Another self improvement book! Aside from the usual fluff, this book did provide some good lessons. Too embarrassing to write about in a public blog, but I recognized my own behavior in some of the stories.
Middenmeer, the village where I grew up and our parents still life, is in the news today. A dead body was found on the street this morning; the police is suspecting a crime.
Last year around this time I started thinking about purchasing a DSLR. I spent many hours researching the various types of cameras, lens systems and products and every time I'd discover something better and cooler or read something in an on-line review. So ultimately I had figured out what kind of camera I 'wanted' and the total price of the camera and lenses was absolutely ridiculous. After a couple of days I came back down to earth and set my eyes on a nice starter's camera, a Canon 400D. But, I knew myself, so I decided to wait a little. I had been running for many months by then, and started considering running a race. I combined the two goals, and told myself that I could purchase the camera in April after running the Raleigh Rocks, my first half marathon.
April came I and ran the half marathon and thoroughly enjoyed it... and sure enough: I didn't really long for the camera anymore. The Wall Street Journal has column about this.
After our wedding, and going through the pictures etc, we started thinking about a DSLR again. Wouldn't it be nice to have a good camera and take beautiful pictures? I now have my eyes on the replacement model of the camera we were thinking about a year ago, the Canon 450D.
But, truth be told: taking pictures is nice, and it's cool to have a great camera, but I don't think it's the perfect hobby for me. A week ago I went for a run on Duke campus in the evening and I saw a guy there with a nice camera, a big bag of equipment and a tripod, taking a -surely beautiful- night picture of a building. And I thought: that could be me. And would I have more fun taking that picture than running here? No way!
I realize that running gives me a lot more satisfaction than taking pictures can ever do.
I'm sure that one day we'll get a nice Canon DSLR. But there's no rush, especially in this economic climate. So, Tuesday I signed up for Raleigh Rocks 2009 and that will be my goal for the coming months.
It's pretty cool to realize that four out of the five Oscar nominees for Documentary Feature played at the Full Frame Festival last year, and I saw all four of them.
Of the four movies that I've seen, Nerakhoon is my personal favorite. I think that Man on Wire has the best chances of winning the Oscar, since it's more 'commercial' and has received a lot more publicity. My least favorite was Encounters at the end of the world, it was just boring.
Encounters at the end of the world was a bit boring.
The documentary maker travels to Antarctica to interviews various people living there. The problem is that the subjects aren't very interesting, and the film never really takes off.
"a "TIGER CRUISE" is a chance for relatives of the sailors to experience what living & working on a functional naval vessel is like. The navy will set you up with your own berth with the other sailors,(& fellow Tiger cruisers) feed you, & from what we are hearing put on an "airshow". You'll see all aircraft take off & get arrested, as well as a series of high speed flybys."
In the last couple of years there have been a lot of movies and documentaries about Katrina and its aftermath. Trouble The Water is the best I have seen so far.
I saw this movie on the last day of the Full Frame Festival, when it was screened again on Sunday morning since it had won the Grand Jury Award.
Two 'street hustlers' in the 9th ward in New Orleans have no car, no money and decide to stay in the city during the hurricane ("we have no wheels"). With a hand held camera they record everything that happens during the hurricane, when the levees break, and in the weeks afterwards. The main characters are full of live, and they try to stay upbeat during everything that happens.
The government is completely overwhelmed by what happened, and the film shows how this impacts their lives and that of others around them. It was a great movie, and while I prefer Nerakhoon to win, this documentary is worthy of the Oscar nomination it received.
Middenmeer, the village where I grew up and our parents still life, is in the news today. A dead body was found on the street this morning; the police is suspecting a crime.
Last year around this time I started thinking about purchasing a DSLR. I spent many hours researching the various types of cameras, lens systems and products and every time I'd discover something better and cooler or read something in an on-line review. So ultimately I had figured out what kind of camera I 'wanted' and the total price of the camera and lenses was absolutely ridiculous. After a couple of days I came back down to earth and set my eyes on a nice starter's camera, a Canon 400D. But, I knew myself, so I decided to wait a little. I had been running for many months by then, and started considering running a race. I combined the two goals, and told myself that I could purchase the camera in April after running the Raleigh Rocks, my first half marathon.
The cold weather brings memories of good old Dutch traditions. 
We assembled the bookshelves that we bought during our trip to New Jersey for Thanksgiving.
Encounters at the end of the world was a bit boring. 
The film Man on Wire is a delightfully entertaining documentary about Philippe Petit, who walked on a rope between the Twin Towers in 1974.
In the last couple of years there have been a lot of movies and documentaries about Katrina and its aftermath.