Atoms: the IBM Approach to science!

Atoms: the IBM Approach to science!

                IBM has just made the smallest movie…… Literally.

I apparently IBM already uses atoms with researching on how much data storage they can have. They said that “To explore the limits of film making we created the world’s smallest movie”. I think that this movie was very cute and well done, for a group of people who had to move every little atom to make this short film.

What’s about it that’s so magical?

It’s incredible to see a film that’s has an actual story line, Cute characters, a cool concept , and maybe not the best affects but what are you going to do with atoms that would make it look like actual water? They used a very small platter to hold all of the atoms on. Just imagine how stressful it would be to try to not move every little atom when you would move the platter, or even use a computer to move them around. Like what if your hand slipped, and “oops looks like we have to start the entire thing over again, my bad.”

Do you seriously think that you could have done that? Well I bet you could have possibly, but you know what I mean……

http://www.research.ibm.com/articles/madewithatoms.shtml

Here is a link to the IBM website, and the movie ^_^

The Pressure impacting on this generation’s kids….. Again

          I’m pretty sure as a kid almost everyone gets told like, “Oh, you’re the next generation”, or “you’re going to cure cancer someday”, etc. But I know I’ve been told it so many times to the point where I feel like everyone’s just being a little pushy….

Growing up is a hard thing to do, especially when the world is watching. Child stars do not get a chance to live a normal life. When they are presented with a chance to be normal, they take the opportunity. However, it is the media that blow things out of proportion and criticizes things that regular adults and teenagers do every day.

I think they get in trouble because they have not grown up like a normal kid. They have grown up in the spotlight, therefore they crave the attention.

Two examples of male child stars who seem to have "gone bad" are Macaulay Culkin and Justin Bieber.

Culkin, who played Kevin McCallister in the 1990 hit "Home Alone," was reportedly busted for drug possession in September 2004. More recently, 

Bieber was caught smoking marijuana in January. There are also reports the Swedish police found marijuana stashed on his tour bus in April.

Can you believe it, that good, ol’ J-Biebs was caught with marijuana…. Let’s just end this at, don’t pressure your kids.

ROB FORD

His big red puffy face was on the news once more but this time so was his middle finger…….

          Rob Ford has made many mistakes in his life (I think one of them is being a part of politics) but to add to the list now he’s gone ahead and made things worse... If that was possible

During his meeting about his ‘mistake’ Ford denied that he was did crack cocaine, and that he is not addicted; He called them “untrue” “ridiculous”,  later denying a video that clearly showed him being guilty, he still denies it.

Since then Rob has lost five of his staff members depart from his office including: 2 press secretaries, His chief of staff, a policy advisor, Brian Johnston, and fords executive assistant, Kia Nejatian.

Things are looking down for poor-ol Rob but it doesn’t end yet! On Thursday (30) he was charged of murder of 21 year old Anthony smith who was beside Rob Ford in a photo which mainly causes such controversy.

The one thing good that’s happened to Ford is that another man Nisar Hashimi was arrested for the same case after he confessed for the murder.  

I sincerely hope, that this information, these actions that Rob has done, can lead up to Rob leaving politics. I don’t just mean stop being mayor and just become lower on the ladder of the law, I mean straight off the ladder for good. But that’s just me……. 

Coca-Cola and Obesity:

          

         For decades Coca-Cola and other soft drink makers have taken a lot of criticism for their contribution to poor health and obesity.  Earlier this week, Coca-Cola addressed obesity for the first time, launching a global advertising campaign in the U.S. which attempts to showcase their efforts to help fight the obesity epidemic in America.

The company released a two-minute video, titled "Coming Together," which highlights a few of their alternative beverage choices, including low- and no-calorie options. The ad tries be happy and cheery about how we can all help, but it fails to mention how soft drinks are still one of the leading causes of obesity.  They do start to acknowledge their contribution but then say that there are many other factors (“calories are everywhere!”).  Their goal is to appear great and caring, but it is pretty transparent as a corporate image campaign.       

On Wednesday, Coca-Cola released a second ad called "Be OK," which makes it clear that a can of Coca-Cola has 140 calories and shows people being physically active, suggesting how people can work off the calories.  Again, the irony is that under the euphemisms, what they’re saying is to work off this bad product with this much exercise when, really, the obvious solution is to avoid the product in the first place.  

They also white-wash the staggering 140 calories by calling them “140 happy calories” in their commercial.  How mind-numbingly juvenile!  They seem to be aiming at younger audiences that they feel can be fooled easily.    

 “Coming Together” launched in the US in January is not entirely negative; any campaign that is mentioning obesity and health problems is a step in the right direction.  However, it seems quite apparent that Coca-Cola is trying to find new methods of making money, or to look like they care about situations like obesity, and to stay profitable as people start making healthier choices on their own.

Black and White

Black and white movies

      

      Colour technology was essentially the death of the black and white movie.   No one can deny that there have been huge improvements to video quality production, but something beautiful and magical has been lost with black and white movies.  They have an uncanny ability to express emotions such as gloominess, suspense, depression and wonder.  Fortunately, there are still a few who realize the raw art that only Black and White can portray…

Recently, a black and white (also silent) movie won a lot of Oscars, including Best Picture.  The movie was called ‘The Artist’ and was widely applauded for its ability to express the emotions on screen with incredible beauty.  Another example of a black and white movie is Schindler’s List. It also was a hot spot at the academy awards and I know that Schindler’s List touched the lives of many people.

Despite the artistic quality of black and white, The wizard of Oz, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and Casablanca; all have something weird in common: they were all great movies that were first made in black but were later remade with colour. Casablanca especially was a very powerful film, with famous romantic black and white scenes, yet it was still colourized……  

What black and white films do you know of that were colourized?

FACEBOOK

Facebook; Privacy and Us:

     

     From its beginning in February 4, 2004 Facebook has been a great way to chat with friends, play games, tell people what things you’re up to, but along with the fun comes some very serious privacy concerns……

Facebook and other social networks have had many predator and pedophile problems. I know lots of people think that they’re ok by putting just friends of friends as a setting (for people to see your account). But that isn't good enough. Who knows, maybe one of your friends friend is actually a 30 yr old man faking to be a 12 year old girl. 3977 people have been caught as sex offenders in 1 town only which is really scary (at least to me).

But not only are there predators to be scared of, but government and corporate interests as well. They take in huge amounts of personal information then use it to profile you and sometimes market things to you, affecting the kind of ads you see while you’re online, for example.  They often sell your info to other companies who do this for them.  Even Mark Zuckerberg (one of the founders of Facebook) called his users “dumb ‘F-ers” for trusting them with all their private info.

      I think these are the main reasons why so many people are scared of Facebook; why they don’t get accounts.  I know lots of people who try their best to protect their privacy while online.  Personally, I try to take steps for none of these things to be possible.  I use software (so no one can hack my computer), I have the setting on friends only, I make sure I know the people personally (who im friends with on Facebook), and I don’t give out every single piece of info about me.  If you have a Facebook, I highly suggest you do the same as well………… 

Disney buys one of the greatest companies of all time: Lucasfilm.

 Its’ been a decade since George Lucas said Star Wars was finished on the big screen; a new trilogy under new ownership is destined for cinemas. The news comes after The Walt Disney Company announced that it would buy Lucasfilm from him for $4.05billion. But another thing announced was that there’s going to be another set of "Star Wars" films, beginning with "Episode VII" in 2015.

Seconds after the news broke out; the Internet began swarming with news stories about the shocking event. Star Wars fans, have expressed their outraged feeling to nearly every internet social media website! I myself am not sure on what the outcome of this will be.......

What about George you may ask? Well George Lucas claims that he is trying to protect the company (Lucasfilms) buy passing it over to his co-worker in the Lucasfilm industry Kathleen Kennedy, who will work with Disney  while he’s retired. I myself am almost scared for Lucasfilms, because if Disney, makes it too, fluffy, and not Star Wars material, it could enrage fans, and bring down the honour and glory of Star Wars.

Although, when Disney bought Marvel in 2009, comic book geeks had a similar reaction. We all thought Disney would dilute our favorite Marvel characters into child-friendly, nonviolent Mickey Mouse Clubbers. But that’s not what’s happened. In fact, Marvel has grown as a brand and has become a major player in Hollywood. And there was no trace of Mickey in "The Avengers." Anything is possible in the world of film making.

What the news has to say:

The Star: “In a 2010 handout photo that may alarm diehards of the sci-fi franchise, George Lucas poses with Disney characters with a Star Wars-inspired makeover. Today's message: Get used to it.”

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/article/1280049--what-would-yoda-think-disney-buys-lucasfilm-plans-new-star-wars

Toronto Sun: “Leia is the newest Disney princess. Goofy could replace Jar Jar Binks. And Mickey will surely wield a mean lightsaber. The Force is strong that mouse.”

http://www.torontosun.com/2012/10/30/disney-to-buy-star-wars-producer-lucasfilm-for-405bth