Snow-maggedon 2010 from April Eslick on Vimeo.
According to the show’s co-producer Christopher Riley, the show is “an experiment to see if a story [can succeed] where nearly four decades of angry rhetoric and political posturing have failed. We’re not making a moral or political statement; hopefully, we’re starting a conversation with the audience.”
I suppose they say that is their goal...but I can't see the benefit of us deciding. I could understand it if they did a reality show that followed the stories of pregnany women with "unwanted" pregnancies...but not the part that America decides that babies fate. Some have argued for this show stating, that because of how America votes, in a sense we are deciding the fate of unwanted pregnancies; but to put it in a reality show format, almost game show style...who gets the prize at the end? What is the prize? Is the baby the prize, or being baby-free?
“Denise”
The first episode is less than nine-minutes long, and in it we are introduced to the three women at the office of Dr. Patterson (Andray Johnson). Denise (Isabelle Giroux) is the mother of two who is “addicted” to red candies; she helps herself to all of the red Starbursts in the bowl at the receptionist’s desk despite being told they are intended for children. Denise seems a bit like a space cadet; like she’s on something. She’s the mother of two children and we learn that her spouse (boyfriend?) is abusive. She asks for codeine, then tells Dr. Patterson that when Buzz is nice, he helps her with the children and “he’s a real godsend.” The doctor sees terrible bruises on her neck, which he finds hidden under her turtleneck sweater.
Is this why Denise is considering the abortion of her third child? Does she not want to bring another life into an abusive home? Or is it that she is simply overwhelmed by her life’s circumstances and doesn’t want an additional complication?
“Jason” and “Hailey”
We then meet Hailey (Lyndsey Doolen), who is accompanied by her boyfriend Jason (Angelo Restaino). Out of all three of the women, Hailey seems the least concerned about the difficult decision ahead of her and more excited about being on a reality show. Her answers to questions by the off-camera producer seem too much like an audition for a part in a commercial. Jason seems just as eager for fame, saying after the nurse escorts them into the examining room, “We did it, we did it!” and rubbing his hands with glee as he looks for things to “play with” as they wait. Sadly, in real life, I can imagine that exploiting one’s pregnancy would appeal to someone who is dying to become the next Kate Gosselin, Heidi Montag or other reality show star.
Hailey has been pregnant before, giggling as she tells Dr. Patterson, “I get pregnant really easily.” So is this really a “difficult decision” for Hailey? And one wonders if she has not heard of birth control, especially as we learn she is hoping to enter a nursing program. Dr. Patterson asks her how having a newborn will affect her ability to carry out her studies. She seems confused, at which point Dr. Patterson asks if she has already come to a conclusion. Jason jumps in and says no real decision has been made, but “we’re good to go on the show.” Ugh. Slimy boyfriend? Yep, they’re really out there too.
“Dr. Patterson” and “Katie”
After Hailey, we meet Katie (Tina Schlapprizzi). She is obviously the one who seems most affected by the choice she must make. “Once I make it,” she says, “I can’t go back.” She stopped taking prescribed hormone therapy because it didn’t seem to be working, her husband is a soldier who has been sent to Iraq, and she says there is no one in her life she can go to about her pregnancy. She begs Dr. Patterson for his personal views and advice on abortion, but he won’t say anything other than that he is there to “support you to make the best decision that you can.” When he asks her how long her husband has been deployed overseas, she doesn’t answer him – which would explain why she feels she cannot go to anyone she knows about her problem.
I am sure I will watch, in hopes of not showing support, but rather gleaning the knowledge I need to share my opinions on the nature of an "experiment" like this, and I challenge you to make your opinions heard on their site as well!
What are your thoughts??
*Please know that this is a safe-zone for comments, there will be no bashing of other's beliefs, name-calling or the like. Just like I did in regards to this show, gather your information and make your sound, voice and opinions heard if you wish; but let it be done in a considerable manner. If not, your comments will be deleted.*
The game, which stays the same when it comes to gameplay, will involve players moving around the board as if it were a roundabout rather than the traditional square set we've all come to know and love.
But it's not just a random move to give die-hard fans a reason to buy yet another version, it turns out one of the first concepts for the board game was circular according to Hasbro.
Not to be out done by the latest video games, however, the Monopoly board will do away with cash and the chance to raid the bank when no-one is looking. Players instead will be issued with a chip and pin credit card and a central console that plays banker. No fair right?
Expect the new version to be in the shops later this year."
Here are some photos of the game:
Phil predicted that winter will continue for 6 more weeks and other groundhogs like Malverne Mel (Malverne, New York), Wiarton Willie (Wiarton, Ontario), Spanish Joe (Spanish, Ontario), and Shubenacadie Sam (Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia) also has the same prediction.
However, Jimmy the Groundhog (Sun Prairie, Wisconsin), General Beauregard Lee (Snellville, Georgia), Staten Island Chuck (Staten Island, New York City), Woodstock Willie (Woodstock, Illinois), Dunkirk Dave (Dunkirk, New York), and Buckeye Chuck (Marion, Ohio) predicted an early spring. Anyone wanna tell me why the Groundhog HR Dept didn't get the memo to the rest of the fraidey-cat Groundhogs?? *sigh*
According to Groundhog proponents, the yearly forecasts are 75% to 90% accurate. From 1887 to 2010, Punxsutawney Phil has predicted an early spring 14 times out of 113 predictions. According to the Inner Circle, a select group that takes care of Phil, Phil is 100% accurate but StormFax Weather Almanac and the The Groundhog Day Book of Facts opposed in their beliefs. They found out that he has historically been right only one out of three tries, that means about 39% of accuracy. Here's to hoping he had NO clue what he was doing this morning!!
The higher the F number, the more of the photo that will be in focus. For instance if you're taking a photograph of a landscape, chances are you will want all of the foreground and background to be sharp and in focus. For this to happen you will need to set your digital camera f value or aperture as its known, to a large number, for example F/11.
On the other hand if you're taking a photograph of a bird and you want the animal in focus but not the background, then you would choose a small F number like F/4.
When the f number is small, the lens diaphragm is actually wide open. So if someone says to you that you need to open your lens more, they mean to lower the aperture or F number. Alternatively, if the aperture is a large number, say F22 then the lens diaphragm is smaller or more closed. This often causes much confusion with beginners.
To set your digital camera on shutter priority, turn your mode dial to TV like the image on the right. In case your wondering, TV stands for time value. Now rotate the main dial until you have the shutter speed your after.
Shutter speed is measured in seconds and looks like 1/500, 1/250, 1/2 or 1 as in one second etc. It can range anywhere from 1/8000 to B for bulb. Bulb keeps the shutter open for as long as the shutter button is pressed down.
The shutter speed you will need to use depends on the type of photograph you want to take. For example, if you want to take a photograph of water frozen in action with every little bead in focus, then you would choose a fast shutter speed like 1/500 of a second. If you want to blur running water like the example below, then you would need to use a slower shutter speed like 1/4 of a second. Often when you use a slow shutter speed, you will also need a tripod to help avoid camera shake.
The photograph of blurred water shown above was taken with a shutter speed of 0.25 sec (1/4). At this speed I was lucky enough to hand hold the digital camera steady to avoid having to use a tripod.
Now in contrast, here is a photograph of water taken with a faster shutter speed of 1/60 sec so every bead of water can be seen.
Night photography also requires a slow shutter speed. Once again, this allows enough time for light to reach the cameras image sensor. Otherwise your image might turn out nothing other than a black rectangle or a series of colorful circles. Here's a neat tutorial on taking pictures of light trails.
So here's a recap of shutter speed:
| 1. | the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best: to give up hope. |
| 2. | a particular instance of this feeling: the hope of winning. |
| 3. | grounds for this feeling in a particular instance: There is little or no hope of his recovery. |
| 4. | a person or thing in which expectations are centered: The medicine was her last hope. |
| 5. | something that is hoped for: Her forgiveness is my constant hope. |
| 6. | to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence. |
| 7. | to believe, desire, or trust: I hope that my work will be satisfactory. |
| 8. | to feel that something desired may happen: We hope for an early spring. |
