Kal-L

TV show Lost launches new site

Dean Starcevic — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 22:18:19 -0500

I received this email today. Go visit the website and take the test!

THE DHARMA INITIATIVE WANTS YOU!

Recruiting Volunteers NOW.
Join the Dharma Initiative's latest groundbreaking research project.

Visit www.dharmawantsyou.com and complete an 'Eligibility Test'.
Our innovative research has brought together some
of the brightest minds on the planet.
And we'd like you to join us.

APPLY TODAY.
HELP GUIDE THE WORLD TO A BETTER TOMORROW.

Photo fun with fireworks

Dean Starcevic — Mon, 7 Jul 2008 23:04:08 -0500

I decided to try something different this year while watching the fireworks. Rather than just taking pictures of what was really there, I thought it would be more fun to add more of a display. I recalled an article in a magazine on painting with light. The general idea is that in a dark setting, leave your shutter open for extended periods, and by moving the light around you can paint the scene or object being photographed. A tripod is required for the effect

If you look at the pictures below this is what a normal fireworks display would look like, at a small park. I purposely left the street lights in the frame to give reference points to what I am doing.

Now lets have some fun! By starting at one end of the frame, the fireworks go off one at a time, slowly move the camera to adjust where you want the next firework to explode in the frame. Below is my first attempt at moving both up and down and left to right. (follow the street light trails at the bottom of the picture as a reference to what how the camera was moved.)

Finally, after getting the hang of it, lets make it look like you are at a full blown professional display! By leaving the shutter open for 15 seconds. It allows the camera to capture the several different fireworks. Now just move a little after each one goes off.

Wild effects with different fireworks.

Try it yourself and have fun!

Summer storm bends Birch

Dean Starcevic — Mon, 7 Jul 2008 22:35:34 -0500

The Storm only lasted about 2 minutes, but is didn't take long to bend our birch tree

Here is what is used to look like: (ok this is a winter shot, but its all i had!)

This is what is looks like now with a little help from Mother nature, I am told it will straighten up in a couple days, we will see...

Favorite TV series cut short from writers strike

Dean Starcevic — Mon, 5 May 2008 21:44:16 -0500

Well for those of you that enjoy the following TV series, you might be a little surprised by the limited number of episodes remaining.

Battlestar Galactica
Only eight episodes are scheduled for this season, due to the strike. Five down, that leaves us only three episodes left! 2009 the final 8 episodes will air. This reminds me of the Soprano's final season, lets just hope it doesn't end the same!

Lost
Three episodes remain as well. Then its another long hiatus until 2009.

Smallville
Two episodes to go! At least this series will be back in fall, as it has been renewed for an eighth season. It has been reported that Lex Luthor will not be returning in Season 8. Personally, I hope he Lana doesn't return either.

Oh Good, I have an update

Dean Starcevic — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 23:10:46 -0500

I feel much better now

This must be why they call it March Maddness

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 22:47:34 -0500

Checking my bracket tonight on sportsline.com, it's only been like this for the last 3 hours!

Sopranos series finale, disappoints

Dean Starcevic — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 22:17:54 -0500

Am I really to believe that the Sopranos series needed another season to end like this?

Based on the reviews it was a love it or hate it ending. I didn't love it.... I would be more forgiving if it would have ended last year. To drag out ten episodes to leave it like this? That is not to say that there were some memorable moments to this season, but why drag the series out like this?

Everything we were lead to believe about needing another season to complete the story was a lot of talk. Loose ends are left everywhere you turn.

The finale is summed up as, Tony waits for the hit that never comes, he reaches out to Phil's crew for a sit down. They agree that Phil has lost control, as if anyone ever really has it long in this show. All the bad things that has happened to the family are all neatly polished up for a feel good end, Meadow looks to be getting married and has a lucrative job offer from a prominent law office. Anthony Jr. quickly comes out of depression now that he has a new girl friend and new job working on a movie, that Tony is financing. Carm is planning her next house... and Paulie is, just being as goofy as ever. The down side is that it looks like Tony is going to be facing some jail time in the near future. In the final scenes, the family agrees to meet a restaurant (that I don't remember them ever eating at) and as the family members assemble one by one. First Tony, then Carm, Anthony Jr, and still parking the car....Meadow...We watch in great anticipation as "others" come into the restaurant slowly as if a hit is about to be carried out, and as Meadow finally heads to the door.... the screen goes black!

As another person wrote in their review, "I was left fumbling with my tivo remote thinking that something had happened to my receiver"

I laugh, because I did the same, the only difference is, I was also reduced to yelling "What the F...?" (What can I say... I was watching the Sopranos!)

In the end I blame it on bad writing! Call it artistic. Call it what you want. I call it sucking more money out of the series, and not knowing how to end.
Anyone who's review says it ended perfect, hasn't been listening to all the hype! We were teased by the trailers, each week that things would really heating up! But in the end, it appears that the season finale is a choose your own ending!

So the ending I choose...
Paulie becomes so freaked out by the cat, he gets up and runs from his chair into the road and gets hit by an oncoming vehicle.
Tony goes to prison for 15 years.
Silvo dies after being removed from life support.
Anthony Jr. becomes an "earner" to support Carm's "honest" lifestyle, turning homes.
Meadow studies law for a couple of years, is bitter by the trumped up charges on her father, and starts controlling the family business from the shadows, (through Tony in prison), and eventually becomes the Boss.
Carm, becomes a basket case after; the feds take the house, she learns that Silvio killed Adriana, can't forgive Tony for not putting away any money for her, and the fact her kids are mixed up in the family business, and supporting her. Finally she ends up in where she loathes the most, in counseling!

Lastly I choose, NO MOVIE! Please! I can't take anymore...

What do you choose....?

2007 NFL DRAFT!

Dean Starcevic — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 10:57:05 -0500

Well here we are, the draft is on. As fan of the NFL (GO VIKES!) today represents optimism, and a new excitement for your team.
The big news before the draft:

Randy Moss, trade rumors heating up..will he end up in Green Bay or New England...Moss is favoring New England because of a chance to win a Superbowl
Jets are posturing to move up in the draft
Oakland is looking to pick JaMarcus Russell to make him the first pick overall
Detroit is looking at trading their 2nd pick in the draft, Atlanta is looking to Move up

Top 10 Picks in order are:

Oakland Raiders pick - JaMarcus Russell -QB- 1st overall pick in the 2007 draft (no surprise)
Detroit Lions - Will they trade their pick or draft another WR? No Trade, they chose Calvin Johnson -WR (again no surprise)
Cleveland Browns - we know they want Brady Quinn...WOW! they chose Joe Thomas -T from WI, the face of the draft has now changed Brady is still available! They still need a QB and RB this is a surprise
Tampa Bay Bucs - Gaines Adams -DE (no surprise, they like their defense and he is a quality pick)
Arizona Cardinals -Levi Brown OT surprise... Peterson and Quinn are still available
Washington Redskins - LaRon Landry S- Mock drafts said he would go here.
VIKES - YEAH, sitting pretty, either Brady Quinn or Adrian Peterson...... YAHOO!!!-Adrian Peterson -RB that would have been my choice
Atlanta Falcons- -Quinn could be next., nope, Jamaal Anderson -DE If you are looking for a defensive pick, this is it
Miami Dolphins- With the trade rumors of Culpepper looming, Dolphins could do themselves a favor by picking QB Quinn here it makes sense for the future of the team, IF they are looking for a franchise QB. nope, WOW, I big reach Ted Ginn, Jr. WR. This could be a sign that Trent Green is not far from moving to the fins.
Houston Texans - on the clock, look for a trade here, no trade, Amobi Okaye -DT. Good pick for Texans

Well to see Quinn still available isn't a big shocker, considering previous drafts. The fact that he could slide even further is. He will get picked before the 20th selection, probably the late teens. At this point the further he slides the more money he loses in the NFL.

Local Geeksquad agent gets interviewed on DST

Dean Starcevic — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 18:48:00 -0600

Local "Computer Whiz" Robert Gustafson states, "If everyone does their part in changin' their stuff, everything should be in working order"

Watch the interview here

So there you have it, nothing to worry about, and so simple too!

Nice job, Rob! We love ya!

Fun with Daylight savings time, Are you ready?

Dean Starcevic — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 17:30:00 -0500

As we all get ready for the new daylight savings time rules, it will be interesting to see how many people are paying attention.

Devices that have the old rules built into them, like your VCR, or digital watch, will have to be changed to the correct time four times a year! Yes that is right 4 times! Follow along:

On Sunday March 11th, you will need to spring your VCR ahead 1 hour.
Three weeks later On Sunday April 4th, your VCR which was programmed years ago when the DST rules observed April will spring ahead an additional 1 hour. So you will have to set it back 1 hour.
On Sunday October 28th, your VCR will help you out once again by falling behind 1 hour, in which you will have to Spring it back ahead 1 hour.
Finally, On Sunday November 4th, your in control again, you will have to fall behind 1 hour.

After DST is completed this year, the energy secretary will go back to congress to report on how much energy was saved, based on those finds, congress reserves the right to repeal the change back to the 1986 DST rules in 2009.

Stay tuned! the question is what happens if you buy a VCR now? when will it spring ahead or fall behind....

The countdown to LOTUSPHERE 2007....

Dean Starcevic — Tue, 9 Jan 2007 22:30:55 -0500

Well I can't believe its almost THAT time again, looks to be another big event this year. Can't wait to see the gang, share stories, and drool over all the new technology.

That is what us Lotus Geeks live for!

Hope to see you there!

Calling all pinball wizards

Dean Starcevic — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 06:12:40 -0500

I will never forget the first pinball game I ever played, "eight ball". My parents would take us out for pizza every once in awhile on Friday night. Once we ordered and if I was lucky, insert "being good" here, I would be given a couple of quarters to place music in the jukebox or better yet, play a game of pinball. I remember the backglass on the game, A guy that looked like "Fonzie" from "Happy Days" was playing pool.

Excuse me for tripping down memory lane, but I couldn't help myself, I stumbled across the website, Internet Pinball database here you will find reviews, detailed information about the games and plenty of pictures.

Good Luck trying to find a pinball game to play these days, and if you do find one, they are usually not maintained very well or extremely worn out. They are dying out.

Well now you can play just about any pinball game on your computer. Pinballsim.com, has revived the games and you can play all you want, without worry of wearing them out. They even have my all time favorite, Addams Family Pinball!
Have Fun!

Go forward

Dean Starcevic — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 07:49:41 -0500

Go forward with Superman tags,.

"What I do is based on powers we all have inside us; the ability to endure; the ability to love, to carry on, to make the best of what we have - and you don't have to be a 'Superman' to do it."
--Christopher Reeve

Superman prequel book 4

Dean Starcevic — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 07:24:16 -0500

Book 4 synopsis - Lois Lane, The book starts out with Lois being ask by Perry White, editor and chief of the Daily Planet, to write a article named "Why the world needs a Superman", 5 years after his disappearance. She doesn't want to write the article because she says she has "Moved on", but of course is left with no option but to write it.

We find out that the planet that Superman left to investigate 5 years ago appears to be Krypton. Lois flashes back, recalling her memories spent with covering Superman and all the time they spent together. During the 5 years in which he has been away, Lois has "found her Superman" in Richard White, Perry's nephew, nothing is mentioned if they are married or just live together. She has also given birth to a son named Jason, who has grown up in a world without Superman, and is hearing all the buzz and wants to know more about him.

The book ends with Lois completing her assignment by writing an article named "Why the world doesn't need a Superman"

That is it! now go see the Movie!

Superman prequel book 3

Dean Starcevic — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 07:00:40 -0500

Last week I gave a brief synopsis of the superman prequel comic books to keep you up to speed for the movie release so without further ado...

Book 3 Synopsis -Lex Luthor. Lex has been in jail for the last 5 years, because his real estate deal has gone bad. Lex purchased all the land in California to the east of the San Andreas fault. His plans, launch missiles to blow up everything to the west of the San Andreas fault causing the coast to sink into the ocean, making the land he owns with trillions.

The problem (according to Lex) is that he told big blue, and later states that revealing his plans to Superman was a move prompted by his ego and he didn't think Superman could stop him. Which of course he did, and when it was all said and done, Superman put Lex in jail. The book ends with Lex leaving jail with a sickly old woman named Gertrude, she has rescued him.

I don't need to tell you how weak and pointless these books are. The best criminal mastermind decides to launch missiles at California to create a new coastline and increase his wealth?

Thanks DC I can hardly wait for the final installment........so I don't have to buy crap like this anymore!

Brain Freeze!

Dean Starcevic — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 20:41:09 -0500

In honor of the first day of summer and my favorite pastime during the hot months, eating ice cream.

I thought it fitting to list this excerpt from an article on ice cream that was printed in the current issue of Midwest Living Magazine. It specifically explains why this happens.

excerpt from "Brain Pain"

"Simply put, the nerves on the roof of your mouth overreact to the freezing food and assume the brain needs heating. So the brain's blood vessels swell causing pain. How do you prevent it? Eat slowly so your mouth has time to warm up between bites, or keep the cold food away from the roof of your mouth."

and there you have it...mystery solved!

New Superman poster in USA Weekend Magazine

Dean Starcevic — Sun, 18 Jun 2006 18:55:52 -0500

which can be found in your local sunday paper.

Not much to show in this pic, very poor rendering online, at usaweekend.com. Suffice it to say that the poster is nice, it includes pictures and autographs of the film stars that are not shown here. I thought it was just ok. I will look for a complete picture that isn't cropping everyone else out of it.

Superman Prequel, now at your local comic shop

krypton — Sat, 17 Jun 2006 13:15:00 -0500

That's right, a prequel to the movie is out now.
It is a 4 part story, with a book being released each week,
concluding June 28th, opening day!

Here is marketing hype from DC Comics...
Produced in conjunction with Superman Returns director Bryan Singer and screenwriters Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris, four astonishing one-shots bridge the gap between Superman's disappearance and his thrilling return!

Book 1 Synopsis -Krypton to Earth (the origin of Superman). We look in on Jor-el trying to convince the kryptonians their planet will be destroyed and they must leave or perish on the doomed planet. Jor-el's quotes from the movie are included "They are a great people Kal-el, if they wish to be, that is why I have sent them you, my only son."

Book 2 Synopsis - Ma Kent. Its been 5 years since Superman has left , Johnathan has passed away and Martha reflects on the memories of Clark's childhood. We find out the reason why Superman left, "astronomers have discovered a planet in distant space...one that seemingly possesses an atmosphere capable of sustaining life." it appears he left to study this planet. The last panel of the book we see what looks like a comet crash in a field and Martha proclaiming "My boy is home".

I wouldn't call it required reading by any stretch, but if you are looking for something to hold you over the next couple of weeks you may want to pick it up.

Stop back each week (Wed) as I provide a brief Synopsis on the books 3 and 4 as they are released.

Back from vacation.

krypton — Sat, 17 Jun 2006 07:57:05 -0500

Back from vacation, will be posting more soon, thanks for being patient. While I was in mexico I took a snap of this hand carved wood Cobra. I thought it was pretty cool.

The countdown has begun!

Dean Starcevic — Sun, 4 Jun 2006 21:25:01 -0500

Superman is coming June 30th. June 28th!

Now you can track all the SUPER headlines here
or
for official movie downloads and info click on the link below
Superman Returns