tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24541091106764078422024-03-11T03:24:21.430+00:00Rain Is Cool(I like to stay inside and play)Hypnogogialhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386045190891848880noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454109110676407842.post-13820120902861215302010-05-23T22:19:00.016+01:002010-05-24T00:32:49.462+01:00Helicopter Hieroglyphs Explained<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1DqOY_dc3ZSMDQf4mTU8_7jryxZV6ib76U7D9EKXhq_f1hH4Em-AOBrN8eBoJilo165b_is3Wqa9uVRZaOyFu-27GwZVsgFGe1XUjQHWQM9yAjdgk6wLhM7I9BmqHNEjfpEvFnkJ5pQ/s1600/helicopter+hieroglyphs+abydos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1DqOY_dc3ZSMDQf4mTU8_7jryxZV6ib76U7D9EKXhq_f1hH4Em-AOBrN8eBoJilo165b_is3Wqa9uVRZaOyFu-27GwZVsgFGe1XUjQHWQM9yAjdgk6wLhM7I9BmqHNEjfpEvFnkJ5pQ/s400/helicopter+hieroglyphs+abydos.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> [Click on any picture to bring up a larger photo]<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">I can't solve all of the (cue reverb) MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE, but I have solved one. There are a set of hieroglyphs in Seti I's temple in Abydos, Egypt that certain people have decided show the ancient Egyptians had, or knew about, helicopters, tanks, submarines and jets. Yes, I can see how it looks like that, but the truth is, <i>of course</i>, mundane. It took me a day to figure out what was going on. (Yay Google images, Wikipedia and an amateur interest in hieroglyphs!) </div><br />
<a name='more'></a>Without going into a dissertation (I could make this three times longer), this is part of what was an unfinished temple, started by Seti I but finished by his son Ramesses II (Ramesses the Great) after Seti's death. This section of the roof support was one huge cock-up, it appears. In other pictures where there is even more of the support to be seen, it is clear that someone decided the wrong name was there along the entire length. <br />
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But to show the "big oops" here, I do need to explain a few things: Pharaohs had 5 names. Each name is usually started with specific pictograms. Their birth name (duck and sun - the name in an oval cartouche), their throne name (bee and sedge plant - the name in an oval cartouche), their Horus name (a falcon atop a rectangular cartouche), their Golden Horus name (a falcon sitting on a swag) and their Nebty name (a cobra and a vulture over baskets). The latter two names are not confined in a cartouche but are simply preceded by the Golden Horus or Nebty.<br />
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The part of the roof support hieroglyphs in question are explained by the dueling Nebty names of Seti I and Ramesses II. (farther to the left out of the picture are superimposed sedge and bee names as well) That is to say, one name is carved over the other along the entire thing. Anywhere it says Seti I, Ramesses II is carved over it, or vice versa. [here the hieroglyphs read from right to left and from top to bottom]:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsa819Pkdl0iDrgZXKNInuNmEdETfaAMKFLjKBDXGrz3Pnql-Pz5rFwUOTmIL9uo5t6j-yyaitoeTwCd_tN_JGI9Pzy_g8nxWP_YeqUKHblvWOUse0lbNq96egmXnxZmXXY3puhX0Xfgs/s1600/helicopter+seti+ramesses+combined.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsa819Pkdl0iDrgZXKNInuNmEdETfaAMKFLjKBDXGrz3Pnql-Pz5rFwUOTmIL9uo5t6j-yyaitoeTwCd_tN_JGI9Pzy_g8nxWP_YeqUKHblvWOUse0lbNq96egmXnxZmXXY3puhX0Xfgs/s400/helicopter+seti+ramesses+combined.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Seti I<br />
Nebty name: Wehemmesut Sekhemkhepesh Derpedjetpesdjet<br />
"He who renews the births, strong with a sword, who subjugates the nine bows."<br />
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Ramesses II<br />
Nebty name: Mekkemet Wafkhasut<br />
"Protector of Egypt, who curbs foreign lands."<br />
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Seti's name is done with fine craftsmanship and continues on out of the picture to the right, while Ramesses name almost looks like graffiti; it is poorly done and cramped in a small space. I have no idea which came first. Was it a way of defacing Seti's name in effect saying "The King is dead, long live the King"? Or did a junior craftsman start chiseling in Ramesses' name till the master craftsman came along, freaked out and called him "a son of a jackal", and put in Seti's name instead?<br />
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The big "Ah ha" to the puzzle came when I saw another picture from the temple showing how that section of Seti's Nebty name should look. (it says: "who subjugates the nine bows"): <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-W4PrclY3D_KJMf_vSlVrnKoXtjmWalF7KY09TN5mOWFbUsYdpsDO1bOfxyP46ajxhxGr5C-sEDlpDHjrjhZeNFgE_4fGpzAU0ufH6tUlI7kPjNSiJS7p_pjmxpqwC9Zoa44XqODJIDg/s1600/seti+9+bows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-W4PrclY3D_KJMf_vSlVrnKoXtjmWalF7KY09TN5mOWFbUsYdpsDO1bOfxyP46ajxhxGr5C-sEDlpDHjrjhZeNFgE_4fGpzAU0ufH6tUlI7kPjNSiJS7p_pjmxpqwC9Zoa44XqODJIDg/s320/seti+9+bows.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The final piece to the puzzle was finding Ramesses II Nebty name on his obelisk which is now in Paris. It isn't exactly the same 'spelling' as in Seti's temple, but that is the reason hieroglyphs are so difficult -- there are numerous ways to show the same thing. However, it is extremely close (though facing the other direction and running vertically) even to an uneducated eye, and I went through the spellings myself. (anyone with LOTS of patience <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gardiner%27s_Sign_List%20">can start here</a> and double check) Ramesses II Nebty name:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0OQHseq4w_-aPacE4CjMg1pZ7o73x_W9WHoSSX71yxz00o0waniwWFoRfV8ZjmrLPnBrigV0p5syGiXTyZBAKeZ0Fo14cQVuztkKCu4sJL2aUTkDE50rti5ECBh8soM1WatlXXBbKIQ/s1600/Rameses+II+nebty+obelisk+paris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0OQHseq4w_-aPacE4CjMg1pZ7o73x_W9WHoSSX71yxz00o0waniwWFoRfV8ZjmrLPnBrigV0p5syGiXTyZBAKeZ0Fo14cQVuztkKCu4sJL2aUTkDE50rti5ECBh8soM1WatlXXBbKIQ/s400/Rameses+II+nebty+obelisk+paris.jpg" width="101" /></a></div><br />
I know this is a lot of blah blah to New-Age/UFO/Atlantis enthusiasts but I get really irritated at gullibility and sloppy thinking. What looks like one thing to modern man looked like something else to the ancient Egyptians. What we see as the tail of an airplane, <i>they</i> automatically saw as an upper arm! I also get angry that the people who actually built these things aren't given the credit for intelligence and ingenuity that they deserve. Aliens had to be involved or disembodied 'spiritual masters' had to whisper in someone's ear. Say that to Ramesses II, Leonardo Da Vinci or Albert Einstein and then get ready to run. That isn't to say there aren't any mysteries out there, but most of them are explainable given enough information, and that is fascinating in it's own right.Hypnogogialhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386045190891848880noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454109110676407842.post-57966153018590328412010-05-15T22:40:00.001+01:002010-05-15T22:53:48.409+01:00I wish I could draw this wellFrom the same website as the last I found a great tutorial on <a href="http://www.melissaclifton.com/tutorial-photolineart.html">turning an object into a line drawing</a>. To give it a go I used one of the photos I took in San Francisco while my mom, sister and I were standing in line waiting to eat breakfast in a tiny joint called Dots. I love the curved window and the stone work. The tutorial uses a long barrel revolver as an example so I thought I would try something completely different (of course). I ended up with this...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89XyJRqIVQyjEcaLNjAVC5WEynb6bw1nv3UoXRrLbPWJywVDhcLUV4bvEVOTMkWkwCJYVEro69sOGgOqzXdE9GsvaNbImgqV4IRMyysrOgDh853fEdgMZ3PyaxowEjq-jh0HTO9Bx0dY/s1600/rounded+window+lines+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89XyJRqIVQyjEcaLNjAVC5WEynb6bw1nv3UoXRrLbPWJywVDhcLUV4bvEVOTMkWkwCJYVEro69sOGgOqzXdE9GsvaNbImgqV4IRMyysrOgDh853fEdgMZ3PyaxowEjq-jh0HTO9Bx0dY/s400/rounded+window+lines+small.jpg" width="357" /></a></div>(More after the jump...)<br />
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<a name='more'></a>I skewed the original photo to straighten it up, I cropped it to get rid of present day banners and boxes, I cut off the side edges to make it symmetrical, I upped the contrast and then followed the tutorial...and can see lots of ways to use this! Here is what I started with:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg67Q6PGSXdWVTHwVlwqN1RtJyHPQosh7qPs195KxmlGOOlZ5_iUpzEoX5Y-Ad_rrP8T2xVTSI1a8i3Vh2GI5nRJItqYHyC6Nf-zwR7IyDfkkFiaJ_hyJ9RG7lCAxhIZb7H3FEUHaSSmUg/s1600/small+window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg67Q6PGSXdWVTHwVlwqN1RtJyHPQosh7qPs195KxmlGOOlZ5_iUpzEoX5Y-Ad_rrP8T2xVTSI1a8i3Vh2GI5nRJItqYHyC6Nf-zwR7IyDfkkFiaJ_hyJ9RG7lCAxhIZb7H3FEUHaSSmUg/s320/small+window.jpg" /></a></div><br />
No actual drawing involved. Not that I am overly proud of that, but this actually gives me ideas as to what I should and shouldn't include in an architectural drawing. Some things only need hints rather than exact representation.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg67Q6PGSXdWVTHwVlwqN1RtJyHPQosh7qPs195KxmlGOOlZ5_iUpzEoX5Y-Ad_rrP8T2xVTSI1a8i3Vh2GI5nRJItqYHyC6Nf-zwR7IyDfkkFiaJ_hyJ9RG7lCAxhIZb7H3FEUHaSSmUg/s1600/small+window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>Hypnogogialhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386045190891848880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454109110676407842.post-61831374628029563602010-05-15T19:00:00.001+01:002010-05-15T19:12:35.757+01:00My Sister as Pop ArtThe quest to figure out Photoshop continues. My latest tutorial was for a Warhol-esque halftone from a photograph, and this is what I ended up with:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQw7cA3i94SpS5np7Tp3zUX7uZS5LsgKNhm8lUvXgz0Uh1hyphenhyphenvLt3TDQTh18KLcMvHjm0WOfJCQME08DNjiJl7SNBdHy44LTCynkTzR80WAZcjtr4YYbyn7icPSry4mXTd075Ju2aLP5R4/s1600/stacie+andyworhol+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQw7cA3i94SpS5np7Tp3zUX7uZS5LsgKNhm8lUvXgz0Uh1hyphenhyphenvLt3TDQTh18KLcMvHjm0WOfJCQME08DNjiJl7SNBdHy44LTCynkTzR80WAZcjtr4YYbyn7icPSry4mXTd075Ju2aLP5R4/s400/stacie+andyworhol+2.jpg" width="327" /></a></div><br />
It is a simple, yet complicated tutorial (depending on your familiarity with Photoshop...most of this stuff is new to me). I learned several things from <a href="http://www.melissaclifton.com/tutorial-popart.html">this pop art tutorial</a> from <a href="http://www.melissaclifton.com/">melissaclifton.com</a>. The most important is that I need more photos of my sister because most of mine are candid type photos she wouldn't be impressed with me using, second is that you want clothing and hair to be different tones from each other for this kind of transformation (which I don't have), and third is you want the starting photo to be very <i>low</i> contrast (contrary to logic) which I worked with by fiddling with highlights and shadows. For as dark as the end result is, it was mostly a black mass before, and I almost gave up until I seriously lightened the original and started over. The original photo after the after the jump...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3LBm98r__-kLF7HG6xsomMRWvNsfiPDjAxF9ZTG-9qdYptiesz_ffQNyDDx5PSlggwK5anSgzJKBT271qqqAFqsKPb47-hy5J7pYcIyhiO4-8MFtymM6s_sOFPDDitBpWeSw521dke8/s1600/stacie+warhol+base.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3LBm98r__-kLF7HG6xsomMRWvNsfiPDjAxF9ZTG-9qdYptiesz_ffQNyDDx5PSlggwK5anSgzJKBT271qqqAFqsKPb47-hy5J7pYcIyhiO4-8MFtymM6s_sOFPDDitBpWeSw521dke8/s320/stacie+warhol+base.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><br />
One thing I suggest that isn't in the tutorial is when you are coloring the half tone, to have a duplicate of the original photo as a layer under the halftone top layer set to 75 % opacity so that you can follow the line of the lips hair and clothing. I spent a lot of time making the original photo and halftone visible and not visible at various stages trying to get the outline, of the lips especially, close to what my sister actually looks like and making sure that I colored it in solidly. (she would have not liked the possible clown lips I would have given her otherwise)<br />
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As for the background, I tried a LOT of different ones and simple worked best against the dramatic half tone effect. The tutorial just has a flat background, which is what Andy Warhol used, but he stacked pictures next to each other, each having a different color scheme, or, he made individual pictures extreme on their own. If it is stand alone and simple like I have done, then it needs a bit more, so I expanded the cut out by 10 pixels and filled it with a gradient from top to bottom, then filled the background with the same gradient from bottom to top.Hypnogogialhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386045190891848880noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454109110676407842.post-81127916554757784922010-05-10T18:49:00.015+01:002010-05-10T20:48:39.871+01:00The waxy pathI finally did a Photoshop tutorial for <a href="http://pshero.com/photoshop-tutorials/graphic-design/old-world-wax-seal">making a wax seal</a> that I have had my eye on for weeks but put off (knowing I would want to individualize it) and when I took it on, it <i>DID</i> end up sending me off in several directions that I am thankful for. Because of it I ended up getting a basic grasp on working with the pen tool (never used it before) and then I was pushed mentally to come up with a logo that could fit within the seal -- I love the logo I came up with so much that I think I will stick with it for a while.<br />
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The following set of seals shows my progression of thought...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35DdtHioeM_uQbZeChbRczSE3EvHFedi5g2w9g5h8uBhYwGWkeaQnILOnpDElQg92RpkNLaNJ_U0tj_4uVGeDIhFK30nMVKbmiM2C0j6AVc3KX3vytkY2rh2BHy-Aqf6qTudtpDKoG5I/s1600/hypnogogial+wax+seal+stages.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35DdtHioeM_uQbZeChbRczSE3EvHFedi5g2w9g5h8uBhYwGWkeaQnILOnpDElQg92RpkNLaNJ_U0tj_4uVGeDIhFK30nMVKbmiM2C0j6AVc3KX3vytkY2rh2BHy-Aqf6qTudtpDKoG5I/s640/hypnogogial+wax+seal+stages.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><br />
<a name='more'></a>I realized an H (green) wouldn't ever do it by itself no matter how much I fiddled with it. So I thought about being blunt by putting an H with the rest of my name spelled out around it (blue). Interesting, but messy, and it didn't represent the *idea* of my name in any way. It needed something pictorial in it. So I decided to mix text with simple moon shapes (for night and dreaming) while keeping the entire name within the space (red) -- and came up with something I love! I love it so much I turned it into a brush.<br />
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Then I used the brush to make wallpaper to put a gold rubbed seal on. This is as narcissistic as I get. A new toy.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiFX_0YJJo0fpOKZKSpCgPsA6dh1mo8k6HMixMpVnuW2Uk2hCV_Ki7EFCoSQecU18-bNl63F3wqrzxjDl5E3vfJA1vwm267hNXx6cp9YWIZayytusAOh0eV0CWdKUNgytdR6hDxGxM3U/s1600/hypnogogial+stationary+seal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiFX_0YJJo0fpOKZKSpCgPsA6dh1mo8k6HMixMpVnuW2Uk2hCV_Ki7EFCoSQecU18-bNl63F3wqrzxjDl5E3vfJA1vwm267hNXx6cp9YWIZayytusAOh0eV0CWdKUNgytdR6hDxGxM3U/s400/hypnogogial+stationary+seal.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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Cool, huh? In the end, I DO have an "H" I can use on it's own. Sometimes to get from A to B you have to run around the block...or you have to find a good reason for the effort.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXCXbPKk_5IkgqK32sOg-cKH9C6Jz8Zer__i-aVmcx3NWRiUQfeQqFMoFKba-1DdxMkFFyIhFSfdSVh9X3ciaLQrWZvFezvkS4GlO2CFORZWac5Y09vztrH1i-_mM-lIouO_E8fOrEJo/s1600/moon_H.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXCXbPKk_5IkgqK32sOg-cKH9C6Jz8Zer__i-aVmcx3NWRiUQfeQqFMoFKba-1DdxMkFFyIhFSfdSVh9X3ciaLQrWZvFezvkS4GlO2CFORZWac5Y09vztrH1i-_mM-lIouO_E8fOrEJo/s320/moon_H.png" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Hypnogogialhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386045190891848880noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454109110676407842.post-12430409322484329492010-05-09T14:52:00.002+01:002010-05-09T14:58:52.264+01:00Happy Mom's Day Mom!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWRoq8jr4Tr30TpDNT5_MlUHTxUe_5f3kLT_pXKCMbUs7ecmLQM2tjz_0srxvsrw7aVCw3Q39yckhA3DfrAZBqsm22Ha8_VH_UPyTTM4jcYZgPIEN-en2cn04n6IA8SwWbg_mUZsBsls/s1600/mothers_day_sunflower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWRoq8jr4Tr30TpDNT5_MlUHTxUe_5f3kLT_pXKCMbUs7ecmLQM2tjz_0srxvsrw7aVCw3Q39yckhA3DfrAZBqsm22Ha8_VH_UPyTTM4jcYZgPIEN-en2cn04n6IA8SwWbg_mUZsBsls/s400/mothers_day_sunflower.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I made you something so you would know I was thinking about you. Love you!!Hypnogogialhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386045190891848880noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454109110676407842.post-51704723249953360362010-05-09T14:38:00.000+01:002010-05-09T14:38:52.889+01:00Religion and Politics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNac_X7nXq3v9_v-JLx20z_ABpXIb_eqnK2DVSZxDt0S9ZPx_qa3jk0TnUdDpe_qAwupWLeEbTB0LN4vmaa49CANvoFzl2tjAAeeiAgB66buOHHQAtO7YTmsx07fZbcyQePmycVlmyTs/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNac_X7nXq3v9_v-JLx20z_ABpXIb_eqnK2DVSZxDt0S9ZPx_qa3jk0TnUdDpe_qAwupWLeEbTB0LN4vmaa49CANvoFzl2tjAAeeiAgB66buOHHQAtO7YTmsx07fZbcyQePmycVlmyTs/s320/2.jpg" /></a></div>Both upset me, so I shall refrain from talking too much about them for the time being. Instead, a tee-hee picture to totally change the mood.Hypnogogialhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386045190891848880noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454109110676407842.post-72814992322709244422010-04-27T01:53:00.004+01:002010-05-09T14:31:58.549+01:00The FIRST AmendmentShow me a Republican who understands the separation of church and state as a part of the constitution and doesn't use religion as a selling point and I will listen... <br />
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There isn't one.<br />
<br />
Till it happens I am a Democrat.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>The <i>first</i> amendment to the US Constitution states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" The FIRST amendment says no religion is part of US politics. You don't have the right to tell me it is a Christian nation, or to make me live by Christian laws. Federal laws trump state laws. HAH! Pushing your religion is anti-American. And I really DO want you to keep it to yourself. <br />
<br />
I am not an atheist and was raised as a protestant, but your beliefs are not my beliefs who ever you are, I guarantee. As an American, I have the right to tell you to shut up as a politician on YOUR religious grounds. I can sue you for infringing on MY beliefs politically. Sarah Palin, keep it up. I can get your moose meat for myself as part of a federal court ruling when I sue your ass for telling me what your god wants from me if you ever decide to run on a conservative platform. (I suppose it tastes and cooks like elk?)<br />
<br />
No one has the right to say what god wants from me in law. Get that straight. The constitution says so.Hypnogogialhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386045190891848880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454109110676407842.post-59533958495846617592010-04-26T23:07:00.003+01:002010-04-27T02:39:22.043+01:00Clarification: War is HellI didn't make it clear with my Afghani fast-food post that I am pro troops but anti-war. I want to make that clear now. I think we need to leave, and I think that the longer we stay the more we are hated and the more we fail. But I don't blame the troops for following orders.<br />
<br />
I have had several friends who were ex-Vietnam vets and they were screwed over by our government and our people when they returned. I never want that to happen again, no one who knows better does. Troops do horrible things under orders, under fear, in the name of survival...some of it is choice, some of it isn't, and it needs to be looked at piece by by piece, but war makes people crazy. They will never be ok again.<br />
<br />
And for what purpose?<br />
<br />
Europe is pulling out of Afghanistan, the US needs to as well. We all fucked up, time to go. We backed the wrong guy, we made the place worse than it was and can't fix it. President Karzai...I suggest you run. (away)Hypnogogialhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386045190891848880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454109110676407842.post-85061915746962383212010-04-24T06:15:00.004+01:002010-04-24T15:26:29.810+01:00A Picture is Worth 1000 (10 Great) WordsSome pictures speak for themselves and others live for a caption.<br />
<br />
[click on photo for larger picture, and on site names for link to more laughs and giggles]<br />
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<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvswO8R3kyBRLHQBE_V08E-Op2fiGpM83ukp28q6KKbfYCsSlHrtAaWobOI7KAmAtM1eRL47Wk2n5UYM8-soqw189YrGdUBYVUd7EUspCNq_orTMoZAb6QRT0xgpFPr91pi6eTdkeQ1E/s1600/funny-pictures-cats-stare-at-sandwich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvswO8R3kyBRLHQBE_V08E-Op2fiGpM83ukp28q6KKbfYCsSlHrtAaWobOI7KAmAtM1eRL47Wk2n5UYM8-soqw189YrGdUBYVUd7EUspCNq_orTMoZAb6QRT0xgpFPr91pi6eTdkeQ1E/s320/funny-pictures-cats-stare-at-sandwich.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="http://icanhascheezburger.com/">I Can Has Cheezburger</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHh_nEgrK0JofZOMjKNje_o8gDPS3yBWG2ZOjoUWtfJy3NpMZWsdR2ymLKJuTVnxs0CHzEC6PIfr3wEj_ZtuMlrahdUstyKKPDrbQFbmA2r0uMstjm1mzbW81ZRPgFX_ec8pAfB4-jfN8/s1600/protruding_20sign_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHh_nEgrK0JofZOMjKNje_o8gDPS3yBWG2ZOjoUWtfJy3NpMZWsdR2ymLKJuTVnxs0CHzEC6PIfr3wEj_ZtuMlrahdUstyKKPDrbQFbmA2r0uMstjm1mzbW81ZRPgFX_ec8pAfB4-jfN8/s320/protruding_20sign_small.jpg" /> </a><br />
<a href="http://oddlyspecific.com/">Oddly Specific</a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvswO8R3kyBRLHQBE_V08E-Op2fiGpM83ukp28q6KKbfYCsSlHrtAaWobOI7KAmAtM1eRL47Wk2n5UYM8-soqw189YrGdUBYVUd7EUspCNq_orTMoZAb6QRT0xgpFPr91pi6eTdkeQ1E/s1600/funny-pictures-cats-stare-at-sandwich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVhLwboBTmkkELMfrKlTs0km9CVcjQSvNGgktfDm_ExfKeU1drQSAHr1bNq1c05nejZWtQOjgaMBmu1JgPzw9kkUGcWo8JFkOnNh-UyUjuWoWMjFbkLNSPFl-6wn28y0V-BRJEaek7I8/s1600/god+hates+fags+are+PWN%27D%21%21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVhLwboBTmkkELMfrKlTs0km9CVcjQSvNGgktfDm_ExfKeU1drQSAHr1bNq1c05nejZWtQOjgaMBmu1JgPzw9kkUGcWo8JFkOnNh-UyUjuWoWMjFbkLNSPFl-6wn28y0V-BRJEaek7I8/s320/god+hates+fags+are+PWN%27D%21%21.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="http://epicwinftw.com/">Epic Win, FTW</a><a href="http://epicwinftw.com/"><br />
</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnCxOImuMjc_gFkCO79Rv7hU6niZwTpxpziJy8S_2xQVfex04DbBUKgH5muPto6dUYT2dbsRqbM-aieg3ESZE1mtFipncOb-B5IYERRM-THjnvHYVZgMVC5pP7q_MZGiiUm_tkfabGbE/s1600/129066761532294381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnCxOImuMjc_gFkCO79Rv7hU6niZwTpxpziJy8S_2xQVfex04DbBUKgH5muPto6dUYT2dbsRqbM-aieg3ESZE1mtFipncOb-B5IYERRM-THjnvHYVZgMVC5pP7q_MZGiiUm_tkfabGbE/s320/129066761532294381.jpg" /></a> <br />
<a href="http://verydemotivational.com/">Very Demotivational</a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvswO8R3kyBRLHQBE_V08E-Op2fiGpM83ukp28q6KKbfYCsSlHrtAaWobOI7KAmAtM1eRL47Wk2n5UYM8-soqw189YrGdUBYVUd7EUspCNq_orTMoZAb6QRT0xgpFPr91pi6eTdkeQ1E/s1600/funny-pictures-cats-stare-at-sandwich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a>Hypnogogialhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386045190891848880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454109110676407842.post-76723587903323412272010-04-18T21:35:00.004+01:002010-04-20T00:00:34.813+01:00Few Guests at the Tea Party<a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20002529-503544.html%20">The CBS news poll on Tea Partiers</a> is really interesting, and should be looked at by Tea Party supporters and those that aren't part of the movement (IE: <i>everyone</i> should look at it) because it is eye opening in view of how much attention they are getting.<br />
<br />
Tea Partiers insist they speak for the majority of Americans when in fact Tea Party activists and supporters are no more than 18% of Americans in total.<br />
<br />
Some of the most surprising (and not so surprising) things in the poll are: <br />
<br />
*84% of TP (stands for Tea Partiers from here on out) say "the views of the Tea Party movement reflect the views of most Americans. But Americans overall disagree: Just 25 percent say the Tea Party movement reflects their beliefs, while 36 percent say it does not." (I have no idea what the rest of the 39% believe: 'sorta, maybe, I don't drink tea'?) <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
*The Tea Party People statistics: 59% are men, 75% are between the age of 45 and 65, 89% are white, only 20% make over 100K a year, 58% have guns, 73% are conservative, 61% are Protestant (39% of those are Evangelical), 22% are Catholic, 37% have a college education (which is higher than the national average of 25%), 48% usually vote Republican/18% always vote Republican/25% equally vote for both parties/5% are democrats...and 1 of 3 are from the south (36%)<br />
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*88% of TP disapprove of President Obama's performance compared to 40% of Americans in general. -- "Asked to volunteer what they don't like about Mr. Obama, the top answer, offered by 19 percent of Tea Party supporters, was that they just don't like him. 11 percent said he is turning the country more toward socialism, 10 percent cited his health care reform efforts, and 9 percent said he is dishonest."<br />
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*77% of TP concider Obama to be "very liberal" compared to 31% of Americans in general.<br />
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*53% of TP are "angry" about the way things are going in Washington compared to 19% of Americans in general.<br />
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*16% of TP say whites have more opportunities to get ahead, compared to 31% of Americans in general. 73% of TP say both have equal opportunity, compared to 60% of Americans in general. 52% of TP believe too much has been made of the problems facing black people while 28% of Americans in general believe the same. <br />
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*53% of TP are against Roe vs Wade compared to 34% of Americans in general.<br />
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*64% of TP say Obama has raised taxes, while only 34% of Americans in general think the same, even though <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-6201911-503544.html">Obama has cut taxes for most Americans</a> . However, <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20002487-503544.html">52% of TP think their taxes are <i>fair.</i></a> (erm)<br />
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*"63 percent say they get the majority of their political and current events news on television from the Fox News Channel, compared to 23 percent of Americans overall." (if this isn't evidence of rabble rousing on Fox's part, I don't know what is -- Rupert Murdoch, you are a little late trying in to distance the channel from the Tea Party seeing as it is what is fanning the flames.)<br />
<br />
So, what I am seeing is a small group of middle-aged middle-class white Republicans/conservatives who need to lay off watching Fox for awhile and get over the fact that Obama won (now they know how I felt when Dubya won). They need to realize that they <i>don't</i> speak for 'most' Americans, are being riled up for ratings (and by Patriot groups who have a dire vision for the US). They need to do some fact checking of their own instead of being told what to think by talking heads and cults of personality. Google is a great tool for independent and (even objective) sources of information. All that anger is becoming dangerous, and it is getting anger and fear in return. It is also encouraging wingnuts to become home-grown terrorists. What I keep thinking from all this is "There will be tears before bedtime."Hypnogogialhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386045190891848880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454109110676407842.post-67926022686240442852010-04-18T05:56:00.003+01:002010-04-18T13:34:20.467+01:003D TV is a Happy Fun Ball!!<a href="http://www.digitalhome.ca/2010/04/samsung-issues-health-warning-for-3dtv-viewers/">The list of warnings</a> Samsung has given on its 3DTV basically excludes everyone except absolutely healthy people between the ages of 20 - 50 who also aren't pregnant, drinking or sleep deprived. Wearing the glasses any time you aren't using them to look at the tv can be "physically harmful" (fall down much?) and weaken your eyesight. Even using the set-up correctly can cause dizziness and headaches.<br />
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"Viewing 3D television may also cause motion sickness, perceptual after effects, disorientation, eye strain and decreased postural stability. It is recommended that users take frequent breaks to lessen the potential of these effects. If your eyes show signs of fatigue or dryness or if you have any of the above symptoms, immediately discontinue use of this device and do not resume using it for at least thirty minutes after the symptoms have subsided. <br />
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Viewing in 3D may cause disorientation for some viewers. Accordingly, DO NOT place your TV television near open stairwells, cables, balconies, or other objects that can be tripped over, run into, knocked down, broken or fallen over."<br />
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I am surprised the list doesn't call for a designated watcher -- and it has given me an idea on how you can murder somebody. ;)Hypnogogialhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386045190891848880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454109110676407842.post-91846879342599215332010-04-17T23:13:00.003+01:002010-04-18T21:40:02.720+01:00I finally found the paint bucket...and the polygonal lasso and the burn tool and and several things I have never seen before. (what does the exacto knife do?) Well at any rate, I no longer have the feeling that Photoshop is broken, or since I got the program at a reduced price (because I bought a Wacom Tablet) that I got the cut-rate version. I was truly getting upset. <br />
<br />
I was thinking about uninstalling and reinstalling till I right clicked on the lasso (hadn't tried that yet) on the side tool bar...and there were all the lasso's. Then I did it for every tool -- total relief. When I told my mom, who has Photoshop but hasn't used it in years where it was that I found everything, she says "oh yeah, that's right, sorry." It <i>only</i> took a month to figure out. Now the only thing I can't find is the impressionist brush...anyone?<br />
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There is a lot to be said for intuitive programs and failing that, a set of basic instructions, neither of which can be said for Photoshop. Even so, I wouldn't be without it.Hypnogogialhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386045190891848880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454109110676407842.post-73367072846071648222010-04-17T22:28:00.001+01:002010-04-18T13:15:09.436+01:00Touch My MonkeyIn a bit of absurdity (serious as it is to some)...<br />
<br />
In case you need to travel with your helper monkey through airspace, here are a few things that you need to know about security (but leave home with lots of time to spare)...<br />
<br />
*When the handler and service monkey go through the walk through metal detector and the detector alarms, both the handler and the monkey must undergo additional screening. [<i>it might be a knife throwing circus monkey in reality -- you really do have to be careful</i>]<br />
<br />
*Since service monkeys may likely draw attention [<i>slow down everyone else getting through security, what with the rubber-necking</i>], the handler will be escorted to the physical inspection area where a table is available for the monkey to sit on. Only the handler will touch or interact with the service monkey. [<i>they can bite off a finger</i>]<br />
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*Security Officers have been trained to not touch the service monkey during the screening process [<i>insurance probably doesn't cover monkey ravaging</i>]<br />
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*Security Officers will conduct a visual inspection on the service monkey and will coach the handler on how to hold the monkey during the visual inspection. [<i>this is why a prehensile tail comes in useful</i>]<br />
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*The inspection process may require that the handler to take off the monkey’s diaper as part of the visual inspection. [<i>treat the monkey nicely or it may use the contents of its diaper in protest</i>]<br />
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Brackets are mine.<br />
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thanks BoingBoing for the link to the <a href="http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/editorial_1056.shtm#2">TSA special needs page</a>.Hypnogogialhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386045190891848880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454109110676407842.post-72741455873739441762010-04-09T19:13:00.010+01:002010-04-11T14:11:39.532+01:00Having Too Much Fun In AfghanistanOur troops who are stationed in Afghan deployment hubs are to<a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/World/2010/0407/No-more-Burger-King-on-Afghanistan-base-Soldiers-grumble."> no longer be allowed to have fast food</a> (except coffee and doughnuts for some reason). Why? Because 'they aren't there to have fun'. Did Burger King actually figure out how to make hell fun? I love whoppers but I have never felt I was having fun because of one. <br />
<br />
If some idiot signed a contract that meat patties would make it to the base before bullets, I can understand why you would crush the idea. But to give the troops a taste of home and then decide that is too frivolous and happy making...<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Are the troops in service to their respective counties or are they prisoners? Is it their own stupid fault that many of them are there on their second or third tour of duty even though they were promised they would only have one? It is their fault they didn't find somewhere else to hang out? (like the green zone in Iraq where all the US government officials get to hang)<br />
<br />
Giving them something to look forward to when they have leave at one of the super-bases is simply molly-coddling and gives the war 'an amusement park feeling', says Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Hall in <a href="http://www.isaf.nato.int/en/the-afghan-hands-blog/commanders-blog/command-sgt.-maj.-michael-t.-hall-morale-welfare-and-recreation-mwr-facilities.html">a NATO blog post</a>. Um...<br />
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I would mail every one of you over there a whopper or slice of pizza if that wasn't just going to end up a disgusting mess. (and bankrupt me)Hypnogogialhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386045190891848880noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454109110676407842.post-61240833985602633312010-04-09T12:51:00.006+01:002010-04-09T14:09:31.610+01:00Smoking in The Boys Room (on an airplane)In more airline news...<br />
<br />
I smoke, which is why I don't drink when I fly (my ciggy consumption shoots way up when I drink and drinking without smoking would be like stabbing myself in the leg). I always have ancient nicorette gum in my carry-on in case I go a bit withdrawal crazy, but I don't exacerbate being stuck in a people-filled no-smoking closet for 9 - 11 hours by drinking. I sleep instead. I take an anti-histamine or valium and do my best to ignore the whole thing. I have gotten to where I don't mind so much if I am not smoking on a plane for hours on end. (the mind is a strange thing) I do light up the second I step outside, of course. <i>Head Rush</i>. If I am ever to quit smoking I will have to move into a grounded airplane for a week to get it out of my system.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Many times I have looked up at the smoke detector in the airplane bathroom <a href="http://raincool.blogspot.com/2010/04/ryanair-is-spirit-of-cheap-flights.html">(which I got into for free)</a> wondering if anyone has ever figured out a way to beat the system, but that $2000* fine sticker if you are caught smoking, does it for me. I just ponder and no more.<br />
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Well, if you decide that you can afford $2000* for a cigarette, there's one thing you don't do if you are caught...<i>don't</i> joke that you were "trying to light your shoe on fire" (it makes the joke even less 'funny' if you are Arab, slightly sorry for my lack of PC, but it is true). "Bomb" is a joke you don't make in relations to airplanes, and never EVER make <i>ON</i> a plane, <i>especially</i> when you smell like smoke. <br />
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<a href="http://consumerist.com/2010/04/guy-sneaks-smoke-in-airplane-bathroom-jerry-bruckheimer-movie-ensues.html">Which is what a guy from the Qatari Embassy did yesterday on a flight from Washington to Denver</a>. Of course fighter jets were scrambled. (I think people who cause jets to be scrambled or <a href="http://www.kgw.com/news/Maui-bound-plane-turned-back-to-PDX-after-passenger-issue-80845642.html">flights to be diverted </a>because of their lack of wit should have to pay for these emergency maneuvers, who is with me on this? Everyone has their hands up I see) If you are caught smoking, I can't think of anything you can say to keep the airplane on the way to its destination without a lot of hullabaloo except the truth.<br />
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What an idiot. His government must feel the same because he has been called back to Qatar pronto.<br />
<br />
[*It must have been awhile since I have tried to think of ways to smoke in the bathroom because I just saw another article where it is a $3300 fine. Also for those who don't know, fighter jets are not there to help you land safely, they are there to shoot the plane down if need be. "The needs of the many out-weigh the needs of the few" Put that in your pipe and...]Hypnogogialhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386045190891848880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454109110676407842.post-76461243564026311042010-04-08T20:35:00.001+01:002010-04-08T23:11:15.132+01:00'Ryanair' is the 'Spirit' of cheap flightsI guess some people have uses for ultra cheap airlines that charge for everything in dribs and drabs -- but personally it infuriates me and makes me feel somehow sub-human. <br />
<br />
I have only been on Ryanair for one round trip and everything about it pissed me off so much that when the plane tilted and swerved crazily as it landed -- half the plane screamed (has anyone ever heard a bunch of people in a plane scream? I have, once and only once) but I just swore, it managed to piss me off even more! The landing the other way was bad too, just not as bad. I want to know how long their pilots have been flying. (either period, or how long their shifts are...because they are either new at it, tired, or pissed off as well)<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a> From there only being one check in person, and being charged crazy rates for luggage, to seats that don't recline, no seat pocket, charged for water (and of course food), horrible colors inside the plane, snotty stewardesses...and now it looks like Ryanair are going through with the <a href="http://consumerist.com/2010/04/ryanair-going-ahead-with-pay-to-potty-plan.html">plan to charge</a> to use the toilet, and cut the number of toilets from 3 to 1 so they can cram in 6 more seats. <br />
<br />
Even worse than being charged to pee, there is another airline I have never even heard of, "Spirit", that I am guessing is also a cheap-o airline that is going to charge <a href="http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/US-Florida-Based-Spirit-Airline-To-Charge-Passengers-For-Stowing-Hand-Luggage-In-Overhead-Lockers/Article/201004115596813?lpos=World_News_Second_Home_Page_Feature_Teaser_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15596813_US_Florida_Based_Spirit_Airline_To_Charge_Passengers_For_Stowing_Hand_Luggage_In_Overhead_Lockers">$30 for CARRY-ON luggage</a> if you book it ahead of time $45 if you don't. Say <i>WHAT</i>?!?! Carry on luggage has gotten out of hand because of the cost of check in luggage. Now carry-on luggage costs more than checked-in luggage? How long before they weigh YOU?<br />
<br />
I <i>would</i> say "it is everyone's choice how they fly, and if they have any self-respect or not" except that Ryanair misanthropist Michael O'Leary's craptastic ideas have found their way into normal airline's pricing policies. They see that people can be talked into it and so they will do it too...a little at a time. Charge for luggage, charge for food, and now <a href="http://abc7news.typepad.com/finneyblog/2010/02/airlines-charging-even-for-blankets-and-pillows.html">charging for blankets and pillows</a>. Because few people will pay absurd prices for that junk, they carry less of it, and when the plane gets stuck on the runway for half a day, they now quickly run out of food and water. (something that seems to be happening more and more often)<br />
<br />
I usually fly to and from the states with United. It isn't because of loyalty (I have no loyalty), it just works out that way, and I always 'upgrade' to Economy Plus (the equivalent of what <i>used</i> to be regular economy) if I can. United's planes are old, and ratty and uncomfortable, and the food is disgusting. But it is still head and shoulders above the comfort of Ryanair. And that is just horribly depressing.<br />
<br />
I really hate flying anyhow, and it just keeps getting worse and worse. I can actually forsee where I will only fly business class just to keep my sanity and to avoid going postal. It isn't just effecting the passengers, airline employees have steadily gotten worse as well. Instead of being shocked when one is unfriendly, I am now pleasantly surprised when one has a good attitude. Where is it going to end?Hypnogogialhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386045190891848880noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454109110676407842.post-40084562460100513372010-04-07T02:15:00.005+01:002010-04-07T06:57:11.733+01:00Header #2I have made another header picture, and so far I quite like it. I made it from another tutorial, and though I changed parts of it to fit the idea of the blog better, I <i>really</i> like the original idea from Graphic Tutorials found <a href="http://graphictuts.wordpress.com/text-within-text/">here</a>. It is called "Text Within Text".<br />
<br />
The cloud background I made myself in Elements a number of months back when I discovered the impressionist brush: <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9I3P5QHtfj5mxayGgFFCFTpHyoBUUqh3FzSlRyppbBVtk9W3SKrO5We_4pQJqT3WZmfKJWm27XX9kogPrPFTRtamI3Z71ekZ7Y_jha1k5EGQwRp-FZ_aE71nIP_dH6R_cn5pbrB6xdo/s1600/header+clouds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9I3P5QHtfj5mxayGgFFCFTpHyoBUUqh3FzSlRyppbBVtk9W3SKrO5We_4pQJqT3WZmfKJWm27XX9kogPrPFTRtamI3Z71ekZ7Y_jha1k5EGQwRp-FZ_aE71nIP_dH6R_cn5pbrB6xdo/s320/header+clouds.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexVCiVqrA5a1NP0sQ1_lH-CT1QUIZnI6zt_nPqUBr2HiVDQVPrK-juoVL77D98n7NmVnIwwxunKz0FZGXTuLaJkg3MooHT05lOggQ0_-de-g-u25aL7_xA7TFT2foBVjHY5Gy-LjXYtM/s1600/raincool+clouds+rain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>Just in case I decide to play musical headers (highly likely because there are so many other text tutorials I will end up doing that I have try out as a header), I will put the picture of it here as well -- as a record of my continuing remodeling of the blog. This one is a definite improvement on <a href="http://raincool.blogspot.com/2010/04/step-one-make-something-that-interests.html">the last one</a>, don't you think?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexVCiVqrA5a1NP0sQ1_lH-CT1QUIZnI6zt_nPqUBr2HiVDQVPrK-juoVL77D98n7NmVnIwwxunKz0FZGXTuLaJkg3MooHT05lOggQ0_-de-g-u25aL7_xA7TFT2foBVjHY5Gy-LjXYtM/s1600/raincool+clouds+rain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="98" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexVCiVqrA5a1NP0sQ1_lH-CT1QUIZnI6zt_nPqUBr2HiVDQVPrK-juoVL77D98n7NmVnIwwxunKz0FZGXTuLaJkg3MooHT05lOggQ0_-de-g-u25aL7_xA7TFT2foBVjHY5Gy-LjXYtM/s320/raincool+clouds+rain.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">-Header #2-</span></span></span></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Hypnogogialhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386045190891848880noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454109110676407842.post-22912979980619601722010-04-05T20:06:00.019+01:002010-04-07T02:34:14.349+01:00New blog look again, and I am sure it won't be the last!I just had to change the look of my blog again, but decided against the<a href="http://raincool.blogspot.com/2010/04/step-one-make-something-that-interests.html"> cartoon kitties and blinking naff what-not</a>. I doubt I will stay with this set up either, but the green of the old blog layout was beginning to bother me and it was clashing with what ever colors I put in via my photos. Is <i>all</i> it too <strike>black</strike> dark gray now though?<br />
<br />
I would try one of the new 'blogger in draft' templates, but I have been looking at the blogger forums and it appears there are a LOT of kinks to work out before I go that route. This sudden <a href="http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/blogger/thread?tid=7cccb649594ae0aa&hl=en&start=240">auto-pagination thing</a> is making people crazy a month on, as well. I am new to blogging so I think I will wait till everyone else has figured out how to fix the problems before I end up adding to the list of "Help!" In my first post I did warn that it was a work in progress and subject to being different at no notice. Everyone read that, right?<br />
<br />
Nothing is permanent, except for the post urls, I have discovered.<br />
<i><b> </b></i><br />
<i><b>**Black has been disapproved of, but what about this gray? Leave a comment if you have an idea what the background color should be (I am trying to stay away from plain old white)**</b></i><br />
<b></b>Hypnogogialhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386045190891848880noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454109110676407842.post-89786041261683219612010-04-03T21:44:00.013+01:002010-04-08T20:50:03.790+01:00Twitter, bah humbug<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gei1F7LWr4LN3obeRttoFBELbHl76tbN2Gfem4DaK_ITxohprLt5J6WjMupZBpaIdggTEuJqWNmtuEEZhH5cA_kDzb2pm04OMkG79-Mudvt4eLFl3Git46wMpRNkjaWMNK7Bjr0ZIiA/s1600/twitter_logo_header.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456015457293847170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gei1F7LWr4LN3obeRttoFBELbHl76tbN2Gfem4DaK_ITxohprLt5J6WjMupZBpaIdggTEuJqWNmtuEEZhH5cA_kDzb2pm04OMkG79-Mudvt4eLFl3Git46wMpRNkjaWMNK7Bjr0ZIiA/s320/twitter_logo_header.png" style="display: block; height: 36px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 155px;" /></a><br />
I have 2 twitter accounts, one for this blog which is 3 weeks old and has 3 tweets (so consider it stuffed in a back corner), and one that is about 8 months old that has 33 tweets, mostly used to rip on <a href="http://twitter.com/ArthurKadehttp://raincool.blogspot.com/2010/03/are-you-ace-rimmer-or-arthur-kade.html">Arthur Kade's</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/ArthurKade">absurd tweets</a> and to follow a few people who are really interesting or funny like <a href="http://twitter.com/StephenAtHome">Stephen[Colbert]AtHome</a>.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>Now and then I get an email that someone is following me on twitter (up to 5 followers suddenly, woah!) and you can bet if I don't follow them back within a week they unfollow me. It is a weird numbers game for a lot of people which I don't get and I won't play along with. If the person is interesting, I will be overjoyed and will be happy to follow them too. Otherwise leave me out of it. <span style="font-style: italic;">This </span>week I was followed and unfollowed by a person with these twitter stats:<br />
<br />
2000 followers<br />
13 tweets*<br />
following 2192 people<br />
<br />
Um...<br />
<br />
Twitter is <span style="font-style: italic;">basically</span> bullshit when all is said and done. 99.9% of tweeters are spending their time trying to gain followers as though there was a prize in it for them and/or they are spending it over-sharing and passing on absolutely pointless information. Often reams of it. (in 140 character chunks) I try to imagine what it would be like to hang with these people who are glued to their phone texting every 15 minutes or the second something in the scenery changes. I wouldn't hang around for long.<br />
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I won't throw Twitter out however, because there are a few gems in the morass of meaninglessness. The people who use it to say new posts are up or new things are made or an interesting news article should be seen or to give out a short bit of suddenly realized wit are worth checking in on. You don't even need to be a registered twitter user to read what is posted, just to reply. For that, points. For the rest, ugh.<br />
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*(the 13 tweets were retweets and pure nonsense)Hypnogogialhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386045190891848880noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454109110676407842.post-12500691429641635722010-04-03T11:28:00.009+01:002010-04-06T04:09:13.056+01:00Chocolate is the new text for the dayI did a full scale photoshop text tutorial and though I messed up a bit (I was too far along by the time I realized how and why -- the shadow <span style="font-style: italic;">should</span> be directly below the letters). I think it still turned out really great! I will definitely be using this, and parts of this, tutorial again. I would tell you how I messed up but I doubt anyone else will do the odd thing I did. (now I have to figure out how to reset my rulers because of the odd thing I did) [click on chocolate for a larger image to see how metallic the lettering seems to be]<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNL0SNKeZ_ma1V-KIVd-r-kKaI3i3MEIex3mVIDT7KBbkNLqA_d0SrtjDTOeqnq7a_MjxwKmBjTXw0kAHv3d0ZW40NBvvQH9-eTsn_bK63UhjkXDxDfu_OpFVnd9riOJYdcHEhMZ1W0w/s1600/chocolate+text.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455858242210318978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNL0SNKeZ_ma1V-KIVd-r-kKaI3i3MEIex3mVIDT7KBbkNLqA_d0SrtjDTOeqnq7a_MjxwKmBjTXw0kAHv3d0ZW40NBvvQH9-eTsn_bK63UhjkXDxDfu_OpFVnd9riOJYdcHEhMZ1W0w/s320/chocolate+text.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 160px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;">-the more I look at the word "chocolate" the more it looks spelled wrong-</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
I want to thank PSAwesome.com and Eren Goksel for the tutorial that can be <a href="http://www.psawesome.com/tutorials/metal-text-under-12-oclock-spot-light">found here</a>.<span class="postinfo" style="font-size: 12px;"> </span></div></div>Hypnogogialhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386045190891848880noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454109110676407842.post-66267108924247686492010-04-02T01:41:00.013+01:002010-04-08T20:51:33.447+01:00Step one, make something that interests you but you aren't invested in.I am not actually <a href="http://raincool.blogspot.com/2010/04/first-day-of-new-month.html">a master of Photoshop CS4</a>, but I did <span style="font-style: italic;">finally</span> make something with it. The new header up top -- which I probably won't keep for long before it starts to bother me -- gives me hope that I will be able to grasp the workings of CS4 eventually. Hey, the window alone was 5 layers! I also followed two tutorials on making rain: one using noise and another using dots.<br />
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[edit: It bothered me, I took it down, look below]<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>Honestly though, things I used all the time in Elements are missing in this more powerful program...picture bin at the bottom, polygonal lasso, a scrolling filter menu with icons, and yes, <a href="http://raincool.blogspot.com/2010/03/learning-how-to-drive-photoshop-cs4.html">the paint bucket</a>. I am not sure what else isn't there yet. (or what you have to go through hoops to get at) I <span style="font-style: italic;">will</span> figure it out, after a certain amount of screaming and panicking.<br />
<br />
Well, at any rate, this header <span style="font-style: italic;">was</span> an experiment. I will make another header in an attempt to make it look like it "belongs" there. If that doesn't work, I may foolishly fiddle with the basic blog HTML or just get a different template. Next week this blog may be purple with hundreds of hello kitties and lots of blinking gifs. You never know.<br />
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Because I know it won't stay up long, I am sticking the header on this post so I can look back and laugh.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIUWfwdO7KyZU1WpwmvGOs_x2FndthIkeHbPIDnNzTPs-sBWlml9UFPKLD95HyvAYVm4Z_tDCOL_YZ1NCz60kWW_xN9jAmmnqlI6QH41ZJ5Q5AUBLzfW1Txe7fY77t6WhndeKsEYe1s68/s1600/raincool+710.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455355635729259090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIUWfwdO7KyZU1WpwmvGOs_x2FndthIkeHbPIDnNzTPs-sBWlml9UFPKLD95HyvAYVm4Z_tDCOL_YZ1NCz60kWW_xN9jAmmnqlI6QH41ZJ5Q5AUBLzfW1Txe7fY77t6WhndeKsEYe1s68/s320/raincool+710.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 102px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
[my mom checked in for the first time in over a week and says this header looks like an ad for a window company...it does. I may have found my calling.]Hypnogogialhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386045190891848880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454109110676407842.post-45353740957543030972010-04-01T12:26:00.016+01:002010-04-07T02:52:19.049+01:00The first day of a new month!!<style>
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</style>What an interesting week I have had so far. I have completely mastered Photoshop CS4! (I still can’t find the paint bucket though) Just look at this <s>photo</s> totally hand drawn picture I did of my cat “Lady”. I call it “Lady Sparkle”. Getting her fur to look realistic was much easier than I expected, though I had trouble figuring out how to <s>crop</s> lay out the design. I had a lot of fun putting the sparkles on her whiskers as the finishing touch. I am about to start tutorials of my own, so stay tuned.
<div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJiTzPS9tH_VPe3FEJwQGsJYizyvLaklxFn_rdCwWyHlBu-LUtGS8-eC78tja4iU_IRtX3rirA60o0JwzzdBvQ_CvG9IG-XNz__kQYPDV7_Oech3u58EjQFkiB-sP0Dl-L4JVtFN_tLG0/s1600/lady+sparkle.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455129955495873234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJiTzPS9tH_VPe3FEJwQGsJYizyvLaklxFn_rdCwWyHlBu-LUtGS8-eC78tja4iU_IRtX3rirA60o0JwzzdBvQ_CvG9IG-XNz__kQYPDV7_Oech3u58EjQFkiB-sP0Dl-L4JVtFN_tLG0/s320/lady+sparkle.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">"Lady Sparkle"</span>
</div>I also spent some time back at the drawing board, it has been a while since I picked up a pencil and my water colors, but I saw a rabbit through my binoculars in the field next to my house, lazing in the Irish sunshine, and drew this. It seemed so effortless! It did help me with the whole fur thing though, which came in handy for “Lady Sparkle”.
<div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBhhvYQbg5M5w4k_Q3PHf3EE941LokBVtcG7CH-kmGIR7u57kfkyYkg2OIGY-TutPS1fpiG80rpizP2v2biP9Bzr-ghdBDT4iI-IFHwaYGKMmp-uUACU9qBsnwOCzAqq2XEimsVUCL44/s1600/Hypnogogial+Master+drawer.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455130399514226530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBhhvYQbg5M5w4k_Q3PHf3EE941LokBVtcG7CH-kmGIR7u57kfkyYkg2OIGY-TutPS1fpiG80rpizP2v2biP9Bzr-ghdBDT4iI-IFHwaYGKMmp-uUACU9qBsnwOCzAqq2XEimsVUCL44/s320/Hypnogogial+Master+drawer.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 290px;" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">-A masterpiece, if I do say so myself-</span>
</div><div style="text-align: center;">---------------------------------
<div style="text-align: left;">I almost forgot. I was really bored last night. Look what I made out of really stale cheese! Inspiration struck. I whittled away and this is what was I came up with. You need an really sharp knife and really hard cheese and good light, but that is about all it takes to come up with something as cool as this -- just don't hold it too hard or parts of it will snap off like you see here :(
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnxnPiegPqGyTNiHlSR36Xf1pf_9LMid9drE6TdBwcRCZeieNYIoOvBkz9NPmeSlH3hcOV6wQJigdfoiYmCC4Wofpfo7xu4FO8BOHNnrUpjjBskPvdkH_AttnF128cCj1uIUMTMDZt6qA/s1600/1544430309_f1e46ec5d7_o.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455270583903153954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnxnPiegPqGyTNiHlSR36Xf1pf_9LMid9drE6TdBwcRCZeieNYIoOvBkz9NPmeSlH3hcOV6wQJigdfoiYmCC4Wofpfo7xu4FO8BOHNnrUpjjBskPvdkH_AttnF128cCj1uIUMTMDZt6qA/s320/1544430309_f1e46ec5d7_o.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 127px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;">-I might make this my new hobby-</span>
</div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div>Hypnogogialhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386045190891848880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454109110676407842.post-7437963982089476712010-03-29T19:56:00.032+01:002010-04-09T13:13:25.813+01:00Are you an Ace, a Rimmer, or an Arthur Kade? (the eye of the beholder is mostly in your mind)After first impressions, a person's looks have so much to do with attitude that a person's face can actually change...you can see them differently if their personality is strong enough.<br />
<br />
I remember when I was about 17 and was in a church group for a <span style="font-style: italic;">short</span> while (parents thought it might make me quit being such a pain in the ass or something...) and a new guy was introduced to the group about 3 weeks after I got there. My first thought was how absolutely ugly he was. I remember thinking I really didn't want to have to keep looking at him, and that the group I didn't want to be in just got <span style="font-style: italic;">worse</span>. But within two weeks every girl wanted him, including me. He was confident, funny, knew how to compliment others in a sincere way, he knew how to look you in the eye, and how to make you feel at ease. Then I couldn't figure out why I thought he was ugly in the first place. I stared and stared and couldn't see it.<br />
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Perception of looks going from bad to "Hey behby!" happened other times in my life but never to that degree. I am actually glad that shock of awareness happened when I was about that age because it taught me to pay closer attention to the person and not be so damn shallow.<br />
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It works in the opposite way as well though! You can have a personality or attitude so vapid or vile that good looks become a Picasso painting. "Bedroom eyes" become the hooded eyes of an idiot. "A Grecian nose" becomes enormous and crooked. " Thick curly hair" becomes a greasy rat's nest that you notice is thinning in the back. The face becomes misshapen: chin too big, lips uneven, ears too small...all because the person is a nasty bugger. A prime example:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.arthurkade.com/">Arthur Kade</a> spends most of his time hyping his (absolutely unwarranted) self-worth in hopes of finding some actual worth from it. He spends the rest of his time tearing down the looks of others and glorifying his own. He has a rating scale for women, from 3 - 10 and uses it endlessly (his misogyny is overwhelming)...if you are below a 6 don't even talk to him, if you are below a 3, I think he runs away screaming or tries to get you fired from your job as a waitress (he has twice said women were too ugly to serve him food) . Despite his insistence to the contrary, he is not funny, he has no acting talent (but plans to have an Oscar within the next two years?), does not live a fabulous celebrity lifestyle, but he streams his 'greatness' out on his blog and youtube like a broken gutter. People from all walks of life, age groups, genders, religions and political affiliations [who have been lead to his site through various means like this one here] seem to agree on <span style="font-style: italic;">one</span> thing at least...Arthur is an ugly person once he starts typing or opens his mouth. (the spit problem doesn't help either)<br />
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[adendum: One of Kade's self-quote inanities went up a few days after I first posted this as a link on <a href="http://legowigkade.blogspot.com/">legowig--</a><br />
"<i><b>“If Arthur Kade was a gutter, he would drain brilliance”…Arthur Kade…04/02/10" </b></i>He <i>does</i> pay attention.<i><b></b></i>]<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfRMIbbkk2eQ9OS9OPqN_i0Wz1N9MpbwEt5U50oiAA3_rQamNZuMQILA_e7Ol0tRMpBVbo8CmsS6BgrXS2uxifQnbf1Mw_CL13NNoO5ZN0IckyKrjPBeRjCl9towKY8DpkYHfC6kV9p4/s1600/Arthur+Kade+is+Pants.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454175293086549170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfRMIbbkk2eQ9OS9OPqN_i0Wz1N9MpbwEt5U50oiAA3_rQamNZuMQILA_e7Ol0tRMpBVbo8CmsS6BgrXS2uxifQnbf1Mw_CL13NNoO5ZN0IckyKrjPBeRjCl9towKY8DpkYHfC6kV9p4/s320/Arthur+Kade+is+Pants.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 256px;" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">-The first impression of Arthur-<br />
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</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhikRNeTAm8U73AES23QTNTXyFCI3rpwJR2lbG7PMb36yd4Uq6R0S48awl86tSdOTtoXzQQnIzr_Uy_Ft2tPZSHE6T8yl6bzBfSX4_crH09_Q5DvzDX_sNMtUvVrrox3eLZzPMHHrjeQyA/s1600/How+Arthur+Kade+looks+to+me.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454175790276598050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhikRNeTAm8U73AES23QTNTXyFCI3rpwJR2lbG7PMb36yd4Uq6R0S48awl86tSdOTtoXzQQnIzr_Uy_Ft2tPZSHE6T8yl6bzBfSX4_crH09_Q5DvzDX_sNMtUvVrrox3eLZzPMHHrjeQyA/s320/How+Arthur+Kade+looks+to+me.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 237px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;">-How I now see Arthur-<br />
<br />
</span></div>Most people, when they first stumble across him, think he is a joke or an elaborate put-on, because no one could be <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span> bad. But he has been doing this for over a year, day in and out, so even if it started out as an act he would be pretty whack-a-fucking-doodle by now.<br />
<br />
Has anyone seen "Red Dwarf" -- the English sci/fi comedy series? There is a perfect example of this personality-looks effect in that show. Chris Barrie plays Arnold Rimmer; a sniveling, cowardly, desperate, narcissistic creep. But he also plays Ace in a few episodes -- Rimmer's other self from an alternate reality. Ace is dashing, kind, caring, brave, thoughtful, and an all around good guy. It is more than a clothing change and hair-length difference that have you wanting to be with one, and to hit the other.<br />
<br />
Anyhow, I am not trying to drum up more hate for Kade because any attention is better than no attention at all in his twisted mind. But I do want it to be a cautionary tale/thought of hope that "Pretty <span style="font-style: italic;">really </span>IS as pretty does."Hypnogogialhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386045190891848880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454109110676407842.post-53669999842956060642010-03-29T12:28:00.018+01:002010-04-03T12:12:57.825+01:00Learning How to Drive Photoshop CS4I have <span style="font-style: italic;">got</span> to figure out how to use Photoshop CS4! I was desperate to get it after years of using Photoshop Elements mostly because I wanted to have control over shadows, bevels and to have a pen tool...but now that I have it, I realize that I have no clue how to make it go. ACK!<br /><br />It was a Christmas present and has been sitting there for 3 months waiting for me to do something with it. Every time I try it refuses to do what I want. (so I simply pull up Elements instead) Relearning something that looks familiar but is totally different is beyond frustrating!!<br /><br />Like learning to drive in Ireland after driving in the states for 14 years. It took me two months to get the nerve up to try to drive, and that resulted in the three other people in the car constantly yelling to watch out for the wall. Most roads in Ireland are lined with old stone walls which is pretty, but it leaves no room for error. The thing I discovered is that you drive with a subconscious space around you, knowing the width of the car, and when that is suddenly reversed your mind refuses to care. Shifting with a different hand is fine (and fortunately the pedals are in the same order), but relearning that 'personal space' is fuckaking hard. I finally did it though.<br /><br />[It also wouldn't have been as hard if the roads were even a foot wider, and were clearly marked, and people stayed on their own side of the road, and drove like they were sane, and there weren't so many tractors to get around -- and when I least expected it -- going around a corner to find a flock of sheep/herd of cows, or people throwing a lead ball down the road at clumps of grass. ...I hold onto the steering wheel with a death grip in Ireland even though you don't see the cows or sheep so often anymore.]<br /><br />That is what I have to do with CS4...relearn what I have been doing for years. I *really* don't want to go through feeling so lost (ie: where the hell is the paint bucket?), but on the bright side, unlike with driving, I don't have to take an absurdly hard test when I am done.*<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">------------------------------------<br /></div><br />*Note to the Irish government...your driving test is ridiculous. It has almost nothing to do with driving in real life conditions, so as soon as the test is passed [over half fail the first time as you know, and I would guess a quarter fail the second test as well] people go back to driving any way they feel comfortable, as did I. Unfortunately "comfort" for many people in Ireland seems to mean things like driving 35 mph [when you can go 50 mph] in the middle of the road [why why WHY?].<br /><br />You need some sort of formal driver's education here, in school, or for free some other way to be sure that people understand the basics. Having terrible drivers teach their children how to drive is absurd, yet that is the way it is done here, and it shows.Hypnogogialhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386045190891848880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454109110676407842.post-71119462066640432010-03-26T13:29:00.012+00:002010-03-26T14:44:25.113+00:00Hypnogogial's Steampunk(ish) Death Ray (pew pew pew)I am not a steampunk artist as much as I love the look of it, as I only found the genre' fairly recently and my mind doesn't often come up with a steampunk idea. (I am more of a surreal/fantasy thinker)<br /><br />If you put steampunk into google images, you will see a lot of two kinds of things: Goggles and guns...ray guns mostly. (pew pew) I decided the ray gun idea was worth giving a go after I came across a cheap Chinese nerf-like gun for 2 euros that I could take apart. (it is almost impossible to work on something with moving parts if you can't take it to pieces and put it back together again.)<br /><br />It took me two weeks to do. There were a lot of mistakes to undo (don't use stove black, it doesn't completely dry) and a lot of "humm, nah, maybe" going on. The amount of two part epoxy I used was astounding really (I love that stuff)...there were three colors of spray paint (not all spray paints are alike, the white base coat went all crinkly when it dried -- panic! Sand paper -- pfew!) and mixed acrylic paint put on by hand to get the rusty look, coppery look and the cast iron look of the grip. Of course there was also a lot of 'things' I stuck on. Jewelery findings, painted paper, an old spring bracelet, copper thumb tack, grommets, bone beads, leather...the 'ray emitter' is a small drawer pull.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I forgot to take a picture of the gun before I did anything to it, but when I realized how much I was changing it, I took a picture so the original color could be seen on the inside because once was done it wouldn't come apart again (really <span style="font-style: italic;">do</span> love that glue).<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPIfZjdWd9Tw_MMwu1bCsy6ff1cjCgMvgwmic2Dw-_rz3V47beRTn49htMc7oh6qQS3Dy5xCtue2F_uoe1viUWDZntrYE_rTanrtZTztLbaNiyc7p0o87iSu4F8XGuFA9FroZ00P6WpA/s1600/hypnogogial+ray+gun+inside.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPIfZjdWd9Tw_MMwu1bCsy6ff1cjCgMvgwmic2Dw-_rz3V47beRTn49htMc7oh6qQS3Dy5xCtue2F_uoe1viUWDZntrYE_rTanrtZTztLbaNiyc7p0o87iSu4F8XGuFA9FroZ00P6WpA/s320/hypnogogial+ray+gun+inside.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452935550945697698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">-paint and glue can disguise <span style="font-style: italic;">anything</span>-</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5tfuKuMEQF0TWHJCB43O2WdDIPh7d-EP4G9Qusn3amKdc-dchrjpTtuIc1N57dV3jcipUfwcTW7MqyKmFtj7pKzFt_VD4k_gXJT95WaznkmkYuo3eusLzlPWM_BysCVA8yJxgqboLxI/s1600/hypnogogial+ray+gun+underside.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5tfuKuMEQF0TWHJCB43O2WdDIPh7d-EP4G9Qusn3amKdc-dchrjpTtuIc1N57dV3jcipUfwcTW7MqyKmFtj7pKzFt_VD4k_gXJT95WaznkmkYuo3eusLzlPWM_BysCVA8yJxgqboLxI/s320/hypnogogial+ray+gun+underside.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452937545474310242" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">-under-</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhgM4mnK3QpQuFf4YyGCQJ1SMSAZw0Qpax-Ldc7gLl4NiODE334LXOwjM99ZvoCS2oxsDiw2YdO9Hsvrb4TvVmJPnklVomSX4cZ4b5qHekxBirnFanB4H1tUrrZUMpPQJ71X9_kEVJRA/s1600/hypnogogial+ray+gun+top.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 194px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhgM4mnK3QpQuFf4YyGCQJ1SMSAZw0Qpax-Ldc7gLl4NiODE334LXOwjM99ZvoCS2oxsDiw2YdO9Hsvrb4TvVmJPnklVomSX4cZ4b5qHekxBirnFanB4H1tUrrZUMpPQJ71X9_kEVJRA/s320/hypnogogial+ray+gun+top.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452939447622409634" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">-over-</span><br /></div><br /><div style="display: block;" class="vertbar"><span style="display: block;" class="w"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgki_FwszVbA9GLgD2TJyOBFcu0aYCko2B27EYJZt-NI1VHpsp11d__N6dTGYOoelBhGQ7bSuQ-0X6Q8CkmYpqtp8hZuWkh4zmbSPbkLcVBCuquHx_bKIL4_Bdm1AzBON_OMByy6sJBNBA/s1600/hypnogogial's+ray+gun.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgki_FwszVbA9GLgD2TJyOBFcu0aYCko2B27EYJZt-NI1VHpsp11d__N6dTGYOoelBhGQ7bSuQ-0X6Q8CkmYpqtp8hZuWkh4zmbSPbkLcVBCuquHx_bKIL4_Bdm1AzBON_OMByy6sJBNBA/s320/hypnogogial's+ray+gun.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452941411437883298" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">-finished and ready to blast away <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morlock">Morlock's</a> who wander too close-</span><br /><br /></div>Hypnogogialhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386045190891848880noreply@blogger.com0