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Computers and Internet: Inspiring Us to Create
The Internet is sometimes criticized (usually by parents who think their kids need to be outdoors more often) as leading people to be sitting in front of their computers all day growing bulbous, lethargic and (depending on who you talk to) stupid. I think that the opposite can often be true. My friends and I have recently been inspired to new creative ventures through the time spent online. I have long been a fan of movies, martial arts movies in particular. It has been said that they're kind of like the modern musical with finely choreographed dances (although in this case the 'dance' is a fight) showing fantastic physical ability, timing, and grace. Recently I have found that there are many online groups of people dedicated to making their own martial arts films. Most of these guys are really talented and I've seen film fight scenes that are better than the majority of the American made 'martial arts' movies. Where the commercial films focus on special effects, from wirework (attaching wires to an actor in order to allow them to do extraordinary feats) to computer rendered effects (sometimes even using a computer animated actor in fights as seen in 'The Matrix Reloaded'), these independent groups get out there and make impressive films through sheer physical exertion and amazing ability. It's amazing what a bit (well, a lot really) of hard work can do for you. These independent action crews perform wall runs, flips, falls, tumbles, and flying kicks without the use of wires or special effects. There's no insurance to worry about or studios to get sued so they try some pretty incredible and dangerous things. My favorite stunt crews are 'The Stunt People' who can be visited at http://www.thestuntpeople.com, and Zero Gravity Stunts who have their homepage at http://www.zgstunts.com. There are also Jabronie Pictures (http://www.jabroniepictures.com) and VJ Films (some of whose videos can be found at http://www.my5minutes.com/thumbnails.php?album=1115) that are both worth a mention. These sites also provide many links to other similar websites, so your collection of independent short films can be built up to a fearsome size quite quickly. So, I'll now get back to the original topic of this article, that being the Internet as a medium to inspire people to become active and creative. These films got me pretty excited. I'd never really thought about just trying to make my own short martial arts film. The world's largest short film festival held in Australia called 'Tropfest' provided a group of friends and I with a valid excuse to behave silly in front of a video camera. I'm not going to lie; the film we produced was relatively low quality. One of the fights we filmed was, well, not bad! There was a decent amount of good mixed in with the not so good, and I have great memories of spraying false blood out of a hose that was wound around a friend's chest all over my parent's house when simulating a gunshot. We had no flips and very few tumbles (I myself having the gymnastic ability of a dead walrus) but the point is we got in there and had a great time with an entertaining outcome. We have plans to make more movies and a few other film festivals on the horizon that we may enter. Maybe one day our films will be good? The Internet has inspired us in other ways as well. In the past I ran a webcomic that unfortunately is now all but dead. However, it too was a lot of fun while it lasted. A friend of mine is currently setting up a web-based design company because he realized just how easy the Internet makes it to go into business for yourself, instead of working your way through university through a variety of often low paying and uninteresting casual job positions. I currently waste too much time playing other people's games so my newest plan is to learn Flash and make my own online games. So, while I'm trying to inject some form of gymnastic ability into my gargantuan frame as I attempt to make short films with a decent story, acting, camerawork and so on, why don't you find something that gets you excited and try it out for yourself? If someone like me can do it, then you can probably work it out with a just a little bit of effort. You may never be as good as the things that inspire you, but it's a lot of fun trying to emulate them or create your own. Another positive point to mention is that when you get stuck the Internet is full of tutorials written by those in the know to get you through your difficult spots. Even I can try and learn from Tricks Tutorials (http://www.trickstutorials.com). So, see the great possibilities in the Internet and go and have fun broadening your horizons! Daniel Punch
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Inspiration: A Few More Things Ive Noticed Along the Road So Far Here's a quote from the late great columnist Sydney Harris that I believe says much about the state of marriage in our culture: "Almost no one is foolish enough to imagine that they automatically deserve great success in any field of activity; yet almost everyone believes they automatically deserve success in marriage."One of the best unexpected blessings of marriage is to count the parents of your spouse among your friends. How To Weather Lifes Inevitable Storms In the Northeast, we have a few months to prepare for winter by gathering firewood, securing windows and doors, and getting furnaces cleaned. As with any change, there is always a period of adjustment required. What Forgiveness Is Not Is a grudge-laden heart sabotaging your success in business and in life?Much has been written over the ages about the value of forgiveness. And yet so many people continue to resist the idea of forgiving their transgressors. Patience - The Antidote for Stress Why is it so difficult to hold steadfast to a commitment to the very thing we desire? I'm sure you've had the experience of challenging your client with something to do, or to be, in service of moving them closer to their heart's desire. As you reconvene again and again, you note that the client can't seem to stay committed to the steps that will realize their dreams. Arranging Stepping-Stones The greatest achievements were obtained by those who took one step after the next. They resolved to succeed, and moved little by little toward a worthwhile goal. Improving Your Self Esteem Often in our society, we are bombarded with the lives of celebrities. We can end up feeling that if we are not part of the rich and famous, our lives are insignificant. Top 10 Things That Make Life Worthwhile Below are some of the things that, over the years, my clients have taught me about making life a wonderful adventure. You will, hopefully, have additions that uniquely enrich your life, and I hope you'll add them to this list and pass them along to others. Being Relatable in Todays World as a Christian There are reasons we cross paths with those that we do. Sometimes its SO obvious, because we have walked a mile or two in what that person is going thru. The Secret Of Lasting Personal Change Why do so many of us end up frustrated when we try to improve our personal reality?Why do diets end up in gained weight?Why do some people fail again and again at business?Why do others get into one bad relationship after another - in spite of their deep desire for a "good" relationship?Obviously no one *wishes* to fail in their personal or business life. Yet this is an all-too-common problemLet's face it! We want and deserve to make our lives a better place to be!We want and deserve success! We want a sense of security! We want a good relationship with ourselves and others. Emancipation Direct Answers - Column for the week of September 8, 2003When is it time to divorce a family member?I've been helping my partner manage his father's long-term care. This entails working with his brother who controls the purse strings. Charge Your Imagination (3) As we progress into the year, it is necessary for professionals to really put their Imagination to work as they plot strategies for business excellence this year. To help them do a good job, IMAGINATION (as a person) started an inspirational message on Vision 2030. What in the World are You Doing? Here is the typical life - typical, though not everybody does it this way. But for the most part, lives generally go something like this:Born Eat and sleep Play with toys Go to school Play little league Go to schoolLearn to drive Go to school Leave high school Go to more school, but pay for it now Get a job Get married Buy a houseHave kidsWatch your kids eat, sleep, play and go to school Work, work, and workRetireDieThat's the basic life, isn't it? Don't email me. How to Put the Sizzle Back in Your Relationship with These Seven Goal Setting Tools Goal Setting and Relationships?That is not as weird as it may sound. Consider the following definition of a goal: "A goal is a future incidence or event that is consciously worked towards. Motivational Posters - A Source Of Inspiration? What Inspires You? What motivates you to get up in the morning? Are you one of those people who have a burning desire to achieve something or are you drifting along doing your daily routine? This is something you may not have put much attention on or even any at all but, if you look closely, you may find that there may have been one or more people who have inspired you in your life.Any person who has been successful at something will tell you something like, my grandma always said?or my dad always gave me the best advice, or someone once said to me?! Get the picture?Words can be very powerful in influencing our lives. Everyone Has Been Hurt...Part 2 continued.. Life lessons - An Inpirational Story Ju was physically abused as a child. She lived with a mother who was diagnosed with post depression and a father who was a wife abuser. Fashionably Late Direct Answers - Column for the week of January 6, 2003What can a couple say and do when they have been late in getting wedding thank yous out to people? We have been married two years, with two separations among other serious challenges, and finally want to send cards.At the same time we are embarrassed about our difficulties in marriage and getting out the cards. Parental Consent Direct Answers - Column for the week of August 11, 2003I am concerned about a relationship, but it is not my own. My nephew aged 21 is planning to get married this November. Problem Solving: The Easy Way To Solve Problems In Life Life is full of problems.The more you solve them, the more new ones come up. Lifes Purpose To every life, there is a purpose; a purpose of will and a purpose of choice. A choice to make the right or wrong decisions and the will to act on the choices made.
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