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May 13th, 2008
celisnebula
 | 06:27 pm
Today hasn’t been the greatest day, and because of the spectacularly bad day, I made a snotty response to something that should’ve been sent to someone else, but as the nature of email, it went awry.
I should qualify myself in saying that I don’t know the person, nor her work, so when I received the email, the tone of it (or rather my reading it and hearing the tone) – was just wrong. It sounded (to me) as if the author was expecting something simply because she was an author.
I have apologized. There is nothing other than that I can do. It could’ve remained private – since normally I don’t air things like this in the public, but it was forwarded on to others so it’s no longer a private matter.
This person can take or leave my apology. They can vilify me in whatever format they wish, if they so desire. I am, and have always been a blunt person. My response was not malicious or mean, just a blunt appraisal of how I perceived the original material. *shrugs* What can I say, I’m human. I fumble, I say the wrong things (or rather type them in a flurry), and as the wise saying goes, shit happens.
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barefoot_dyke
 | 06:26 pm - has everyone seen the kitties on the treadmill??
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/niaha/kitty/ankhappyg.gif) amused
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abandonedplaces
[spiderweb66]
 | 06:01 pm
I found this steel drum in an old train yard.
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nordlicht
 | 12:00 am
Happy BIrthday ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) chalicerae!
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abandonedplaces
[spiderweb66]
| 05:55 pm - Navy Base
This is a naval base in New Jersey. It has been closed for roughly 10 years now.
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quasigeostrophy
 | 05:33 pm - BSG Interlude
In between a bazillion things to do to get the house ready, and trying to come up with what to add to my poster in my research since submitting the paper, I present some random thoughts on Battlestar Galactica thus far. IMHO, of course. :-)
( Apropos of Nothing, Possible Spoilers through 'Faith' )
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/niaha/kitty/anktiredg.gif) tired
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hilltop
 | 05:03 pm - Einstein letter calls Bible 'pretty childish'
Einstein letter calls Bible 'pretty childish'
Famous scientist also dismisses belief in God as product of human weakness
The Associated Press
updated 3:16 p.m. ET, Tues., May. 13, 2008
LONDON - Albert Einstein: arch rationalist or scientist with a spiritual core?
A letter being auctioned in London this week adds more fuel to the long-simmering debate about the Nobel Prize-winning physicist's religious views. In the note, written the year before his death, Einstein dismissed the idea of God as the product of human weakness and the Bible as "pretty childish."
The letter, handwritten in German, is being sold by Bloomsbury Auctions on Thursday and is expected to fetch between $12,000 and $16,000.
Einstein, who helped unravel the mysteries of the universe with his theory of relativity, expressed complex and arguably contradictory views on faith, perceiving a universe suffused with spirituality while rejecting organized religion.
The letter up for sale, written to philosopher Eric Gutkind in January 1954, suggests his views on religion did not mellow with age.
In it, Einstein said that "the word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honorable but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish."
"For me," he added, "the Jewish religion like all other religions is an incarnation of the most childish superstitions."
Addressing the idea that the Jews are God's chosen people, Einstein wrote that "the Jewish people to whom I gladly belong and with whose mentality I have a deep affinity have no different quality for me than all other people. As far as my experience goes, they are also no better than other human groups, although they are protected from the worst cancers by a lack of power. Otherwise I cannot see anything 'chosen' about them."
Bloomsbury spokesman Richard Caton said the auction house was "100 percent certain" of the letter's authenticity. It is being offered at auction for the first time, by a private vendor.
Quirky beliefs
John Brooke, emeritus professor of science and religion at Oxford University, said the letter lends weight to the notion that "Einstein was not a conventional theist" — although he was not an atheist, either.
"Like many great scientists of the past, he is rather quirky about religion, and not always consistent from one period to another," Brooke said.
Born to a Jewish family in Germany in 1879, Einstein said he went through a devout phase as a child before beginning to question conventional religion at the age of 12.
In later life, he expressed a sense of wonder at the universe and its mysteries — what he called a "cosmic religious feeling" — and famously said: "Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind."
But he also said: "I do not believe in the God of theology who rewards good and punishes evil. My God created laws that take care of that. His universe is not ruled by wishful thinking, but by immutable laws."
Brooke said Einstein believed that "there is some kind of intelligence working its way through nature. But it is certainly not a conventional Christian or Judaic religious view."
Einstein's most famous legacy is the special theory of relativity, which makes the point that a large amount of energy could be released from a tiny amount of matter, as expressed in the equation e=mc2 (energy equals mass times the speed of light squared). The theory changed the face of physics, allowing scientists to make predictions about space and paving the way for nuclear power and the atomic bomb.
Einstein's musings on science, war, peace and God helped make him world famous, and his scientific legacy prompted Time magazine to name him its Person of the 20th Century.
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24598856/
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hilltop
| 05:00 pm - Vatican: It's OK to believe in aliens
Wait... WHAT?!?
First we find out they've been wrong about Purgatory all these years, and now THIS?!?
Vatican: It's OK to believe in aliens
The chief astronomer says those beliefs don't contradict faith in God
VATICAN CITY - The Vatican's chief astronomer says that believing in aliens does not contradict faith in God.
The Rev. Jose Gabriel Funes, the Jesuit director of the Vatican Observatory, said that the vastness of the universe means it is possible there could be other forms of life outside Earth, even intelligent ones.
In an interview published Tuesday by Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Funes said that such a notion "doesn't contradict our faith" because aliens would still be God's creatures.
The interview was headlined "The extraterrestrial is my brother."
Funes said that ruling out the existence of aliens would be like "putting limits" on God's creative freedom.
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brujaoscura
 | 03:56 pm - nabbed from librryshortcake
Ok I bit- now you
You pick the subject
I will respond in Haiku
Then you post the same
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darthgeek
 | 04:37 pm - Dr. Kucho
This is an addictive video. I actually listened to the song about 20 times before I went looking for an accompanying music video. Probably Not Safe For Work. No nudity, just suggestivenesses :) Real update coming soon.
Current Mood: amused
Current Music: Dr.Kucho! & Gregor Salto - Can't Stop Playing
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dandelion_diva
 | 04:10 pm
Sammy has swim classes coming up in June, so she and I were looking at bathing suits while we were at Target. That was weird. I knew I wanted her to have a two-piece of some sort, just in case she has to go to the bathroom. Pulling up a wet one-piece is difficult in the first place. Having to do it by yourself in a two minute bathroom break would be sucky.
Sam's going through a growth spurt (and it's making her grumpy, as she's growing out of some of her favorite things), so I couldn't just grab a medium and go. We picked out five suits and went to try 'em on. The bottoms on the mediums were a little too tight, but the tops fit, mostly. The bottoms on the larges were too big, but would probably fit by the time her classes start. The tops won't fit till puberty hits. And even if she does start to devlop boobs as early as I did (ohpleasedon'tdothattoher), she's still got a year to go.
That was unsatisfactory. So, we went over to the boys section and found her a really nice swim shirt, with the added bonus of it covering more, so she won't have to remember to put so much sunscreen on. We looked for trunks next. She found some with Cars and I found some with Spiderman, but hers didn't come in the right size and she didn't like the design on mine. We looked at some plain ones, but they were too plain. Then she found some Hawaiian inspired prints that were colorful and had hyacinths on them. She was enthusiastic about these, so *yay*.
Unfortunately, she picked them up and I didn't look at the size and we ended up with a small when she's a medium. *But* there's a Target *very* near darthgeek's office, so he's got the trunks in his laptop bag and the reciept in his wallet, so he'll do an exchange on Wednesday. Yay. :)
~~~
This is so very cool. From Cory Doctrow's mailing list:
Last week,I told you about my donations program for my new book, Little
Brother. Every time I put a book online for free, I'm inundated by
offers of cash "tips" from people who got the ebooks for free. I don't
want anyone's money (cutting my publisher out of the loop isn't good for
them or me), so I came up with an alternative. I asked librarians and
teachers who wanted free copies to step forward and put their names
down, and now I'm looking for would-be "donors" to step forward and send
them copies of the book.
The project's been a smashing success so far: dozens of librarians,
teachers and related trades put their names down for free copies, and
we've started to fulfil the orders at a good clip. There's plenty of
open orders left, though -- if you're one of those people who wants to
compensate me for the free ebook, here's your chance!
Donate a copy:
http://craphound.com/littlebrother/donate/
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/niaha/kitty/ankangryg.gif) moody
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photographers
[amber4388]
 | 03:25 pm - Any and all comments welcome
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100_snapshots
[createconfusion]
 | 07:48 pm - List 1, Post 5.
Photographer: Sarah
Number of Photos: 10
Themes: 9. Colourless, 12. Growth, 25. Drops, 26. Against, 50. Field, 40. Loss, 74. Find, 79. Swing, 82. Hazy, 99. Time.
I, uh, haven't posted since January.
Other Posts: 1 2 3 4
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erzebet
 | 03:18 pm - yeah but, no but
Finally, the homesickness gets me. For the last two days I have been a miserable old hag, moping around and whining about how I just want to go home. I am useless in this condition and I seem to be unable to shake it off. Lack of posts and lack of communication can both be blamed on this thing.
At least I have feta cheese. I will go gorge myself on that and see if it helps.
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imbroglio
 | 11:29 am - kids and birthing
Cayden and Zavien asked if they could watch a video of a C-section, knowing that's how I give birth, so I showed them one last night. They were fascinated with it, but also quite grossed out by the blood and the inside of flesh. Hell, so was I! Cayden actually squealed with excitement as the baby came out though, which was, honestly, really rather adorable to watch. He got all teary and excited and kept going on about how he loves new babies. Anyway, this morning they were both like, "I'm not sure I liked that video. It was very gross."
So, I explained a vaginal birth to them and they wanted to watch videos, so we spent the morning watching all manner of vaginal births. Water births, non-water births, in hospital births ... and they loved them all. It was fun to see them get so happy each time a baby emerged. Except ... all of the videos were shot from a distance away, and they're finding it difficult to understand how exactly the baby comes out of the vagina. So they asked for a video of the baby actually coming out.
I've found some now and bookmarked them so they can watch them when they get home from school. It's not weird to show a 5 year old and 6 year old videos like that, right? I just want for them to understand how things work, like birth, even if it's a C-section or a vaginal birth, and they're interested in understanding so I figure it's a good time. I just think it's important to expose them to things like that, because the fact is that if I could I'd birth my babies naturally with my other kids around, but since they can't experience that I can only educate them from a distance.
And for the record - they both stated they much prefer a vaginal birth. ;) They both also expressed gladness at being boys (Cayden actually said, "I'm glad I don't have one of those uterus things!", haha), but they both also showed much love and excitement over the new babies and the experience. They are so excited for this one and kept hugging and kissing my belly.
When I told them last night that the baby can probably hear voices now they started getting down to my belly and talking to it, asking it if it was a boy or girl. "Baby?? Are you a boy or a girl?????" They're all adamant it's a girl. When I told them my ultrasound is tomorrow and we'll hopefully find that out they were ecstatic. They want pictures. :)
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/niaha/kitty/anksleepyg.gif) sleepy
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photographers
[themeron]
 | 02:53 pm - Flying away...
Sometimes, I want to do the same...
Current Location: Brazil
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/niaha/kitty/anksadg.gif) bored
Current Music: BACH - Violin Concerto BWV 1042 In E Major
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100_snapshots
[edith_jones]
 | 01:04 pm - First Post
Hi, I`m new to this community; I`ve been watching with interest for a few weeks now. My camera is digital but definitely a point and shoot, and I`m distinctly new to photography as well. That being said, I`ve had a lot of fun preparing my first photos! I hope you will have a look.
Photographer: Allie Farrell
Number of photos: Nine
Numbers completed: 13, 21, 27, 36, 47, 59, and two 74s - I couldn`t decide!
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/niaha/kitty/ankgeekg.gif) accomplished
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photographers
[stars2811]
 | 11:44 am - HCW please!
I am mainly a concert and event photographer, but some friends of mine recently asked me to shoot their engagement photos. I would really like to continue doing engagement shoots, but feel that I still have a lot to learn before I trust myself to take these types of photos for people who I do not know personally.
I would really appreciate any criticism or opinions that anyone has. What works for you, what doesn't?
Thanks in advance!
#1
( a few more )
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photographers
[xgray]
 | 11:32 am - the same, but different
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invisibelle
 | 10:25 am
omfg.
I just found out that my boss is out of town for the rest of the week.
Through his out-of-office reply.
Dude.
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photographers
[johnsonholder]
 | 11:23 am - Interested in learning what goes on behind the scenes during print judging?
 International Print Competition
Online print competition registration and Judges Workshop 2008 International Print Competition
Entry Deadline: June 6, 2008 "Lizzy" ©Heidi Eiffert 2007 International Print Competition Online registration of entries is now available in the Competitions section of www.PPA.com! Complete your entry form and pay securely online. At the end of the process, you can print your entry and shipping labels. Please download and read the 2008 Rules. There are changes this year, including new print case requirements for 2008. Questions? E-mail PEC Administrator Jim Dingwell or call 866.591.9190.
Judges Workshop
June 20-23, 2008
Daytona Beach, FL
Class size is limited, register now Interested in learning what goes on behind the scenes during print judging? Now is the perfect time to learn! Held in conjunction with the International Print Competition, this class explores the ins and outs of what makes a print merit worthy and will provide students with the opportunity to observe competition process and protocol. Youll leave this course feeling confident in your ability to identify merit images. Full information and online registration is available in the Events Section of www.PPA.com. Questions? E-mail PEC Administrator Jim Dingwell or call 866.591.9190.
Current Mood: busy
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photographers
[oaktowncrack]
 | 07:34 am - Emerging Illusions
(Click on the image for more photos of the Emerging Illusions fashion show.)
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photographers
[thecharlatte]
 | 09:57 am - Lens Query
Alright folks - the economic stimulus check is seriously burning a hole directly through my pocket! Anyhow... I want to purchase a new lens for my Canon 40d. All I have currently is a the standard lens it came with. First I wanted to know what you guys would suggest I get for my next lens? I want something versatile that is a good quality lens but is also not too expensive. Second I want to know where are some places you guys go to get your lenses that have good deals and are trusted sellers. Thanks all! Any tips/advice you have to share is greatly appreciated.
And just so this entry is not a boring question entry... I leave you with a photo of a caterpillar!
Current Location: Durham, NC
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/niaha/kitty/ankwinkg.gif) quixotic
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neversremedy
 | 07:00 am - Natal Felicitations!
May each kind act you do return to you three-fold my luscious darling!
Happy Birthday gira!
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100_snapshots
[cat63]
 | 01:55 pm - LIst 1, Post 32
Photographer : Carol Hague
Number of Photos : 2
Themes: 81, 85
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rural_ruin
[pkbarbiedoll]
 | 11:12 pm - Almost Heaven
Princeton, WV
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ruralrob
 | 06:53 am - On the church steps
I was killing time while my prescriptions were being filled. My pharmacy is at St. Mikes Hospital which is right next to a park that is a hangout for the homeless. It also houses Metropolitan United Church, a rather imposing building which I though worth a picture or two.
A homeless man was dozing on the steps, a crudely crafted sign around his neck which I couldn't read until I got up closer. His efforts to exhort money from passers-by were laconic at best, but he brightened up considerably when I offered him $5 to take his photo. "Cute sign" I said. He laughed. "Do other people ever take your photo sometimes?" I asked. "Sometimes." He laughed again. And then, although it wasn't really necessary, half-smiled for the camera. I don't think this man smiles a lot though.
I don't know how people feel about taking - or even viewing - shots like this. I'm no stranger to photographing the homeless, but I usually do it surreptitiously. That doesn't always feel good. This, I think, is the first time I've asked permission, and offered money to boot.
Somehow the interaction felt good. He seemed amused, and I dare say happy to have the price of a hamburger in his pocket on what looked like a quiet afternoon. I was happy because I got my shot.
But who was using who here? And does it even matter? You be the judge.
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photographers
[there_she_goes]
 | 03:45 am
Best negative scanner? (My only requirements are: it needs to be able to scan 120 film and it should be under $600)
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barefoot_dyke
 | 06:33 am
so our local tv news station does this little contest every morning where they show a picture of some location in the area and you have to call in and tell them where it is. the 33rd caller wins a $300 gas card! the past three mornings, i've been caller #22, #27, and today i was caller #29.
DAMMIT!
Current Mood: frustrated
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photographers
[gothindulgence]
 | 10:58 am - Nikon goodies for sale.
A good friend of Diccon (Pagan Altar) is needing to sell of some of his camera equipment due to financial reasons ... List is behind the cut with Pete's contact details. Mostly Nikon products.
If this kind of post is not allowed here, please let me know and I will delete immediately.
cheers
( Read more... )
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canoncameras
[nichbri]
 | 07:10 pm - I challenge you to a duel...
I don't like this as much as my creepy fly, but it's creepy enough ;)
Canon 400D
Canon EF 100mm f2.8 Macro
Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 100 mm
ISO Speed: 800
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sarekofvulcan
 | 04:34 am - Tweet, tweet!
From my Twitter page:Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter
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photographers
[elzplz]
 | 09:43 am - please read.
I need your help!
My lovely Canon Ixus 60 just broke down the other day. It has a lens error and I've been told I need to send it in to get repaired. The thing is, my guarantee has run out and I'm thinking it will cost me a lot to repair it.
I also use a Konika a200 which is very satisfactory but I don't think I'll function without a small, practical one, so I'm thinking of getting a new one, kind of like a birthday present to myself.
So to all of you photographers out there, I'd love to know which cameras you use.
Show pictures and tell me about their functions, approximate prize and so forth. I need all the tips I can get.
My parents leave for Tokyo on Thursday so I'm thinking I will ask them to buy it for me there, since it'll probably be a bit cheaper ;)
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wldrose
 | 03:38 am
If you drop food on your tits do you stil eat it?
Anywhere else?
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photographers
[barryw322]
 | 12:08 am - Window Perspective
 Window Perspective
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photographers
[phil_ji]
 | 08:54 pm - And a heron in a palm tree
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hilltop
| 01:23 am - not fun
all day I fought trying to restore wordpress on the site I built for a realtor.
Upgrading it hosed it totally, tossing out fatal error messages.
Nothing I did worked, and the more I worked on it, the more screwed up it got.
So, a fresh install has been done, and now I have to figure out what I need to do in order to get the database connected to the new install. It shouldn't be this hard.
Apparently the problem wasn't the upgrade per se, but the template I had used a few years ago wasn't compatible at all with the newer build. One of those things you don't know until it happens sort of thing. My brain is fried.
They found another motor for the car, and it's being delivered tomorrow. Hope it gets done soon, I need to head out and about during the day, and I'm stuck until the car's back so I can have my little red truck again.
============================
I found a weather radio, but even better, take a look at this thing.
http://tinyurl.com/3lcqse
It's been ordered, I couldn't find anything in the way of just a radio anywhere near this price, and it's got goodies galore- take a look, and pick one up for yourself if you need something like this. I mean come on, you can't beat this price, a $109.00 portable TV for $19.53?
5" solid state UHF/VHF black & white television
AM/FM 7-channel NOAA weather band radio with AUTOMATIC ALERT warns of dangerous weather conditions and emergency information
3 LED auxiliary light
Includes hand-crank rechargeable back-up power for radio and LED lights and CELL PHONE
120 Volt AC and 12 Volt DC power adapters included
They've only got 5 left in stock, so jump on it if you might groove on one.
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edbook
 | 10:20 pm - Facebook - I did it, see
Peace
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