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Monday, September 29, 2008

SPOOKY SOUTHCOAST RADIO 09-27-08

If your looking for the new episode of Spooky Southcoast Radio I have move all the ones I have cut over to http://spookysouthcoast.blogspot.com/ and you can find it, and all future ones that I cut there.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

GREAT SHOTS WITH BAD LIGHTING AND KEEPING THE ACTION

I have done a tutorial about layer blends before and the one in the demo there is not a great difference in the before and after. Here is one that is. At a high school game with the worst lights I have ever seen on one end of the field I took the following picture. Now keep in mind that this was set to ISO 1250 on a 40D with a f/2.o 135 prime and it was at f/2. I wanted to keep the action so I set the Shutter Speed to 500. The first is the original shot.

When I brought it into photoshop I did a duplicate layer and with the levels brightened it until everything was seen clearly>ok> I then went to the layer pallet and chose blending options from the drop down menu>general blending was set to 97>Advanced blending was set to 78 and the final result was the second photo.

I captured a larger image with a screen capture software so it is a little off but I wanted you to see clearly and going though PS would have made it to large. So don't give up on those dark images and use your SS to stop the action.



Thursday, September 25, 2008

SHADOWMAGIC!!! IT'S HERE, IT'S HERE

Let me introduce you to John Lenahan. Here he is with his novel "Shadowmagic".



The once, and still, podiobook - Shadowmagic is a story that I fell in love with a couple of years back and I personally have been promoting it myself to anyone that would listen. If you are a SCI-FI and Fantasy Fan this is a must hear and now you can read it as well. The first printing has just hit the shelf in the UK. A limited edition of 1000, and the complete printing will be out soon. But probably not in the US for some time.

It has been a long wait for us fans and I'm glad its here. I have always said that "I will read quite a bit of books each year but there is just a select few that will make it to stay on my self as keepers". Shadowmagic ranks right there at the top. It is so good in fact that I ordered it without hesitation.

Let me offer you a synopsis from John's blog:

“Hi, my name is Conor. Other than my father being a bit of an eccentric lunatic, my life was pretty normal until I got attacked in my living room and whisked away to Tir na Nog, the mystical land of the ancient Celts, where it turns out Dad is the usurped heir to the throne and everybody wants me dead because of some prophecy. Don’t you just hate when that happens?”

Shadowmagic is a rip roaring fun fantasy adventure novel by John Lenahan very loosely based on Irish mythology where every chapter ends on the edge of a cliff (or at least a high curb.) Join Conor as he grapples with typical teenage problems like, how to deal with a father’s high expectations, how to survive in the world on your own and how to woo a beautiful girl - that wants you dead. Shadowmagic a podcast novel for young adults from 12 to 112."

What I really enjoyed about this novel is that it is pretty clean (only a hand full of minor words spread though out the book, which by the way is a snap to leave out while reading the book with little ones around) and I was able to enjoy it with my daughter on audio from podiobooks.com and now we can enjoy the read together as well. We try for one chapter a night which usually turns to 2 or 3 before its over. The story was told in a cliff hanger style that always left you wanting more.

I am looking forward to the quality time this will bring once more to our family and a few giggles as well. I told my daughter that she would have do do the flute music in between chapters and breaks. Listen to at least one chapter to see what I mean.

Visit John's site and give it a listen. You will not be disappointed I promise.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

SPOOKY SOUTHCOAST RADIO 9-20-08

Keeping up with the virtual off site achieve.

Show notes from spookysouthcoast.com:

9-20-08 - It's UFO Abductions: Then and Now on tonight's show. First, we'll talk with Kathleen Marden, niece of Betty and Barney Hill and co-author (along with Stan Friedman) of "Captured! The UFO Experience," about what is widely considered the first major UFO abduction case. Then, we'll talk about current cases with renowned researcher and author Dr. David Jacobs.

38.4MB - 1:36 In Length

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Thursday, September 18, 2008

JOE BIDEN - PAYING MORE TAXES IS THE PATROTIC THING TO DO

I found this today on Yahoo News:

Biden: Paying higher taxes patriotic for wealthy
By DOUGLASS K. DANIEL, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden said Thursday that paying more in taxes is the patriotic thing to do for wealthier Americans. In a new TV ad that repeats widely debunked claims about the Democratic tax plan, the Republican campaign calls Obama's tax increases "painful."

Under the economic plan proposed by Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, people earning more than $250,000 a year would pay more in taxes while those earning less — the vast majority of American taxpayers — would receive a tax cut.

Although Republican John McCain claims that Obama would raise taxes, the independent Tax Policy Center and other groups conclude that four out of five U.S. households would receive tax cuts under Obama's proposals.

"We want to take money and put it back in the pocket of middle-class people," Biden said in an interview on ABC's "Good Morning America."

Noting that wealthier Americans would indeed pay more, Biden said: "It's time to be patriotic ... time to jump in, time to be part of the deal, time to help get America out of the rut."

McCain released a television ad Thursday charging that Obama would increase the size of the federal government amid an economic crisis. Contending that "a big government casts a big shadow on us all," the ad features the image of a shadow slowly covering a sleeping baby as a narrator misstates the reach of the Obama tax proposal.

"Obama and his liberal congressional allies want a massive government, billions in spending increases, wasteful pork," the ad says. "And we would pay — painful income taxes, skyrocketing taxes on life savings, electricity and home heating oil. Can your family afford that?"

The McCain campaign said the ad is set to run nationally.
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If you would like a patriotic thing to do how about a donation of every person in every house hold donating a dollar or ten for each person in the family. Set up a tithe have fund raisers or something to that effect. That would be patriotic. This is a disciplinary action for those with drive and motivation.

If you really want to do something for this country support and vote in the Fair Tax. If you have not read it – pick up a copy and do so. Just think that not only would you get your entire paycheck each week, 2 weeks or monthly, each home would get a prebate check to average $480 a month to cover basic necessities. It would eliminate the tax loop holes for everyone and put a wealth of cash back into the failing economy.

Just think it would also be the first time in our history where tourist from all over the world would pay into and support our Social Security. Now that would make an impact.

Neither candidate is in the position to support what would benefit this country. Regardless who wins it will be more of the same because of their own agenda or a congress who benefits from lobbyist to continue the same.

I see tv commercials that have people yelling “it’s my money and I want it now.”
Wrong it’s our money and 70% of us pay nothing at the end of the year. Want to do something patriotic – get a job, fend for yourself, stop waiting for everyone else to save you, give back there are countless places you can make a difference but it is up to you.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

SPOOKY SOUTHCOAST RADIO - JEFF BELANGER AND GRANT GRANT CAMERON

I did not want you to miss this show. I am in no way trying to push in, take over or take credit for any part of their show. I am not in anyway involved in the show. I am a fan, and since their archive is not up to date I thought I would make it available here for you to download. The guys do such a good job with it and as we all know sometimes time is short. I am testing new audio software for some upcoming interviews with Southern Sports Week.com so what better way to test it out than with an actual project.

So here it is from their discription on the website www.spookysouthcoast.com

9.13.08: We're talking paranormal and the presidency as we're joined by Jeff Belanger, author of the forthcoming book "Who is Haunting the White House?" and owner of Ghostvillage.com to talk about the ghostly goings-on at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and then we'll be joined by Grant Cameron, who will discuss with us how much the presidents have known about UFOs and the impact they've had on U.S. history.

The download is here.

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Saturday, September 6, 2008

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS

Quote from Yahoo Sports:

"Cyclists want apology from USOC over mask flap
By TIM REYNOLDS, AP Sports Writer
Sep 5, 8:53 pm EDT

The four American cyclists who arrived for last month’s Beijing Games wearing black masks and were subsequently ordered to apologize for offending the host nation are seeking an apology from the U.S. Olympic Committee.

In a letter sent to the leadership group of the Athletes Advisory Council, an attorney for the four cyclists—Michael Friedman, Sarah Hammer, Bobby Lea and Jennie Reed—not only asked the USOC to apologize, but said the flap was “emotionally devastating” and adversely affected their performances at the Beijing Games, where none of them medaled and only Hammer managed a top-five finish.

The athletes were provided the masks before the Olympics by the USOC because of ongoing air-pollution concerns in Beijing.

“No athlete who has trained for years to become an Olympic athlete should be subject to such disrespect,” wrote their attorney, Christopher Campbell. “It was their first Olympic Games. They should have been in a supportive environment so that they could enjoy their Olympic experience and perform at peak levels. The false accusations, done in such a public fashion, was humiliating and emotionally devastating. It affected the Athletes’ performance.”

The athletes also want “an unequivocal statement from the USOC that they did not engage in any inappropriate conduct” and “systemic assurance that something like this does not happen to future Olympic athletes.”

The USOC did not comment Friday on whether they had received the letter.

Hammer and Reed were among USA Cycling’s top medal hopefuls entering the games, yet both struggled in Beijing.

Hammer, a two-time world champion, was fifth in the individual pursuit, and Reed finished eighth in the sprint after coming down with a flu-like illness during the Olympics. Lea led the men’s points race before dropping out of the event, citing fatigue, and he and Friedman combined to finish last in the 16-team madison race.

After that race, Friedman had harsh words for the USOC, saying he felt betrayed and insisting that he should have been allowed to wear the masks— because they were distributed by the USOC. More than 200 of the masks were distributed, but only a handful of American athletes publicly revealed wearing theirs at any time in Beijing.

“It is unfortunate that those that are supposed to support the athletes in their Olympic dreams were so quick to look out for their own interests,” said Andy Sparks, Hammer’s personal coach and fiancee, who also served as USA Cycling’s track coach for the Beijing Games."
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Now Let's think about this for a moment. How many medals did the US win in these games? If I'm not mistaken we had more than any other country. This story and demand goes straight to the top in the give me a break category. And, by the way I don't think we as a country would even let people who clearly are not from " 'round here" go walking around with masks in this post 9-11 environment much less getting off a plane. OK, the athletes were embarrassed for not getting the memo that meant- hey that looks stupid so don't put it on, or it is offensive (God, I hate that word)to the country we are going to. I personally would have just assumed this. Especially going to a communistic country where it is legal if they desire to shoot you on the spot for anything they wish. Maybe its just me.

Maybe another question needs to be asked and mind you it is just a question, but -Could it be that this is just a tantrum attributed by poor performance? or Really? How many other athletes did this effect not counting the 90 or so medalist?

Who knows, it is the American way to blame someone else. Our lobbyist and politicians have taught us that. Heaven forbid that someone is held accountable for their own demise.

Friday, September 5, 2008

SPOOKY SOUTHCOAST RADIO

Step into the paranormal with one of my favorite shows Spooky Southcoast. Hosted by Tim Weisberg, Matt Costa and Matt Moniz. It is a freshley well done show with a very hometown appeal. They cover everything paranormal and broadcasts out of AM 1420 in Southeastern Mass.


Spooky Southcoast Radio show 8-30-08 can be found Here.

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