Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Movies of the 2000s

I recently received a parcel collection slip in my postbox, am always excited by these slip. They have me wondering what's in the box. Managed to miss place the slip, however I managed to find it in between the page pages of To See The Mountain & Other Stories. Went to collect the box from the other side of the world and in it. I found a book all you film-lovers will enjoy. “Movies of the 2000s” by Jürgen Müller is TASCHEN’s latest book and it is a collection of over 140 films like Inception, Avatar, Harry Potter series, Babel, City of God, Brokeback Mountain, Mulholland Drive, No Country for Old Men, and Black Swan, complete with film stills and great production photos, movie synopsis and analysis, and interesting trivia. Learn more and check out some photos after the jump! Think I watched 60 of the movies mentioned in the book.


The most interesting and important films made in the decade since the turn of the millennium. A decade characterized the rise of a new era in global politics and technology, the 2000s were most notably marked by September 11, 2001 and the ensuing wars in the Middle East, as well as the explosion of social networking and mobile computing.
This comprehensive volume covers an inspiringly broad range of titles made during a unique period in history, from the fantastical special effects masterpieces Lord of the Rings, Inception, and the 3D film Avatar; to entertaining fare such as the Bourne action films, the Harry Potter series, Moulin Rouge, Borat, and Inglourious Basterds; socially and politically conscious cinema including Hurt Locker, Babel, Bowling for Columbine, and City of God; and art-house standouts such as Brokeback Mountain, Mulholland Drive, Dogville, Talk to Her, No Country for Old Men, and Black Swan. If indeed we are approaching the end of cinema—it can be argued that the 2000s were the last decade of cinema as we knew it, before technology altered it beyond recognition and the movie theater was superseded by the computer screen—then this study is both a celebration of moviemaking and an elegy for a soon-to-be-lost art.

Featuring approximately 140 film entries complete with film stills and production photos, movie synopsis and analysis, and interesting trivia. Cast and crew listings and useful technical information are provided for each film Includes actor and director biographies.














How many films have you watched since  2000 and how many left a lasting impression in your life?

Sunday, February 26, 2012

There is no such thing as privacy online.





How to delete your Google Browsing History before new policy


With just a several das to go before Google changes to its new privacy policy that allows it to gather, store and use personal information, users have a last chance to delete their Google Browsing History, along with any damning information therein.

Tech News Daily reports that once Google's new unified privacy policy takes effect all data already collected about you, including search queries, sites visited, age, gender and location will be gathered and assigned to your online identity represented by your Gmail and YouTube accounts. After the policy takes effect you are not allowed to opt out without abandoning Google altogether. But now before the policy takes effect, you have the option of deleting your Google Web History by modifying your settings so that Google is unable to associate data collected about you with your Gmail or YouTube accounts.

Tech News Daily reports that Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco that advocates for online privacy, says: "Search data can reveal particularly sensitive information about you, including facts about your location, interests, age, sexual orientation, religion, health concerns, and more."

EFF advises all Google users to delete their web history.
Meanwhile, Center for Digital Democracy has filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, asking the Commission to sue Google to stop the policy change. Tech News Daily reports FTC can impose fines up to $16,000 per day for violation.
Daily Mail reports that deleting your browsing history before March 1 when Google's new privacy policy comes into effect will limit Google's ability to track and record your every move online.
The process is simple. Follow the steps below:
1. Go to the google homepage and sign into your account.
2. Click the dropdown menu next to your name in the upper-right hand corner of your screen.
3. Click accounts settings
4. Find the "Services section"
5. Under "Services" there is a sub-section that reads "View, enable, disable web history." Click the link next to it that reads: "Go to Web History." (Note: When you click "Go to Web History" you may be taken to a page which gives you the options "Turn Web History On"/"No Thanks": Click "Turn Web History On" and you will finally be taken to step 6 below)
6. Click on "Remove all Web History"
When you click on "Remove all Web History," a message appears that says " Web History is Paused." What this means is that while Google will continue gathering and storing information about your web history it will make all data anonymous, that is, Google will not associate your Web History information with your online accounts and will therefore be unable to send you customized search results.

Google's ability to gather personalized information about you by assigning data to your Gmail and YouTube accounts will remain "Paused" till you click "Resume."