meat was required. It must have been there that I tasted this memory that comes back to haunt me as an adult.
I remember doing the same thing to our kids.. via Gerber. We would feed our kids from little jars food that we would not consider eating ourselves just so that they would not grow up prejudice against a certain food. Its no wonder that the girls like lamb and sweet potatoes. (Sue's most hated and my most hated). It must have worked.
Also on our agenda tonight was a trip to get mom a giant tea cup to plant an indoor plant. She was hoping to get one on Mothers day.. luckily for me they were still there. The giant tea cup/ coffee cup will hold a big pathos plant that we picked up at Loews. We had to get a bag of indoor soil too.It will be a highlight of the plant collection on the island. I hope it all works out.
At school I finished taking as many students as I could their little tell me a little about yourself. I had to jump in as ask some questions this time. A couple of students could not be persuaded to complete the group. I will hook these latest wonders to the ones taken in February and see if there is a difference. It ought to be cool.
We are slowly getting used to our 90 degree weather. It always reaches it high temperature late in the afternoon. This leaves many of the students with a dilemma. Should they dress for the morning, which is still pretty cool.. 60's and where the air conditioners prime the classes for the afternoon heat, or should they chill out for the morning and feel more comfortable in the afternoon?
Seniors are in serious countdown. They got their yearbooks yesterday and today they cannot keep their eyes off of them.
What do you think a new year book costs these days? 80$.
That is just the beginning. Caps and gowns and tassels and invitations and key rings and all sorts of Grad 2009 memorabilia is pitched and bought. It all arrived yesterday!
Graduation is June 4th.
: ) Pat
I love fried eggplant. This Italian restaurant in Atwater makes yummy fried eggplant. It comes deep fat fried with red sauce and grated romano cheese on top. I never thought that I would like such a thing. I think that growing up as a baby I had some. As best as I can remember it, the ladies at the school cafeteria in Grand Junction had a wonderful recipe for eggplant casserole. I was under 5 but it seems like a memory. Mom made it because no meat was required. It must have been there that I tasted this memory that comes back to haunt me as an adult.
I remember doing the same thing to our kids.. via Gerber. We would feed our kids from little jars food that we would not consider eating ourselves just so that they would not grow up prejudice against a certain food. Its no wonder that the girls like lamb and sweet potatoes. (Sue's most hated and my most hated). It must have worked.
Also on our agenda tonight was a trip to get mom a giant tea cup to plant an indoor plant. She was hoping to get one on Mothers day.. luckily for me they were still there. The giant tea cup/ coffee cup will hold a big pathos plant that we picked up at Loews. We had to get a bag of indoor soil too.It will be a highlight of the plant collection on the island. I hope it all works out.
At school I finished taking as many students as I could their little tell me a little about yourself. I had to jump in as ask some questions this time. A couple of students could not be persuaded to complete the group. I will hook these latest wonders to the ones taken in February and see if there is a difference. It ought to be cool.
We are slowly getting used to our 90 degree weather. It always reaches it high temperature late in the afternoon. This leaves many of the students with a dilemma. Should they dress for the morning, which is still pretty cool.. 60's and where the air conditioners prime the classes for the afternoon heat, or should they chill out for the morning and feel more comfortable in the afternoon?
Seniors are in serious countdown. They got their yearbooks yesterday and today they cannot keep their eyes off of them.
What do you think a new year book costs these days? 80$.
That is just the beginning. Caps and gowns and tassels and invitations and key rings and all sorts of Grad 2009 memorabilia is pitched and bought. It all arrived yesterday!
Graduation is June 4th.
: ) Pat
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