Thursday, December 31, 2009

2009 Review ; The Year that was!!!

Year 2009 had alot of great things. There’s so much to begin from. This article is wrtten from a personal point of view. So, I’m going to tell you how 2009 affected me in a personal way. Ofcourse, I could come up with a Top 10 Music Videos of 2009 or Best Surprises of 2009. But I wished to write this, to personally assess myself; especially after not giving time for spiritual thinking. But really, how much can you blame a girl for enjoying life?! Hey! You’re only 16 once a life time!! So, 2009 was exceptionally hard for me. In the paragraphs preceding you’ll see the humanly insane days of my life, and why it was so hard...not to laugh!

In the month of January, nothing much developed. Was still a Freshman @ Andrew's. Yes, just a couple of immature guys bragging about the New Year parties attended not forgetting the the photos actually had them having "Non-Alchoilic beers", and that boys discovering that..didn't see us arounds for days on end. And then the last three months of the academic year means more bunking, more fun, less lectures etc.etc.etc. And making fun of college life were the best jokes of the day. One went like this –
“ A Genius can do something in one day for what a fool will do in 100 days....So as the end of this year approaches....we finish learning our syllabus in a day( right before an exam) what the faculty tried to make us learn in a year.”

February and March was over by then and so was the academic year. And THAT’S WHEN THE FUN STARTS!!! I was finally down with the possibly worst year at High School. Had the minimal friends possible, landed myself in to leads of trouble (which I’d love to share with you for a couple of laughs, but sadly that was 2008) and in high school, that’s a wrong foot to start on. So, now I was relieved. I was away from all the crazy dudes, the politics, the freak boy who stalks me adn the snobs, the jocks and the LOUD cheerleading kinds of groups. (No, we don’t actually have cheerleading squad. Some act like they are though ;) lol)But now, I was free. The vacations were great time for me to relax and rejuvenate. I struck a cord with music and went back to playing my keyboard and even tried the guitar. I tried to perfect my writing skills, but I’m getting pretty much there don’t you think?? I also experimented with Photoshop a lot and used inspiration from friends and just boredom to create some worthy digital designs. You can check them out on my previous posts this month. By the end of all this, I had found many thing I take joy in and it’s great to discover things like this. It’s an outlet to every emotion and dream inside you. Some people take jobs and work hard for the money. They don’t have something to channelize the rest of their energy and soul into, something that has a part of them in it. But, I had,this was like discovering treasure for me!

In June, the last year of high school started. I was again almost friendless. But even though the glorious days of high school that everyone wants almost never comes. I still have no regrets. Infact, I realize that I am a much stronger person than I was. I may not handle every situation properly, but I can learn from my mistakes, a friend told me not to believe that everyone should be like me. No everyone is not nice, and everything is not always harmonious. It’s like expecting a Lion not to eat you because you’re vegetarian!!!
I also, learnt that people must always be taken at face value, not at how they sweet-talk their way into you! Because, the eyes are truly a mirror of the soul! I learnt that you don’t need to be famous to be happy, you don’t need people to praise you be happy. It all comes from within. And most importantly I learned the true value of friendship. What it takes to give and receive! Who really will be there for you? And before I knew it, time had done what I does best; move like the wind-going so swiftly and never turning back! 2009 was closing, but was far from over. My birthday was a blast. I got the greatest gifts and even though the birthday was low-profile I was more than happy. This year will end. And 2010 will be the year to implement the changes in our lives from 2009. Cause, time moves on and although we can probably never keep pace...atleast we had a jolly good time at it! Life had thought me a valuable lesson, many infact.And I may never remember what happened in summer of 2009, but I will always remember the times!

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Just some more art to close the Year!

Elvina


Terror


Enjoy 2010!!!!!!!!!1

Mona Lisa Smile ^_^

As I mentioned earlier....I had, quite some time back landed myself in a trivial argument with a contradicting so-called "writer" and "Liberalist" who refused to believe in a different form of art or creativity other that hers.(Oh well!)

But ever since then, I have always pondered upon that and laughed and wondered "Art, Creativity...what do people really understand of it?" And it's always brought me back to my favourite Julie Robert's Mona Lisa Smile.
If you've seen the movie you'll know what I'm talking about. (And If you've seen the movie you've gotta love it.) A class of students master everything in their books from head to tail even before the acedemic year begins. You might think wonderful class, but then what do they know outside the text book......hmmmm not much, huh? where did the art appreciating go wrong in school?!
My unworthy opponent stated that photography was an art only mastered by few. And certain family photographswere thus not artful enough. However, graphics editing need not have any level of professionalism or experience!!!! Much like - Anyone who says "art is anthing I say is art, is art" just another way for a non-artist to justify the non-art.
So, then what defines art? Is it just be a renowned artist that makes it art. Do, you have to spend millions of money on art school, just to show people your art and have them appreciated?!
What would you say to a person who stood besides you in a art gallery and said - " I think the Mona Lisa sucks!" or "Vincent van Gogh simply paints landscapes...what's art in that? Any person with skill can do that"
Sadly enough, "unprofessional" work is the most creative artwork usually. Why do we spend millions of dollars to buy a painting of some"famous" artist that looks lke it's made of calk and crayons; but laugh at a small child's art?! "St. Valentine's Day Massacre", has a large, floating, orblike, slightly heart-shaped beacon of color in the middle of the canvas. Oddly enough, closer inspection might suggest that the figure looks like the imprint from a large set of buttocks. (Which it is since the artist ended up sitting on his canvas.) The other fraternity brothers submit paintings of similar quality. ?!!!! As far as art is concerned, I guess it doesn't matter if it's thought to be good or bad, as long as the consumer likes it. If you like something, then it's "good" art. But if you don't, it doesn't mean it's not.
One day as we all chatted merrily away, a friend told us about her expidition to the art gallery where a group of school students were accompnying them too. The teacher had given out face cards, one type was a smile, and the oher a sad face. The students had to place them below drawings and rate them accordingly. And children did as told. But, the results?! The children thubmed up paintings with more white, simply coz it looked like cotton candy or icecream. And the darker paintings were thubmed down :p
But then again, learning from our mistakes as we accept them brings us to a point where we ask - " How can one know what is true art??"
"Guud owne, mate!" I say. And lucky for you I have the answers right here-
-->Good art can be a matter of good concept or excellent skills in execution, but I think great art touches the mind, heart or soul of the viewer.
-->Art is anything that "touches" you in a way.
To me, art is something you can watch, hear, feel or taste each day, every day, and never grow tired of how it makes you feel......
-->Craft (or skill), Mimesis (representation),Aesthetics (Form or beauty)
Expression.
-->When you discover new different things the more you look at it or read it.
And most of all,
-->Art is everywhere though. It just depends on how you look at it. ;)

So, here's to all those who got it out wrong there. But then, again there's no right from wrong in art...it's just a matter of perspective and broad vision!!!!


PS: I know you're watching...copy this too! BTW I hope you liked this post on you ^_^

Thursday, December 10, 2009

The Twilight Saga: New Moon Review



Yes! They're back!! The newest in thing in tinsel-town....Vampires. But what tops that all - True Blood Series, Blade Series..is our one and only Twilight.
I'm not giving you an insight about Twilight. If you don't know it yet?! Boy! You're are way too 'Zombiee-ised' and outta-this-world!

So, the next hot thing...Edward and Bella's Love Story.As I walked into the cinema hall, I was delighted, I hadn't got a chance to read the book yet, partly because I wanted to be surprised at the movie's screening. And here I was ready to be surprised and have the daylights knocked outta me!! Yes!I came prepared.



I had paid so much attention to detail, much more than the previous movie! And, I like most others was expecting to see somethign more between Edward Nand Bella...how their love grew, their passion so much that it would be unbearable to part. BUt, it wasn't anything like it! The group of Vampires who call themselves the "Cullens"...(haha and you though only wolves moved in packs?!!!) wanted to hold a paerty for Bella. But, they start getting unconfortable when Bella accidentally cuts her finger. ANd their thirst for her blood becomes hard to cover.
But that paper cut at her party causes a violent stir and soon the family reckons it’s time to leave. Edward gives his “It’s not you, it’s me” speech, which sounds more like “We can’t be together because I might kill you” and the vampires are gone.
Surprisingly Edward turns up for hardly any screen time. And Bella who seems to be lost in the human world is hunting for someone...soulmate, perhaps?!

Then there are a few quick scenes to remind everyone that the Cullens are, in fact, vampires with special powers. Reading minds, seeing the future, and controlling moods are all checked off in a few quick exchanges of dialogue.

And then Jacob shows up...although at first everything seems perfectly normal somethings not right!



And, Taylor Lautner surprisingly shows promise as an actor( way to go buddy!), from his previous staring - Shark Boy( Image Below) if only because he was able to keep a straight face when the line “Bella, you’re bleeding!” became his cue to take off his shirt.
And then as you know it. Naturally, Jacob’s developed pecks come from a fever that eventually turns him into a werewolf, where hanging with his friends means trading in a normal life for denim jean shorts and six pack abs. Though their furry forms mean little more than special effects dollars spent on snarling.
And then he goes on fighting his vampire enimies, and tries to convince Bella that he will protect her from those blood-thirsting vampires.
And the moviw goes on for quite a long, uninteresting time. As, I am tempted to count the popcorn as I eat them!!!
A long-awaited, yet rushed climax transports Bella to Italy in order to stop “The Sparkle Show” starring a suicidal Edward Cullen. There she encounters the infamous Volturi, a vampire council of various talents. This plot detour provides a tasty role for Michael Sheen, but only leads to more tedious dialogue. The dramatic pauses alone could have saved precious time that could be spent doing… well, anything else.
Still, as her ashen-boyfriend comes back, she still throws Jacob those stealing glances. And goes up to say she likes the warmth of his body. By now, I had eaten 87 popcorns. And this movie was as cheesy as the previous one.

All-in-all, the movie is definately worth a watch! And besides, Twilight fans decided to go way before the director was even considering his budget for the film. It's worth the money...even if you're not a twilight saga fan...I'd suggest you to go....missing out to see these hotties is NOT one of the top 50 things to do before you're dead!!! No. I'm Serious.

Olympic Torch Relay heads to Vancouver

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The following appeared on Boston.com:
Headline: Olympic Torch Relay heads to Vancouver
Date: Dec 10, 2009

"After departing Athens, Greece on October 30th, the Olympic Flame has been traveling across Canada, now about 1/3 of the way into its 106-day, 26,000 km overland relay (another 18,000 km by air). Over 12,000 torch-bearers will carry the flame along a winding path covering all of Canada, passing through over 1,000 communities total - from Toronto, Winnipeg and Calgary to smaller communities such as Gwa'Sala-Nakwaxda'xw, Notre-Dame-du-Lac, Moose Jaw and Sheshatshiu. The final destination: Vancouver's BC Place on February 12, 2010, where it will light the Olympic Cauldron and signal the start of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Expect a follow-up post early next year, covering the rest of the journey."
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To see this recommendation, click on the link below or cut and paste it
into a Web browser:



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Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Butler not living up to preseason hype

December, 8, 2009
Dec 811:59PM By Andy KatzNEW YORK – Butler coach Brad Stevens said that the Bulldogs are essentially the same team that was picked fifth in the Horizon League prior to last season.

That same team won the league, highlighted by beating Xavier on the road when the Musketeers were No. 13 in the country. But the next ranked team Butler played was in the first round of the NCAA tournament –- a loss to No. 20 LSU.

Throughout the summer, the buzz on the Bulldogs was on Gordon Hayward and Shelvin Mack after they helped the USA win the Under-19 FIBA World Championship gold for the first time since 1991. Pitt's Jamie Dixon, who coached the team, said that what he learned about Mack and Hayward is that he didn’t want to play Butler.

Well, John Thompson III's Georgetown team played Butler on Tuesday and the Hoyas played them well, winning 72-65 in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden. Afterward, JT3 wanted to make sure that everyone knew that the core of the Bulldog players could play on any high-level team.

He’s right, but the Big Three -- Hayward, Mack and center Matt Howard -- were a combined 13-of-43 (30.2 percent) against the Hoyas, who held the Bulldogs to 31 percent shooting on the night . By and large, it's fair to say that Butler still hasn’t elevated itself since last season.

The schedule has certainly been tough, playing and winning at Northwestern, (the Wildcats haven't lost since), but losing to Clemson and Minnesota and squeezing out a last-second win over a down UCLA at the 76 Classic in Anaheim two weeks ago.

Ohio State, sans all-American Evan Turner (fracture in his back), is on tap Saturday at Hinkle Fieldhouse and then Xavier pays Butler a visit after that. Then a road trip to 8-1 UAB awaits.

“My point about our schedule is we want to play people,’’ Stevens said. “Let’s live. Let’s go out and challenge ourselves and see how good we can be.’’

Still, these Bulldogs are 1-8 against ranked teams since the start of the 2007-08 season.

“I know we’re pretty young and naïve on this whole deal,’’ Stevens said. “We’ve lived this on every side, won the conference tournament, been an at-large and not gotten in. We’re just committed to playing the way we need to play.’’

Stevens said the Bulldogs have to focus on themselves and can’t feel sorry for their current state. They have to go back to being a proficient offensive team and defend better.

Howard must stay on the court, too. He fouled out in 25 minutes, the fifth time this season he’s been gone too early. Howard missed his first eight shots and finished 1-of-9, which was made more difficult by the play of Georgetown’s Greg Monroe.

“If he’s out, he’s out and we just have to deal with it,’’ said Butler guard Shelvin Mack, who had his right shoulder taped in the hallway at Madison Square Garden after tweaking it during the game. “We’ve got to get back to playing Butler basketball and playing defense. That’s the main thing. We can’t allow teams to shoot over 50 percent against us.’’

Minnesota shot 50 percent against the Bulldogs. Even Valparaiso shot over 50 percent.

Starting with the Turner-less Buckeyes this weekend, all that Butler needs to do now is win games. It's possible the Bulldogs may need to win the Horizon League tournament to get a bid, but the Bulldogs will likely find a way into the field. Once there, if Howard stays out of foul trouble, they’ll have a chance to advance. But there is still plenty of work to do.

The coaches and players say they weren’t caught up in the preseason No. 10 ranking. Butler had never been ranked in the preseason, let alone at No. 10. Now the hype will die down a bit. Once Butler is back to being relevant, the Bulldogs will likely be more prepared for the exposure.

“A ranking doesn’t win any games,’’ Mack said. “You’ve got to play defense. It doesn’t matter where we were picked.’’

Life on Mars...again?!!

Well, one hypothesis down..two to go! lol

Life on Mars theory boosted by new methane study

Scientists have ruled out the possibility that methane is delivered to Mars by meteorites, raising fresh hopes that the gas might be generated by life on the red planet, in research published tomorrow in Earth and Planetary Science Letters.

Some Digital artwork from way back!! Share your thoughts!

Techno 2032
Techno 2032 is colourized and rendered to give the artist rendering of the future.
All rights reserved by Elvina D'Souza


Grafitti Wall
Digital artwork of various sketches were used to achieve this digital painting. Colorization has not been added.
All rights reserved by Elvina D'Souza


HIGH VOLATGE

Very basic and ameture editing donw on this digital artwork. Textures, lighting and erndering effects are used here.
All rights reserved by Elvina D'Souza


StarDust
This non-photographic art piece was delivered by using color gradients, lightning effects and brush actions,the artist redention of stardust and celestial activity.
All rights reserved by Elvina D'Souza


Love Letter
Just an Art Illustration done by Elvina D'Souza. I used clip images and textures,overlay and lighting effects to achieve this.
All rights reserved by Elvina D'Souza


poster3
A Non-commercial poster by ElvinaD'Souza. LIghting, and rendering only are used in this digital art .
All rights reserved by Elvina D'Souza

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Give 'em a break!

Today, the Mid-Day gave a short but very interesting page 3 story of our dear Indian author Chetan Bhagat got on the wrong side of his followers on Twitter last evening. His Tweet lamenting piracy of his books led to an argument with two other Tweeters, whom he later threathed to Block. This led to further bitter arguments between them and left poor Chetan witha few supporters!!!!
But, I have to agree with Chetan. PhotobucketAnd I'd support him on this issue. Piracy is wrong. Although as a consumer I too feel that cheaper is better. But it makes a loss out on the guys who really worked their butts for this. I would never like it if someone violated my copyrighted work.
The bestselling author of Five Point Someone, One Night at the Call Center, Three Mistakes of My Life and more recently, Two States, had more than 27,000 followers and was possibly one of the most accessible Indian celebrities on the popular microblogging site.

But Saad Akhtar a guy who runs a web comic called FlyYouFools, who poked fun at Bhagat's apparent bad mood by saying, "In a bad mood today, aren't we? Let me guess: Royalty check came in?". And also, replied to Chetan asking him why does he always try to make something sound right by taking a point on India's progress. BUt, really why shouldn't he? If people don't buy pirated stuff, then there won't be any piracy. So, you really can't blame the "system" as such!
True, consumers will opt for a cheaper price. BUt if you really can't spend a few hundereds for a book. Don't promote and support iggegal means like piracy. Instead get free access to and online e-book

The problem with most indians is that they do the wrong things; maybe buy pirated stuff or spit on the roads and litter the streets, hold riots to stop Christians from building churches, curse the "system" and the government. And then want to move to a country that is clean and proper. Then you say - " Ah! What a country. India was so bad!"

But who's to be blamed - system or the one's who are to follow it??? You decide.

Friday, December 4, 2009

This is me!

I recently had a worthless little imph argue with me about creativity. And as my friends gather - Common Sense isn't Common at all! So, simple things are so misunderstod and then it leads to a fustrated encounter with such people with no common sense. Unfornuttely I too had. If you have or I dread - will have such encounters...please just take it and dump it in the sea.

Creativity differs from a person to another. So, basically moral of the story is if you don't like it....shut up ( more so when you know absolutely nothing) and if you want to prove you can do it...then do it instead of just talking!!!

But on the contrary I'm glad this happened. And I thought myself something day before yesterday as I drwe my art of Peter Pooh ( refer to previous post). Prior to this day, I never shared anything with anyone. I was always a care-free person. I studied little and was the last person in class to be bothered about copying notes from ht e blackboard. But, when the exam results were delcared, my classmates were astonished to find I did score well and at times, better than them. And then the whole melo-drama of the jealous cats and poor me began AGAIN!!! So, I olny shared my successes with my closest friends.
But a time comes, when a hero must take off his glasses and show the world who he is ( ofcourse, that would bedisastrous for Superman) But, hey! I'm only human!
 And so I made up my mind to not only share my talents and work with my closest friends but with the world. Even if they get jealous and hate me. Photobucket My 17th Birthday past in a breeze, although i didn't celebrate it. And althoguh i have 101 friends on facebook..only about 15 wished me...I'm still glad and I really feel it was the best Birthday so far. All my close friends wished me.cocobox And that's more important than a 100 of them. I got only three gifts this year. But they're the most important gifts of all. A gift voucher will expire in 2 months, a watch in a couple of years and a box of chocolates in 1 day. But, the appiness to have 'em lasts forever.
This year, I'm gona realy "BE" me!! And not afraid to show it!
This is real.
This is me...
I'm exactly where I wanna be now.
Gonna let the light..
shine on me.

Now I know
who I am!
There's no way to hold it in.
No more hiding
who I gonna bee...
THIS IS ME!!