Sunday, June 22, 2008 Better life in a game? POST A COMMENT Imagine an online science game that saves lives - fold.it -- might do just that! 'Knowing that -- "Proteins" are involved in all of the processes going on inside our body...from breaking down food to power your muscles, to sending signals through your brain that control the body through your blood...might not be all that exciting...but, how about designing new proteins using a computer game? Basically, "this could be a whole new way of doing science," says one expert...basically, online players -- using 3-D software...players "work on proteins of known shape or one (recently posted) of unknown structure..." Like farming the worlds science fair...the computer collects -- all the brain power from players...and will apply it to creating new synthesized proteins that can actually help us. Another example of sharing a brain...where the better players successes translate towards the research...that might actually help in creating new ways to treat viruses. Source: Seatle PI Labels: online games, protein, science 101 posted by Henry Cruz at 3:54 PM Wednesday, June 18, 2008 When life gives you Duma... POST A COMMENT Just spent 21 plus hours with the book-on-tape version of Stephen King's Duma Key...I wont give away the storyline; but, let's just say the main character has the worst day of his life...and things get worse, and of course things get a bit spooky... I'll be interested to see the condensed film version. A great story, that starts off slow -- I might have edited it down...but, if you hang in there, it's definitely a worth-while journey. I'd tip my hat to the King, but I doubt he needs any tips from me -- (his last two novels, received overwhelmingly positive criticism from The New York Times). The Cruz "Duma Key" Book Review: **** 1/2 stars (Four and half stars, out of a possible Five stars) Labels: Books, Cruz book reviews, Duma Key, stephen king posted by Henry Cruz at 4:10 AM Sunday, June 15, 2008 An Inconvenient Fun POST A COMMENT Behind "Happening" director M. Night Shyamalan joke that -- "the quintessential horror film for our time might turn out to be a documentary: An Inconvenient Truth." -- comes a wave of Green-Panic to the Big Screen...and -- in this funny video clip -- the excesses of being Green: However, the real hope is that acceptance keeps business markets greener; bringing with it, clean choices for clean modes of transportation...and a wave of more green-inspired jobs. Labels: An Inconvenient Truth, green living posted by Henry Cruz at 2:24 AM Friday, June 13, 2008 Slam-outings of celebs from that closet POST A COMMENT This pressuring-celebs to come out of the closet caught my eye...(yeah, slow news day)... 'case you didn't know Perez Hilton gig as the "go to" site for slamming celebs has included forcing working actors like Neil Patrick Harris to "come out" to People magazine...using this defense that he -- (Perez) -- is from a generation that feels that (being out) is a non-issue...so, we all should stand "proud." -- and tell everyone all the kinky things you do in the privacy of your bedroom. In a perfect world when Perez says "Wentworth Miller --(of Prison Break)...is a homosexual." -- we should all do a collective "yawn" because now we know he's batting for the wrong team -- (or the right team) -- depending on who you're speaking to...sounds peachy, but what if Miller doesn't want people to know who he's banging? -- and isn't Perez robbing money out of Miller's pocket in doing so? Aside from the financial aspects involved -- that stigma of being a Gay man usually means they will not be offered straight leading roles in Hollywood Films.... I'm one-of-those that thinks its okay to have a "private" life. And that it's none of any one's business unless that person whose business it is wants everyone to know he / she gets down like that. Source: Perez Hilton Labels: Gays in the Media, Lindsay Lohan, Outing Celebs, Perez Hilton, Wentworth Miller posted by Henry Cruz at 2:03 PM Wednesday, June 11, 2008 Bring on the Happiness! POST A COMMENT When did it become a duty to be happy? -- 'remember a time when showing up -- and praying everything didn't fall apart -- was enough. Today everybody drowns themselves in floods-of-endless-distractions -- (setting high expectations) -- to achieve an endless non-stop-parade of happiness...'guess, since I grew up in poverty, we made-do with left-overs and searched into ourselves for the basics: family, friends, music. Today, I'm okay with small pockets of 'happy-endings' -- more along the lines of distractions from the everyday grind, and I'm good-to-go: reading, traveling, movies, writing, hanging out with friends, and taking walks are enough for me...'a nice dinner and I'm maxed-out-on happy pills. If you gotta-go-there and drown yourself in an endless-happy-hour --(to fit in with the Jones), here are eight tips -- (thanks to The Happiness Project) -- for making yourself a lot happier in the next hour: 1. Boost your energy: stand up and pace while you talk on the phone or, even better, take a brisk ten-minute walk outside. Research shows that when people move faster, their metabolism speeds up, and the activity and sunlight are good for your focus, your mood, and the retention of information. Plus, because of “emotional contagion,” if you act energetic, you’ll help the people around you feel energetic, too. 2. Reach out to friends: make a lunch date or send an email to a friend you haven’t seen in a while. Having warm, close bonds with other people is one of the keys to happiness, so take the time to stay in touch. Somewhat surprisingly, it turns out that socializing boosts the moods not only of extroverts, but also of introverts. 3. Rid yourself of a nagging task: answer a difficult email, purchase something you need, or call to make that dentist’s appointment. Crossing an irksome chore off your to-do list will give you a big rush of energy and cheer, and you’ll be surprised that you procrastinated for so long. 4. Create a calmer environment: clear some physical and mental space around your desk by sorting papers, pitching junk, stowing supplies, sending out quick responses, filing, or even just making your piles neater. A large stack of little tasks can feel overwhelming, but often just a few minutes of work can make a sizeable dent. Try to get in the habit of using the “one minute rule”—i.e., never postpone any task that can be completed in less than one minute. An uncluttered environment will contribute to a more serene mood. 5. Lay the groundwork for some future fun: order a book you’ve been wanting to read (important: not something you think you should read, but something you want to read) or plan a weekend excursion to a museum, hiking trail, sporting event, gardening store, movie theater—whatever sounds like fun. Studies show that having fun on a regular basis is a pillar of happiness, and anticipation is an important part of that pleasure. Try to involve friends or family, as well; people enjoy almost all activities more when they’re with other people than when they’re alone. 6. Do a good deed: make an email introduction of two people who could help each other, or set up a blind date, or shoot someone a piece of useful information or gratifying praise. Do good, feel good—this really works. Also, although we often believe that we act because of the way we feel, in fact, we often feel because of the way we act. When you act in a friendly way, you’ll strengthen your feelings of friendliness for other people. 7. Act happy: put a smile on your face right now, and keep smiling. Research shows that even an artificially induced smile has a positive influence on your emotions—turns out that just going through the motion of happiness brightens your mood. And if you’re smiling, other people will perceive you as being friendlier and more approachable. 8. Listen to your favorite music. Studies show that listening to music is one of the most effective ways to boost your energy and mood (second only to exercise). In fact, in one study, 92% of people felt happier when they listened to music they liked. For an added boost, dance around the room, too. This Gnarls Barkley music video makes me happy: Source: The Happiness Project Labels: Books, Duma Key, stephen king, The Happiness Project posted by Henry Cruz at 7:28 PM Tuesday, June 10, 2008 Its the brain-power, stupid! POST A COMMENT Talking 'bout the Future of the web yesterday, question came up: Q: 'Aside from this talk of "online video convergence" -- (and business musings -- on trends like co-creating) -- "can you name the next-big-thing online?" Me: "C'mon, don't be a dummy, one word: Brain-power - 'sorta like that movie 'Field of Dreams' ...'think-it' and they will come." -- to me it sounds like a way-too-obvious-concept...'til, I get hit with the follow-up: Q: "Brain-Power? - What does that really mean?" - Think Social Networking sites: And take it a step further and you get the inevitable future of the web. It's not going to be that much different from engaging the people you meet, or the business principle of a peer "master mind" group. Like one big board meeting of the minds. - Think open source alliances: And you'll see why Web 2.0 future methodologies lies more in "collaboration" and "sharing of ideas," -- exchanging opinions and experiences between peers, all across business, and certainly between business and the consumer. -- 'Kinda like a-big-orgy of like minded folks, 'cept sex is usually not an option. - Think music "Mash-Up" - or better -- (if you're a geek), think the Borg cube on Star Trek -- and how we'll all be assimilated into one big collective online. Going with the Borg collective visual - take a few clicks over to the Wiki-World, (that site Wikipedia.com is all about integrating brain knowledge)...except it's not shaped like a cube. Going with a Smashing-Up concept - take two popular songs from different artists -- to make a new single...mixing the two sounds. Whatever, the visual, the results are the same: one-big super powered "collective" brain - that utilizes the brainpower of others on that idea to make it better. The web will become one big voluntary -- or viral Mish-Mash -- that will end up looking like one big information dump -- (sniff at your own risk). 'Not sure the "Wiki-way" has already been influencing how we will do things -- and going to be doing things in the future -- check how we got our latest presidential nomination and get back to me. 'course -- as seen in this video clip -- there are down sides to having "too many cooks" in any kitchen...but, nobody said the future was perfect: Source: NY Times Labels: brain-power, Media Trends, web 2.0, web trends, Wiki-way posted by Henry Cruz at 6:58 AM Monday, June 09, 2008 Art-house Flicks find a new home? POST A COMMENT 'Was chatting with my partner on that unstoppable drum-beat of the blurring of media online...sounded something like this: Me: "You can watch all your fav TV shows online." Partner: "More and more shows..even cable." Me: "Add to that the equalizing factor of the web, and you'll get your next new shows starting right here..." So, why-not throw the "art-house" into this mix of colliding trends...look-y-here: Announced today: Tribeca Film Institute partnered with Amazon to launch on web: Reframe, a site for INDIE films -- and owners of content that would otherwise be unseen to convert digitally and sell their films. With this service, called Reframe - (reframecollection.org)-- -- "copyright holders will split the profit on digital download rentals and purchases (distributed in Windows Media Player format) evenly. DVD sales will operate under a tiered system, with 40% of $50 and under titles, 85% of $51-$200 titles and 90% of more than $200 titles going to rights holders." I'm one all for the old-school experience of that dark-shared-experience in room with buttery popcorn to watch my movies...but, this at least gives hope to those niche films that might otherwise never see the light of day. Source: NY Times Labels: indie film, movies, News Trends, web trends posted by Henry Cruz at 4:02 AM Sunday, June 08, 2008 The upside to a Parade POST A COMMENT Where I'm from it's an unspoken-whisper-among-friends that any parades down Fifth Avenue here in the Big Apple -- (where folks get the privilege to sweat for hours behind a barrier to watch Mickey Mouse floats crawl by) -- were designed especially for two-year-old-kids, and folks that enjoy long rides in those short-yellow-buses - - (but, like a car wreck that you can't turn away from, I do find myself watching some of them on the TV -- using my fast forward button, while noting the faces of badly-dressed-people-with-way-too-much-time-on-their-hands). Seems, I'm not the only one whispering...apparently frightened "moneyed white people" -- and nearby shops -- along Fifth Avenue were doing some chatting amongst themselves: "They tell you the day before—they whisper it—‘Don’t come tomorrow,’ a well-heeled regular says. "The clientele starts clucking a few days beforehand, 'This weekend, you know … ’ We live in divided-times, where the richest 1 percent of Americans own 35 percent of all the assets, but there lies the upside to all retards marching down fifth...well, for at least one day...we get the allusion of sharing the same air. Source: Gawker Labels: Culture, Puerto Rican Day Parade, race relations, rich and poor divide posted by Henry Cruz at 3:25 PM     ARCHIVES October 2005 . November 2005 . December 2005 . August 2007 . September 2007 . October 2007 . November 2007 . December 2007 . March 2008 . April 2008 . May 2008 . June 2008 . July 2008 . August 2008 . September 2008 .