My Reflection for Google Tools practice

Since I started working on Google project I learned many stuff that I wasn’t aware of it. It was truly a learning experience for me, I introduced to many tools that helped not just for my study also at work even I started teaching my colleague at work about some of features that they not themselves heard of it. For me one important tools that used for my work is Google earth. We used Google earth for the research by allocated some of the areas that our positional customers live in and we put some tags to identify it during the research. Google news and with the alert features is very good way to track what is written about my work, I did that for dragon mart so I get an alert of any news written about dragon mart. Other tool that helped me with organize my study is Google calendar, Google documents and Picasa, each one of them helped in different way. Like for example calendar a good way to remember of deadline, Google documents to organize and share documents with others online and on Picasa you can tag pictures that you have online in Google map and share it with other and also edit pictures and many things. The most important tool for is a Gmail, I used Gmail almost every day because it has lots of features which helped me with my work and study. Finally I just want to say there are so many things to learn from Google and I am just a beginner so thanks to this course for introducing me to all of that and I don’t think I will stop here I will continue learning and using it to enhance of work and education.

Does 'Avatar' Contain Hidden Messages?

Since it opened last week, James Cameron's much-anticipated film "Avatar" has won praise from movie critics and been a juggernaut at the box office. But some who have seen the film say that it contains hidden messages that are anti-war, pro-environment, and perhaps even racist.

For the benefit of those who haven't seen the film, a little nonspoiler background might be useful. The story is set in the year 2154 when Earth's inhabitants, having used up most of their natural resources through decades of living in excess, plan to use military force to conquer Pandora, a moon roughly the same size as Earth. Pandora, inhabited by a wise, peaceful, and nature-respecting people with blue skin called the Na'vi, is rich in a resource that the people of Earth desperately need.

The earthlings send in a crew of special-forces mercenaries armed with guns, bombs, and other sophisticated weaponry to attack and conquer the Na'vi (who some think resemble American Indians and Africans), despite the fact that they represent no direct threat to the inhabitants of Earth. Since humans can't breathe in Pandora's atmosphere, the military employs mind-controlled avatars that resemble the Na'vi in every way to venture out from their landing craft and explore the landscape. Sympathizing with the Na'vi after becoming acquainted with them and their customs, one of the human-controlled avatars becomes a turncoat and helps lead the people of Pandora in the defense of their homeland.

Are you beginning to get a sense of why some viewers noticed what they believe are underlying messages in the film?

Some prominent members of the media who screened the film certainly took note. In a glowing review for the Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert noted that "Avatar" "has a flat-out Green and anti-war message" that is "predestined to launch a cult." Meanwhile Ben Hoyle, writing in the Times of London, noted that the film "contains heavy implicit criticism of America's conduct in the War on Terror." Further, Will Heaven of the Daily Telegraph said that the plot line involving people of color who wear "tribal" jewelry while sporting dreadlocked hair, being saved by a noble white man gave the film a "racist subtext" that he found "nauseatingly patronising."

But are these hidden messages really all that hidden? James Cameron himself hasn't been shy in publicly proclaiming the fact that he's an environmental activist who believes that humans and "industrial society" are "causing a global climate change" and "destroying species faster than we can classify them." In a recent interview with PBS' Tavis Smiley, Cameron admitted that he made "obvious" references in the film to Iraq, Vietnam and the American colonial period to emphasize the fact that humans have a "terrible history" of "entitlement" in which we "take what we need" from nature and indigenous peoples "and don't give back."

Further, one of the film's stars Stephen Lang told CNN that he is "not surprised at all" that some people have taken note of the film's political messages, mainly because the central theme of humans "destroying" a "pristine world" out of "blindness and greed" is so "overt."

Despite the obvious political undertones in "Avatar," at least one right-leaning critic doesn't think people who disagree with the film's ideology should totally dismiss it. In his review on the website Hot Air, Ed Morrissey writes, "Conservatives have more or less primed themselves to hate this film because of the presumed anti-war politics of the movie. It's there -- in fact, it's unmistakable -- but it's not as bad as one might presume." He goes on to note that "Avatar" is "entertaining" though "hardly a deep intellectual exercise."

http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/hmg-avatar-hidden-messages.html

My comments:

I read this article this morning and i was shocked by it. Since the article is talking about hiding messages in the movie which was sooo not hiding to me. i don't know about others but for me James Cameron was sending a direct messages to the people about different kind of political issues and environment so for me it was little bit strange and funny when they thought all of that are hiding

Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival

I'm planning to visit Japan in near future so i was searching in the internet what make Japan differnet from different countries and what are the best seasons to visit the country...

i read an article about the "Cherry Blossom Festival" which is held every year in the spring season during which the Japanese cherry blossom trees begin to bloom and with that start the festive celebrations.... Now im so excited to go and experience the event and since im so inspired by the nature of japan and its beauty.. it will be really amazing. i attached for u the article to read and some amazing pictures of Cherry blossom trees.. :)

The article:

Discover the wide range of activities that take place during the blooming season in Japanese cherry blossom festivals. The cherry blossom tree holds a very prominent place in Japanese culture and tradition. For the Japanese the cherry blossom is no ordinary tree rather it is a tree to be celebrated and boy do the Japanese celebrate it! The country of Japan is famous for its Cherry Blossom festivals that are held in full fervor during the peak season. It is the spring season during which the Japanese cherry blossom trees begin to bloom and with that start the festive celebrations. The tradition of cherry blossom festivals revolves around all sorts of outlandish entertainment with folk music being one of the most prominent attractions of the festivals.In modern times the cherry blossom festivals are a time when concerts are arranged and there is a lot of musical activity going on in the country. The streets are filled with rides and games of different kinds for the children to enjoy. The traditional Japanese dress known as the kimono is also brought out on the streets in the form of special kimono shows that becomes a fusion of Japanese culture. Beautifully arranged flower displays are also amongst the attractions of the festive seasons. Basically the cherry blossom festival season is a mix of all sorts of activities ranging from one end of the spectrum to the other. On the one hand the Japanese will be hosting beauty pageants whereas on the other end there will be a religious ceremony going on. The spring season, which is the season of celebration, brings back the fresh cherry blossom flowers that cover the landscape in their purple haze. The first week of April is perhaps the ideal time to witness the cherry blossom trees at their level best bloomed and beautiful to the extent that they can be really awe inspiring. Although the cherry blossom festival is being celebrated all over the country in some way or the other there are certain regions that are renowned for the activities that take place there. The two most popular regions are that of Shinjugyoen and Ueno Park. An interesting part of the Japanese cherry blossom festival season is flower watching. This unusual tradition actually bled into Japanese culture through China a long time back. The tradition is known as Hana-mi and is considered to be a spiritually revitalizing activity to engage in. Basically you will find many people, friends and families gathered around cherry blossom trees with their picnic baskets enjoying the sweet sights and smells that create a wonderful ambiance around them. Wherever there are cherry blossom trees there will be food stalls. The food items on the stall will all be revolving around the use of cherries. You will be able to find some of the most amazing treats to tantalize your taste buds during the peak season at these stalls. A number of important festivals are held each year at pre-designated venues. The most popular venue amongst them happens to be the Kumamoto Castel Cherry Blossom Festival.

http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/article/Japan/Japanese-Cherry-Blossom-Festival/1583

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland is an upcoming 2010 fantasy adventure film directed by Tim Burton. It is an extension to the Lewis Carroll novels Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. The film will use a technique combining live action and motion capture technology. Mia Wasikowska plays the role of Alice, alongside Johnny Depp as The Mad Hatter, Helena Bonham Carter as The Red Queen, Anne Hathaway as The White Queen, and Crispin Glover as The Knave of Hearts.
The film is due for release on March 5, 2010 and the film will be released in Disney Digital 3-D and IMAX 3-D, as well as in regular theatres.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

My Comments:

i wanted to share with you one of the movie that i can't wait to see in the cinema for one of my favourite actors Jonney Depp. i think the movie will be out of thiss world and i knoww for sure it will do very well across the world. :)

Kalba, Sharjah

Kalba is a traditional fishing town with old forts and a museum, the most southerly settlement before the border with Oman.

Khor Kalba : The tidal creek just south of Kalba, the southern most tip of the UAE’s Gulf of Oman coastline is the site of the oldest mangrove forest of Arabia and an important conservation site for endangered species. This tranquil and beautiful landscape with its dark green mangroves, contrasts sharply with the purple - tinged, rocky Hajar Mountains and shimmering blue waters.

My comments:

I was checking the pictures in the camera and i saw the above picture for my home town Kalba and i thought i should put it in my blog with small paragraph about the city. i don't think many people is aware of such a beautiful place exist in UAE. with the weather now getting colder in UAE Kalba and especially the mangrove forest is a perfect place for camping and exploring the country..

Avatar 2009

AVATAR takes us to a spectacular world beyond imagination, where a reluctant hero embarks on an epic adventure, ultimately fighting to save the alien world he has learned to call home. James Cameron, the Oscar-winning director of "Titanic," first conceived the film 15 years ago, when the means to realize his vision did not exist yet. Now, after four years of production, AVATAR, a live action film with a new generation of special effects, delivers a fully immersive cinematic experience of a new kind, where the revolutionary technology invented to make the film disappears into the emotion of the characters and the sweep of the story.

My Review:

I really loved the movie.. i enjoyed the world that James Cameron created for us.. a magnificent place with full of different creatures and beautiful one. i felt the director was truly inspired by the life under the sea by showing many plants and animal similar to the one u see in the marine life.

for all who like to enjoy fantasy film and want to enjoy different kind of movie this is a perfect movie for them

Jingle Bells

the video is hilarious.... i really enjoyed it :-)