Analyzing Art: Digital Goodness

I've received quite a few compliments on my banner (Thanks, by the way) and it got me thinking about art, and just what we can do with it in this digital age. I've been using Photo Shop for a few years now, but I still learn something new about it almost every time I use it.



There are many different photo editing programs that you can use to aid you in creating that perfect image. Paint shop is one of the more lesser-known programs. It's great for just starting out. But the main source for most images is Photo Shop. There is lots of photo shop software out there, for many different specific uses.



There are endless possibilities for what you can create. Abstract images, skylines, artistic, cultural. Or even maybe just some cat wallpapers. Personally, I prefer the minimalist approach. Simple, yet effective enough to get your point across.



Creating images is also a great way to gain some income, for those that are skilled enough. Go with some classic images, and you might find yourself with some fine art printing, or perhaps some vinyl banners. Banner advertising is always a great way to attract attention to people.



Perhaps I will share some of my work in the future!

So, what about you? Are you a newbie when it comes to Photo shopping? Have you mastered every detail of it? Or are you somewhere in the middle?

Analyzing Gaming: Convenience of Buying Online

We've come a long way from going to stores such as Blockbuster for game rentals. These days, you don't even need to leave your house to rent games. We've got services like Gamefly that let you rent video games online.



We've also got a ton of sites that let you buy games online. The full version of almost any game you want downloaded right to your PC. Now that's awesome. I've personally used Direct2Drive a lot. I believe it was one of the first websites to start selling digital downloads for games, and was one of the only places that let you buy PC games online for quite some time.



And of course, let's not forget about STEAM. That is one powerhouse of gaming that won't be slowing down any time soon. You can buy PC games online, directly from the STEAM browser. They've got an insane collection of some of the most popular games released. I've even heard of a certain game designer looking to expand into STEAM.



So, what do you think about buying games online? Do you think it takes away from the social aspect of buying a physical copy? What do you prefer?

Analyzing Music: That New Album Smell

Don't you just love it when you hear your favorite band is releasing a new album? I've been noticing a lot of new albums coming out lately, and I've been adding even more to my collection. My friend recently got me into Alesana, and it's quickly become one of my favorite bands.



I've also been listening to a lot of Tiesto since he released his most recent album, Kaleidoscope, and the remixed version. His club music is great.



Sadly, there are also some albums that tend to disappoint. I was pretty let down by the recent 10 Years album. A few of their songs sounded a little bit too .. Linkin Park-ish. Not that there is anything terribly wrong with that.

So, what are your thoughts on downloading albums? Are you against it? Are you for it? Are you somewhere in the middle? Personally, I would gladly buy any album if I were inspired enough by the artist and their songs.

Analyzing Cuisine: Gator!

I love living in Florida. Being near the beaches and the water. We have all different types of stores and restaurants. In Tampa, there is a wonderful restaurant that I used to go to all the time. It's called The Colonnade.



The Colonnade has been around for decades, and sits right next to the water on Bayshore.



They have some very interesting items on the menu, including my personal favorite: Fried Gator.



Gator may seem a bit out there, but it is certainly a very tasty meal. It does indeed taste like chicken a bit, but it has a unique twist to it. If you're ever around Tampa, I highly recommend stopping by this wonderful restaurant. If you're not, I highly recommend finding a place where you can try gator closer to your home. You won't be disappointed.

So, what is the most exotic meal you've ever had?

Analyzing My Blog

As I sit here now, I begin to ponder the future of this blog. What exactly am I to include in it? Surely my readers don't simply want more rants about the human mind. Perhaps it shall be a bit more subtle. Or perhaps the blog will simply be an analysis of myself. Or maybe I should just start creating more banners, eh?

Hm.

In the meantime, I leave you with this song.

Analyzing You

Each day I'm amazed more and more by the human mind. Every individual that I meet is unique, but at the same time there are many that are exactly the same. For some reason, I feel the need to analyze every aspect of a person's mind. How they think. How they react to situations. It is a very interesting journey.

Let's take myself, for example. I'm curious. I have a very open mind. And I can't help but wonder why people do the things that they do. So many things that happen every day are completely meaningless. They could be avoided so easily. But, the human mind craves conflict. It craves drama. Perhaps it is built in to most of us. Perhaps the mind sees conflict as a challenge that it needs to overcome.

Not all events that transpire are meaningless, however. There are many people in this world that feel they serve a purpose. They fight for a cause that they hold very close to their hearts. They believe that by standing up for what they believe in, that things will change. That they will make a difference in this world. Sadly, in a lot of cases, this tends to be nothing more than filler in what would otherwise be a meaningless, void life.

However, there are those that actually do accomplish what they set out to do. They take action instead of talking. They literally fight for what they believe in. Some even die for it. Some care so much about a cause that they are willing to sacrifice their only chance at life. Their only chance to experience what it is like to live. Life in itself is a gift. It is always better to feel pain and misery than to feel absolutely nothing at all.