Wednesday, January 5, 2011

My top Albums of Last Year.. yeah I'm late..

Ok so I'm tardy for the party.. big whoop de whoop.. I listen to music constantly so I'm always caught up in the mix. I decided to do a lil list of my favorite albums of 2010. They are in no particular order. I love them all for various reasons and keep them all on repeat at various times. So here goes...






Far East Movement - Free Wired
Trey Songz - Passion, Pain, and Pleasure
Keyshia Cole - Calling All Hearts
Kelis - FLESHTONE
Keri Hilson - No Boys Allowed
Jazmine Sullivan - Love Me Back
Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Part Two


CeeLo - The Lady Killer
Diddy/Dirty Money - Last Train To Paris
Rick Ross - Teflon Don

Janelle Monae - The Archandroid
Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday
Fantasia- Back to Me
Drake - Thank Me Later
Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy









WHAT DO YOU THINK ?

Well if you didn't already know, I have a new blog called "What Made You Happy Today ?"
I introduced it here a few weeks back.
It has been such great project, I have really enjoyed photographing different people and still have so many more to show you.
The other day I got to thinking how great it would be to feature some of you guys on the blog, with you sending in a photo of yourself (or someone you know) and saying "What made you happy today ?" Because I'm in Australia there are lots of sunny summer shots at the moment and I know a lot of you are in the middle of a very snowy winter, it would be nice to give the blog a bit more of an international feel (but fellow Australians are quite welcome too)
  So what do you think ?  I think it could be fun !!!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

FP3000B45 now available

Interesting news for users of this super high speed black and white instant pack film: The 4x5 version of it has finally reached North America and should show up online any moment.

This uses the PA-45 holder, or the Polaroid 550 large packfilm holder.

Thanks to Brandon Remler of Fujifilm USA for giving us notice that it is on its way. I certainly will get a case of it and go wild in low light with my Speed Graphics and maybe a Byron.  Aaron Muderick has been a big fan of this material in the smaller size, and has produced good looking images from the scanned negative, which has a decent tonal range.

FP3000B and FP3000B45 are descendants of my original favorite Type 47 film that I think revolutionized instant photography when it came out. Fuji has refined it to use a minuscule amount of silver in a highly amplified DTR intensification process onto a receiver sheet that has a little better mid grays than the Old Pol 667.

Exercise to relieve depression

Exercise plays an important role in the treatment of depression.

It not only keeps the body physically and mentally fit but also provides recreation and mental relaxation. It is nature' best tranquilliser. 

According to Dr. Robert Brown, a clinical associate professor at the University of Virginia School of Medicine," Exercise produces chemical and psychological changes that improves your mental health. It changes the levels of hormones in blood and may elevate your beta-endorphins(mood-affecting brain chemicals). Exercise may also improve the function of the autonomic nervous system."

Exercise also gives a feeling of accomplishment and thus reduces the sense of helplessness. Some form of active exercise, must be undertaken each day at a regular hour. To be really useful, exercise should be taken in such a manner as to bring into action all the muscles of the body in a natural way. Walking is one such exercise. It is, however, so gentle in character that one must walk several kilometres in a brisk manner to constitute a fair amount of exercise. Yogic asanas such as vajrasana, bhujangasana, shalabhasana, halasana, paschomittanasana, sarvangasana and shavasana and pranayamas like kapalbhati, anuloma-viloma and bhastrika are highly beneficial in the treatment of depression.

Watery Wednesday: Hillsborough Beach



http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com/

When you are married to a water engineer for more than thirty years, parts of his interest and work is married to you too. We spend our holidays going to beaches and hydro electric dams.

He was very happy when I told him to take this photo so I can post it on my Watery Wednesday Post. Of course, I had to endure his lectures as well, like these rocks are sedimentary rocks etc which I kept quiet by not saying I learn this in High School. May be I could be his assistant at the university when he is traveling abroad. LOL

DIY? No no no.... YDI! (You Do It)

I love to travel!

Something about traveling always brings about the best inspirational ideas. Like, sometimes you have to get away from your ordinary environment to have extraordinary ideas.

In the spring of 2005 I went on a trip to Florida w/Matt.


During the days we went to the Keys and did touristy things, but when we got to his Mom's house at night, I was on the computer.

This is when I'd had the idea to start another Derby Dolls league in San Diego.

Partly to expand the Derby Dolls empire-to-be, but also so I wouldn't have to drive all the way to Los Angeles to skate anymore!


Here's the thing, though... I wasn't suggesting I start it, I was suggesting Demo and Thora start it... and that the LADD coach should also coach in San Diego too...

This is one of those optical illusion/picture in a picture things. U see it?

And that's when I learned what really made Derby Dolls work. Don't get me wrong, I'd spent time with Demo, I knew she worked hard.

I knew there were people who had meetings after practice about... things...


But I didn't really get it.

Like most people when they first start, I was too absorbed in my personal experience to notice there was a bigger picture than me happening all the time.


I guess I felt like I was off the hook because I had to drive for 2-3 hours just to be there. So what more could you ask of me??

Now, after years of reflection, I can see that the fact that I wasn't contributing to the overall workload, just showing up and skating fabulously... probably one reason why I got treated with a bit of
from other skaters who were doing double duty with league jobs.

But I more than made up for it by opening my mouth (well, typing with my fingers?) this new bright idea... Next thing I knew I was a league Founder... which I'll tell you all about next time.

Hope you have a tremendously rad day today!!! 
Here's my parting gift!

GREAT (FAMILY) SPACE

I'm really liking this beautiful Tasmanian family home  .... (I like Tasmanian homes, remember this one) ....  sorry no info on the occupants but I do know they have lovely taste.







via here