Nuffnang

Monday 3 May 2010

Films of 2000s

Someone did a cool compilation of movies of the 2000s. Some I have seen, but many I have yet to do so.



And here are the movies, also compiled by some of the commenters at youtube.

1:22-Inglorious Basterds
1:25-The Hills have eyes
1:27-walk the line
1:28-znaki
1:30-snatch
1:31-no country for old men
1:32-piraci z Karaibów
1:32-dark knight
2:12-ocean's 11
2:13-shaun of the dead
2:16- Big Fish
2:21- cooler

2:23-Prairie Home Companion
2:26- Huckabees
2:28- Ocean's 11
2:30-jackass the movie
2:31-amelia
2:35-american psycho
2:38-the departed
2:42- Best in show
2:47-Secretary
2:47- Bracie gdzie jestes
2:52- Grindhouse: Planet Terror
2:54- spread
2:56-cast away
3:03- Spun
3:07-vanilla sky
3:10-40yrs old virgin

3:16-burn after reading
3:17- the Royal Tenenbaums - genialny klan
3:19- Ghost World
3:21-punch-drunk love
3:25- Dancer in the Dark
3:28-Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
3:30- Aali
3:31-Świt żywych trupów
3:35- Little Miss Sunshine - mała miss
3:38-chicago
3:43-jarhead
3:53-lost in translation
4:05- Birth

4:16-kill bill
4:21-the curious case of b.button
4:24-mystic river
4:27- Fish Tank
4:29-monster ball
4:32- The Brown Bunny
4:35- And your mother too
4:38- Mulholland Drive
4:40-traffic
4:46-star wars
4:49-memento
4:54-the man who wasn't there
4:58-the others lub virginia wolfs
 

And the last song of the video was by Gary Jules: Mad World.

Absolute Morality

A good and concise response by Prof. Richard Dawkins on why morality doesn't need to be hinged upon religion.

Man is capable to determine his values and moralities, through logical, rational and critical thinking that does make sense.

 


The full video of this interview can be downloaded here: http://richarddawkins.net/articles/5213

The Indoctrination of Children with Religion

Despite ample scientific evidences and countless sound Theories, many still rejects Science and instead choose the word of God as the easy way to help them in their understanding of the Universe.

One main reason why so many have strong faith in God is due to the indoctrination of children. At that age, the developing mind is easily swayed into believing something that is both omnipotent and almighty. Children are less capable and also less willing in questioning their parents and adults. As a result, their mind is most easily influenced at that tender age.


Creationism propaganda for children caught on camera 



The Internet: Where religions come to die

Science is

Science is:

1. the study of Nature

From daily observations of natural phenomena, we can try to draw possible logical explanations (hypotheses). Questions that start with What, How, When, Where, and Who often circle around our curious mind.

A good hypothesis is one that can be rigorously tested using scientific methods, in order to derive evidence that either supports or rejects our hypothesis. This is also known as the Falsification Method, when scientists always subject their hypotheses to various empirical testing. An accepted hypothesis is one that stands such rigorous scrutiny. Even if there is a shred of evidence/data/observation that goes against our hypothesis, the whole thing falls apart (the hypothesis is rejected).


Hypotheses that are well accepted will eventually become a new Theory or Law (more commonly applied in Physics and Mathematics). However, this is not a permanent situation, as advances in Science open new opportunities to conduct new, more elaborate, and more accurate experiments.

This means that Science is never static nor dogmatic. Theories and Laws are being updated in light of new evidences and understandings (a Paradigm Shift).



2. predictable, reliable, and repeatable.

We can build upon present Theories and Laws, a working model to predict an outcome of related experiments and even other hypotheses. The outcome must be reliable, in the sense that results concur with the model. Else, again the Theories/Laws will be modified.

Last but not least, the outcome must be repeatable. Science is not any mumbo-jumbo that gives a whole lot of excuses in case the outcome is not as predicted.

Sunday 2 May 2010

The Pope Song (Warning - Possibly Offensive)



This youtube was created by Tim Michin, in response to the current and on-going sex scandal in the Catholic world, or for the lack of action taken by the Pontiff. This song very much reminds me of songs from the cartoon South Park.

Beware, the tune can be quite addictive.

The Pope Song
by Tim Minchin

Fuck the motherfucker, fuck the motherfucker
Fuck the motherfucker, he's a fucking motherfucker
Fuck the motherfucker, fuck the fucking fucker
Fuck the motherfucker, he's a total fucking fucker
Fuck the motherfucker, fuck the motherfucker
Fuck the motherfucker, fucking fuck the motherfucker
Fuck the motherfucker, fuck the motherfucking Pope
Fuck the motherfucker, and fuck you, motherfucker
If you think that motherfucker is sacred
If you cover for another motherfucker who's a kiddie fucker
Fuck you, you're no better than the motherfucking rapist
And if you don't like the swearing that this motherfucker forced from me
And reckon it shows moral or intellectual paucity
Then fuck you, motherfucker, this is language one employs
When one is fucking cross about fuckers fucking boys
I don't give a fuck if calling the pope a motherfucker
Means you unthinkingly brand me an unthinking apostate
And this has nowt to do with other fucking godly motherfuckers
I'm not interested right now in fucking scriptural debate
There are other fucking songs and there are other fucking ways
I'll be a religious apologist on other fucking days
And the fact remains, if you protect a single kiddie fucker
Then Pope or prince or plumber, you're a fucking motherfucker
You see, I don't give a fuck what any other motherfucker
Believes about Jesus and his motherfucking mother
I've no problem with the spiritual beliefs of all these fuckers
While those beliefs don't hit back on the happiness of others
But if you build your church on claims of fucking moral authority
And with threats of Hell impose it on others in society
Then you, you motherfuckers, can expect some fucking wrath
When it turns out you've been fucking us in our motherfucking asses
So fuck you motherfucker, and fuck you, motherfucker
If you're still a motherfucking papist
If he covered for a single motherfucker who's a kiddie fucker
Fuck the motherfucker, he's as evil as the rapist
And if you look into your motherfucking heart and tell me true
If this motherfucking stupid fucking song offended you
With its filthy fucking language and its fucking disrespect
If it made you feel angry, go ahead and write a letter
But if you find me more offensive than the fucking possibility
The Pope protected priests while they getting fucking fiddly
Then listen to me, motherfucker, this here is a fact
You are just as morally misguided as that motherfucking
Power-hungry self-aggrandized bigot in the stupid fucking hat
(Fuck the motherfucker, fuck the motherfucker...)

Wednesday 28 April 2010

Photography Forums - Overseas and Local (Malaysia)

As entry-level dSLRs have become more affordable, everyone seems to be getting on into the field of photography, sort of jumping into the bandwagon. For newbies (including me), other than attending photography workshops and joining outings, another invaluable learning resource is the Internet itself.

There are various online photography forums, that specifically cater for the respective camera brands (Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Sony, etc), photography techniques (strobist, film, etc), locality (local or overseas), and even photo-editing.

When I first started photography with my Nikon D40, I joined a local forum: LensaMalaysia.com (currently defunct). Everything was rosy in the beginning. Had a wonderful time getting to know new friends with similar passion/hobby and had lots of fun during the frequent outing trips. The forum also organised many free talks by established/professional photographers, and there were many invaluable pointers/tips to be gained.

However, somewhere along the line, things began to fell apart. As a forum that had prided itself to encompass the online community, the moderators began to ignore the contribution of its members. Hero-worshipping towards certain individuals was tolerated, they could do no wrong in the eyes of the moderators. Active members soon realised such double standard treatment, and began to leave. In a few months after our last fiery posts, forum progressed to a slow death.

Things are quite similar to the second forum that I had joined, ShutterAsia.com. The forum moderators have recently decided to regulate the postings of model photography workshops as to safeguard members from scams and pointless workshops, and at the same time to uphold the standards of portraiture (rather than shooting anything sexy, bikini, nudity aka flesh/meat session). :D

With such regulation, there has to be clear guidelines on the rules of the forum. Failure to do so will only invite questioning by fellow members. What astounded me was when one moderator replied that fairness is subjective and as such they reserve the right to solely allow a particular group member to continue their workshop postings while at the same time deleting postings by others. Yes, you can do that, but not arbitrarily.

Till today (after a month and after we have given countless suggestions), there is still no clear guidelines announced. Not wanting to be associated with such mentality, I requested to be removed from being as a member of the Shutter Council.

I have better experience surfing and participating in overseas forum such as dpreview and NikonCafe. The participants there are much more civilised and tacit, even though tempers do flare on and off. As for local photography forums, I currently only lurk at PhotoMalaysia.

I truly believe that an only community can only work out successfully when there is synergy and mutual respect+appreciation between the forum moderators and their fellow members.