lightcastle

I *adore* the message on this anti tea-party protest sign, but I think it needs a graphic designer to punch it up since it is just text and not very big.

Text reads:

Obama is not a brown-skinned anti-war socialist who gives away free healthcare.

You're thinking of Jesus.

A friend on Facebook put this picture on my wall, saying it made her think of me.

Something I read on a friend's LJ has me in a pissy mood, so I am linking to some lovely pictures.

Armor for cats and mice

Noctilucent clouds: (It's a slideshow)

Shelf cloud over southern Germany

Thunderstorm over Athens

An eclipse at sunset.

Anyone have a machine they can lend me for this? Someone wants a print, and I feel it should be in the proper colours if at all possible.

I haven't heard back from the really cool job offer I responded to. This makes me very sad.

From my visit to Boston last month:

Half-a-Pound of Silk

The Yarn Store

A Bowl of Oranges in the Morning

(I actually took shots of that silk at a number of different white balance settings to see what it looked like, so this is probably a bit warmer in colour than reality.)

Why I should lend my glasses to people more often.

The ECM+ put up some pictures of the comic book opera's first performance. Last performance is tonight, and it is pretty freaking amazing. You should all go.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/ECM-Ensemble-contemporain-de-Montreal/135587246763?ref=ts&v=wall#!/album.php?aid=174472&id=135587246763&ref=mf

Some sensuous photography from Zhang Jingna (the site has some very nice things)

On the motion picture side of things, Chromakey is everywhere

I sort of knew they did a lot of CGI background work, but had no idea just how extensive it is even for seemingly mundane shots.

The shot lengths in movies are approaching the pink noise ratio of 1/f - a ratio found in many parts of nature and possibly the rhythm of the brain, according to a recent study. This may help make them more grippy, even if it doesn't make them better.

And as long as we are talking movies, an argument in favour of piracy.

Finally, a series of gender-swapped superheroes from the annual calendar at PortalComic, assessed by the people at Comics Alliance.

Some are fun, and the line about Rebel being "like if Shawn Michaels got super-powers in 1992" is very funny. But for me, the crowning glory of the piece is definitely Cross-gender Asterix and Obelix!!

..is something something.

Of course, I would need to *have* a desk for this to be relevant.

Hope you're all voting for Higgins to get funding.

I remain disappointed people didn't want to comment on the zombies or the mermaids in the earlier post.

The "Evil Bastard Version" of two kids with famous imaginary friends.

Sometimes, you look at the trap and wish you had money to get people sexy boots. (Or were good enough friends with that woman who works at Fluevog that you could get inside info on warehouse markdowns or such.)

I really do need to find a beach and participate in the World Beach Project.

I got to visit Tandberg yesterday and now I really want to become a supervillain so I can issue threats via giant screen to boardrooms around the world. I would need a cat, or perhaps an evil guinea pig.

I have some photos I need to edit and things to do.

1. Is the real theme of all Zombie movies secretly the human need for family?

2. Is my Urban Dictionary definition appropriate? (Note I did not write those.)

3. Is learning math with rocks the way to go?

4. Are we happy with the proposed changes to Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders in the DSM V?

5. Same question for PTSD

6. Does anyone know how I can gather the resources to do something like these underwater pictures?

I've actually had employment this week, which has kept me mostly offline. Still hoping this might turn into a real job one day.

In the meantime, I heard a song on CBC Radio 2 Shift that needs to go on my list of "Songs about my imaginary girlfriend."

Mine All Mine (My Baby), the 5th track on Mike Plume's new album 8:30 Newfoundland. (Mr. Plume is obviously one of those artists that as a good Canadian I should have discovered long ago. I accept your lectures and recriminations.)

(Of course, CBC has now played a song by Catherine Maclellan called "Take a Break" which is about picking potatoes with cute people and another called "Saskatoon" which features the unlikely chorus "Everythin'll be better by Saskatoon" - this by Leeroy Stagger.)

I now distract you with a picture of a volcano causing lightning.

As a reminder, I will be storytelling at 92 Degrees of Love Friday and Saturday. I am still deciding exactly what story to tell. (I am intending to go Arabian Nights, but I may suddenly change my mind.)

I'm also going to take advantage of my fondness for being written on To Write Love On Her Arms on Friday.

I was bumped tonight, but it was for the fantastical DeAnne Smith, so I can't be too upset.

Then I got to shoot pool with J__ and D___, so that is a goodness. They came all the way from Ottawa to see me perform. They could not help but note the lack of Montrealers who showed up.

In other news, my friend and ex-roommate adaptively made this post, and so I thought I would gather more advice for her if it is forthcoming from anyone.

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ATTN MODELS/PHOTOGRAPHERS: What's Your Best Tip For Being Photographed?

Hey, I know plenty of people who've done really interesting and off-beat work on both sides of the camera, so I'd like to put the hivemind to use.

If you've got a minute, throw me your best tip to make yourself/your subject the most photogenic. (I have an idea for a cute post and am unfortunately incredibly un-photogenic.) Is it how you tilt your chin or the way you apply makeup? Do you call up a mental image or do you have a lighting strategy? Throw me a line with your favorite pre-shoot ritual or miniscule adjustment, and if you include a link to your Model Mayhem/Flickr/portfolio I'll be happy to link back.

First, some interesting photos of actors reprising/echoing some of their iconic roles.

Then, a
shallow appeal to the "hot geek babe" stereotype.

I've mentioned my profound shallowness, yes?

Popular Science puts out a gorgeous gallery of the year's best science pictures.

Finally, Jesus and Mo

I'm a fool and forgot a whole section when I wrote this this morning. Therefore, a new one.

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Not that anybody I know has money to buy me things (even if they pooled money together) but I am still doing the Veruca Salt exercise for Yule. :-)

As always, food, drink, company and maybe decent books are always appreciated.

Lighting: Yeah, there's lots of other equipment I'd like, but I do intend to one day have a job and an apartment again. When I do, I want to put aside a little corner for a studio and have real lighting to light things and people with. After all, it is called "lightwriting", isn't it? Lights that aren't cobbled together things out of work lights and sheets are expensive though. It would be nice to have them, however.

Lightroom and/or Photoshop Having the trial version of Lightroom 2.5 has convinced me I want the program in a full paid version. I probably don't need much more than Photoshop 7 (and I can probably use my mom's copy, although the all French menus are annoying) for anything I would do. Obviously, CS3 or 4 would be delightful, as I understand it integrates well with Lightroom.

Camera Lens: I'd like to add to my options for my DSLR, since I like shooting with it. Suggestions other than the ones here are welcome from people more knowledgeable than me. I got the 35mm f/1.8, although I may want a 50mm for portraits where I am closer to head shots. Sadly, the 50mm I can find seem not to autofocus with a D40. (Well, this one will but it is twice as expensive.)

Given I have the fast 35mm, I'm probably ok.

I'd like the 18-200mm VR as a do-everything lens, but it's quite expensive. The 55-200 VR would probably do fine for me in cases I need a zoom lens (like Derby shooting although given the crappy lighting in the arena, it might be too slow).

Clothing. I can always use new and better clothing, as I haven't had money to buy new clothes in forever.

Digital Camcorder: What the hell, I've always wanted one of these. I haven't done nearly enough research to know what kind I would want. I suspect I'd prefer one that records to a memory card or some such rather than a tape, but I think those are a lot more expensive. I don't really care about HD.

Makeup Sure, I intend to make my models bring their own makeup, but I am also trying to learn enough to do basics myself and having a stock of decent stuff on hand can't hurt.

e-book reader: I have enough friends in love with the Kindle to be toying with the idea of getting something like it. Mind you, I'd probably lean towards something like the EZReader, as I am not a fand of proprietary formats, and it's a bit cheaper. Kindle is only now becoming useful in Canada, and I am sure my tech friends here have done vastly more research on what is good.

Netbook: I still haven't found my perfect version of one of these, although Maery's Aspire is very cute. I've been talked out of solid-state as a serious advantage.

Kitchen Aid: Even if I don't have my own place to use it, something so obviously good for making food is bound to appeal. I'm sure I'd use a stand mxer quite a bit.