Saturday, April 7, 2012
LEA Theatre
I was wandering around LEA and came across the LEA Theatre with a note as follows: "Machinima 48 Hour Film Project: APR 15 at 3PM SLT: The Machinima 48 Hour Film Project will have an exclusive film screening of this year's submissions at the LEA Theatre, hosted by Chantal Harvey! http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA3/43/43/21" So there is something interesting for April 15.. check it out here: http://slurl.com/secondlife/LEA4/48/179/34 or direct link here: LEATheatreHere.
Free Online Photo Editing
Most people know I’ve avoided Photoshop like the plague as I fear I might become addicted and just really don’t want to start spending a ton of time on photo editing when there is so much fun stuff to see and do in SL, and that is where my free time goes. But I do love to take pics and be a little creative with them besides looking for good windlights, angles, sets and costuming in SL. That was why the free Picnik photo editing in Flickr made me happy. I could crop, frame, add text or a few special effects or stickers and I had even learned to clone spots and brush out or color in around small problem areas on rare occasion as needed.
Google apparently at some point decided to keep Picnik for themselves leaving the free online editing and Flickr group without. Flickr announced a few months ago that Picnik would no longer be available to users and that something else would replace it April 19, 2012 for Flickr users to edit in Flickr. That something turned out to be Avery.
Yesterday April 5 (yeah they didnt wait until the 19th and gave no warning) I pulled in a batch of pics from SL to Flickr only to find out Flickr had just dissolved the Picnik edition replacing it was Avery free editing that can be done straight from the Flickr pics like Picnik used to work. Ok, I’ve heard Avery does a great job in some areas, but this little free program in Flickr basically sucks for me… yes I’m spoiled. I am grateful someone came through with a free editing program that can be done right in Flickr and I will still possibly use it a little for basic cropping but that is about it. I think they are trying, as they ask for suggestions but my suggestion is MAKE IT JUST EXACTLY LIKE PICNIK WAS. My list would be too long for them really. I can’t even zoom into my photo to a spot to edit like before which is needed for people who have small monitors or are on a laptop like me.
So while I was whining and yes, even cursing too, a friend suggested I try PicMonkey. Viola! It’s exactly like Picnik was with all the options I love, free, user friendly, fast, special effects, etc. I once again have a ton of editing tools that are easy to use including all the makeover tools, text, stickers, textures, various brushes, etc. and so much more. O, I’m sooo happy!
Now all someone needs to do is get Flickr to incorporate Picmonkey right into Flickr so I can still pull up a batch of photos into Flickr and edit from there rather than taking an individual photo into Picmonkey, editing it, then back to my computer then up to Flickr .. and move on to the next one, one by one.
To find Picmonkey online go here: http://www.PicMonkey.com/Picmonkey
Google apparently at some point decided to keep Picnik for themselves leaving the free online editing and Flickr group without. Flickr announced a few months ago that Picnik would no longer be available to users and that something else would replace it April 19, 2012 for Flickr users to edit in Flickr. That something turned out to be Avery.
Yesterday April 5 (yeah they didnt wait until the 19th and gave no warning) I pulled in a batch of pics from SL to Flickr only to find out Flickr had just dissolved the Picnik edition replacing it was Avery free editing that can be done straight from the Flickr pics like Picnik used to work. Ok, I’ve heard Avery does a great job in some areas, but this little free program in Flickr basically sucks for me… yes I’m spoiled. I am grateful someone came through with a free editing program that can be done right in Flickr and I will still possibly use it a little for basic cropping but that is about it. I think they are trying, as they ask for suggestions but my suggestion is MAKE IT JUST EXACTLY LIKE PICNIK WAS. My list would be too long for them really. I can’t even zoom into my photo to a spot to edit like before which is needed for people who have small monitors or are on a laptop like me.
So while I was whining and yes, even cursing too, a friend suggested I try PicMonkey. Viola! It’s exactly like Picnik was with all the options I love, free, user friendly, fast, special effects, etc. I once again have a ton of editing tools that are easy to use including all the makeover tools, text, stickers, textures, various brushes, etc. and so much more. O, I’m sooo happy!
Now all someone needs to do is get Flickr to incorporate Picmonkey right into Flickr so I can still pull up a batch of photos into Flickr and edit from there rather than taking an individual photo into Picmonkey, editing it, then back to my computer then up to Flickr .. and move on to the next one, one by one.
To find Picmonkey online go here: http://www.PicMonkey.com/Picmonkey
Friday, April 6, 2012
MEB for Mimi
'Just one of many quick party pics from the MEB for Mimi fashion show today celebrating 3 years of MEB at Mimi's Choice. This is a shot from after the show where some of the large crowd hopped on the runway for dancing. Fun times.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
The Hunger Games
Dear Diary ,
It’s been a long time since I’ve last written to you on my blog and this time I want to write about something real life that touched me. It’s not really about real life, but just a movie. So, this is not in any way about SL, but will be my saving place for my thoughts on this pg rated movie, “The Hunger Games”.
First of all, yes, I did cry in the movie… several times. Maybe it was just the day, my mood, or spring allergies acting up causing my eyes to water over time and again, but this movie really was disturbing to me on many levels, although I liked it a lot and would recommend it to others. I think I’d worry if anyone told me this movie didn’t disturb them at least a little bit.
The Hunger Games is a young adult novel written by American Suzanne Collins published in 2008 with the movie released last week. I saw the movie this past weekend and now have all 3 books sitting at home waiting for me to read them. The trilogy includes, “The Hunger Games”, “Catching Fire” and “Mockingjay”. It seems the books and movie are now going viral with the books easily found front and center at Walmart and our local large theater providing 7 showings Sunday. Thankfully I arrived at the theater early as it appeared my theater time slot was full or sold out. I heard it topped the box office during a month of other amazing movie releases, so I guess I’m not the only one thinking about this story. Although it’s written for young adults and is even reading material in many junior high schools, a lot of mature adults including my friends are on top of this. Rumors indicate the next two books will be made into movies as well and that the novels become increasingly disturbing. Following the movie I expect a full uprising from “the people”. But I suppose if I search this online I’d find all kinds of information and know exactly what will happen. I’ll wait it out for myself most likely unless I can’t bear the suspense, as it’s more fun not spoiling my surprise.
This movie to me seemed to touch on subjects of hope, teamwork, poverty, survival, government power, society’s craving for shock tv or survival type games, child suffering, and oppression. It includes the standard love triangle which is necessary to complete the story though rather than just add warm fuzzies. Once I heard it has some Christian themes, which I suppose could be drawn from some parts of the movie such as when the young heroine volunteers to take the place of her younger sister in a sacrificial way as at that point there is little hope for survival. Also, the hero takes a knife basically ultimately meant for the heroine, was left for dead, betrayed by a group he banded with, then lays in a cave for a few days before full recovery, etc,. Personally I think that is a stretch to think the author intended for it to have a Christian them, or intentionally planned that, but rather some similarities coincidentally can be found. Anyway, I guess only the author can answer that one and I doubt this is a wide belief. I also thought bits of the story line were pretty unbelievable at times with missing pieces of how this could work in reality, but I have a decent imagination and that didn’t detract while watching from my full belief and enjoyment. Maybe entertainment vs enjoyment is a better word choice for what I felt of this movie. It was almost one of those train wreck moment type movies, as you just can’t look away. It’s a gruesome thought that we’ve made entertainment out of children ages 12 -17 killing each other for survival. Reading and watching this movie, along with so many others, almost makes one feel like the rich adults cheering on the children watching “The Hunger Games” in the movie. The young children kill each other off in survival mode one by one while cannons boom out upon each child’s death. But then again, I guess our boys go off to war at age 18 in real life.
O well, Dear Diary, I guess that is that, and I got it off my chest. Sincerely, KT
It’s been a long time since I’ve last written to you on my blog and this time I want to write about something real life that touched me. It’s not really about real life, but just a movie. So, this is not in any way about SL, but will be my saving place for my thoughts on this pg rated movie, “The Hunger Games”.
First of all, yes, I did cry in the movie… several times. Maybe it was just the day, my mood, or spring allergies acting up causing my eyes to water over time and again, but this movie really was disturbing to me on many levels, although I liked it a lot and would recommend it to others. I think I’d worry if anyone told me this movie didn’t disturb them at least a little bit.
The Hunger Games is a young adult novel written by American Suzanne Collins published in 2008 with the movie released last week. I saw the movie this past weekend and now have all 3 books sitting at home waiting for me to read them. The trilogy includes, “The Hunger Games”, “Catching Fire” and “Mockingjay”. It seems the books and movie are now going viral with the books easily found front and center at Walmart and our local large theater providing 7 showings Sunday. Thankfully I arrived at the theater early as it appeared my theater time slot was full or sold out. I heard it topped the box office during a month of other amazing movie releases, so I guess I’m not the only one thinking about this story. Although it’s written for young adults and is even reading material in many junior high schools, a lot of mature adults including my friends are on top of this. Rumors indicate the next two books will be made into movies as well and that the novels become increasingly disturbing. Following the movie I expect a full uprising from “the people”. But I suppose if I search this online I’d find all kinds of information and know exactly what will happen. I’ll wait it out for myself most likely unless I can’t bear the suspense, as it’s more fun not spoiling my surprise.
This movie to me seemed to touch on subjects of hope, teamwork, poverty, survival, government power, society’s craving for shock tv or survival type games, child suffering, and oppression. It includes the standard love triangle which is necessary to complete the story though rather than just add warm fuzzies. Once I heard it has some Christian themes, which I suppose could be drawn from some parts of the movie such as when the young heroine volunteers to take the place of her younger sister in a sacrificial way as at that point there is little hope for survival. Also, the hero takes a knife basically ultimately meant for the heroine, was left for dead, betrayed by a group he banded with, then lays in a cave for a few days before full recovery, etc,. Personally I think that is a stretch to think the author intended for it to have a Christian them, or intentionally planned that, but rather some similarities coincidentally can be found. Anyway, I guess only the author can answer that one and I doubt this is a wide belief. I also thought bits of the story line were pretty unbelievable at times with missing pieces of how this could work in reality, but I have a decent imagination and that didn’t detract while watching from my full belief and enjoyment. Maybe entertainment vs enjoyment is a better word choice for what I felt of this movie. It was almost one of those train wreck moment type movies, as you just can’t look away. It’s a gruesome thought that we’ve made entertainment out of children ages 12 -17 killing each other for survival. Reading and watching this movie, along with so many others, almost makes one feel like the rich adults cheering on the children watching “The Hunger Games” in the movie. The young children kill each other off in survival mode one by one while cannons boom out upon each child’s death. But then again, I guess our boys go off to war at age 18 in real life.
O well, Dear Diary, I guess that is that, and I got it off my chest. Sincerely, KT
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
The Secret Life of Dolls-April 7th Exhibit Opening Party
Visit here Saturday: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Devilbrook/21/137/22 or direct link here:
DollsHere
I popped in for a sneak peak at the exhibit area and ran into artist Alles Klaar and gallery owner Orcas Flotta, so I snapped a couple of quick shots of them. Alles and Kynne Lwellellyn will have their exhibit opening this Saturday and Alles writes, "The secret is out. This coming Saturday (April 7th) I will be opening a new art show at The OrCafe with my dear friend, Kynne Llewellyn. It's all new pictures - doll-themed of course. We hope to see you there!" The opening will be at 2pm SLT.
Alles is Australian and Kynne is Belgium. They are well known and respected in Flickr too and their links can be found here:
-http://www.flickr.com/photos/myunderwaterpics/
-http://www.flickr.com/photos/kynne_llewellyn/
-http://www.flickr.com/photos/allesklaar/
(Artist: Alles Klaar-in her "broken Heart" doll avatar outfit)
(Gallery owner, Orcas Flotta and Alles at the OrCafe')
DollsHere
I popped in for a sneak peak at the exhibit area and ran into artist Alles Klaar and gallery owner Orcas Flotta, so I snapped a couple of quick shots of them. Alles and Kynne Lwellellyn will have their exhibit opening this Saturday and Alles writes, "The secret is out. This coming Saturday (April 7th) I will be opening a new art show at The OrCafe with my dear friend, Kynne Llewellyn. It's all new pictures - doll-themed of course. We hope to see you there!" The opening will be at 2pm SLT.
Alles is Australian and Kynne is Belgium. They are well known and respected in Flickr too and their links can be found here:
-http://www.flickr.com/photos/myunderwaterpics/
-http://www.flickr.com/photos/kynne_llewellyn/
-http://www.flickr.com/photos/allesklaar/
(Artist: Alles Klaar-in her "broken Heart" doll avatar outfit)
(Gallery owner, Orcas Flotta and Alles at the OrCafe')
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Split Screen Art Installation April, 2012
Visit here: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Beleza/36/219/1501 or direct link here: SplitScreenHere.
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