Read All Night... Almost

It's been a long time since I had a book I couldn't put down - and actually had the time to keep reading. Usually when I know I have a book I'll want to devour in one sitting I put it to one side to save it for a time when I can do just that. I guess that's why I have some books from favourite authors that have been gathering dust for years.

Recently I made a decision to start making changes to my life and get things back in balance. Less work, more time for family and play (and writing!).

So last night I picked up one of those books I've been saving up. I chose The Hunger Games. I've been wanting to read them forever (I've had the trilogy since the last book came out). With my eldest Barbarian almost at an age where he can read them I thought I'd better get to them first. And I want to see the movies but won't watch them until the books are read.

Totally. Loved. Book 1. Couldn't put it down (as I hoped) and forced myself to switch the bed light off at 1am. I'm well into book 2 now and I know it will be another late reading session for me tonight. At least it's Friday so it doesn't matter when I turn the light off.

When was the last time you had a book you couldn't put down? Please share the details of the book because I love finding new books to read.

Photoshop for Real?

Do you think the following is for real? It starts with a model and takes you backwards through the photoshop process...

Is it for real? The answer is no. But the things people can do with photoshop are amazing, and someone with skill can enhance an image to make it almost impossible to detect the manipulation. Take for example the controversy about the 2013 World Press Photo of the Year. Even leading experts in the field couldn't agree on whether the photo was real or enhanced.

The other issue flagged in that controversy was where to draw the line in the sand between an enhanced photo and a fake photo?

There's very little we're exposed to in advertising these days that hasn't been 'enhanced' in some way. Doesn't a Maccas burger and fries look so much more appealing in their advertising than the real thing? That's because it is! This article (one mcburger with lies) takes you behind the scenes of 'burger styling' - from careful placement of each element in the burger to the photoshopping for the final image. It makes me wonder at what point does it cross the line from 'prettying up' to flase advertising?

Have you ever wondered if an image was real or photoshopped?

Running

Neither of my two Barbarians are what you'd call sporty. They both play sport, but are at the 'for fun' level of the field. So it was a surprise when Heckle announced he'd qualified to represent the school at the district cross country. Mind you, I think he was as shocked as we were.

So this week I took him to the district event. Rather than the flat oval he did the school race on, this race actually went cross country - up and down hills and around a dam, all while being watched by a mob of roos. The Hub and I told him to have fun, try his best, and remember that his legs can do it =)

He set off for his 3km (about 1.9 miles) run with a smile on his face. There were about 100 kids in his event so the start was crowded. By the time Heckle reached the half way mark some were starting to be lapped and the winner was finishing. He managed to finish the race without being lapped and a placing of 77th - with a very proud Mum looking on.