I have never been a photoshop fan. The overweight photo software is not only sluggish to run, but the interface is also a struggle to master. Therefore, when it comes to basic photo editing I have always loved the humble Windows Paint.

Should you be a fan of Photoshop but finds the software too expensive these days, you might want to consider GIMP 2.4. The software was build using open source and is expected to give photoshop a run for its money. If you don't know it by now, Open Source is a project that allows nettizen to develop and distribute software through the net using non-proprietary tools and programming codes.

1. Picasa2
2. Gimp 2.4.5

(Note: The above links are maintained by Google and Sourceforge)

As most of you might noticed, I borrowed the title from "scary movie 4", which I might add, one of the funniest movie ever produced.

Anyway, in the movie the gigantic Tri-Pod started playing "Karma Chameleon" that sounded so cool. Without wasting much time I began my quest to determine some of the biggest hits of the 80's. Thanks to the resources of the internet and the people who share the same interest, the following list was compiled.

1. Blondie - Call Me [March 1980] (3:34)
2. 004) The J. Geils Band - Centerfold [February 1982]
3. Michael Jackson - Beat It [May 1983] (4:18)
4. 006) Survivor - Eye Of The Tiger [August 1982]
5. 007) Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes [June 1981]
6. 008) Queen - Another One Bites The Dust [October 1980]
7. Daryl Hall and John Oates - Maneater (4:30)
8. Prince - When Doves Cry [July 1984] (5:54)
9. Joan Jett - I Love Rock 'N Roll [April 1982] (2:54)
10. Pink Floyd - Another Brick In The Wall: Part II [April 1980] (4:00)
11. Madonna - Like A Virgin [January 1985] (3:11)
12. Van Halen - Jump [February 1984] (4:01)
13. Michael Jackson - Thriller [February 1984] (5:14)
14. Olivia Newton John - Physical [December 1981] (3:45)
15. The Police - Every Breath You Take [July 1983] (4:14)
16. John Cougar Mellencamp - Jack & Diane [October 1982] (4:13)
17. 019) Katrina & The Waves - Walking On Sunshine [June 1985]
18. Devo - Whip It [November 1980] (2:39)
19. Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen [April 1983] (4:12)
20. Culture Club - Karma Chameleon [February 1984] (4:14)
21. Gary Numan - Cars [June 1980] (3:59)
22. Kool & The Gang - Celebration [February 1981] (4:57)
23. Pete Townshend - Let My Love Open The Door [August 1980] (4:57)
24. Soft Cell - Tainted Love [July 1982] (2:42)
25. Fine Young Cannibals - She Drives Me Crazy [April 1989] (3:39)
26. Duran Duran - Hungry Like The Wolf [March 1983] (3:25)
27. Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of The Heart [October 1983] (6:58)
28. Michael Sembello - Maniac [September 1983] (4:04)
29. Tony Basil - Mickey [December 1982] (3:35)
30. Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams [August 1983] (4:52)
31. Huey Lewis & The News - The Power of Love [August 1985] (3:56)
32. Irene Cara - Flashdance...What A Feeling [June 1983] (3:50)
33. Falco - Rock Me Amadeus [April 1986] (3:23)
34. Tommy Tutone - 867-5309/Jenny [May 1982] (3:47)
35. Tears For Fears - Shout [August 1985] (6:33)
36. Michael Jackson - Rock With You [February 1980] (3:23)
37. Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time [June 1984] (3:58)
38. Madness - Our House [July 1983] (4:58)
39. Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing [January 1983] (4:00)
40. Ray Parker Jr. - Ghostbusters [August 1984] (4:04)
41. Yes - Owner Of A Lonely Heart [January 1984] (4:30)
42. Dionne Warwick & Friends - That's What Friends Are For [January 1986] (4:15)
43. 045) George Michael - Faith [December 1987]
44. Pat Benatar - Hit Me With Your Best Shot [December 1980] (2:52)
45. 047) Mr. Mister - Broken Wings [December 1985]
46. 048) Lipps Inc. - Funky Town [May 1980]
47. 049) Foreigner - I Want To Know What Love Is [February 1985]
48. 050) Men Without Hats - The Safety Dance [September 1983]
49. 051) Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun [March 1984]
50. Wham! - Wake Me Up Before You Go Go [November 1984] (3:51)
51. 053) Cutting Crew - I Just Died In Your Arms [May 1987]
52. 054) Phil Collins - One More Night [April 1985]
53. 055) A Flock of Seagulls - I Ran [October 1982]
54. 056) Tina Turner - What's Love Got To Do With It [September 1984]
55. 057) U2 - With Or Without You [May 1987]
56. 058) Culture Club - Do You Really Want To Hurt Me [March 1983]
57. 059) Michael Jackson - Bad [October 1987]
58. Herbie Hancock - Rockit [November 1983] (5:28)
59. 061) Kenny Loggins - Footloose [April 1984]
60. 062) Club Nouveau - Lean On Me [March 1987]
61. 063) Scorpions - Rock You Like A Hurricane [May 1984]
62. 064) REO Speedwagon - Can't Fight This Feeling [March 1985]
63. 065) The Bangles - Walk Like An Egyptian [December 1986]
64. 066) Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World [June 1985]
65. 067) Prince - Purple Rain [November 1984]
66. 068) Starship - We Built This City [November 1985]
67. Nena - 99 Red/Luftballoons [March 1984] (3:53)
68. Styx - Mr. Roboto [April 1983] (5:31)
69. 071) UB40 - Red Red Wine [October 1988]
70. 072) Michael Jackson - Smooth Criminal [January 1989]
71. Grover Washington Jr. - Just The Two Of Us [May 1981] (3:30)
72. 074) Berlin - Take My Breath Away [September 1986]
73. 075) INXS - Need You Tonight [January 1988]
74. 076) Phil Collins - Sussudio [July 1985]
75. 077) Kool & The Gang - Ladies Night [January 1980]
76. Aerosmith & Run D.M.C. - Walk This Way [September 1986] (5:10)
77. 079) Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine [September 1988]
78. 080) Kim Wilde - You Keep Me Hangin' On [June 1987]
79. 081) Wang Chung - Everybody Have Fun Tonight [December 1986]
80. 082) Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder - Ebony And Ivory [June 1982]
81. George Harrison - Got My Mind Set On You [January 1988] (3:50)
82. 084) Billy Ocean - Get Outta My Dreams [April 1988]
83. 085) Cameo - Word Up! [November 1986]
84. Bobby McFerrin - Don't Worry Be Happy [September 1988] (4:48)
85. 087) Prince - Let's Go Crazy [September 1984]
86. 088) Guns N' Roses - Welcome To The Jungle [December 1988]
87. Diana Ross & Lionel Richie - Endless Love [September 1981] (4:28)
88. 090) Men At Work - Who Can It Be Now [October 1982]
89. 091) The Rolling Stones - Start Me Up [October 1981]
90. 092) Martika - Toy Soldiers [July 1989]
91. Madonna - Papa Don't Preach [August 1986] (4:10)
92. LeVert - Casanova [October 1987] (6:14)
93. 095) Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love [March 1980]
94. 096) OMD - If You Leave [May 1986]
95. 097) Aerosmith - Dude Looks Like A Lady [September 1987]
96. Bananarama - Venus [September 1986] (3:48)
97. Robert Palmer - Addicted To Love [May 1986] (4:27)
98. General Public - Tenderness [February 1985] (3:31)
99. Michael Jackson - Billie Jean [March 1983] (4:53)
100. 002) A Ha - Take On Me [October 1985]

So guys that's what I was able to compile, hope it would help.

Having the freedom to choose is sometime harder that it seems, well if you don’t believe you just have to look at the Democrats Presidential Candidate nomination that is currently running neck to neck between Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton. You have the CNN covering the whole campaign so no need for me to comment further.

Anyway let me share with you my personal experience purchasing a movie camera a couple of weeks ago. You might want to know that currently there are four formats of movie camera or camcorders available in the present market now. Firstly, you have the mini DV camcorders which records on tapes. Secondly, the DVD camcorder, which uses an eight cm DVD, discs. Followed by Flash memory camcorder and a hard disc (HDD) camcorder which records on either built in or removable memory.

Well each of these formats has its own advantages and disadvantages. If you want a superior picture quality and without exchanging an arm or a leg, then Mini DV is the way to go. According to the stuff written on the web, magnetic tape captures and reproduces excellent colours. But if you are really rich, you could consider buying a high definition camcorders which records on Hard discs. Unfortunately, the main problem with these two camcorders is that to reproduce them on DVD is time consuming and requires extra work. Besides, it is recommended that for high definition content that the media to be use is either HD DVD (which is legally dead) or a Blue Ray Disc. Sadly none of them come cheap.

Therefore the best option for someone who enjoys taking video but like me, does not enjoy editing them would be either a DVD or a Flash Disc Camcorder. Not only recording is made directly onto these media, it is less time consuming and easier for users to share with family and friends. Faced it, every home must have a dvd player and a computer with multimedia card built in it. So copying or simply showing off your master piece is made really easy. But as good and practical these two types of camcorder may sound, there are some limitations. DVD camcorder uses lots of energy to spin and burn the video onto the DVD, while flash card camcorder is limited by its storage.

Is there another solution?

Yes! In comes the Samsung hybrid Camcorder, VM-DX10 which I have bought and used for my family outings recently. The camera embodies the benefits of both the flash memory and dvd camcorders. The “hybrid” camcorder records on its 4gb built in memory, which the user could later choose to burn on its built in dvd player or transfer via the optional 4gb SDHC card. All of these features not only enhances the portability, but at the same time reduces the power it uses to as minimum as possible. Good news for mother nature!

So what gives? Well picture quality is not that good and the lack of xenon light the rest of the camcorders in market today would disappoint those who plans to take video in dark places. Otherwise, the camera is simply a clever device for everyday use.

For this week's weekend project, I experimented with my DVD player to see its compatibility in playing other widely used video formats available today. I know that most of you guys might think,"Geez go and refer to the user manual or something!!" Well I to tell you the truth, operating a DVD player is not like flying a rocket ship and doe not require you to graduate in advance science courses for your to start enjoying movies in the comfort of your home. Besides the DVD player I have now is loaned to me by my house owner.

Anyway what I learned today is that Divx compatible players are also able to play avi files as well. This is really good news since it will also mean that your will be able to squeeze huge avi files onto a single dvd-r data disc.

If you have tried burning a 700 mb avi files as an ordinary dvd disc, chances are you already have noticed by now that you could only one clip onto the disc. On the other hand if you record the video clips as data, you could expect to use the entire 4.7 gb disc space to hold up to 5 to 6, 700 mb videos files.
Publish Post

Device tested: Samsung DVD-P370 with Verbatim DVD R 4.7Gb burned with HP Laptop using bundled Roxio software

Growing up in the 80’s, mostly everyone would immediately identify Sly Stalone as Rambo. So big was the film at that time that all stainless bulky machetes are known as Rambo’s Knife in Malaysia. Although the first film, First Blood was not known to even exist in this part of the world, it is the sequel Rambo: First Blood II and Rambo III that had propelled Sly as one of the world’s top action heroes at that time.

Now almost 20 years since the last Rambo movie made, decision by Sly to create another movie featuring the skilled, ruthless commando is not hard to comprehend. After recreating and completing the Rocky series, which I don’t want to even begin to tell you the amount of the sequels, Rambo could be seen as another attempt by this veteran to finally conclude and lay rest one of the most memorable action figures that the world have ever known. The question is would it be able to fulfil the expectations of all its fans or will it be another disaster like Rocky.

The film starts with a soothing guitar instrumental of the original Rambo and really it is a classy piece of music. As audience slowly transported from their seat to gaze the green lush landscape, they couldn’t tell where they were until it is written across the screen, Burma. It made sense at first since John did fight in Vietnam and Thailand in last film, right?! WRONG!!! Only after the soldiers starts killing their captives that I realize that the whole film will use Burma as its background for the entire movie. I mean come on, after 20 years John should be redrafted and fight in Iraq, forget about Afghan because he helped Taliban against the Russian in Rambo 3.

Like the two earlier sequels, the film has a very simple story and was told in blood and fire. In this particular one, tonnes and tonnes of bloods and fire. In fact I think that many would agree that this is the bloodiest movie ever made and John Rambo is merciless. As John is older now, so are his combat skills. He prefers to use long range attacks than his subtle commando skills. Killing enemies with arrows, guns and pistols. The effects used were superb, the blood the exploding heads and limbs were superb.

After killing his entire enemy in less than two days, John returns to America to his family’s ranch. He also returns to his old Christian faith, of course he would after the death of his Buddhist lover what’s the point of carrying on. In the case of Islam, he had helped weak Taliban Muslim during their war to free Afghanistan from the Soviet Union occupation.

Did it live to expectation? No the movie has not; otherwise it would be premiered in summer with the rest of Hollywood’s blockbuster. But the movie did end John years of isolation and persuade him back to USA, so it is a happy ending and I am happy for John Rambo.

So that is that, I just finished my review of Rambo IV. If Sly the lead star and director did not want to wage war with Iraqis, I am the troops there are screwed. Who knows maybe sly feels it’s a sensitive issue right now and it would jeopardize his future of becoming a politician like Arnie the Governator. Well we all need to wait and see on that one.

Till next time, see you.

As I was passing by a cinema this weekend, I was surprised to see a RAMBO poster being displayed on one of the light boxes nearest to me. examining the poster up close there was no mistaking it, the bold lettering on to of it clearly spelled RAMBO but was missing the roman numerals that is used to identify the sequels. Mine you Sly uses them alot in the Rocky movies, as well as in the early two Rambo movies.

The movie opens up with its classic theme, only this version sounds really better with the guitar solo and

What is web 2.0?

Well according to what I saw on BBC's CLICK, it means big rich companies making money from out of their free services. Don't understand? well lets take youtube for instance, they provide free services for members to upload their clips, and in return the youtube people post it on the web and allow for commercials to be attached on the same page as the clips featured. Question, who get's paid? the owner of the clip or youtube?!

Another interesting fact was the degrading quality available on the web today. Web 2.0 also sees how the audience is now becoming the author of web contents. The issue now is whether what you read is true and who is accountable for the vast amount of information being posted.

It is not all bad news though, despite all the profit makers out in cyberspace, there are people who still wants to keep the net free for all. VIVA WIKIPEDIA! the only free encyclopedia written by netters world wide.

I am not going to comment on anything at this moment. I am happy to share what I have learned today and hope this brief write up would benefit some one out there!

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