Camera: NIKON D50
Timestamp: Sat Apr 28 18:37:48 2007
Shutter: 1/250 s
Aperture: F5.6
ISO speed: 200
Focal length: 70.0 mm
Focal length in 35mm equivalent: 105.0 mm
Lens: 70-300mm F4-5.6
Processing: Picassa 2
Monday, April 30
thorns
Camera: NIKON D50
Timestamp: Sat Apr 28 18:37:48 2007
Shutter: 1/250 s
Aperture: F5.6
ISO speed: 200
Focal length: 70.0 mm
Focal length in 35mm equivalent: 105.0 mm
Lens: 70-300mm F4-5.6
Processing: Picassa 2
on the field
Camera: NIKON D50
Timestamp: Sat Apr 28 18:35:31 2007
Shutter: 1/320 s
Aperture: F5.6
ISO speed: 200
Focal length: 300.0 mm
Focal length in 35mm equivalent: 450.0 mm
Lens: 70-300mm F4-5.6
upstairs balcony
Camera: NIKON D50
Timestamp: Sat Apr 28 15:22:26 2007
Shutter: 1/320 s
Aperture: F9
ISO speed: 800
Focal length: 50.0 mm
Focal length in 35mm equivalent: 75.0 mm
Lens: 50mm F1.8
cascading pink
Camera: NIKON D50
Timestamp: Sat Apr 28 15:59:49 2007
Shutter: 1/200 s
Aperture: F5.6
ISO speed: 200
Focal length: 28.0 mm
Focal length in 35mm equivalent: 42.0 mm
Lens: 28mm F2.8
busy bee
Camera: NIKON D50
Timestamp: Sat Apr 28 18:35:31 2007
Shutter: 1/320 s
Aperture: F5.6
ISO speed: 200
Focal length: 300.0 mm
Focal length in 35mm equivalent: 450.0 mm
Lens: 70-300mm F4-5.6
Spike
Camera: NIKON D50
Timestamp: Sat Apr 28 15:24:52 2007
Shutter: 1/640 s
Aperture: F2.2
ISO speed: 800
Focal length: 50.0 mm
Focal length in 35mm equivalent: 75.0 mm
Lens: 50mm F1.8
Friday, April 27
Thursday, April 26
foot massage (2)
Camera: NIKON D50
Timestamp: Wed Apr 25 20:45:58 2007
Shutter: 1/13 s
Aperture: F2.8
ISO speed: 800
Focal length: 28.0 mm
Focal length in 35mm equivalent: 42.0 mm
Lens: 28mm F2.8
globalized stupidity
I was reading a post in my subscriptions on google reader and I realized all of a sudden what I couldn't put my finger on, about the latest trend in western (especially American) society: it is simple, plain, stupidity!
(Maybe I realized this because Bruce Schneier said it plainly in his post; that is beyond the scope of my ramblings here eitherway.)
(Disclaimer:)I know it sounds pretty inflammatory and I realize there have been lots of people talking about "typical American stupidity", which, in my opinion, goes right there with "women are inferior", "blonds are stupid", "policemen are idiots" and other ... well ... stupid generalizations.
I'm not trying to generalize here, because I couldn't: America is the last superpower (well ... maybe China is somewhere near, at least in potential), and you clearly don't get there by being stupid. Infact, I believe strongly that being smart and being stupid, are not mutually exclusive: I don't see stupidity as lack of thinking ability, but as lack of thinking willingness, as not taking responsibility of your thinking process.
Once one gets to this point of view (that stupidity doesn't mean lack of capability), stupidity is plain to see wherever you look, especially in intelligent people. Its like participating in your own version of Idiocracy:
You see the CIA-orchestrated bombing of a mosque, and fifteen years later the US starts a terrorist war on terrorism (consider that no heads in the US fell for that CIA attack, so basically they can perform terrorist attacks with total impunity; its others that should be punished):
(from here)
You see censorship at UN level.
You see mafia officially deciding on state affairs in a small European country (to also point at my own country).
You see people in the streets deciding (sometimes enthusiastically or with a small smile on their faces) "whom we should nuke next".
These are just part of the things I see stupidity in, and I'm tired; look for your own proofs of lack of critical thinking, of stupidity; its ... educational :).
(Maybe I realized this because Bruce Schneier said it plainly in his post; that is beyond the scope of my ramblings here eitherway.)
(Disclaimer:)I know it sounds pretty inflammatory and I realize there have been lots of people talking about "typical American stupidity", which, in my opinion, goes right there with "women are inferior", "blonds are stupid", "policemen are idiots" and other ... well ... stupid generalizations.
I'm not trying to generalize here, because I couldn't: America is the last superpower (well ... maybe China is somewhere near, at least in potential), and you clearly don't get there by being stupid. Infact, I believe strongly that being smart and being stupid, are not mutually exclusive: I don't see stupidity as lack of thinking ability, but as lack of thinking willingness, as not taking responsibility of your thinking process.
Once one gets to this point of view (that stupidity doesn't mean lack of capability), stupidity is plain to see wherever you look, especially in intelligent people. Its like participating in your own version of Idiocracy:
You see the CIA-orchestrated bombing of a mosque, and fifteen years later the US starts a terrorist war on terrorism (consider that no heads in the US fell for that CIA attack, so basically they can perform terrorist attacks with total impunity; its others that should be punished):
A second candidate for most extreme act of Mideast international terrorism in the peak year of 1985 is a car-bombing in Beirut on March 8 that killed 80 people and wounded 256. The bomb was placed outside a Mosque, timed to explode when worshippers left. "About 250 girls and women in flowing black chadors, pouring out of Friday prayers at the Imam Rida Mosque, took the brunt of the blast," Nora Boustany reported. The bomb also "burned babies in their beds," killed children "as they walked home from the mosque," and "devastated the main street of the densely populated" West Beirut suburb. The target was a Shi'ite leader accused of complicity in terrorism, but he escaped. The crime was organized by the CIA and its Saudi clients with the assistance of British intelligence. NOTE{Boustany, _Washington Post Weekly_, March 14, 1988; Bob Woodward, _Veil_ (Simon & Schuster, 1987, 396f.).}
(from here)
You see censorship at UN level.
You see mafia officially deciding on state affairs in a small European country (to also point at my own country).
You see people in the streets deciding (sometimes enthusiastically or with a small smile on their faces) "whom we should nuke next".
These are just part of the things I see stupidity in, and I'm tired; look for your own proofs of lack of critical thinking, of stupidity; its ... educational :).
Wednesday, April 25
Tuesday, April 24
Monday, April 23
another great email
Following an earlier series of great emails, here's another one:
______________________________________________
From: <manager a>
Sent: Monday, April 23, 2007 4:56 PM
To: <utnapistim>
Cc: <manager b>; <manager c>
Subject: RE: request for holiday
Approved - me and <manager c> both.
Regards,
<manager a>
_____________________________________________
From: <utnapistim>
Sent: Monday, April 23, 2007 4:52 PM
To: <manager a>
Cc: <manager b>
Subject: request for holiday
Hi,
I am planning on taking home-leave from 3rd of September to the 28th of September.
I also want to take one free day on the 29th of May.
Please approve.
Thanks,
<utnapistim>
Programming Sr. SME within Mr. Project
+357 (25) XXxXXXX (desk)
+357 (99) XXX XXX (mobile)
+357 (25) XXxXXXX (fax)
[COMPANY] > [MARKETING BLABLABLA]
UVEX Wing RS 745
So, I went during lunch-break and got myself an UVEX helmet. Its lighter, made of Glasfaserverstärkte Kunststoffe (fiberglass reinforced plastic if I skip the "I can read German so I'm cooler than you attitude"), better isolated phonetically, better vented, more visible and it looks much cooler.
"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" official trailer
Call me an avid fan, but I'm looking forward to this
Saturday, April 21
Friday, April 20
hundreds of proofs that god exists
Don't read this if you're a Christian!
Infact, don't read it if you're atheist, monotheist, Buddhist, Calvinist, Islamic, or have no sense of humor.
You can read it if you practice zazen though.
I think.
Infact, don't read it if you're atheist, monotheist, Buddhist, Calvinist, Islamic, or have no sense of humor.
You can read it if you practice zazen though.
I think.
Romania is not a democracy
Well ... its official (and illegal, but the Romanian government doesn't really care): the government suspended the president.
I mean ... its a democracy ... theoretically.
In a democracy, the president is elected by the people ... unless you're in Romania and the parliament "doesn't agree" with the people.
It follows that Romania has no democracy ... unless the parliament agrees, ofcourse.
Q.E.D.
I mean ... its a democracy ... theoretically.
In a democracy, the president is elected by the people ... unless you're in Romania and the parliament "doesn't agree" with the people.
It follows that Romania has no democracy ... unless the parliament agrees, ofcourse.
Q.E.D.
Thursday, April 19
a new google (small) feature
On the Official Google Blog there was an entry this morning about seeing Google Recommendations.
Apparently, they are able to suggest search terms, videos, news, pages and groups you'd like, based on your search history (for me it was links to python and ruby, Boing Boing, Virtualization in Ubuntu Linux and some Halo references).
I'm curious if they'll be accused of monopoly abuse (like microsoft would), by Stumble Upon and the others with similar business models.
Apparently, they are able to suggest search terms, videos, news, pages and groups you'd like, based on your search history (for me it was links to python and ruby, Boing Boing, Virtualization in Ubuntu Linux and some Halo references).
I'm curious if they'll be accused of monopoly abuse (like microsoft would), by Stumble Upon and the others with similar business models.
Wednesday, April 18
my living place (alley, trashcan and everything)
Well ... this is my new cubicle, motorcycle boots and everything; My very own piece of heaven ... or hell ... I'm not sure on that yet.
Monday, April 16
"Say it with UML"
Do you know all that "Say it With Flowers" line of commercials?
Well ... here's Utnapistim's "Say it with UML" (excerpts from our illustrious UML documentation):
"Look at your face and die!"
"Why don't you roll over and die?"
For the record: I think "Die" is actually the singular of "Dice".
Well ... here's Utnapistim's "Say it with UML" (excerpts from our illustrious UML documentation):
"Look at your face and die!"
"Why don't you roll over and die?"
For the record: I think "Die" is actually the singular of "Dice".
Saturday, April 14
"all those ... moments ... lost
like tears ... in the rain"
It's been a while since I've written anything.
I switched projects (and should be changing location sometimes through Monday), did the Reiki 2 course three weeks ago now, went through a movie-watching marathon for a few nights during Easter break and visited some places around here.
Altogether, I feel that somehow things change on a bigger scale around me and yet ... nothing "profound" comes to mind.
No conclusion to make through it all;
Hey, maybe I've somehow gotten dumber.
Maybe I've written all I had to write, thought all I had to think and gave any ... messages I had to give and now I'm resting (or something).
Maybe its because of this, that I keep posting pictures: I feel that even when I don't have something to say, they still say something ...
Maybe I'm clinging - through the pictures - to the illusion of permanence, believing that the world cares - that "someone out there" might be impressed by how some blossoms looked a month ago in a tree in Trodos mountains, or what me and my friends did on the island of Cyprus, on a Saturday morning.
Stavrovouni Monastery
littering (Romanians in Cyprus)
edge
Church of all Cyprus Saints at Stavrovouni Monastery
my bike
L
I switched projects (and should be changing location sometimes through Monday), did the Reiki 2 course three weeks ago now, went through a movie-watching marathon for a few nights during Easter break and visited some places around here.
Altogether, I feel that somehow things change on a bigger scale around me and yet ... nothing "profound" comes to mind.
No conclusion to make through it all;
Hey, maybe I've somehow gotten dumber.
Maybe I've written all I had to write, thought all I had to think and gave any ... messages I had to give and now I'm resting (or something).
Maybe its because of this, that I keep posting pictures: I feel that even when I don't have something to say, they still say something ...
Maybe I'm clinging - through the pictures - to the illusion of permanence, believing that the world cares - that "someone out there" might be impressed by how some blossoms looked a month ago in a tree in Trodos mountains, or what me and my friends did on the island of Cyprus, on a Saturday morning.
Stavrovouni Monastery
littering (Romanians in Cyprus)
edge
Church of all Cyprus Saints at Stavrovouni Monastery
my bike
L
Friday, April 13
Wednesday, April 11
Monday, April 9
Wednesday, April 4
Monday, April 2
save a poor bunny rabbit
Act Now!
According to Utnapistim News, a fluffy white cute bunny rabbit is dieing every ten minutes or so.
If you act now, you can (maybe) save one!
According to Utnapistim News, a fluffy white cute bunny rabbit is dieing every ten minutes or so.
If you act now, you can (maybe) save one!
300
I saw 300, so I figured I'd write a not-really-complete review for it.
So ... what concerned me about it (and the reason I declared I wouldn't want to see it initially) was the amount of violence in the movie. After having seen it, I can say that while the violence is there, its necessary, as it serves to complete the picture (pardon the pun).
The visuals of this movie are great; I feel ("feel" meaning I didn't exactly measure this) that about 80% of the scenes in the movie would make great static images (which kind-of makes sense, when you consider it was mostly computer-generated).
Also, the color alterations and usage of narrow depth of field are great and completely change the mood of the movie. This is one of the reasons I think this movie should be seen on a panoramic screen.
The speeches ... well ... If I have something bad to say about the movie, this might be it: some of the dialogs/monologues in the movie sounded stupid (maybe not stupid but a bit artificial) to me, like:
All in all, the movie was worth my time ...
So ... what concerned me about it (and the reason I declared I wouldn't want to see it initially) was the amount of violence in the movie. After having seen it, I can say that while the violence is there, its necessary, as it serves to complete the picture (pardon the pun).
The visuals of this movie are great; I feel ("feel" meaning I didn't exactly measure this) that about 80% of the scenes in the movie would make great static images (which kind-of makes sense, when you consider it was mostly computer-generated).
Also, the color alterations and usage of narrow depth of field are great and completely change the mood of the movie. This is one of the reasons I think this movie should be seen on a panoramic screen.
The speeches ... well ... If I have something bad to say about the movie, this might be it: some of the dialogs/monologues in the movie sounded stupid (maybe not stupid but a bit artificial) to me, like:
Give them nothing! But take from them everything!Still, overall is not something that stands out.
Spartan King Leonidas
All in all, the movie was worth my time ...
on the table
... playing with an S-curve ...
This is one of the shots I took yesterday, while having lunch in Moni village.
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