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Paul Watson - 1:38 PM 3088572 + Comment
To me one key aspect of the web is its freedom of information. Opression, threats, physical violence or simple hatred can not hide atrocities when a medium like the web exists. On this note this incredible visual "tour" of Burma stunned me in two ways. One the presentation, photography and composition was excellent. The site uses flash but as god intended us to use flash, not as a new interface or document management system but as a multimedia tour de force. Linear maybe but amazing. The second stunned reaction I had was how terrible, there is no other word, life is in Burma.
I say I wish I could do something to stop atrocities such as what is happening in Burma, but if I really tried I could, but I don't. Apathy... Maybe one day I will learn.
Paul Watson - 7:00 PM 2280868 + Comment
Having a long good think on what I want to do with this web space. I will keep everyone up to date as I come up with ideas and then a final plan.
Paul Watson - 6:55 PM 2280811 + Comment
Publishing a book is a daunting task. There are a myriad of do's and don'ts which most would be authors only find out after having done the wrong thing. Trial and error is never the best route and with this in mind XLibris have put the entire publishing procedure as well as many other services on their site. Now you can not only learn how to submit your manuscript professionally but they also offer complete book publishing services. One of the options is actually free! You may not get all the fancy options but it ensures that if you have a manuscript you want published you now have no excuse not to.
Paul Watson - 9:06 AM 2200042 + Comment
I am no poet nor am I a poetry lover. However every now and then a poem comes along that gives me a glimpse into what poetry is all about, why it is the expression of your soul. Motherlove is one such poem.
I care little whether it does not follow iambic pentametre or has an alternating tenth level deep ryhming scheme. What matters to me is that it flows with a natural grace as if from a master pen. The poem is also sad and meaningful, something many modern day poems seem to have lost.
Still on the poetry note but off Motherlove I just have to say that poetry is probably the most abused form of expression in my opinion. People are too clever for their own good, creating what they think is brilliant poetry, meanwhile it means nothing. These *poets* put everything into the technique and nothing into the heart of the poem.
Paul Watson - 8:32 AM 2199721 + Comment
Now that I have my finances under control, a long and dificult battle, I thought it was about time I reaped the rewards and bought myself something I have always wanted. If you are thinking "but won't that put you right back in financial hell?" then your right but to hell with it, this is a calculated risk. If my calculations are incorrect then expect to see me on the corner asking for your kindness and pennies. *laughs*
So by now I am sure you are dying to know what I want to get.
I have always been in love with expression and one really good way to express is through photography. So I have decided to junk the clickety-click tourist camera and buy myself a Canon EOS 300 with a 28-200mm EF lens. The general concensus is that this camera is perfect for beginners but it won't become too simple after just a few months. It has all the features us gadget nuts love plus offers full manual control so that once you know what you are doing you can do it without the computer inside doing what it thinks is right.
Now all I need to do is go pick it up from London. *laughs* Yes I bought it online at Jessops.com as it was a damn sight cheaper than anything in our local camera shops. Then I decided to get it delivered to our London office to save on shipping.
I cannot wait, I am dying with anticipation. *laughs*
Paul Watson - 6:37 PM 2142056 + Comment
This blows my mind.
For one Io (the moon in the picture in front of Jupiter) just happens to be closer to the camera than Jupiter. Pretty normal you may say but just look at how large Jupiter is! I mean Io is by no means small. Sure in the cosmic scale of things it's a virtual non-entity but if you consider you could probably fit a billion people at least on its surface then its pretty damned big. Also consider that is only about a third of Jupiter you are seeing AND its many ten's of thousand's of kilometres away from Io itself, never mind the camera.
I get blown away when I try and wrap my mind around just how large things like the Planets are, how far away they are and just how incredibly different they are. If you don't think its mind blowing then try and make a correctly scaled model of the solar system in your back yard. Chances are your back yard would have to be the size of ten football fields and thats making the Sun the size of a tennis ball (Earth would be a small marble and yet its pretty big when you actually live on it, right?).
I found the link to this picture in an article on CNN.com, here is the article: Cassini snaps pics of Jupiter lightning, elusive moon
Paul Watson - 1:23 PM 2100290 + Comment
This blows my mind.
For one Io (the moon in the picture in front of Jupiter) just happens to be closer to the camera than Jupiter. Pretty normal you may say but just look at how large Jupiter is! I mean Io is by no means small. Sure in the cosmic scale of things it's a virtual non-entity but if you consider you could probably fit a billion people at least on its surface then its pretty damned big. Also consider that is only about a third of Jupiter you are seeing AND its many ten's of thousand's of kilometres away from Io itself, never mind the camera.
I get blown away when I try and wrap my mind around just how large things like the Planets are, how far away they are and just how incredibly different they are. If you don't think its mind blowing then try and make a correctly scaled model of the solar system in your back yard. Chances are your back yard would have to be the size of ten football fields and thats making the Sun the size of a tennis ball (Earth would be a small marble and yet its pretty big when you actually live on it, right?).
Support NASA!
Paul Watson - 1:18 PM 2100268 + Comment
Wetlog and its interesting WM:2 Fantastical "mag" featured a piece all about weblogs and how the influx of new people, which I am a part of, has brought down the overall quality of the field. I do agree that there is a lot of crap out there (if you consider mine crap then so be it, there are plenty of other weblogs you might like), tons of bad writing and heaps of bad design. My disagreement with Mr Wetlog is that just because it used to be hard to publish your own weblog which resulted in fewer weblogs it meant automatically that they were better quality. I have seen the attempts of some programmers, web designers or Perl junkies who are wizards in their field but cannot string a sentence together with enough apptitude to entertain a typewriter wielding monkey. They just are not writers, they are programmers, designers and Perl junkies.
What the weblog revolution has allowed is people who can hardly string alt and f4 together (don't press those keys together unless you know what they do :) to express, write and communicate to the world. People who in the past could not put together a website can now with a few clicks of a button be up and writing in minutes. Whether their site lacks personalisation, usability or design wizardry is not important. After all a design is just a framework for holding together what you are trying to say.
At the end of the day there is a lot of new crap, mixed in with some of the old crap. Amongst this crap are the big bright older gems and now many new glimmering growing gems. In the coming months floods of boredom will wash away some of the crap, even some of the gems unfortunatley. Live with it and enjoy the process, learn lessons from the crap and aspire to be a gem.
As much as I disagreed with the article Wetlog is a gem and WM:2 is damned good, go check them out.
Paul Watson - 12:33 PM 2085190 + Comment
Breakfast in an awakening restaurant. Salmon omelletes, muesli cereals, stacks of flap jacks and cups ot tea. Her lips on my fingers, my eyes on her lips. A stare, a giggle and a comment from other couples and singles. It is our anniversary, let us be free to love, it is no sin.
Warming sun tan oil spreading on her back, hands following the glistening trail. The wash of breakers at our feet, hand in hand under azure blue. Playful games in the shallow water, wrapped in her arms as we are submerged, lips on lips, skin against skin.
Her elegant fingers clutch my hand making me wince, the floor rotates and the cable car jerks as it leaves the housing. Up, faster than the setting sun. Looming rock walls come rushing up, harder, ease up my love almost there. Walking the paths, above the clouds, sun touched and whipped. Sipping wine, pasta and giggles as its wrapped around forks, pushed past lips into eager mouths. Sun setting, chocolates and presents. Happy anniversary whispered softer than the sun being enshrouded by the clouds. Darkness falling, lights coming out. Down we go, arm in arm. Bob Marley singing with Lauren Hall, lights out in the cable car. The city, our city, were we lived, loved and met.
How I love all days with you.
Paul Watson - 11:47 AM 2084949 + Comment
1 year ago today
I find it hard to believe that Janina, my love, and I have been going out for an entire year as of today. On one hand we are so close, so comfortable with each other and have gone through so much (all good) that it feels like so much more than just one year. On the other hand time has flown by so quickly in this last wondrous year that it feels like so much less.
All I know is that this last year has been the happiest of my life. Being loved so deeply and un-equivocally by someone makes you believe in yourself. It is a good feeling and one of many reasons why I love her. Love begets love.
So, to the woman who is my friend, my companion, my confidant, my lover and my love: I love you, eternally.
Paul Watson - 1:08 PM 2070671 + Comment
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