Facebook Cartoon 'Scam'

My Opinion Mashed Quickly into my Keyboard:

Changing your FB profile pic to a Cartoon might have been...

a scam-inside a hoax-inside a small minded nonsense-

BUT it was never doing any substantial or real world harm!

Misleading? Yes! Encouraging Paedophilia? NO! A Waste of Time? Perhaps?!

BUT where those people on Facebook changed their pics & feel they contributed in some way to something tainted / unclean / misleading... PLEASE Do NOT feel that way!!! 

Instead consider this...Many people got talking about Child Abuse, Domestic Violence & other harm being cause within homes & families.

That CANNOT be a bad thing.

Some people on Facebook even posted links & videos highlighting abuse in all its forms; As well as singling out  the organisations/charities that deal with these (wrongly whispered) things.

That IS NOT a bad thing.

As with all things Internet (especially social networks) the minute it was in the digital ether it became what the groundswell(s) created & i would like to think that most of us created good....

That's why for the moment my Profile Picture on Facebook will NOT change - Good far far outweighs Bad!

Also because I'm not done shouting (highlighting) instead of whispering!

{that & I like my Hair Bear Bunch Pic very much!}

'And That's How Alex Airs It' 

http://www.nspcc.org.uk/

http://www.childline.org.uk/

http://www.barnardos.org.uk/

Posted via email from Aldakila's Posterous

ShogunGamer: Live action Pokemon movie (Full HD Trailer) [Pokemon Apokelypse]

via shogungamer.com

"Last week we posted leaked footage of a supposed live live action, dark, gritty Pokemon movie. After a week of sleuthing, we finally managed to get the full story of the project. We are able to confirm there is not a Hollywood budgeted production of Pokemon happening.

Under the circumstances in which we received the footage, it was unlikely that there was actually a movie coming to a theater near you; however, the time, money and manpower needed to create a trailer of that quality left many people certain this movie was legit. Especially when you consider the utterly appalling, disgraceful and insulting anime live action films that have been released in North America.

The comments received on our YouTube post were really the best part of this story. For the past week the internet has essentially been divided into two very distinct camps since the leak. Do want, and burn it with fire."

----------
Dunno what to make of this...
Does it soil the name & memory of Pokemon?
Or is it a Geek-Fest of a great idea & a homage to a enduring franchise?
Either way my 18yr old son & (allegedly former) Pokemon daft child fanatic loves it!
What do you think?

Posted via email from Aldakila's Posterous

A September Day: Incomplete Thought That Echoes

TV:


(Ears) … We interrupt … There has been an incident … we go live …


(Eyes) … Sky … Distance … Building … Smoke … Plane …


(Head) … What-Happening … 1st Plane is Accident … But-2nd Plane …


(Heart) … Sinking … Crumbling … Falling … Broken … Different Beat …


(Home) … Watching … Staring … Muttering … Praying …



#incomplete#


via Tumblr




...

Happy Birthday David

Happy 17th Birthday to my #2 Son, David!!!

17!! Jings :-)

Makes 1 of us feel older than we'd like :-o

Augmented (hyper)Reality? - No Thanks

via youtube.com

Love this video - makes you realise how much you're already bombarded by branding everywhere you look & go

BUT....

This would be very very painful!!!

Never mind impossible to focus on anything around you for more than a few seconds!

Here's hoping this never becomes an actual reality?

Posted via email from Aldakila's Posterous

My Boy!!! : Cadet150 Buckingham Palace Parade & Garden Party

"My son Alexander is an ACF {Army Cadet Force} cadet in the Pipes & Drums {he's a Drums part :)} Alexr is 1 of only a handful {2 or 3 I think} of ACF cadets from this part of Scotland taking part in the ACF Band!

Very proud of him {despite me being an ATC "Air Training Corps" Cadet of 8yrs - a long time ago!} 

So chuffed that the Cadet Forces of UK are getting this high profile celebration....

They do some amazing things - with some amazing people be they the Cadets or the Adult Volunteers - Can & do give confidence to face life head on ~ Never mind how fun & unique a challenge it can be!!!

So give them your support & recognition in every way possible!

*Hope to post or link to pictures in the future*"

 ~~~~~~~~~

On Tuesday 6th July, cadets and adult volunteers from around the country and from the MOD’s sponsored cadet forces will take part in the Cadet 150 Royal Review at Buckingham Palace.
Almost 1700 individuals from the MOD’s 4 cadet forces, the Combined Cadet Force, Sea Cadet Corps, Army Cadet Force and Air Training Corps will converge in the early afternoon at Horse Guards Parade and set off for Buckingham Palace. Each cadet force will be led by its own band and all followed up by a combined Pipe band.
Whilst the marching contingents are parading along the Mall, banners unfurled, the Red Arrows will make an overflight and in each plane, a cadet from one of the cadet forces will be a passenger.
Paying respects to VIP representatives of the Cadet Forces en route, the parade will march into Wellington Barracks, close to Buckingham Palace in preparation for the Garden Party at the Palace.
Around 3.30 pm, a ceremonial detachment of 400 cadets, 100 from each force, will march into Buckingham Palace to await the arrival of members of the Royal Family.
At 4.00 pm, members of the Royal Family will arrive and move through the ceremonial detachments and thence through routes lined by almost 800 cadets and adult volunteers where they will meet members of the Cadet Forces.
The event will close at 6.00 pm

Article by

Andy Johnson, Cadet150 Project Officer

• via armycadets.com

Posted via email from Aldakila's Posterous

Doctor Who Finale ~ NO days to go!

The Finale of the 11th Doctor's 1st Series (Season) is here!! 
On BBC1 @ 6.05pm (sorry UK only)
There has been very little in the way of 'spoilers' or sneaky clips from BBC
Except this:



but just for good measure there is this:



Cant Wait!!!

EDIT:

This "Fan Version" of Finale Trailer is rather good!!



:: ENDS ::

Posted via email from Aldakila's Posterous

Connections: Tumblr: Glasgow

via aldakila.tumblr.com

1st: Its a photo by "headphonaught" -cool!!
2nd: Love this bridge - its peaceful around it, compared to others in Glasgow
3rd: The person behind "F**kYeahGlasgow" on Tumblr is my brother & as some of you will know "headphonaught" is a good friend of mine
- so I've got a bit of a 'Pride Party' in my head & heart when they share their passions in the same space on this 'Internet thing'
Cool!!! :-))
----------------------
Via Tumblr....
"fuckyeahglasgow:
South Portland Street Suspension Bridge, Glasgow
via - headphonaught
This bridge was begun in 1851 and suffered a set-back during its construction.
After the masonry towers had been completed and the main suspension chains erected, the south tower split from top to bottom. The Greek triumphal arch towers now seen in the bridge were the result of a substantial re-build.
In 1870 the bridge closed for extensive repairs. The chains and deck were completely removed, the wrought iron bars forming the chains were re-headed and additional bars provided, the timber deck was replaced by wrought iron framework and the deck profile was lowered by about 7ft.
The deck and hangers were again substantially renewed in 1926. However, the masonry towers remain as originally built in 1853, and are therefore the oldest surviving elements in Glasgow’s Clyde bridges."
-----------------------

Posted via email from Aldakila's Posterous

Pics: June 2010 (so far)

Getting back into loving taking pics
- especially with "new" camera!
This is some of my attempts so far....



June 2010, originally uploaded by Aldakila.

June 2010...


1. River: Blue Day + Swan, 2. Sky Floss, 3. L&A relaxing in sepia {365-10 18JUN}, 4. River: Blue Day, 5. River: Blue Day, 6. River: Blue Day ~ White  Flower, 7. River: Blue Day, 8. River: Blue Day {365-10 19JUN}, 9. Reflective {365-10 16JUN}, 10. Robertson Park 16Jun, 11. Light & Dark, 12. Blue over White, 13. Robertson Park Reflective, 14. New Life #1, 15. Robertson Park 16Jun, 16. Cart River Walk, 17. Dusk #2, 18. Park Perspective Path #2 {365-10 10JUN), 19. Cricket?, 20. Cart River Walk, 21. Cart River Walk, 22. Arched Wall, 23. Cart River Walk, 24. Green & Blue, 25. Purple Flower #1 {365-10 7Jun}, 26. Row of Sheds #2, 27. Pinker, 28. Row of Sheds #1, 29. Park Perspective Path #2, 30. Cart River Walk, 31. Bank & Storm {365-10 7JUN extra}, 32. River Cart, 33. Cart River Walk, 34. Starbucks @ Home {365-10 6JUN}, 35. Cart River Walk, 36. Cart River Walk

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

River: Blue Day {365-10 19JUN}

River: Blue Day {365-10 19JUN}, originally uploaded by Aldakila.

Rivers Black Cart & White Cart meet below a blue sky on way to River Clyde

L & A relaxing in sepia {365-10 18JUN}

L&A relaxing in sepia {365-10 18JUN}, originally uploaded by Aldakila.

Lauren & Alexr

Deep in Thought
Or
Watching TV

Doctor Who Finale ~ 3 days to go!

 

Very Very Excited!

 

Oh, Really I am!

Posted via web from Aldakila's Posterous

Glasgow 1980 - A Film (1971)

via aldakila.tumblr.com

Via tumblr:
Interesting Film (stay the distance {29mins} )
Glasgow 1980
A documentary on how Glasgow would look in the 1980’s after the redevelopment of its traffic system and the construction of new housing developments, planned in the mid ’70s.
First of what was intended to be a pair of films tracing the development of the city in the 1970’s. Filming for the sequel GLASGOW’S PROGRESS was halted in 1978 as ‘there seemed to be no end to the urban renewal in sight’.
Director: Oscar Marzaroli
Narrator: Michael Harrigan
Alex Says:
"As a Child of 1971 -: The depressing thing this film shows is that Glasgow didn’t achieve it’s full aim for “Glasgow 1980” (politics & economic greed got in the way) ; worse than that.. Many of these new areas became the slums of 80’s & 90s
So… Glasgow has torn down what was *new* in 1960/70’s to start again for a new vision of the 21st Century…
Time will Tell How That Works Out"

Posted via web from Aldakila's Posterous

Reflective {365-10 16JUN}

Reflective {365-10 16JUN}, originally uploaded by Aldakila.

1st Picture I've posted on blog in a while...

Robertson Park Pond

*just love how it turned out*

AldakilaPics on Tumblr for more....

Mazzy Star: Into Dust

Downloaded this song an aeon ago! (that's a while I believe)

It was free (& legal!) so.. why not?

But silly me I didn't listen to it until very recently & just wanted to say..

I love it & it connects with me on a some level that defies words...

So anyhoo (its a word!)

Here's an obligatory Youtube vid, to enable my sharing of its haunting awesomeness

LYRICS:

Still falling 

Breathless and on again 

Inside today 

Inside me today 

Around broken in two 

Til your eyes share into dust 

Like two strangers turning into dust 

Til my hand shook with the weight of fear 

I could possibly be fading 

Or have something more to gain 

I could feel myself growing colder 

I could feel myself under your fate 

Under your fate 

It was you, breathless and torn 

I could feel my eyes turning into dust 

Into strangers, turning into dust 

Turning into dust 

Turning into dust

A xxx 

“Love the Cool Aliens”

The above quote (perhaps it’s a paraphrase) is from my #1 Son on the picture below.

He found it even ‘cooler’ once he discovered that it wasn’t just ‘nicked’ from somewhere but a collaboration by two of my online friends – find the post of original here

So Thomas (photo) & Adam (art), i’m loving it immensely. (especially as I usually rotate my desktop wallpaper very frequently)

AND high praise indeed (on the Cool Aliens) from a sometime grumpy, sleepy, incomprehensibly guttural teenager!

It’s lost souls – it’s aliens ..

it’s in the eye of the beholder ( now THAT’'S art!!)

This is as it appears ‘in-situ’ on my desktop

Looking forward to more in the future, from these fab artists!!

 

Redemption Stories :: Something Beautiful

OUT NOW

redemption stories is a collection of stories.
There are words, pictures and verse, but all of them tell a story — a redemption story.
We received input from Adele Sakler, Ben & Joy Thomas, Laura Bridge, Jason Duke, Adam Howie, Christine McIntosh, Trent Yaconelli, Emma Boyd, Angus S. Mathie, Paula Spur, Avril Cutler, Emma Boyd and Rob Griggs-Taylor.
This e-book is definitely worth the read. And the best part – it’s FREE.

Download it here. (looks best in full screen mode)

Also, as an added bonus, several of our contributors shared musical submissions as well (including a bonus Easter mix from Thomas).

Download the e-book with the musical submissions here (zip file – 128mb).

Download your copy now, Tweet about it, post about it on your site or Facebook, or print out a bunch of copies and place them on windshields in your city. However you choose, spread the word.

Digital Economy Bill (AKA Extreme Web Laws) - Proper Scrutiny & Debate?

I have emailed friends & family on this, I have tweeted links about this... 
for those who haven't seen or heard of 'DEB', I thought I'd share an e-mail that I received today in this blog:

"Dear Alexander,
Together we're building the pressure on the Government not to rush through the Digital Economy Bill. 11,000 of us have now written to our MPs opposing the Government's plans to force it through as a "fast track" bill before the election. 

We're making the case that proposals to give the government far-reaching powers to cut people's internet connections and restrict public wifi need proper scrutiny and debate. There are signs that MPs and the media have noticed our opposition and are starting to listen. [1]

We need to prove to MPs that public opposition to these plans being rushed through is overwhelming. The more of us that write to our MP this week, the more chance we have of winning.

Please help. Forward this email and ask your friends to tell their MP why they're worried about rushing the Digital Economy Bill into law. They just have to click here to get started, it takes just two minutes:
http://www.38degrees.org.uk/digital-economy-bill

In just a few weeks MPs are hoping we'll vote for them in the General Election. That gives us an opportunity to persuade them not to force through these draconian new internet laws - if we can convince them it's unpopular, they'll think twice about doing it just before they have to face their voters.
 
Opposition is growing. Web giants like Google, Yahoo, BT and TalkTalk oppose the plans. So do consumer groups, civil rights groups and digital freedom groups. A people-powered avalanche of emails could just be enough to stop the government from forcing these measures into law.

Please click forward now and ask your friends to tell their MP why rushing through draconian internet laws is wrong. They just need to click on this link to get started: 
http://www.38degrees.org.uk/digital-economy-bill

Thanks for getting involved,

Johnny, David, Hannah, Nina and the 38 Degrees Team"

Notes
[1] http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2010/mar/17/digital-economy-bill-twitter-outcry

As Thomas (aka @Headphonaught) says in his recent blog on this: "If you live in the UK... please... please... PLEASE... go to 38degrees.co.uk and write to your MP urging them to stop the Government... OUR Government... from rushing the bill through. It took me less than 2 minutes."    Please, please do - this legislation is flawed & needs to be stopped & looked at properly AFTER the election at the very least! Afterthought: { Perhaps... Tell your MP:  They wont have your vote if they dont oppose this NONSENSE! That it's time for them to prove that they are not "members of a posh gentelemans club"!! ~ But that they are "Members of Parliament" ~ Elected by their constituents to represent the will & rights of those people who put them in Parliament ~ AND ABOVE ALL ELSE... listen to the people first & at all times; NOT the lobbyists or big business (the BPI & alike) & absolutely not the disconnected, chattering political classes ~ the 60Million people in this United Kingdom far outnumber all of them! (that will at least make them sit up & take notice) } Thanks for reading my rant A xxx

11th Doctor's 1st 'Proper' Trailer

1st 'proper' 11th Doctor Trailer (BBC's Doctor Who)

Time will tell if it is going to be any good :-) 
But I'll give Matt Smith a chance, I remember not liking idea of David Tennant taking over from Christopher Eccleston - look what happened there!!

Coming to a TV near you! - Easter 2010 (UK)

365-10 : 1st 36 Days

1. 365-10 #1, 2. 365-10 #2, 3. 365-10 #3, 4. 365-10 #4, 5. 365-10 #5, 6. 365-10 #6, 7. 365-10 #7, 8. 365-10 8, 9. 365-10 #9, 10. 365-10  #10, 11. 365-10 #11, 12. 365-10 #12, 13. 365-10 #13, 14. 365-10 #14, 15. 365-10 #15, 16. 365-10 #16, 17. 365-10 #17, 18. 365-10 #18, 19. 365-10 #19, 20. 365-10 #20, 21. 365-10 #21, 22. 365-10 #22, 23. 365-10 #23, 24. 365-10 #24, 25. 365-10 #25, 26. 365-10 #26, 27. 365-10 #27, 28. 365-10 #28, 29. 365-10 #29, 30. 365-10 #30, 31. 365-10 #31, 32. 365-10 #32, 33. 365-10 #33, 34. 365-10 #34, 35. 365-10 #35, 36. 365-10 #36


1st 36 days of my 365 photos of 2010  - some are ok, some are mediocre, some are terrible...
but... "Practice Practice Practice" is the order of the day!

365-10 #31

365-10 #31, originally uploaded by Aldakila.

Warmth...

all my "365" photos can be found here: PatchWork
Dont forget to glance at Flickr (where all my photos live) - Thats it for now

PAX - A xxx

365-10 #23 : "Alexr's Birthday"

365-10 #23, originally uploaded by Aldakila.

It's my eldest's Birthday - 18 years old Today...

His Last Birthday was hard...

...He's been home a few months now - but still its a challange for all those who care about him...

Prayers

- A xxx -

365-10 #22 & More

365-10 #22 & More, originally uploaded by Aldakila.

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

Walk in Robertson Park, Renfrew

1. In Park (again) 2, 2. Swan In Robertson park 2, 3. Swan In Robertson park 3, 4. 365-10 #22 (B&W Edit), 5. Swan In Robertson park 1, 6. Reflective in Robertson Park 1, 7. Swan in Robertson Park 4, 8. Swan in Robertson Park 5, 9. 365-10 #22

365-10 : First 15 Days

1. 365-10 #1, 2. 365-10 2, 3. 365-10 #3, 4. 365-10 #4, 5. 365-10 5, 6. 365-10 6, 7. 365-10 7, 8. 365-10 8, 9. 365-10 #9, 10. 365-10  #10, 11. 365-10 #11, 12. 365-10 #12, 13. 365-10 #13, 14. 365-10 #14, 15. 365-10 #15


1 to 15 of 365-2010 uploaded to Flickr at last!

(really must remember to upload on the day I take the photos)

Robertson Park -365-10 #9 *edit*

Robertson Park -365 *edit*, originally uploaded by Aldakila.

Edit of 365-10 #9 with comparison of original.
didn't like tyre tracks - so & "photoshopped" them out...

Prefer it - but what do you think?

365-10 #7

365-10 7, originally uploaded by Aldakila.

Cold~Technology ... sums up this day of mine.

Picture Revisit??

Snowy Renfrew Church (picnic'd), originally uploaded by Aldakila.

"Snowy, Renfrew Church"

Took this picture few weeks ago, liked it - though silly phone changed resolution to something too small!

It is my intention to take another (better?) picture sometime soon.
Hopefully whilst its still dusted 'white'

I suspect this church may feature a few times in my 365-10 project...

time will tell!

365 Project of 2010

I have created a 2nd Tumblr Blog just for my 365 project photos...
Have a look here & do what you will... Follow, gaze or move on ...it is all fine by me.


365-10 = 1 Picture a day for 2010
At least that's the hope & theory!

My favourite 365-10 pictures will be still be posted to this blog ( just not every day!)

365-10 #2

"Train @ Queen Street"

----

oh by the way!!!
All my pictures live on Flickr first, before my 365 pics glide over to Tumblr…

So get along & have a look…

Ch..Ch..Changes

You may have noticed, in the run-up to the New Year, that the number of items in the side-bar of this blog were cut back.

Well more pruning has taken place today, as I've decided to streamline what's listed there to focus more on my main web presence - such as these. This will make it easier for you (& me) to see what & where I am.

"Wonderings of Life Wanderer" will always be my main blog; most definetely will always be my '1st place' to deposit my "Wonderings" ...
BUT... sometimes I feel the urge to enthuse more on what would be considered  niche or geeky so a '2nd place' seems seems sensible for when I want to that. (until now I have decided the best policy was to keep such supersized Geek Blessays to myself, except on rare occasions)
Where that '2nd place' will live hasnt been quite finalised - I am looking at various sites outside of Blogger (where this blog you're reading lives). In fact I have been running a 2nd (stealth) version of this site elsewhere to see how easy a particular blogging site worked - unfortunately it wasnt as good as expected, particularly when attempting to remotely (indirectly) post to it.

So I guess I'm open to (free) suggestions for my '2nd place' site...
...Feel free to voice your suggestions in the usual places...

I do use many 'mini-places' already for 'mini/micro blogging' as well as 'stick there for comment later blogging' & will continue to use them. Mostly I find they inspire me in many & various ways: particularly Tumblr .
Somewhat self-indulgently, I've decided at some near future point to explain why I use some of these (not quite proper blogging) 'mini-places' sites.
Just in case someone else would find them useful & probably to justify my use of them to myself!

So at this point, I better end this rambling (I might be pruning the sidebar but not this posting particularly well - har de har) as I've said earlier - feel free to suggest sites for my 2nd place indulgence.

With my thanks for reading to this line - I end xx

Ne'er Day 2010

As promised in my posting yesterday, below is this blog's most popular post of 2009 
(Edited: original is here {with translation})...


This particular post, has been viewed more often than any other last year, not sure why.
From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada ; Right across the world to: Tokyo, Japan. 
(stopping along the way, in Kingston, Jamaica; Tel Aviv, Israel & Delhi, India of all places!)


Even more bewilderlingly, is that fact it is the 1st post viewed by anyone this year also.

My wish for 2010 for all is blessings & prayers in what you need...


Also, of course, "Lang may yer lum reek"

-----

"May the best ye hae ivver seen be the warst ye'll ivver see.
May the moose ne'er lea' yer girnal wi a tear-drap in its ee.
May ye aye keep hail an hertie till ye'r auld eneuch tae dee.
May ye aye juist be sae happie as A wuss ye aye tae be.

Here's to all those that I love
Here's to all those that love me.
And here's to all those that love those that I love,
And all those that love those that love me.

I drink to the health of another,
And the other I drink to is he -
In the hope that he drinks to another,
And the other he drinks to is me!

Here's to them that like us -
Them that think us swell -
And here's tae them that hate us -
Let's pray for them as well!

Here's to the heath, the hill and the heather,
The bonnet, the plaid, the kilt and the feather!

Here's to the heroes that Scotland can boast,
May their names never dee -
That's the Heilan' Man's Toast!

Here's tae us -
Wha's like us -
Damn few -
And they're a' deid -
Mairs the pity!

May the hill rise behind you,
And may the mountain be always over the crest;
And may the God that you believe in
Hold you in the palm of his hand.

Lang may yer lum reek!
Wi' ither folks coal!

May we be happy - and our enemies know it!

A guid New Year and mony may ye see.

May ye ne'er want a frien' or a dram to gie him.

When we're gaun up the hill of fortune, may we ne'er meet a frien' comin' doun!"