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Post by The Herald on Sept 1, 2007 7:15:08 GMT
Animals- The nest of an Emu can be up to 1.5 metres wide.
- The temperature of the saltwater crocodile's egg will determine the sex of the new born crocodile.
- Sharks need to swim, or they will sink.
- A mother dingo regurgitates food for her puppies.
- Platypuses can consume their own body weight in food in a 24 hour period.
- The box jellyfish is responsible for more deaths in Australia than snakes, sharks, and salt water crocodiles.
- The Irukandji jellyfish is only 2.5 centimetres in diameter but can cause death to humans within days.
- A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.
- A giraffe can clean its ears with its 21-inch tongue.
- A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.
The Human Body- In one hour, your heart works hard enough to produce the equivalent energy to raise almost 1 ton of weight 1 yard off the ground.
- 50,000 of the cells in your body will die and be replaced with new cells, all while you have been reading this sentence.
- In 1 square inch of skin, there lies 4 yards of nerve fibers, 1300 nerve cells, 100 sweat glands, 3 million cells, and 3 yards of blood vessels.
- The world's first test-tube twins were born in June 1981.
- In a year, a person`s heart beats 40,000,000 times.
- Most people blink about 25 times a minute.
- Your stomach has to produce a new layer of mucus every two weeks otherwise it will digest itself.
- Your left lung is smaller than your right lung to make room for your heart.
- Every two thousand frowns creates one wrinkle.
- A sneeze zooms out of your mouth at over 100 m.p.h.
Old State Laws- It is illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while operating a vehicle in Alabama.
- Animals are banned from mating publicly within 1,500 feet of a tavern, school, or place of worship in California.
- In Florida, having sexual relations with a porcupine is illegal.
- Kansas prohibits shooting rabbits from a motorboat.
- It is illegal to rob a bank and then shoot at the bank teller with a water pistol in Louisiana.
- Liquor stores in Indiana may not sell milk.
- In New York, a fine of $25 can be levied for flirting. This old law specifically prohibits men from turning around on any city street and looking "at a woman in that way." A second conviction for a crime of this magnitude calls for the violating male to be forced to wear a "pair of horse-blinders" wherever and whenever he goes outside for a stroll.
- It is illegal to fish for whales on Sunday in Ohio.
Miscellaneous- 1,525,000,000 miles of telephone wire a strung across the U.S.
- 101 Dalmatians and Peter Pan (Wendy) are the only two Disney cartoon features with both parents that are present and don't die throughout the movie.
- 12 newborns will be given to the wrong parents daily.
- 123,000,000 cars are being driven down the U.S's highways right now.
- 160 cars can drive side by side on the Monumental Axis in Brazil, the world's widest road.
- 315 entries in Webster's Dictionary will be misspelled.
- 5% of Canadians don't know the first 7 words of the Canadian anthem, but know the first 9 of the American anthem.
- 99% of the solar systems mass is concentrated in the sun.
- A company in Taiwan makes dinnerware out of wheat, so you can eat your plate.
- A dime has 118 ridges around the edge.
- All 50 states are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the $5 bill.
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Post by The Herald on Sept 1, 2007 7:15:26 GMT
Name: Ryan Morrissey Age: 17 Sex: Yes, please. Male. Website? Alliance-ImageryYou have mentioned that you once owned a fairly active graphic arts community. Do you think it helped you improve your abilities by being able to talk with other artists and learn from them?Alright, awesome question. Yes I would definitely say it helped me grow as an artist, even though I found myself more on the operational side of running the community I found myself reading tons of tutorials we had posted in my free time. Since your forum closed, what drew you to join SSD and become active?Well, my forum closed a little over a year ago, and the following months after that I lost interest in designing. But missed it so much I started searching the net for other designing communities like Digital-Industry (which recently closed as well) and G101 Design. One day I was surfing the G101 forums and found a post by an admin from SSD and just followed the link in his signature and found this community of passionate artists. Which would you say you are more talented and experienced in - the graphics or the coding side of things?Well I mostly dealt with mild to moderate HTML and a ton of PHP which I become somewhat alright at; I found coding to be more problem solving. Designing is a great way to express your interests and passions so I would have to say I'm much better at expression or designing/graphics than coding, and enjoy it a whole lot more. What have you accomplished that you are the proudest of, so far?Well I'd have to tie it back to the creation of LiquidGFX while it strived as a popular designing community. I'm also very fond of my photography which I hope to explore more of while here at SSD. Are you interested in art/coding as a hobby or something you'd like to pursue once you graduate from high school? Definitely a hobby at the moment, but I hope to take the skills I've aquired so far and hopefully gain some more to use in the future with a career. I really plan on going to school for advertising and marketing, which in both fields, it can help a lot to know your way around Photoshop and at least some coding here and there. Since this is intended to be a feature all about you, Matix, let's get some more info about the person behind the name.Favorite Food? Mexican/Italian Movie? So many.. Shooter, Bad Boys II, Shaun of the Dead. Music? More Alternative Rock, but I like to be very well rounded. Hobbies? Photography, Graphic Design, working on my truck, and staying fit. Guilty Pleasure(s)? Well even though I'm more into Rock I'd have to say one guilty pleasure is country every so often. Another guilty pleasure would have to be right before I fall asleep, I lift a bunch of weights and do a ton of push-ups. Anything interesting you would like to share with the world?I like dogs way more than cats. Anything else you feel that SSD needs to know about you?I'll be getting back into photography very soon so be on the look out for some shots from me in the photo area! Lastly, cake or pie?Pie.
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Post by The Herald on Sept 1, 2007 7:15:47 GMT
Welcome to the first installment of Proboard Review. This month, I chose Proboards' biggest music forum to review. The Pulse Music board is a well-established 4-year-old music community. They have a strong member base of 4,000+ and cater to all kinds of music. The reason I know it is a great music forum is because their community is intently involved with the forum. The message board has 1,251,000 posts, with the bulk of them coming from the genre discussions category. The main reason I think this forum is a great example for not only music forums, but all forums, is it goes to show a skin doesn’t define a forum. What really makes up a community happens to be just that- the community, and the involvement of the members. I had a conversation with Matt 4319, the founder of Pulse Music board. He told me that he doesn’t think a template would be a good idea, because his members “prefer the simplicity.” One may ask how a forum of that genre grew into Proboards biggest forum. Matt told me: “Three things: A pre-existing user base, word of mouth, and Google.” The reason he made the switch from his own domain to hosted software was because “company execs decided to shut down the board for reasons unknown, therefore we had to find another ‘home base’ from which to post.” His community then pulled through, exchanging emails, promoting the site, etc- they all worked together to try to start over this excellent music forum. Even then, he tells me, “there's no way that Pulse would have hosted 1 million posts made by over 4,000 members without word of mouth and Google's search results.” I am sure as the founder he must feel very fortunate and proud to have a community like Pulse Music. But he said he is most proud of the fact that members and staff alike can converse in an “intelligent and lively discussion on non-musical topics” So, even though music is their number one subject, you can still find multiple conversations going on in the Off-Topic boards too! Probably the most interesting component of his forum is their contests. "Recently a Games section was added to the forum, where members can participate in "Survivor"-style tournaments; groups of artists or songs are pitted together and board members' votes determine the favorite. Also the first "Pulse Idol" competition has begun. Here, members compete against each other as in American Idol, uploading their own performances of songs and facing 3 Pulse judges. Each week there is a different theme (as in AI) and an eliminated contestant, until one board member is selected the first "Pulse Idol". Finally, a Big Brother-style interactive competition is in the works. These, along with the new Games section, offer numerous possibilities for enhancing the Pulse community atmosphere.” You can see that there is endless amounts of things to do while browsing The Pulse Music Board. If you are a big music fan, and are looking for a great forum to join, definitely check out this board!
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Post by The Herald on Sept 1, 2007 7:16:35 GMT
I recently read an article that talked about how more people are planning adventurous holidays. Whether you are rock climbing in the Grand Canyon or swimming in the Great Barrier Reef, adventurous vacations are sure to give you a thrill. I recently got back from Costa Rica. A beautiful country. I took part in many excursions there, which you can engage in, in many South American locations. Canoeing I went on 45 minute canoe trip through the rainforest. This was very exciting, because you had total control as to where you wanted to go as long as you stayed within the boundaries. The area was like this huge river system with all these little rivers the width of a car. So, they were like 1 person rivers. You could reach out and touch the land on either sides. I saw an abundance of wildlife and beautiful flowers. Zip Line Not many places offer this, but it was definitely a thrill. There were 10 zip lines attached from tree to tree and you would slide across them at a fast speed. The best part was the view. You were so high up, you could see for miles. The beautiful rainforest's and birds, that was an amazing experience. Horseback RidingThe only downside of horseback riding is if you sit on one too long, your bum begins to hurt. But an upside is they can travel to places car can't. And, these places are where the beauty is at. I went at a fairly fast pace through rivers, swamps, and farmland. This was also the excursion in which I saw the two beautiful waterfalls. One scary note, my horse saw a black garbage bag and started freaking out, running in circles. I was jerked off of my horse but my foot was still caught in the holder. Thankfully, the guide calmed the horse and helped me back on. White Water Rafting My favorite excursion by far. There are many holiday spots that offer this unforgettable activity. There were class 4 rapids, so every few minutes or so, you crashed into a huge rapid. Or, spun into a whirlpool. Many people at the star were very scared, but they overcame their fears. Trust me, if you partake in this, you will wish it never ended. So, the next time your parents ask where you would like to vacation, don't say Disney World or your house Tell them you want to go on an adventure. Tell them you want a location where beauty is never out of sight and thrills are never out of reach. Tell them you don't want to spend an hour in line waiting for half melted, everyday ice cream. Tell them you want a vacation to remember, a vacation full of adrenaline-pumping, goosebump-inducing fun. Thanks Ryan for the ending!
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Post by The Herald on Sept 1, 2007 7:16:54 GMT
Note: This is a story which would involve SSD members' names in it. Please note that whenever happens in the story, it is purely fictional.PrologueShe closed her eyes as the calming moonlight shone upon her purple skin, giving her a slight glow. She took a sniff of the air. It was filled with the scent of fresh grass and of- What was that? A stench of macabre horrors and death had invaded the serenity, as the Elf snapped open her eyes. Sensing danger, she immediately leaped off the ground with her superhuman strength, just as two daggers flew past where she had been sitting just a moment ago. She narrowed her eyes as she stood at the top of the bamboo tree, her amplified nightvision scanning the woods for the mysterious assassin. "You," her voice rang through the silence of the woods, a melodious sound. "Yes, it is me, Grace," came a deep voice, as a figure with red cloak suddenly appeared before her. The stranger was tall, about two feet, and his face was covered by his crimson-red cloak. The only facial feature visible was his eyes. Blood-red eyes, which seemed to stare right into one's soul. His presence brought about a suffocating pressure in the air, as Grace cleared her throat. "Always so hostile aren't you?" "Oh come on," he gave a cold laugh, "it was merely a test of your reflexes. If I were to try to harm you, you would have already died." "You think too highly of yourself, Ethan." "Hey hey, now both of you, relax. We aren't here for a contest of strength," came a third voice from nowhere. It was a deep, solemn voice. "Oliver, mind showing yourself?" Grace asked, slightly impatient. Oliver's ability to turn himself almost invisible had always irritated her. "Behind you." She turned her head slightly, looking over her shoulders. "You have improved, Ollie. I could barely sense you," said Ethan, hands folded. "Now, where are the rest?" Grace gently slipped off the tree as she landed on the ground again. Her companions followed suit, as they both landed on the ground, behind her. "So where is he? He was the one who summoned us, and now he's late?" A sudden mist materialised as the surroundings grew cold. "Ah, you're finally here," the crimson-red assassin said, his eyes focusing on the mists. "About time," Grace continued, as another figure appeared from the cold mists. He was also cloaked, through with a deep purple instead of crimson red. "I apologise for my lateness, my fellow henchmen, and henchwoman," he added, looking at the Elf, who seemed offended by his tone but did not speak. "Henchman?" Ethan repeated, his eyes narrowing into two slits, "I am no pawn of yours." "Not directly under me, yes, but you serve the Amaranth and I, unfortunately, am of higher ranking than you. That, however, isn't the point of today's meeting," he added as the Assassin's eyes flared with dangerous rage. "Spare us the crap, and spit out what you wish to say." "Silence," came a fifth voice, again from the mists. Another figure stepped out, as the Elf, the Assassin and the Mesmer looked surprised. "You didn't tell us you were coming as well, Jonny." "Formalities later, please," interrupted Kai, "now that every one is here, the meeting shall begin."
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Post by The Herald on Sept 1, 2007 7:17:16 GMT
September is the ninth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four Gregorian months with 30 days. In Latin, septem means "seven" and septimus means "seventh"; September was in fact the seventh month of the Roman calendar until 153 BC. Daily EventsThese events came from Historical People and Events in SeptemberSeptember 1st- World War II began with the Nazi invasion of Poland, 1939 September 2nd- Japan signed the surrender terms aboard the "U.S.S. Missouri," ending the war in the Pacific, 1945 September 3rd- Viking II landed on Mars, 1976 September 4th- George Eastman received patent for roll-film camera, 1888 September 5th- The First Continental Congress was established, 1774 September 6th- The funeral for Princess Diana was held in Westminster Abbey, London, 1997 September 7th- Queen Elizabeth I was born in Greenwich, England, 1533 September 8th- Italy surrendered unconditionally to the Allied powers during World War II, 1943 September 9th- California was admitted to the Union, 1850 (31st) September 10th- The First Army liberated Luxembourg, 1944 September 11th- The Beatles recorded their first single,"Love Me Do," 1962 September 12th- "Lassie" made its television debut, 1954 September 13th- The Beatles first and only concert (two shows) in Baltimore, 1964 September 14th- The World War II Battle of Stalingrad occurred, 1942 September 15th- The Swastika was made the official symbol of Nazi Germany, 1935 September 16th-The "Sun King" of France, Louis XIV, was born, 1638 September 17th-The United States Constitution was signed, 1787 September 18th- Singer James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix died in London at the age of 27 from the overdose of barbiturates and alcohol, 1970 September 19th- The first underground atomic explosion occurred at the proving grounds near Las Vegas, Nevada, 1957 September 20th- The U.S. Embassy in Beruit was bombed through the means of a suicide car-bomb, which exploded outside the Embassy, killing 23 including two Americans, 1984 September 21th- The first direct telegraph service to Brazil from the United States was established, 1883 September 22th- "Fiddler on the Roof" opened on Broadway, 1964 September 23th- The planet Neptune was discovered by Johann Gottfried Galle, 1846 September 24th- The world's first transatlantic telephone cable system began its operation. Using twin cables, it stretched 2250 miles from Clarenville, Newfoundland to Oban, Scotland, and cost $42 million, 1956 September 25th- The first operation of the transatlantic cable occurred, 1956 September 26th- Seoul, the capital of South Korea was recaptured by US troops during the Korean War, 1950 September 27th- The first passenger train went into operation in England, 1825 September 28th- William I of England, known as the "Conqueror" invaded England claiming English throne, 1066 September 29th- Cyanide placed in Tylenol capsules caused the deaths of seven people in the Chicago area. The makers of Tylenol recalled 264,000 bottles of the drug. The killer was never found, 1982 September 30th- The Military trial in Nuremberg found 22 Nazi's guilty of war crimes, 1946
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Post by The Herald on Sept 1, 2007 7:17:35 GMT
Link: www.youtube.com/user/lonelygirl15 (Director's Page) Basically the big thing that hit on YouTube this month was the longelygirl15 Season Finale. At first, lonelygirl15 started off about a teenage girl named Bree and her web blog. People flocked to it after tons and tons of daily blogs. Well it came down and the stuff started to get weird. And this turned out to be a fake, well, not really a fake but she was acting more or less. So this piece aired this month, rather, 12 pieces, which was the season finale of her series and blogs. So she airs this pretty good filming season finale of it and it's in 12 pieces. It was a little weird, but if you go through and watch it, shes some special person and it gets her killed in the end. Link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=EH6AYVn2yw4 (Individual Video) If you're a skateboarder, you really don't like cops. And this video that hit YouTube has thrown skateboarders all around the county into an outrage. A video of cops using excessive force on skateboarders hit the YouTube community after Go Skateboarding Day on June 21st, which is the day during the summer with the most sunlight, which is the longest day for people to go skating. And unfortunately in Hot Springs, Arkansas, these kids were treated like this just for skateboaridng on the sidewalk... bogus? I think so. You can view news broadcasts of the situation as well as uncut versions and much more. Link: uk.youtube.com/user/TayZondayChocolate Rain! Okay... I linked to the main director page for Tay Zonday, an R&B prodigy out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. What started off as just a small hobby of him doing some singing has created a tremendous uproar of views to this guys stuff. Chocolate Rain has been covered by many people on YouTube (such as Chad Vader, Tre Cool, and was in collaborative melody with John Mayer on VH1's Best Week Ever.) This guy has got over 7-million hits on his hit single "Chocolate Rain" and is rising. He has preformed live on the Jimmy Kimmel Show, and been on numerous talk shows across the country. He even made the MySpace Top 100 unsigned artists a few weeks back. I know this video is a few months old, but has hit hard just recently after the John Mayer thing. Link: uk.youtube.com/watch?v=pr_qwkmWukINot only was this video hot on YouTube, but these clips were on sports news all over the world. David Beckhams' first goal with the LA Galaxy in the US. Nothing really to say other than that. He did his stuff, and YouTube viewers watch it. May not be great for everyone, or entertaining. But really, it's all about what's HOT here. And Beckhams' wife is... Link: uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zYotPV6gcRsBoobs... just watch. It's got a lot of discussion on here. She's hot, sexxy accent, and I'd love to see her boobs.
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Post by The Herald on Sept 1, 2007 7:18:54 GMT
Mystery Person #1Age: 75 upon death Birthday: March 3, 1847 Date of Death:August 2, 1922 Birth Place: Edinburgh, Scotland Gender:Male Martial Status:Married, with 4 children [Occupation:[/b]Inventor He is credited with the invention of the Metal Detector, and the hydrofoil. Who is he? Mystery Person #2Age: 81 upon death Birthday: May 16, 1718 Date of Death: January 9, 1799 Gender: Female Occupation:Math Professor She is well known for the formula: 1 ----- =y x 2+1 Mystery Person #3Age:65-45 upon death Birthday:Between 350-370 A.D. Date of Death:415 A.D. Gender: Female Occupation: Math and Philosophy Teacher She is from Alexandria and thought of as one of the most important women in math.
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Post by The Herald on Sept 1, 2007 7:19:26 GMT
A Novella by Pandora i. They made the sky smoky and violent. I had almost forgotten the sun by the time I turned eighteen. Ten years ago, on this day exactly, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. My little cheeks were turning pink in the sun as I played badminton on the beach with my family. My parents made special allowances for me and my twin brother because we were only eight years old. I don’t remember if we kept track of the score. My brother always knew who was winning, his mood swinging in perfect time to the score. I guess it just didn’t matter much to me. I was happy just to be playing, winning or losing aside. That was a long time ago, and the memory was beginning to get very murky. Besides, winning was now a way of life. Old enough to be drafted. Finally. Show me how to use the weapons and I’ll gladly eliminate my fair share of the enemy. The enemy? Capitalistic Military DOGS. Us? The Citizens…once proud citizens of The United States. Currently the Government’s target. How did a civil war come to be in America in this day and age? If you figure it out, let me know. All that hatred never made much sense to me. Who has time for hatred? I don’t hate the enemy; I just wanted a chance to prevent them from killing anymore of my family and friends. That’s reasonable, isn’t it? “DOGS” is an acronym. Defense Of Government Standards. Well, we the people didn’t like our government very much, so we revolted. The various branches of the military combined and joined forces like some sort of human, camouflage-clad Voltron, for fuck’s sake. We the people stood to be abolished by DOGS, and there was little to be done about it. Don’t assume I’m a man, by the way. I’m a woman. Did your image of me change? Now you have to completely rework the character your mind created to represent the narrator. Serves you right for making the assumption. Among the Citizens, females are equally eligible as the males to be drafted. I couldn’t wait to turn in my tag. ii. “Eighteen to the day. You know, you have a thirty day grace period to turn over your tag or dispute the draft. Why don’t you spend that time with your family and friends?” The recruiting officer had a point, but he didn’t know my family was dead, and that I hadn’t any friends. “The graveyard is a little crowded with Memorial Week starting yesterday. I avoid it this time of year. I said my goodbyes and I’m ready to sign up.” “Fair enough, eager beaver. Fair enough.” He sat and pulled the proper forms from a cardboard box, a box he’d previously been using as a foot rest when I first entered the office. “Swanky digs,” I said, perusing the décor. “It was a 7/11 before. Did you expect something fancier?” “No, I really didn’t. It actually looks ok for what it was and what it is.” “Ok, then. Now have a seat. You’re making me nervous,” he groused. I smiled, mostly because I was moments away from a roof over my head and food in my belly. I’d managed thus far, but now I wouldn’t have to steal from the dead to survive. I could earn my way as a soldier. It felt good. I smiled also because I would be trained to defend my own life. Until now, running was the answer, and hiding. Don’t forget the hiding. Sewer tunnels, damp basements, tombs and mausoleums even. It was about time I got a warm bed all my own. And if I lost a bunk mate because of death, at least I knew the reason was an honorable one, a trained soldier in battle, not because he or she got so hungry that they exposed themselves to Government Surveillance before the all clear was given, skulking like a scavenger for scraps, endangering us all by heeding the call of their own belly. Maybe that sounds like harsh judgment, but a war was raging. Everyone had to put their own personal problems aside in order to help the Citizens succeed in revolting. The alternative to a successful revolution was extinction. Extinction was unacceptable. If I had to kill a few DOGS, or several, or a thousand, I would. If I had to go without creature comforts for a few days, or several, or a thousand, I would. It’d be worth it to keep my life, my freedom, my sanity and my compassion intact. Bottom line, I wanted to do only what I must so that we Citizens didn’t have to hide anymore, but do so while holding onto my innocence and my human side. As I handed the officer my completed forms, I wondered if killing people would change me. I headed to the doctor in the next room to get my qualifying physical. I eyed the Slurpee machine, idle and rusty, old before its time. I knew that’s how I would end up if I didn’t join the draft. iii. It had a library. My assigned base had a library! I think the base was once an office building, windows meticulously blacked out to keep secret our presence. I could tell by the bunks being placed in cubicles, the walls of which were cloth. Thumbtacks held photos of various friends and family members of the drafted, sometimes band pics or nudie shots. None of that mattered to me yet because there was a library for me to devour…figuratively of course. Not all the citizens were as well read as me. Books were taken by the government because, get this, they thought the citizens of America were becoming too knowledgeable. They took our phones and the internet too. If we weren’t already suspicious of our Government’s motives that would have been the last clue we needed. If we hadn’t already been stockpiling unregistered weapons and organizing our efforts, the banning of books, communication and the flow of information would have made revolution the clearest course of action. We reached that conclusion much sooner, when health care ceased to be, and that was when the Citizens started secretly meeting, discussing revolution. With a source of knowledge, we could study natural remedies. We could diagnose ourselves and we stood a chance. Prescription medications were becoming increasingly ineffective against illness and infection anyway. With books, we could make bombs from common household items, and we could find stories of hope. Book banning, information hording, was too obvious a move on the Government’s part. The Civil War we’d been pretending was not inevitable, but prepared for all the while, was at hand. When we were 12, my brother and I attended one such meeting. The air was deliciously tense. The price for getting caught was very high for committing treason. Swift death. Well, swift death or imprisonment. We all hoped for death if it ever came down to it, truth be told. The lesser of two evils, you know. The 31st amendment stated that no trial was necessary if a deputy of the government was witness to treasonous words or actions. It was the deputies’ judgment that mattered, and getting deputized was as easy as counting to ten. I had suspicions that the test was just that. “Count to ten…..OK, you pass. Here’s your badge, now go kill anyone and everyone you suspect of treason. Don’t forget your guns and ammo and grenades. Pull the pin, then throw, then hit the deck. There, you’re a trained deputy.” I’d been honing my “deputy spotting” skills for six years. I was quite good, and the Citizen’s forces were planning on utilizing me to my capacity. I was even given a pen and a notebook. Paper was a dwindling resource, so I was understandably honored by the gift. The closest thing I was given that could be considered a uniform was a pair of jeans and a plain black T-Shirt. Fine by me. I noticed that some of the Citizens wore blue or brown T-shirts. Some even wore baseball caps. We didn’t have a uniform, you see. Why call attention to the troops with ironed and starched uniforms? Why segregate the soldiers from the non fighting Citizens? We were all the same, fighting for the same goal. Some, like me, chose to fight as soldiers. Others continued to live without fear. That was their protest. My parents protested in such a manner. The death rate among passive protestors seemed higher than that of soldiers. It was a miracle I survived. I went underground after Mom and Dad died so that I could continue to survive, become a soldier and aggressively fight the Government DOGS. The saga continues next month...
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Post by The Herald on Sept 1, 2007 7:20:01 GMT
Bryanic's Opening Argument: Revolution is my name.Cuba 1959, England 1642 and 1688, Russia 1917, America 1775 and France...well, in France nearly every decade for the last few centuries. Revolutions have shaped every major country's development. For better or worse, a revolution is a far more fitting expression of 'the people's will' than democracy. In a revolution there’s no middle ground, or 'oh well I vote for them because I don't want to see the others in' or 'there’s no point in voting for a third party' - even when the other two are the most virulent scum to float to the top of the pond. While a revolution may be hijacked by corrupt leaders and opportunists, who don't believe in 'the spirit' of the revolution, there is no purer reaction to oppression or corruption. Sometimes a system can only be changed by taking it down and starting again. Pandora's Opening Argument: Flying off the HandleIt’s easy to use violence and brute force to make yourself heard. Grand gestures of martyrdom are romanticized in movies and by the press. I ask you this: When is a violent protest crossing the line then? Has it gone too far when a man jumps into the midst of a crowd with a bomb attached to his body, taking several lives including his own in the name of some god or dictator or fossil fuel or whatever the press would have us believe that week? Or is that terrorism? And then there are the riots. Riots are like a grand scale tantrum…with casualties, and there’s a big difference between riots and revolution. Riots are fueled by, and incite, panic. I can’t recall any stories in which panic resolved any of the world’s ills. I’m not saying that revolution is never the answer, but sometimes I think certain groups cross that fine line between protest and terrorism. Bryanic's Rebuttal: C'mon to a Violent World with me.Terrorism is a funny word; it gets thrown around a lot these days. When people talk about terrorism they seem to mean violence that isn't sponsored or approved by their own government - or maybe the leader of their Young Republican's organization. Oh no, when our 'friends and allies' do it, its 'military action', 'preventive steps', 'pacifying' or simply, 'Oh lord, we just went in there to even it out for dem damn gooks.' When multinationals chop down trees so we can rot our own guts out with fast food wrapped up in plastic that never decays, it’s 'what the customer wants'. When they storm hippy farms on their own soil and blow them to kingdom come, it’s a matter of 'national security'. When they covertly sterilize whole communities, test drugs in third world countries to see what colour of vomit you spew when you take their new 'wonder drug', or when they destabilize whole countries for profit...that’s all by the by...you can't complain ‘cause they're too big and you're too small, or they have power so they must be right, and you kind of like being fucked anyway – cause, well, maybe someday it'll be your chance to do the fucking. The system is violence, and direct action is just the response in a violent world. Pandora's Rebuttal: Punk’s not DeadAs always, you’ve pigeon-holed everyone in the world into two extremes. Gray doesn’t exist in your private little world, does it? “CAPITALISTS ARE SCUM!” seems to be your battle cry. Well, it would probably make a catchy punk song, anyway, but hardly a pragmatic plan for fixing the world. Maybe the slackers, including myself, should take a more active interest in politics. I really don’t think we’ve explored every option that doesn’t include murder and mayhem. People piss and moan, and they rarely lift a finger to raise the quality of living. We almost donate to charities, we claim the state of the world is awful over drinks with friends and then drive home intoxicated, we accept welfare checks long after they are necessary to get back on our feet. I’m not saying all these things apply to me, but it is very commonplace to care but never actually do what it takes to improve the world. All I’m saying is that we have a long way to go before we need to resort to violence. If we all collectively pitch in we could make the proper changes without actually killing any innocent people. What a novel idea. Bryanic’s Closing Argument: 'Let the boots do the talking.' IF. IF? IF. ...IF? IF! Fuck IF. You'll never have a perfect world - where everyone bands together to talk things out with clarity and understanding. No, but you will get anger, and anger can solve so much more than a bunch of well meaning noises. We've got a world where the same company that runs the prisons, runs the army, where democracy means mob rule - it always has- and a mob is only as intelligent as its least intelligent member. The people that run our countries aren't answerable to our countries. They have the seat of power and have all the cards, house always wins. But only if you play their game. They've given you a garden path to assail because they know you will take it. Make your complaints, sign your petitions, pen your paper and stick it into your box - and watch them piss on it if they don't like the result. While you 'explore your options', people die. Pandora’s Closing Argument: When will the violence stop?“No, but you will get anger,” you said. Your answer is anger? Anger and violence. Oh yes, that’s a great recipe for a healthy world. Are things really that bad? Are you telling me you don’t feel like you’d be crossing the line by launching an assault on the government, say, tomorrow? It sounds to me like you don’t see an easy solution, so we should just give up on being civil. Game over. We’re all cowering sheep bowing to the will of the Gestapo. “While you 'explore your options', people die,” you said. So your answer is to rush to death, encourage others to follow you into death, and bring death to the “bad guys” as a brand of wild-mob vigilantism. In my head, the scenario plays out in black and white, hillbillies carrying torches and pitchforks on their way to Capitol Hill to destroy the manmade abomination. I’m suggesting being a positive force instead of inciting riots. You don’t have to be a floor mat to avoid violence. I imagine it requires a profound amount of strength to take the high road.
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Post by The Herald on Sept 1, 2007 7:20:24 GMT
Link to Part 1Again, I'll give you the disclaimer. This is an opinion piece. From my point of view, in my little corner of the world, the following artists seem to have cornered the market on influence through traditional art. I've provided here the briefest description of why each artist is a part of this list. Observing their influence in today's art, among other genres such as film and literature, is up to you. I'm merely opening your eyes. It is you who must observe the depth of their influence. Enjoy! Frida Kahlo (1907 – 1954) MexicoKahlo grew up during the Mexican Revolution. Like most surrealists, the facts of her story are frequently disputed. She would lie about her heritage, and she even lied about her age so people would think she was born in the year the Revolution started, wanting to always be associated with the significant event. The turning point for her painting career seems to be a tragic accident that left her fairly feeble. Many operations were performed, and she could eventually walk again, but a number of miscarriages made it all too clear that her ability to reproduce had been stripped from her. Kahlo used the pain of adjusting to the injuries to fuel her passion for painting. Often disturbing and grotesque images symbolized her life struggles. She is the first female surrealist, and one of the most honest painters of any time. Sin Esperanza (Without Hope) Painted the year of her death. Self Portrait: She often used herself as the subject of her paintings. I don’t consider it an egotistical trait, but autobiographical symbolism. Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606 -1669) NetherlandsThe name Rembrandt is synonymous with skillful, beautifully rendered paintings. He remains a brilliant example of realism, and the perfect representative for the Dutch Golden Age. I’ve always felt there was something ethereal about his work. There seems to be a luminescence not seen in most two dimensional works. The light looks alive, as if the sun will set if I stare at the paintings long enough, and nighttime will descend on Rembrandt’s subjects. His fine art skills are quite capable of speaking for themselves. In a rough translation from a letter he wrote, Rembrandt wanted to achieve “the greatest and most natural movement” in his paintings. He succeeded, and continuously makes our jaws drop in awe. “The Philosopher in Meditation” is my favorite Rembrandt. “Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp”. Notice how perfectly human the expressions are on the faces of the men in this painting. Bob Ross (1942 – 1995) United States of AmericaOk, I made this one personal and nostalgic. Bob Ross influenced my generation. He made us feel like painting beautiful landscapes was easy. We all picked up a brush, at least once, and painted along with him. Thirty minutes to scenic beauty, how could we resist? A happy little tree here, a happy little shrub there, so serene and optimistic. Bob Ross inspired me to paint, and I actually cried when he died. Who could forget his trademark afro? He was a character, unique and gentle and talented, and he tried to share that talent by teaching. His television program "The Joy of Painting", which aired on public television from 1983 to 1995, is still syndicated to this day, and is the object of an impressive cult following. An example of Ross’ work, “Evergreens at Sunset”. A very recognizable photo of Bob Ross Pablo Picasso (1881 – 1973) SpainHis full name is actually Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Clito Ruiz y Picasso. We’ll just stick with Pablo Picasso for this article. He co-founded the Cubist Movement, a blocky, abstract style of representing subjects and objects, but was masterful with more realistic styles as well. A long time ago, someone taught me that one must learn the rules before one can effectively break them. And so it was with the formally trained Pablo Picasso. He was an innovator, armed with thorough knowledge of his medium. At the turn of the century, he lived in stereotypical poverty, the starving artist cliché yet again, and worked his way into high French Society. His career as an artist was a huge success, and he is consistently among the first artists mentioned when answering the question, “Which individuals are the most influential contemporary artists?” “The Old Guitarist” is a relatively early work from 1903. Here is a piece titled “Guitar Player” painted less than a decade after “The Old Guitarist”. The two extremely different interpretations of the same subject shows his diverse talents. Marcel Duchamp (1887 – 1968) France/USA“The creative act is not performed by the artist alone; the spectator brings the work in contact with the external world by deciphering and interpreting its inner qualifications and thus adds his contribution to the creative act.” ~Marcel Duchamp That quote is pretty much the backbone of Duchamp’s philosophy of art. Art is interactive. Art has no meaning without observers. Can a urinal be called art if you call it “Fountain” and sign it R. Mutt? He thought it was worth finding out. Why not? He had a quiet, eccentric way about him. For example, his piece “Nude Descending a Staircase” was not to appear at the Cubist Salon des Indépendants unless he painted over the title. They found it inappropriate. Without a word, he removed his piece from the show and took it home, no longer interested in belonging to an art group. America was also offended by the unrealistic nature of the nude. He moved to New York in 1915 and was embraced by the art community there. During that period he helped launch an anti-war, avant-garde style of artistic protest called the Dada Movement. He aimed to stretch the minds and imagination of the masses. He aimed to redefine art. The only thing he loved more than art, apparently, was chess. He was highly skilled at the game, and he eventually stopped producing artwork altogether so he could play full time. The object of much controversy in 1912 in France, and again in 1913 in America. Is this art? Sources for pictures and information: www.ritzobrian.tripod.com www.wallcoo.com www.wikipedia.com www.cache.kotaku.com www.salem.k12.va.us
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Post by The Herald on Sept 1, 2007 7:20:45 GMT
Ask Me Anything: Edition 002Article by urbancinderellaSo the second round is here and I won't waste your time with a long introduction, though I will give a general disclaimer: I joke around. A lot. Don't take me seriously. Why are we here? - VictorI'm here to provide wisdom to the general populace. You're here to ask if I want fries with that. We all have very different reasons. What does 42 mean to you? - VictorThe answer to the universe... so I've been told. What's the point of me asking these useless questions? - VictorDo you want fries with that? Haaaaah... kidding. How do I become the most supreme being in the universe? - VictorBuy an iphone. It's a feature. How amazingly amazing and hot is Jonny? - JonnyAbout as much as he is modest. Does it scare you that by the 26th or whenever you close this thread, you will have literally hundreds of questions to answer? - Gray929Only if they're boring questions... like if it scares me that I will get so many. Can you type from 1 to 100,000? If so, you have to prove it. - Gray9291 to 100,000 And you better have seen that one coming. If I said pillow what would be the next word to come into your mind? - Jon UtahElephant. If I said G what would be the next word to come into your mind? - Jon UtahTurnip. Pervert. What is your favorite color and why? - Jon UtahPuke Green, because it was the unloved crayon in the box. Do girls really care what guys shoes and/or trainers look like? - Jon UtahNo. Guys should wear sandals. How are you today? - Jon UtahSick and melodramatic. Though the first may stem from the second. I'm also upset that I was unable to learn how to tie a tie, despite trying for an hour at my store. I got funny looks when I wore my messed up tie around the store. Sigh. What is your outlook on life? - Jon UtahThat the best things in life are usually the hardest achieve... just as the best parts of our nature are the hardest to preserve. Couldn't most of these questions been answered by anyone? - Jon UtahWhy do I have to be the smex of us all? (It's a hard job...) - DudeBecause Jonny's just botched up the job and someone had to step up to the plate. Will my plan to take over SSD work? - DudeDoes it involve scantily clad monkeys and lots of money for me? Why do I still feel like a n00b here? - DudeIt's an automatic setting. You have to go through your User CP to manually change it from n00b to extr3me l33t hax0r. What's my real name? - DudeJeffrey Lebowski. What's your real name? - DudeCindy. Why am I asking you these questions? - DudeThis one in particular? Because every single person above you has asked some variation of it in order to communicate how pointless this exercise seems to them... and you felt the natural instinct to conform. Why did you call me a perv? - DudeBecause pervert takes too long to type. Why do girls in my class like to play with my hair? - DudeWhy do you let them? Why is my brother a pain in the ass? - DudeIt's his job to be. Do you say either as in E ther or I ther? - TjActually... first serious answer I've given today... I say both. It depends on the sound of the word coming after it. Kind of like ant/auunt. I say both, depending on the sentence. Why are there so many stupid questions like this around here? - kpSm tOink..! c",)Because people didn't take a minute to ask decent ones, like what the scientific name of squash is. What's the scientific name of squash? - kpSm tOink..! c",)Genus: Cucurbita Species: C. maxima - hubbard squash, buttercup squash C. mixta - cushaw squash C. moschata - butternut squash C. pepo - most pumpkins, acorn squash, summer squash, zucchini[1] Yay wiki.Why is it the battles (in the "Battle Board") seem unfair to me and for some reason, some use their pen tablet while im using my pointing stick.?! - kpSm tOink..! c",)Just because some people's pointing sticks are a little more appreciated and operate better is no excuse to whine. What's the point of asking these questions? - kpSm tOink..! c",)Nothing; it's been diminished by this exact same question being repeated over at least four times in this round. Why do girls wear their bra's and panty's while boys have their briefs/boxers? How about if we interchange them? - kpSm tOink..! c"... You're awkward. What are the kinds of definition and their rules? - kpSm tOink..! c"Lexical Definitions - must be a complete sentence. Lexical definitions are just defining something in a generic sense; it merely supplies the already-established meaning of the word. Precising Definition - Defines something in specific terms. For example "For the purpose of this survey, binge drinking is defined as..." It does not give the essential meaning of the word, but narrows it down to specific terms in relation to the subject at hand. Theoretical Definition - Goes beyond explaining what the term is and explains theories surrounding it. For example: Base:
Compounds that when dissolved in water increase the concentration of hydroxide ions (OH). Bases are proton acceptors. Substances with a pH greater than 7 are considered to basic.Persuasive Definition - Not exactly a good example of a definition... but one that misses communicating the essential meaning of the term and instead seeks to persuade the reader towards one opinion about the term. For example- "Valentine's Day is an evil holiday established to rob men of their money." At least, those were the ones I was taught. Might've forgotten a few. Mostly, they're just supposed to be grammatically correct and you must place the term in quotes. Why is man rational? - kpSm tOink..! c"They're not; they just invented the word to replace the less flattering "stupid" cavewomen had described them with. Do angels really exist? - kpSm tOink..! c"Yes. They're really great outfielders, apparently. How do you know? - kpSm tOink..! c"I saw it on TV. It must be true. How do you answer these questions? Isn't it tough? - kpSm tOink..! c"Not especially; I just say the first thing that comes into my head... though I did have to work hard to try to remember about the types of definitions. Who created the first "real" computer? - -[Accura]-Al Gore. He needed something to connect his Internet to. What is the name of the 18th planet in the Sol System? - -[Accura]-Bob? I'm sorry, my very eager mother only served us nine pizzas. Which is nearest habitable planet? - -[Accura]-... this one? Which is the nearest habitable moon? - -[Accura]-Major Nelson didn't seem too uncomfortable on ours after Jeannie spruced it up for him. Where can Earth Debris (Possibly containing life), have landed? - -[Accura]-Were you one of those kids who wanted to be an astronaut when you grew up? Because I never was. I just wanted to be a fire(wo)man. So I could spray shit with a hose.How big is time? - -[Accura]-Depends. How late are you? What is the number of God? -[Accura]-1. Some say it's 111 - 3 1's. All the same jazz anyway. What are the two numbers allegedly of the devil? -[Accura]-Eh. Some say 666, but 666 is the number for the Anti-Christ. There's some superstition about 87, and 11 is a popularly evil number... along with 13. Really, biblical numberology is only tied down when it comes to the numbers 1,3,7, and 12. All others change based on what you're reading. What are all of the years of the Earth? Everything from creation, religious to First Signs of Life. -[Accura]-0 or 1. From their perspective. Though in all honesty, I don't understand your question, so I'm just assuming you mean what are the most common years attributed to be the beginning of the Earth- from religious to scientific perspectives. What's your bra size? - Mastermind32 DDDDDD - about 10 cup sizes. Where's my sarong? - MastermindEthan said you found it... Whatever happened to Joe? - AlixActually, I get messages from him on deviantART every once in a while. I think he's just gotten really busy with his job and girlfriends, etc. You should send him a message on DA... I'm sure he'd appreciate being missed. What's the best item available for knocking slightly-intoxicated semi-attractive middle-aged women unconcious in compromising situations other than a punch to the back of the head? - AwesomeAndrewPhone a Friend (Shadow)- GHB What's the strongest solution available on the market to remove blood stains, and miscellaneous bodily fluids from the hood of a car without damaging the paint job? - AwesomeAndrewAre you sure the images on your site were simply chosen from your favorite gore-flicks?Is it still considered "Cement Nikes" if a Mafia hit is done with a similar method, but the victim is wearing Adidas brand sneakers instead? - AwesomeAndrewThe name of the method is hardly the important part in this case; the men should be much more concerned about whether telling the other to "Just Do It" before pushing the hit off the dock is still considered clever... or if they need to figure out a way to slip " Impossible is nothing compared to this" in in order to get full comedic points. Why won't some posters grasp that the concepts presented within this reply were simply sarcastic jests before having explicitly read so? - AwesomeAndrewAl Gore hasn't taught them the secrets of the interwebs yet. Not even recognizing sarcasm in between the complicated 1's and 0's. Would you kiss me? - MaxWill you become a prince? Which is better in your opinion, the SVD or Mosin Nagant? Please feel free to discuss in-depth both positives and negatives for each, basing your opinions on any and all aspects: looks, feel, sound, etc. Your answer does not have to be limited to the above mentioned features, however, they are mere examples as to what some of the defining characteristics are for both of these items. Please do not state the obvious and choose one over the other simply because one (I assume with your vast military knowledge and interest you know which I am referring to) is the successor to the other. I would also like it if you tried to avoid limiting your answer to the object itself, but rather exrepss your opinions on all aspects of these devices. The 7.62 Russian would be a good place to start, perhaps discussing how you feel such ammunition has influenced modern and past conflicts. - AlanI made it to the word items this time. You should be proud of me. I'm advancing. CAN I SEE YOUR TITS? - AlanOnly if I can see yours. Are you already regretting this? - BryanicI'm sure your father asked your mother the same thing in the hospital. Do you know what you've got yourself in for? - BryanicBy becoming your friend? Unfortunately. Why am I an elitist? - BryanicI can't remember, honestly. But being that I said you were at some point... and given the irreputable proof that I'm always correct... you must be. Why does Bryanic insist on worshiping Groucho Marx? Harpo, Chico and Zeppo are just as important and funny as Groucho. (Wait...maybe it's Karl Marx he prattles on about.) - PandoraProbably Karl. This would make much more sense. Are you helping in any way with V6? - PiemanNot actively, no. I was before, but am now focusing more on the forum and its community projects. Should I drink an entire half gallon of 100-proof Zhenka on top of the usual beer I drink and then run around my apartment naked? Or do you think Cari would find that a little strange? - BobbyThat hardly warrants a response. Read: no. Why are people from the cable company so perverted? I swear to god the guy who was upgrading us to HD cable was eying the basket of Cari's clean underwear that had to be folded.... - BobbyBecause though they get free cable, they don't get free porn. Will you be as much of a Dork in England as you are in the US? - WebWorldXWill you take such long showers? All right... that's enough for now. More to come next time dears.
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Post by The Herald on Sept 1, 2007 7:21:04 GMT
You wouldn't have thought that working an animal hide into something usable could be anything other than a means to making a handbag, or a belt, but having looked through the artisan crafts section of DeviantArt and browsing the leather working sub section, I was pleasantly surprised. The sheer variety of items made through various means out of leather shocked me: necklaces, bodices, bags, book covers, bottle slings, masks, the list is endless in this gallery. I really would advise having a look through, to see what people have sewed, dyed, carved, cut and twisted this common material into. I'm sure it will be a pleasant experience.
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Post by The Herald on Sept 1, 2007 7:21:24 GMT
So I'm starting this off right- with LindRHerzog, an artist I should have highlighted ages ago. Linda is an amazing illustrator with a flare for surrealist painting. Her gallery is full of interesting concepts and jaw-dropping details. Nathan Eldridge, AKA morningrise, is another belated recognition. His simple and clean typography caps off some beautiful textural manipulations perfectly. If you're looking for some good quality manipulations, glance through his gallery. For those of you who like space art, Huang is an artist worth looking into. His space art has every inch of detail an audience could possibly wish for- and then some. With brilliant colorschemes and a few minimalistic touches in his gallery, Huang has certainly earned his spot in this edition of Top Five Artists. Unlike the first three artists I've highlighted, this artist is completely new to me. I stumbled upon cdurocher while surfing through some fashion photography. His work still amazes me every time I look through his gallery. The lighting is flawless, the composition is clean, and there is some type of concept in almost every frame. Trust me here... if you like fashion photography, spend some time looking through this gallery. All right, one more photographer; I couldn't help myself. Cravingfordesign's photography has that effect on a lot of people, though... with the vibrant colors and beautiful perspectives, you'll start wondering just where this guy goes hiking.
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Post by The Herald on Sept 1, 2007 7:21:41 GMT
One of my favorite styles is gloss. For one, it looks very appealing and clean. On top of this- I honestly think it is one of the easiest effects to create. Let's pretend you are creating a menu button. 75x40px seems like a good size to try. So open up a 75x40 raster with a background of any color. Next, open a new raster layer. On the second layer, you want to draw a box on the top half of the menu button and then fill it with white. Once you have it filled, play with the layer's opacity. Lower it down to 15% or until you can just see a bit of white. Then, add some text and you are done! You can also play with the layer styles to create different, more subtle effects. Try setting the white layer to soft light or overlay and see how vibrant your buttons can become. Feel free to play around with the effects; you'd be surprised at just how easy this simple, clean look is to create!
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Post by The Herald on Sept 1, 2007 7:22:02 GMT
Photography, despite what many would have thought, started a long time ago. In fact, it started almost two centuries ago. It was in 1839 when the photographic process became public. The person who coined the name "Photography" was Sir John Herschel- the word is derived from the Greek words for light (photo) and writing (graphy). In 1826, the first successful picture was produced by Niépce, using material that hardened on exposure to light. It required an exposure of eight hours- this made it highly impractical for exact usage. Nicéphore Niépce's earliest surviving photograph, circa 1826. Taken from Wikipedia. In 1829, Niépce agreed to go into partnership with Louis Daguerre. Niépce died four years later, but Daguerre continued to experiment. Soon he discovered a way of developing photographic plates, a process which only required an exposure time of half an hour, a vast reduction from the previous eight hours. He also discovered that an image could be made permanent by immersing it in salt. Details of the process were made public in August 19th, 1839. It was named, by Daguerre, the Daguerreotype. Six daguerreotypes show a view of San Francisco, California in 1853. Taken from Wikipedia. Also, in 1841, another photographic technology, known as Calotype, was patented by William Henry Fox Talbot. The flaws of Daguerreotype lies in the fact that the photograph, once taken, cannot be copied. There was, therefore, a growing need for a means of copying pictures. The Calotype was created to provide the answer to that problem. The Calotype uses paper negative, and an unlimited number of postive prints could be made. However, there is a catch- the quality of the early Calotypes were vastly inferior to the Daguerreotypes. Hence, several people experimented with glass as a basis for negatives, but the problem was to make the silver solution stick to the shiny surface of the glass. In 1848 a cousin of Nicephore Niépce, Abel Niépce de Saint-Victor, perfected a process of coating a glass plate with white of egg sensitised with potassium iodide, and washed with an acid solution of silver nitrate. This new process made for very fine detail and much higher quality. However, it was very slow, hence the fact that photographs produced on this substance were architecture and landscapes; portraiture was simply not possible. In 1851, the Collodion process was introduced, by Frederick Scott Archer. This process was much faster than conventional methods, reducing exposure times to only two or three seconds. The collodion process required the coating, exposure and development of the image to be done whilst the plate was still wet. This required a considerable amount of equipment on location. There were various attempts to preserve exposed plates in wet collodion, but these preservatives lessened the sensitivity of the material. In 1871, Dr. Richard Maddox discovered a way of using Gelatin as a basis for photographic plate. This led to the development of the dry plate process, which marked the turning point of photography towards what it is, today. In 1878, dry plates began to be manufactured commerically. In 1884, George Eastman developed dry gel on paper, or film, to replace the photographic plate. This invention meant that photographers no longer needed to carry boxes of plates and toxic chemicals around. In 1888, Eastman's Kodak camera went on the market with the slogan "You press the button, we do the rest". In 1901, with the introduction of the Kodak Brownie, photography became available for the mass-market. The Kodak Brownie. Taken from Wikipedia. in 1907, the first commercial colour film, the Autochrome, was manufactured. It was based on a screen-plate method, the screen being made using dyed dots of potato starch. The screen lets filtered red, green or blue light through each grain to a photographic emulsion in contact with it. The plate is then developed to a negative, and reversed to a positive, which when viewed through the screen restores colours approximating the original. In 1924, Leitz markets a derivative of Barnack's camera commercially as the "Leica", the first high quality 35mm camera. "Leica". Taken from Wikipedia. In 1932, the father of film, George Eastman, commited suicide, after writing a suicide note- "My work is done. Why wait?" In 1934, Fuji Photo Film was founded. By 1938, Fuji is making cameras and lenses in addition to film. In 1948, Hasselblad in Sweden offers its first medium-format SLR for commercial sale; Pentax in Japan introduces the automatic diaphragm- Polaroid sells instant black and white film In 1963, the first color instant film was developed by Polaroid. The Instamatic released by Kodak. The first purpose-built underwater was introduced, the Nikonos. In 1969, the charge-coupled device (CCD) was invented in 1969 by Willard Boyle and George E. Smith at AT&T Bell Labs. In 1973, Fairchild Semiconductor releases the first large image forming CCD chip; 100 rows and 100 columns. In 1975, Bryce Bayer of Kodak develops the Bayer filter mosaic pattern for CCD color image sensors In 1986, Kodak scientists invent the world's first megapixel sensor In 1990, Adobe Photoshop was released. This, along with the introduction of the Canon EOS system in 1987, marked the beginning of the digital photography age. In 2000, the first camera phone was introduced in Japan by Sharp/J-Phone. In 2005, the first consumer-priced full-frame digital SLR, Canon EOS 5D, with a 24x36mm CMOS sensor, was introduced. Canon EOS 5D. Taken from Wikipedia. The history of photography is long, and indeed, photography has come a long way since its first incarnation. No matter how it would continue, one thing is certain- photography is here to stay.
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Post by The Herald on Sept 1, 2007 7:22:38 GMT
Photography is essentially about the capture of light. It attempts to capture moments which would otherwise be lost to the merciless march of time. Since the start of photography, many things have changed. From light sensitive plates, to paper films, to plastic films and finally to the digital sensors of today, only one thing remain common through the ages, and that is the most vital tool, the camera. Without the camera, there is no photography to talk about. Hence, this month's Photography Tips would focus on the tools themselves- the cameras. Note that this article talks about digital cameras, and not film ones. I do not have much experience with film cameras, SLR or otherwise, so I can't really talk about them with much competence. So, the first question people ask before they get a camera is usually "which camera is best?" The simple, and shallow, answer would be "the most expensive". I once read this story about this lady who worked in a camera shop. One day, a lady entered the shop and declared, "I want to buy the best camera." The shop assistant, after hearing her, took a disposable camera off the shelf and showed it to the lady. Moral of the story? There's no such thing as the best camera. Any camera can be good in the right hands. Of course, some cameras offer more, others offer less. Therefore, the question you should really ask yourself is, "what do I need in a camera?" and "what would I be doing with the camera?" If you plan to go (and stay) serious about photography, then it's better to get a camera with more extensibility i.e. a DSLR. A DSLR (Single Lens Reflex) is a camera which lenses are interchangeable. That means you can change lenses to fit different needs. However, they cost quite a bit. If all you require of your camera is just photo-taking of friends or when you're overseas on holiday, then a point-and-shoot camera (PnS) would fit your needs better. A PnS is basically a camera which lens are fixed. You cannot change its lens, though with some PnS you can add filters (basically a lens infront of your camera to achieve different effects) or converters (To increase the capability of your camera's lens). These cameras are almost always cheaper than DSLRs, and they fit casual users better, simply because the casual users do not really need the manual controls which the DSLRs offer. Of course, there are some exceptions to that; a Panasonic FZ50 can easily produce great, and even better photos than a DSLR, under the right conditions. However, it is safe to assume that a DSLR outperforms a PnS on most occasions. Therefore, before you actually get your hands on a camera, you need to decide what you need of the camera. DPreview offers a preview of almost all the cameras available on the market now. Take a look at the different cameras, evaluate your needs, and you will be off for a better start in photography. Good luck!
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Post by The Herald on Sept 1, 2007 7:22:54 GMT
Name: Michael Wright (Wrighty) Age: 17 & 4 Months Interests: Coding, Websites, Economics (Yes it is an interest!) Website/Forum: Wrighty WrantsWhat initially made you interested in coding?Well it was a lesson about 5 years ago where I was taught HTML - I learned it then. But after that I didn't code again for another year when someone asked me to make them a website. So then I started on the website things - PHP, HTML, CSS. I then realized that someone had a forum on Proboards' rival: Conforums, joined there & started on JS. Interested? Being able to do anything I wanted on the web (Basically!) What script or coding project are you most proud of?Most proud of? I don't have a particular one. Though it was just last night (at 1-5am) when NapalM decided he would make me code all of his requests in one go. The one there that I was proud of was the Preview Forum Colours code. That displays a small coloured box next to the input box for that colour, and changes when you enter the colour. I must say, that is a very interesting code.When learning how to code, did you encounter any obstacles that made it harder to pick up the material?Time, or my severe laziness? Either one suits me. (laughs) Are there any coders or mentors you look up to, for help and/or inspiration?Coders or Mentors... Well Cali was a legend - we all know that, I didn't know him but I respect and sometimes learned from the codes he made. Peter - just looking at a preview of his money code on provision was interesting - genius. And Dreg & Chantry, helping me when I can't be bothered doing it myself... Pretty good support base there. Some of the best coders on Proboards in that group! What is your favorite language to code for? Do you prefer PHP, HTML, CSS, Java, ect?I prefer to code in JS than any other (though HTML doesn't count! ) because JS is the most recent I learned I feel I remember more of it! What advice could you offer to someone who is interested in becoming a coder?Are you crazy? If you get stuck get help, don't just skip that part... you have to make sure you understand it all otherwise you try it you'll fail! Oh and Google > everyone! Maybe I am!(laughs) What is your favorite restaurant chain to eat at? Why?Hmmm any Chinese really - not really a chain is it. So I'll go with McDonald's ... only due to their Deli of the Day. Very nice when eaten on brown bread. So make sure you do that people. Brown bread, chicken salad deli of the day! EAT IT NOW! Why do you think many people are "afraid" to try coding?Just the look of it... I mean if you were confronted with loads of words and brackets, with most of the words being abbreviations, then you would be scared. People don't realize that it is in fact simple logical things. There's another reason, people don't have a logical brain![/b] Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions. It was a very interesting and funny interview. Any final comments?Just a couple. One which I wasn't meant to say but I'll say anyway cause we all <3 him . Scottcool might be bisexual! According to one of my sauces (sources actually) "Ruby on Rails is Cool". "Arty is teh uber" - Supposedly!
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