Archive for January, 2009
LJ James reviews “Sons Of Anarchy”
Posted by: | CommentsI have just finished reviewing the 2nd episode of the new FX show “Son’s of Anarchy”. I have been a fan of the FX Show “The Shield” for years and I have to say, I have enjoyed “Sons of Anarchy” so far. The show has great bikes and lots of action!
As a Member of an Outlaw Motorcycle Club, I have already seen many mistakes in the show. One thing that’s really surprising to me is how people have reacted to the show and me personally. People who know I’m a member of a Motorcycle Club are asking me, “You guys aren’t like that, are you?” Some of these people have known me for years! Now after a couple of episodes of “Sons of Anarchy” their wondering if I’m leading some kind of double life.
Can you imagine if a show about criminal killer Florists came out? How many people would ask the local florist if they where really like that? One fact of life about being a Biker I have come to except is, it’s real easy for people to think of Bikers as the bad guys. It has always been and probably always will be that way. I wonder how many Cops had people ask them the same question when the Shield came out? I also wonder how many Police Officers who watch the Shield and know that show is fiction will watch “Sons of Anarchy” and think that’s how Motorcycle Clubs really are! The FX show “Sons of Anarchy” is fiction and it is way over the top.
Son’s of Anarchy is going to shine a lot of light onto the Motorcycle Club world. Where as the last 10 years have been all about Motorcycle Builders and has led to a lot of people getting into Motorcycle Riding, I believe the next 10 years will be all about Motorcycle Clubs. Now this show could be a good thing for Motorcycle Clubs if, in-between all the fictional action, it also focuses on the bond of Brotherhood Motorcycle Clubs are based on.
Although the opportunity for “Sons of Anarchy” to make a positive statement about Motorcycle Clubs by highlighting the good Motorcycle Clubs do and the positive impact that they have on their communities exists, I have a feeling the show will have a negative impact on Clubs, Independent Bikers, and the Motorcycle Community in overall.
All the Motorcycle Clubs out there are going to need to keep their eyes wide open and watch any new prospects. MCs need to make sure that new prospects are there for the Brotherhood and betterment of the Club and the community. You don’t want prospects to try and live out some misguided fantasy they may have seen on TV or in some Movie. Another huge concern of mine, people who will just go out and throw on a set of patches and think they are the “Sons of Anarchy”. The Motorcycle Club world is all about Respect. There is a serious protocol that is followed by all Motorcycle Clubs. I would not recommend violating that protocol in any way.
Motorcycle Clubs have spent the better part of the past 20 years working hard to shake the old biker gang stereotype of the 60’s and 70’s. Now that we have come close to accomplishing our goal, shows like “Sons of Anarchy” and the upcoming HBO show 1% are here to drag our image back into the gang world. How far will these shows set us back? 20-30 Years? I would ask the producers of these shows, there sponsors, and everyone else out there to please remember that Brotherhood is what the Motorcycle Club world is truly about.
Your Bro, L.J. James AmericanBikerX. com
5 Tips To Finding Cheap Hotels In Genoa
Posted by: | CommentsGenoa, locally pronounced as Genova is an Oceanside city located in Northern Italy ” the most celebrated part of the Italian Riviera. In the past, the area was but a seaport and was a relatively unattractive tourist destination. But times have changed, and so has Genoa ” thanks to its rich history, impressive architecture, collection of art and sculpture, and winding back streets, Genoa has undergone massive changes. Today, it is still the home to many fishermen and sailors but it also has high-end boutiques, several five star Genoa hotel, and restaurants specializing in gourmet that Italians are famous for. All these are responses to an increasing number of tourists who are drawn to the beauty of the lovely Riviera.
Known as the city with two faces, Genoa is both a center of commerce and medieval art. It is considered as one of the oldest cities in Italy and is the home to many tourist attractions including the Mercato Orientale, Genoa Aquarium, and museums. It is the hub for shopping and nightlife and most importantly, of the performing arts. Surely, a visit to hotels in Genoa is more that you can hope for!
Genoa is a wonderful place to visit but before you go, make sure to book your accommodation. With winter in northern Europe, many visitors are flocking to the seaside for a respite to the cold weather. As such, here are a couple of tips you can use in finding cheap hotels in Genoa.
1. Preparation is the key. Just like anything, a vacation requires a plan. In order to create an effective plan, make sure you read up on Genoas origins. This way, you will know which places you are going to visit and you can choose a Genoa hotel thats not too far from the tourist attractions you have in mind.
2. Organize your transportation. You need to know how you plan to reach the tourist destinations listed in your itinerary. Note that not because you pay lesser for a genoa hotel doesnt mean that its the best deal for you. Consider the long term costs ” sometimes your transportation cost may add up and you will realize that you were better off choosing a $100 hotel room near a tourist spot than a $20 per night room which is so far out of the way.
3. Decide where you want to stay ” in the city or the country side? In this city of vibrant culture, you have many options in both areas. if you want to book accommodation, you can contact the Genoa tourist board or do a search for sites offering bookings to different hotels in genoa.
4. Areas outside the main part of the city offer cheaper accommodation in the form of small hotels. Many of these Genoa hotel are equidistant from the seaport and the commercial part of the city.
5. Look for accommodations that offer breakfast such as those located near a sidewalk caf. This way, you can jumpstart your day with a dose of Italys famous coffee.
Color Mode Function in Photoshop
Posted by: | CommentsThe color modes and color models of digital imaging seem to be a bit of an enigma to those first experiencing Photoshop. The diversity of color modes can be so overwhelming that novice users many times avoid these features without realizing the impact color modes can have on the end results of the image.
Color modes establish the color model that should be used to display and print digital pictures. Knowing about color modes and models and how to use them in Photoshop is a must for those wishing to achieve professional quality digital images. Take the time to learn what color modes work best in different situations. There are many good Photoshop tutorials and guides that can help you understand how to incorporate color modes into your digital imaging for optimal results for your project.
Before taking on that Photoshop tutorial though, you need to have the basic understanding of what exactly a color mode is and why there are different models.
Several different color modes are used to display digital images. Here is a brief overview of the main basic color modes you will come across when working with digital images.
RGB
RGB stands re Red Green and Blue. In the RGB color mode colors are created by mixing these three primary colors. You are basically working in three color channels in RBG mode and you can adjust the intensity of each channel to obtain various degrees of colors. White is made by combining all of the three colors.
CMYK
CMYK stands for cyan, magenta, yellow and black. RGB produces colors by mixing them together, while CMYK in effect creates color by subtracting varying degrees of each color. For example, to produce white, all colors would be reduced to zero.
You will see huge improvements in your digital imaging once you understand and are familiar with color modes. One important tip is that printers use CMYK color while monitors use RGB. This can result in there sometimes being a difference in what you see on your PC monitor and what is printed on paper. You can overcome this by installing software that will calibrate your monitor colors to that of your printer. By doing this, what you see on your monitor will be an accurate depiction of what your printer will produce.
Digital Downloads Bring Movies To Your PC
Posted by: | CommentsThe nights of almost infinite digital downloads are here, and you might benefit tremendously while saving time and money. Save on the entertainment you enjoy. Digital downloads have materialized a long way in current years.
They’re faster, offer better quality, and are accessible through more venues than ever. There are film downloads, game downloads, music downloads, along with even Tv show downloads. This allows you a never-ending origin of amusement any time of the day. How do Digital Downloads Work? Digital downloads are media such as music, films, or video games that might be downloaded via the Cyber web from any laptop or desktop computer.
Downloads require a comuter program to work on your notebook. For example, Zune software is demanded for Zune downloads of music albums or music from online channels. There are furthermore companies that permit you to download certain comuter programs to give you access to thousands of films, titles, melodies, and game downloads under one low membership price.
Having a membership makes it simple to get all your digital downloads in one place. You could download all forms of amusement without ever leaving your home. You’ll spare money as well as visible space in your home since you triumphed in acquiring the latest games, films or music Dvds.
As an alternative , you will be utilizing space on your own Desktop computer, or on your IPOD if utilizing IPOD downloads. It’s convenient for you and your family to be eager to download these objects rather than acquiring them at a store. It saves time (and fuel money) along with gives you contact to many titles that might not be obtainable on the shelves of your local store.
Game downloads and movie downloads are always in stock – no more waiting lists! Another advantage of online downloading is you can view many demos of games and previews of movies before downloading. It helps to know what you’re getting sooner.
If you love observing Television shows (new or from the past), Tv show downloads enable you to see all your favorite shows whenever you want. You might furthermore like lower pricing on downloadable items given that there’s no physical item to purchase . Music downloads mean no Videos have to be constructed and shipped.
Film downloads demand no Cd constructing. When downloading to your IPOD, you might download hundreds of songs to an instrument without ordering multiple Cds. These are imperative tips to Maximize Your Downloading Experience.
MAKE sure the download corporation is real; Purchase a high premium notebook with a big dimension monitor; This will make your movies clearer along with enhance your game download experience additionally.
Additionally, be sure the noteboo has a high premium speaker system. GET a high speed Web connection such as a cable modem instead of a dial-up connection; This can speed up the downloading format and loading times.
PLACE a computer for downloads in a central family room for entertainment reasons;
With some organizations, you could pay a low membership price to get access to Zune downloads, movies along with Television show downloads, game downloads, and IPOD downloads – all at one site.
Positive Advantages Of Interactive Online Art Communities
Posted by: | CommentsBeauty is in the eye of the beholder, or so it was decided for us. In the days before the internet was available to most of us, it was only a handful of art critics, so called experts and of course the almighty art galleries that could make or break an artist. In other words it was decided for us what was deemed art and what was not.
The saying is that art ought to be discussed as well as seen, but if you had no access to these all powerful people, it would not have even been seen. Except of course by your family and friends perhaps. Tragically this meant that a vast number of fantastic artists were never discovered.
This is clearly a situation that is not acceptable. Art, and for that matter, any kind of art, must be given the opportunity to be viewed, talked about and most importantly, artist should have the chance to show their art in places where fellow artists and art lovers gather.
Thanks to the “Web 2.0″ concept people are now able to create and join online communities and networks. This has enabled artists to display their art in new ways, and at the same time, receive comments and feedback from their online followers.
The wonderful part about this is, of course, that individuals are now no longer simply on the fringes and are able to make decisions for themselves. No longer are we restricted to just see the info that a minority of experts wants us to see, and to top it all up, we now have the capability to show our art to absolutely anyone without needing to be “discovered” by someone.
When you look at trends in entertainment, you see that traditional monolithic information providers such as commercial TV and newspapers are in the ropes while user communities and user-generated content flourishes. I myself rarely watch commercial network TV anymore. There is so much interesting stuff on the web that commercial-interrupted TV has completely lost its appeal.
Thanks to all this new technology contemporary artists need no longer rely on traditional galleries, art collectors or critics to be “discovered”. The discovery part is now being done by the people that matter the most – YOU!.. And I am sure that eveyone agrees with me when I say that we are all quite able to decide if we like a piece of art or not. And thanks to web we are now able to make this decision for ourselves.
This does not guarantee fame and fortune, but it provides what many artists desire most: getting feedback from peers and enthusiasts and to be able to make their art potentially available to millions, no matter where on the planet they may live.
There are any number of ways in which artists can take advantage of the web. They can use one of the major social networks, they can join special art communities and forums, or they can even create their own interactive online art galleries to display anything from landscape painting to portraits, sketches, abstract art or anything else they may specialize in.
Visitors can browse the site and buy art directly from the artist. They can also interact with the artists via chat, discussion boards or other means of communications. Online gallery artists may also do video interviews or presentations, polls, classes or lead discussion groups. Site visitors may commission art from artists whose work and style they like. The opportunities are endless.
The massive change is that artists now no longer have to rely upon the traditional ways to exhibit their work. No barriers, no geographical borders, no more searching for galleries and no more waiting to be “discovered” by some budding critic. The internet is providing the opportunity for artists to put themselves right in front of art collectors and potential buyers.


