astrology myth or science

How stupid did i look and feel after a friend asked me if i believed in horoscope readings and star signs. Trying to appear somehow more educated and knowledgeable and not easily fooled. i replied with my convinced believers voice that the generalised daily version in the newpapers were bull shit. Furthermore, that i got my personalized reading properly carried out using my date of birth time etc. i felt proud of myself that i wasn't just another joe bloggs on the street and i could very proudly stand in the same side of the street he (mr all knowledgeable) was in. So proud also cos i have a tattoo mostly designed by myself adorned  my left shoulder.

For years i have been proud of being a sagittarian. honest and one of a kind. I guess it could have being worse for my mind and soul to cope with the fact that i have being lied to all this years if i really lived my life on the codes and beliefs of traits which i held true of sagittarians. For me astrology was more a guide and a good confirmation of traits i guess i would have liked to have. It gave me a sense of belonging. True codes and traits that one was born with that could not be changed and or taken away from me.

Doubts have always crept into my mind over the years as to why, when ever i met another sagittarian and not just any. One that we shared the same date. Mostly not the same year or birth time or even location of birth; that we were so so different. With regards mannerism and personality. Several times i asked myself why? but not knowing the answer and not being able to question the scientific belief system i held true for so long. I always dismissed them as a rarity. and that we were most like the opposites of a coin. but the same coin nonetheless.


"The Chinese Zodiac is based on a twelve-year cycle used for dating the years. Twelve animals represent a cyclical concept of time. Every year is assigned an animal name, or "sign", according to a repeating cycle: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar. Therefore, every twelve years the same animal name or "sign" would reappear. Chinese horoscopes predicts a person's personality trait based on that's person birth year. The Chinese do not regard these horoscopes as serious. They often use them as a social tool to figure out each other age, or to find out who is the oldest, among friends and acquaintances."

extract from yahoo choices

Published by Tony S.

Student and writer.  View profile

interesting link on the debunking and scientific studies done on astrology. a must read.
further reading here. Master statistician and psychologist ; Michel Gauquelin

NAKED SAUNA

Am i now a continental European?? OMG i went to my first naked sauna session today. to be very honest i thought there would be more shagging than just plain old strutting ones stuff. The two friends i went with, a couple, got undressed so casually in the changing room where we shared neighbouring lockers- 124, 128 and i can't remember the last number. As if that really matters. I retain that she has been trying to get me naked for ages, but i love her that she doesn't hide the fact. Not even from her boyfriend. Sometimes a tad worrying; more for him and his mental health. I guess they are really made for each other.

We were easily the youngest people there as i cheekily flirted with the grandmas there. And it wasn't too much of a surprise i was the only naturally tanned person there too. Its not really a black african past time to relax in the sauna, is it? When one can easily get all the heat one needs out on the streets. Throughout the session I could feel almost all the eyes around undressing me further even though i was already stark bollox naked, with only a towel slung over one shoulder which barely covered my shrivelled nuts. How ironic that i snacked on some almond nuts and raisins i had in my rucksack.

We got there at 1900hrs and i was bored shitless by 2000hrs. Why? I guess i really do not enjoy lazying about relaxing without doing anything. Not my idea of fun. Soo glad i popped to the track for a quick session and to break into my newly purchased trainers. My old ones which i actually walk in daily, has been crying out for way too long.

Isreali OCCUPATION of Palestine

Can we please get people talking about this. The way it is and not the distilled information we get fed by CNN and the very biased US government.

As a child growing up in west africa; i wish i have the rags to riches story to make you go OHRRRR!!! But my childhood till i was 19 when i left africa for england was very blessed with wealth. My parents were rich so we had the luxury of 24hrs cable TV and most of the trappings of modern life. Regularly throughout my childhood the Isreali Palestinian conflict was always on the screen. I have to say back then and for years in england, i got numb to all the fighting and death. Numb to it cos firstly i saw it everyday secondly cos i just felt the palestinians loved to fight. so much so that when Arafat refused the peace treaty that was brokered by Bill Clinton. i made up my mind the Palestinian were at fault. i told myself; come on, make peace!!. something is better than nothing.

My curiosity as to why a society/palestinians would seem to enjoy fighting. And what was so inherently wrong with the deal that made Arafat refuse the deal led me to start asking myself questions. Questions like: what could stop the fighting? who originally owned the land before? and before any war? because that is where we really have to start.

The original maps seems to show that the land belonged to Palestine. Hence the whole conflict is all down to Isreal's occupation of land that wasn't originally theirs. Due to Isreali fire power and most importantly, US support, they have been and are continuing ethnic cleansing acts which must not be tolerated in a modern age.

I am really really angry and very disappointed with the american media for being very biased all these years, as i trusted them. They are almost independently making the matter worse. I have grown up thinking Palestinians loved blood and were groomed/lived to be suicide bombers. I am sorry, but if someone tried to illegally kick me out of my house or land i would do the same thing if i had no option. Fight back for my right, legally of course as much as i can, but the fate of the palestinians is just UNTHINKABLE.

WE ALL HAVE TO START TALKING ABOUT IT. AS THE MEDIA IS LYING TO US. if not lying they aren't telling us the REAL TRUTH. If no one talks, then the atrocities being committed, the OCCUPATION/HOUSING EXPANSION will continue. TALKING will begin a gradual process to put pressure on the USA to cease supporting Isreal and their ZIONISTIC idealogy.

BBC - The Human Mind ep.1 - Get Smart - Full Movie

wacom digital tablet

i have just received possession of my new graphics tablet. a wacom INTUOS 5 medium. not the touch version. read review here.

being putting it through its paces. intially almost fell out of love with it cos i couldn't work out how to zoom and pan easily. not i dont feel lie i am missing too much not having the touch version.

girls and their impeccable sense of direction

The guys that say the title would can guess what is coming. Not too sure the ladies saw through the title though. i could be wrong. Prove me wrong.

Finished work today and got on the same train as a co-worker. As we chatted on she then asked where i lived i said osloer which is north. but i assumed she lived northly too, as i ran into her two stations from mine (point C) about three week ago. she said she used to live there but didn't like it but then she started to describe some where southly. i though i was going nuts and felt like a real foreigner as i reached into my bag to for my map. I was too tired to get up and look on the big map fixed to the roof of the train. anyway look at the map. she confirmed where i though she was describing which is at point A. She works at point B. but she travels everyday from A to C then to B. she claims it is shorter. I cracked up and could not stop laughing. Girls definitely have different brains to guys when it comes to direction and map reading.

Selling / sending unedited RAW photos

I recently did a shoot, sent out a few complimentary FREE photos and immediately i was asked if i could send out the rest of the images without any edits. The initial thought that came to mind although they were very complimentary about the quality of the work, was what didn't they like about the photos. As i felt a tad insulted they would want the rest as unedited. Well, i reply, without refusing not to send out the photos was "what don't you like about the image". And ironically i had done very very little to that image.  I relate sending out an unedited RAW photo to asking say a surgeon to pause in the middle of an operation; wake you up and show you your beating heart. Any way there are many more analogies i thought of. But i also considered whether or not i was being too harsh or closed minded. Although times have changed in the digital photography landscape. back in the days of film photography in the dark rooms. After a shoot, a photography would not just simply hand the rolls of film to the clients to process by themselves. it is really not that different to digital photography. Main difference being everyone now has a darkroom on their computers.

I have always known it was near impossible back in the days of film to get the original negatives of a shoot from a photographer. So i wanted to see if times may have changed. Here came google, our trusted friend.

First info and confirmation of present thinking came from DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY SCHOOL.

My photographic artistic style / integrity is another very important reason i felt one should not send out RAW unedited files. The will obviously be other photographers that would cater for the needs and client styles. Don't get me wrong, i do firmly believe the client is always right and THE CLIENT IS KING. There are obviously more arguments to be entertained on this discussion. feel free to leave your comments. In the mean time i'd go back to my analogy of the surgeon. You wouldn't ask the surgeon to wear only red garments in the operating room or always make any incisions from left to  right or bottom to top.

I totally agree:
"Images get disqualified for many reasons: someone's eyes were closed, they moved a hand and it was blurry in the image, someone stepped into the edge of the shot, etc."


"The difference between an amateur photographer and a professional photographer is that the amateur will show you ALL of their pictures."


"No person will EVER see any un-edited photos of mine (and I'm speaking up in the Shop Talk forum, even while I'm not a professional at all)."

twisted spine

Being getting a seriously annoying pain to the right side of my lower back for months. It just doesn't want to abate even though i have rested it for like forever; 8months now if i am very honest with myself. So today i decided to pop to the doctors. Sat patiently in the waiting room for an hour and a half before i was seen by a fantastic doc; he was Kool calm and straight shooting. My kinda guy. I gave him all my health history and the letter my last doctors had written. he immediately sent me into the xray room.

we both looked at the photos while he explained my twisted spine to me. OMG i thought to my self. The first thought that ran through my mind was thank goodness my discs are okay. i was so scared the pain was as a result of me rupturing my spinal disc. I so do not want yet another artificial metal in my spine. second thought was; i am an idiot. Just like my neck i think i know when i did this and/or injured my self. i remember doing a twisted hanging ab exercise. can also be called a Pendulum swing. see photo below.

  I stopped only cos i felt i may have twisted something. I had suspected this was how i created my current injury but can't be 100% sure it was. now i am absolutely sure it is not my disc. i just need to find out how i can stop the pain. the doc told me to take pain killers. but i'll be looking for something better than drugs. If anyone has any tips please let me have it. many thanks.

random acquaintances

Whilst at zoologischer garden station platform waiting for my train to arrive. i hot chick walked by wearing a very short light skirt. as my eyes followed her past me from right to left i got to 9 o'clock and another guy had finished undressing her with his eyes. we both looked at each other and smiled. he said in german, why doesn't the train come quickly to blow a gust of wind so we could see more. i laughed and shared a few more jokes with him and his friend. Before and whilst we were on the train. he actually invited me to sit next to him. I humbly accepted. As they left the train two stations after we alighted, I shock hands with both of them from pakistan that had lived here in berlin for 8years and currently didn't work. I cheekily asked him if he money he spends came from god.

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ShareThis is Powering the Sharing Revolution!

Unanswered prayers

Went on my almost three weekly grocery shopping and whilst at the shop an incident made me think of Garth brooks and his song unanswered prayers. classic song. love it.

[Chorus]

Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers

Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs

That just because he doesn't answer doesn't mean he don't care

Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers

Anyway whilst at the checkout i looked across about three checkout counters from me. there stood a hot couple. the guy looked as hot a younger version of myself before i turned old, grey and ugly. and his girl friend; also very hot. i began to think about the prayers and wishes i sent upstairs for consideration that have yet to be actioned. Life's a bitch right! After we all settled our bill mine came to €25.08 i think. i remember the 8cents cos i tried to make the checkout lady take all the shrapnel i had in my pocket. she still went for the big one. They really hate the 1, 2, and 5 cents here. dont know they still use it. I digress! back to my hot couple. i then ran into them at the self packing section of the supermarket where i heard her having a right go at him. "...blah blah every morning. it pisses me off etc." I quickly packed up my stuff, tried hard to ignore what was going on as i turned my back to the very quiet bloke.

Poor guy, i thought to myself later. Seconds after, Thank goodness i am single flooded my thought. The lord, if he is listening, or if there is any such person upstairs that answers prayers. i am very happy just the way i am at the moment. I so cannot be dealing with such brain ripping engagements.

brave or foolish?

Ali-G, Sarah and Sham would be proud of me. Last night i watched the bayern vs chelsea footy finals in the posh part of Berlin town. what a game! The quality of chelsea's game was sublime throughout the match. Quality passes, vicious and breath taking attacks. Bayern on the other hand, had too many wasted chances. it was as though their manager warned then not to score. Bayern's game and opportunities go so bad that i stopped getting worried when they got close to chelsea's box. Amazingly they slipped one in. Good heading you would say. i guess i could agree with you without being too biased. No surprise there was rapturous jubilation and acknowledgement from the whole restaurant when bayern scored. i immediately told the person next to me; i know it is just 10mins till the end, but don't write off chelsea just yet. OMG 3mins till the final whistle and Drogba delivered. A lone but firm annoying voice to the front of the restaurant, shouted whilst punching the air. COME ON CHELSEA!!! followed by a few i told you so. A few seconds passed which seemed like eternity for some and this lone voice seemed to have drown out this restaurant. I looked around, sat down quietly and buried my head when i realised i was the only one celebrating.

photographic filters

For ages i have tried to figure out what makes some top quality photos like those of professional photographers look so good and crisp and most importantly their depth of colour and detail extra ordinarily stand out. And why my photos never seem to campare with theirs. i think i may have found the answer, or maybe not.

I have always known from reading listening and practicing that the quality of light is so important when photography is involved. then one most acquire and use a good lens which helps funnel the quality of light

two weeks ago i was in a park with friends. tons of people were there too barbecuing and generally having fun. when... to be continued.

Shaolin warrior training

Deutsch History gallery visit.

Yeap, i spontaneously swung my arrow into the gallery today. Guess i didn't feel like heading home as it had been raining all day. and it was a nice day at work. the witch was actually very happy today. waoo.

some photos off my Nokia

my neck operation, bionic man

interesting Photos

interesting plate number

Waoo, i bought a popcorn bowl. 

potsdamer platz. on my way to
my lunch time date.

typical scene in a berlin station. 
random man enjoying his curry wurst.

living cheaply

€23 lasted me about 2weeks. who said one cannot live cheaply in a city like berlin. take my grocery receipts as a proof it can be done. note that i wasn't completely out of anything to eat but i had to grocery shop as i was out of the essentials. ie, cereal, fruits.

Secrets of Body Language

New Features in Illustrator CS5 - TechnicalIllustrators.org

i found thins interesting as i never knew these features existed. very good addition

THRIVE

A friend casually sent me this link to watch this documentary called TRIVE. The headline at the start of the documentary was what kept me watching. They almost lost me when they starting talking about crop circles and aliens. Guess i persevered past that topic after a little more reassurance from my friend that it'll get better, which it certainly did.  Please more and more people should be educated about the goings on of a few people in the world. only then can more people in numbers reclaim what is rightfully ours. 
I watched it 2 nights ago. about 2hrs long, but very interesting. if you have never thought of the the way they world works this will open your eyes. in my case it connected more dots for me. enough said, rustle up some popcorn and enjoy it.


http://thrivemovement.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEV5AFFcZ-s&feature=share

nice photo shopped picture.

these aren't my photos. i like them hence publicising it. dont have a references to give out other than it was created by Erik aJohansson - 21 year old Swedish photographer. i cannot verify the accuracy of that info as well.