free virtualization software (until Monday)

(from Paragon Software Group)

"...Virtualization Manager 9.5 Personal! This is the only single solution which provides the complete set of tools to easily manage virtual disks and perform any migration operations to the majority of virtual machines and all in one program.

"The software, normally priced at 29.95$, can be downloaded from Paragon Free portal http://www.paragon-software.com/free/ starting...FRIDAY May,21, 09:00 AM (EST) till MONDAY May,24, 09:00 AM (EST)...it requires registration."

US Pole Dance Championship 2010

In the 1980s, I worked as a DJ in 7 topless bars...7 days a week, two clubs a day. The money was GREAT! We (the employees) had A LOT of fun...I do miss it. (Yeah...there was "drama", too. It was one of those situations where you take the good with the bad...)

I don't know what happened to the industry, but I noticed dancers quit "dancing"...they pose. And they don't (even pretend to try to) entertain. And they complain...to everyone, including the customers...when they don't make the money they feel they're entitled to. Remember you are no different than anyone else in the "entertainment" business: perform your art, and if there is enough of an audience for it, you might be able to earn a living from it. If you are failing at the business of entertainment, maybe you're not doing good business.

I'm ready for pole dancing to be an Olympic sport!...

Texts From Last Night, book review

Get ready for "the funny"...

I received a copy of the new book "Texts From Last Night: All the Texts No One Remembers Sending" which has entries from the website TextsFromLastNight.com. It was published in January...

==================================

"...We started Texts From Last Night for our friends in February 2009. We opened it up to the public in April...

"Our book is the magnum opus of our website. As told through texts, the book has a Relationship Timeline, a Hookup Flowchart and a Choose Your Own Adventure section. We also have categories of texts such as 'Gay Pride', 'The Morning After' and 'Phone Mishaps'.

"We went through every page of our site to find the absolute funniest texts for the book. Then we went through every text ever submitted (at the time was something like 1.1 million of them)..."

-----------------------------------------

In the introduction of the book, we find that the reason...

"...we founded TFLN for reasons that include: Kwame Kilpatrick...old flings...repeatedly closing down bars and leaving old tabs open...

"...by pressing the send button a little too liberally. Those fuzzy memories used to live on in our inboxes until we ran out of room or we hit 'delete'."

--------------------------------------------------

It gets off to a great start...the first text message is interesting and entertaining. All of the entries are good, until the fourth page...where one caused me to laugh out loud.

Here are a few entries that will illustrate how entertained I was:

"the read head has a bf"
"just because there's a goalie doesn't mean u can't score"

"u cheatin on me?"
"if i did i would try to upgrade babe"

"Discussing lingerie with my father. He likes sheer black things. Not the colorful stuff I wear."

"Dude, the girl next to me just farted. Worst part, it smells like astroglide"

"im at a bar and i misjudged a fart...go home or ride the night out?Never mind, the bouncer just made the decision for me...be home soon"

"That's not how I planned it, it's just the way she passed out"

"my mouth tastes like poor choices"

"When I first met her at the bar, she told me she was 23. After I bought her 3 shots of tequila, she told me she was really only 21. When we went back to my house, she said she was really only 19. She's still sleeping next to me butt naked. I'm afraid if she opens her mouth again I could be looking at 10 years."

"Whatever. They have the same name, so it's not even cheating. It's brand loyalty."

"Boobs are like coupons for free stuff"

"But I don't consider them one night stands. They're auditions."

Some of the entries were educational. For example, I've seen "happy trails", but never knew that was the name for them...

Some of the content is for adults , and very graphic...and very funny!

Since it consists of text messages, this book is great for those moments when you have nothing to do and some time to kill: you can begin to read it , and stop, at anytime.

With only 192 pages, this book will fit in a pocket (8.26 x 5.23 inches). And there are eBook formats.

-------------------------------------------------

And, there's an (iPhone) app for that.

I've heard that a television show might be next...I'm (still) waiting on a response from Adam Sandler's production company, Happy Madison, to find the status of a situation-comedy they might be producing for FOX Broadcasting.

==============================

"Texts From Last Night: All the Texts No One Remembers Sending" is published by the Penguin Group.

There are Facebook, and Twitter, accounts.

to May 19, free computer utilities software (for Windows)

I received the press release posted below from IObit. I have not had an opportunity to review the product. It appears to be available now (May 15, 3 AM MT/PT)...

===============================

Free Giveaway: Advanced SystemCare PRO

Advanced SystemCare PRO will be given away for 72 hours to celebrate its 5th birthday

IObit / May 14, 2009 - From May 17 to May 19, IObit will give away free licenses of Advanced SystemCare PRO, which is normally sold at $29.95...

...Advanced SystemCare Pro provides an always-on, automated, all-in-one PC Healthcare Service with anti-spyware, privacy protection, performance tune-ups, and system cleaning capabilities. It works on Windows 7/ Vista/ XP/ 2000 (32bit or 64bit) and supports multi-languages.

Visit the following page to get the free license of Advanced SystemCare Pro:

http://db.iobit.com/license-free/asc-free-license.php

new Polaroid 300 instant camera (review)

Public relations agency Weber Shandwick sent a few books to me (see my posts at http://theslickshow.blogspot.com/2010/05/private-views-book-reveiw.html and http://theslickshow.blogspot.com/2010/05/power-of-invisible-sun-book.html), and one of the new Polaroid 300 Instant Cameras to try...



I've used Polaroid cameras since the 1960s, and I'm not ashamed to say it. There are things in life you experience and they leave a very positive impression on you that lasts your lifetime. Old cameras are one of them. They were...are...one of those neat pieces of technology that feels as good today as it did then.

The Polaroid 300 is available in three colors: black with grey, blue with gray, and red with white (the one I received). Four AA batteries were included, as was a wrist strap (which was a little tricky to attach but, then again, aren't they all?). To power-on the camera, and to open the lens cover (nice), the lens is pulled-out and away from the camera. There are lamps to show if the camera is ready to take a picture, and to give you an idea if the batteries need to be replaced. If the camera is on and not used after about five minutes, it will go into an "energy saving state". There are four lighting settings: "clear" for when outside in bright sunshine, "fine" for when it is fair or there are thin clouds overhead, cloudy, and a setting for when indoors. Plus, there is an automatic flash. The size of the pictures are 2.1 by 3.4 inches (the size of a business card); the image size is 1.8 by 2.4 inches.

After inserting the film package, my first attempt at taking a picture failed because the cover was in place (on the film cartridge)...it is removed by the camera after the trigger is pressed.

My next/"first" shot was taken outdoors...but, I did not have the lighting/scene setting correct: by default, when the camera is on, the lighting/scene setting is at "indoor"...every time you power-on the camera you will need to check the lighting setting before you take a picture.



Below:
The shirt of the subject of the top-left shot is purple, but seems faded. In the middle-right picture, they are staggered at about 10, and the other 20, feet away: the picture is out of focus, and has no clarity. The closer your subjects are to the camera, the better the shot will be. (The two bottom pictures were taken indoors with no lights on: just the flash was used.)



The two below were taken in a hallway, first with no light, and then with the light that was available (very low and poor).



I tried to remember the best uses I had heard of for instant cameras and all I could remember were that some people kept them in vehicles to document collisions and the like. But: "...instant cameras were found to be useful for other purposes such as ID cards, passport photos, ultrasound photos, and other uses which required an instant photo. They were also used by police officers and fire investigators because of their ability to create an unalterable instant photo..."

So, I took one of a car (see above) as if I were attempting to document some damage.

I do miss the old large format/size of the pictures...the "40 Series" was 3.25 by 4.25 inches (83 by 108 mm). Photographs of that type of the generation before mine exist in the possession of members of my family.

I hope Polaroid considers creating a hybrid camera: one that could produce instant prints...AND take digital shots. (And, if they do, I hope I get some cameras and film for suggesting this idea...)

The Power of the Invisible Sun, book

(This is the second of three posts regarding a package I received from a public relations agency that contained promotional material for projects they represent.)

"The Power of the Invisible Sun " is a book by Bobby Sager that contains...

"...photographs taken in Afghanistan, Rwanda, Pakistan, Palestine, Sri Lanka, Kenya, and Zimbabwe, from September 11, 2001 until early 2009 depict refugees, orphans, child soldiers, and just plain kids living with conflict, disaster, and displacement..."

"All of Bobby's proceeds from THE POWER OF THE INVISIBLE SUN go towards the HOPE IS A GAME-CHANGER PROJECT which puts indestructible soccer balls into the hands of kids in the most difficult places around the world. These balls are a lasting symbol of hope. A light no matter how small—the power of the invisible sun.

"While a soccer ball may seem a small thing to most, an indestructible soccer ball can mean so much more to a kid in really messed up places. Surviving the dirt roads and lots scattered with glass and debris they're so often kicked around on, each ball will come to represent an incredible and elevated sense of durability, longevity, possibility, hope. Put simply, these balls won’t let them down – and are the entry point to learning critical life skills through play – discipline, teamwork, citizenship, knowing how to give constructive feedback, and being a supportive friend."

Private Views, book reveiw

(This is the first post of three regarding a package I received from a public relations agency that contained promotional material for projects they represent.)

The name of the book is "Private Views"...

"In the early 1980s, photographer Barbara Crane embarked on a photographic project shot during Chicago's various summer festivals. Armed with a Super Speed Graphic camera and Polaroid film, Crane waded in close to the revelers and focused on capturing the details of clothing and hairstyles, but most important, gesture. The images are tightly cropped and terrifically alive, viscerally bringing us into the crush of people eating, drinking, and enjoying the crowd dynamic—an incredible inventory of private gestures performed in public spaces."

Crane is professor emeritus of photography at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. And represented by: Stephen Daiter Gallery, Chicago; Higher Pictures, New York; and Galerie François Paviot, Paris.

The first thing I noticed about the book is how regal it appears due to the binding and texture of the cover...it feels as if a fine nettish material has been embedded on to, and into, it. It's a great looking "coffeetable" book.

Halfway through the book, the first picture that caused me to pause and contemplate it, is one of a man using his forearm crutches. He is framed from his chest to his knees. I immediately began to wonder about the subject:

who is he?

why is he using crutches?

was it due to an accident?

does he have some disease?

how old is he?

After enjoying the aforementioned picture, I slowed my browsing. The next one I paused for is of two people...being show from their chest to their waists...warmly and affectionately holding each other around their waists. (It caused me to be reminded of how I would embrace my ex-wife. It's a good memory, and something I greatly enjoyed doing...which is why I was stopped in my browsing of the book by this picture.)

There are some shots that contain the faces of the subjects, but it is clear that the focus is on the body language of those in the pictures.

Power 1490 Reunion May 22nd 2010!

Total Rock, Total Rewards Rock Band Competition

Until June 13th, venues will host Rock Band Bar Nights. Some of the locations are in: San Diego (CA), San Jose (CA), Los Angeles (CA), Denver (CO), Washington (DC), Miami (FL), Buford (GA), Chicago (IL), Joliet (IL), Boston (MA), Atlantic City (NJ), Stateline (NV), Las Vegas (NV), New York (NY), Columbus (OH), Windsor (ON), Erie (PA), Dallas (TX), and Seattle (WA). Top scoring bands (from each bar night) will get a chance to enter and compete in the 2010 Total Rock, Total Rewards Rock Band Competition on July 1 and 2 at Bally’s Atlantic City hotel and casino. There, the winning band will receive $10,000 and meet Ringo Starr.

If you need a band member, there's a place on the "Rock Band Total Rock - Total Rewards" website where you might be able to locate one.

(For those who can’t get out to a qualifying location...)

There is a sweepstakes you can enter for you and up to three others to ride a private XOJet round trip to Atlantic City, and have two rooms from June 30 to July 4. And, you and your band will have the option of competing in the Total Rock Total Rewards Rock Band Big Event...and also win tickets to the Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band concert at Caesars Atlantic City on July 3. You can enter every day, once a day, until the giveaway ends...