I made several updates to the structure of the blog. I think all changes are in place now and everything seems to be working.
Next? Blog-on…
A modern day monster film Cloverfield is fast paced, well executed, and a different experience than the usual modern film.
Cloverfield is told from the point of view of an individual with a video camera. Only the point of view of the camera operator is seen throughout the movie. Perspectives are provided through the dialog of the characters. The special effects are interwoven throughout the movie. Generally, the special effects do not dominate every frame of the movie but when they are on screen they completely dominate the film.
There are some interesting points in the movie. At the beginning of the film a party is being held for one of the characters because he just received a promotion and was being sent to Japan. This is interesting because this movie is about a monster that apparently came from the sea and was destroying a major city (NYC). Reminiscent of the Godzilla and other monster movies that were produced in Japan. On another note the person with the camera throught most of the move is named Hud. I couldn’t help but think of HUD or heads up display.
I really liked this movie. I was able to (mostly) get involved with the movie and really liked the way it was shot as if it was from a video camera.
The photo gallery is online again. Much frustration associated with the configuration. Hopefully I can keep it running this time. It seems it was a directory permissions issue. So I’ll try to customize to look like I want. That will take some time but so be it. I think I can inset photos into a post directly from Gallery too. I’ll see if I can make that work.
The following prayer is by Desmond M. Tutu, former Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa. I offer this prayer for all of those in conflict around the world and especially for my brothers and sisters in Kenya.
Peace for the Children of God
O God, all holy one, You are our mother and our father and we are Your children. Open our hearts so that we may be able to discern Your work in the universe and be able to see Your features in every one of Your children. May we learn that there are many paths but all lead to You. Help us to know that You have created us for family, for togetherness, for peace, for gentleness, for compassion, for caring, for sharing.
May we know that You want us to care for one another as those who know that they are sisters and brothers, members of the same family, Your family, the human family.
Help us to beat our swords into plowshares and our spears into pruning hooks, so that we may be able to live in peace and harmony, wiping away the tears from the eyes of those who are less fortunate than ourselves. And may we know war no more as we strive to be what You want us to be: Your children.
Amen.
Ok. So, I’m going to do it. My new year resolutions. Committing them to blog will give me the ability to review them periodically rather than “conveniently” forgetting them. In no special order.
I’ll try to do a quarterly update.
Our friend Stan Wright lost his struggle with leukemia. We miss him dearly. I look forward to the day that we will see him again along with other loved ones lost over the years.
I like to think that I am thankful everyday. In reality I often fall into the trap of wanting more and not appreciating what I have. I was struck by the scenes on the news of people going out at 4 am and earlier to shop for things they really didn’t need. I try not to be judgemental but I think is is safe to say that the iPod, Zune or a plasma HDTV are not essential to anyone’s survival. But, of course, I may be wrong.
It is at least interesting that after a day of thanksgiving, we as a nation indulge shopping and consuming more and more right up through Christmas. I can’t believe how we have twisted these holidays to be all about us. Not about how thankful we are for what we have or how thankful we are for God’s grace. It is all about us. Damn!
[Update 11/18/2007 12:50 a.m.] The migration is done. For the most part it went well. After setting up the blog I did an export from the old blog using the built in WP export function and then imported into the new blog. It worked well except the links did not come makeit into the new blog. So I’ll have to build them from scratch. I should have just worked directly with the databases. But, live and learn I guess. Anyway, Trasna is ready to go.
I an renaming my blog and will be migrating it to a new domain name. The blog will now be located at trasna.net. Trasna is an Irish word that means a place of crossing or transition. I will continue to post as Musyoka, my Kikamba name. But I wanted a blog title that carries a little bit of a different meaning. Seems like an appropriate name.
The first snow had fallen in Syracuse. We experience all 4 very defined seasons in central New York. And I enjoy the change of seasons. Each one has its own unique qualities and its own beauty. Many people like to complain about the weather but I try to enjoy all different kinds of weather. I am glad the snow has arrived.
It is interesting to me how people react based on how I look. Being African-American I may in some ways be overly sensitive to how some people react when they see me. That may be a reason I chose to wear suits even in high school. Now I am in a profession where I have some flexibility in my dress. I choose to wear suits mostly but sometimes I “dress down” to business casual or what I call my street clothes. I find it interesting how people react to me based on how I dress on a given day. I definitely get more smiles and nods and even utterances when I am wearing a suit than when I am not. When I am wearing “street clothes”, even when I smile, nod or utter first, very often my friendly gesture will not be returned.
Growing up in a small city in upstate New York it wasn’t unusual for two people passing each other while walking to be the only ones in that block. I always spoke to the person whether or not I knew them – somehow I felt compelled to be courteous. It never ceased to amaze me when the other person would not speak or even give a passing glance. I cannot for the life of me understand how and why people pass each other without speaking. I am not talking about being in a crowd and trying to speak to everyone you see. But if I am walking down a hallway for example and I am the only other person besides the person approaching me I feel compelled to speak. For as many times as the other person returns the acknowledgment (Ack) there are at least as many that they don’t (No Ack). Sometimes I find it funny (“ha ha” and “curious”) when I see people intentionally looking away because, I guess, they don’t want to have to say hello. Other times it just hurts.
Anyway, enough ranting for today…
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