Homeless Youth

This issue might be my next theatrical project. It touches me deeply.

My Brilliant New Career

Star in Your Own JibJab! It's Free!
I've been taking some dance lessons...check this out!

Battle of the YouTube MomStars!

Last fall, one of the guys on YouTube held a "contest," the Battle of the YouTube Stars, pitting some "weblebrities" against each other. This spring, another Tuber organized a battle of the YouTube Non-Stars. She paired up a bunch of Tubers with less than 1000 subscribers. It was a lot of fun, and she did another season of it this summer with all new contestants. Well, Now there is the Battle of the YouTube MomStars, organized by TheBennyZone, a twenty-something guy who, as a tribute to his own mom, wanted to celebrate all the moms on YT. Well, I am in that...yep...and I actually won the first round! We are now about to begin the second round. Once all 14 moms (we are paired off so there are 7 battles to vote on) have their video entry in, the voting will begin. We are waiting for 2 more moms. I have added a link over to the right to my channel, where you can watch my entry and other vlogs I have there. I have a series called Backstage Stories" (okay, not a very imaginative title - if you have any ideas, please feel free to share), in which I chronicle assorted behind-the-scenes bloopers from my 25 years in theatre. I respond to other peoples' videos. I now have 80 subscribers! Who'da thunk I'd actually have fans! But it's been great, and through this contest I've met some really interesting and kind people. One of my favorites is MacBraveheart from Scotland. She's in the MomStars, too, and somebody I know you all would like alot.

So, I've probably been spending too much time over there, but the feeling I get must be akin to what explorers feel when discovering a new world. This is the future. I don't believe it's going away. It's become an excellent way to promote your business or talents if you want, too. And it's free! So, I will continue to spend time there, but I am going to try harder to check in here more often, and to post.

If you read my article in LI Pulse about the YouTube gathering in NYC, you will know there is that need to connect in this physical plane of existence. SO - we need to do coffee sometime soon...maybe once Luna settles into her new routine! :)

What Celeb Do You Look Like?

There is a website at which you can upload your photo and it calculates which celebs you look like. The site also can be a tool for charting your family tree. Check out My Heritage. Here are my results:



You can also morph yourself into any one of the celebs you look like. It's quick and rally funny! Just another play on the computer in our "copious spare time!" ;)

"Minority Report" Could Happen

I read a disturbing article in Newsday the other day and have been meaning to post about it. "Homeland Security Exploring Mass-scanning System" describes the federal government's efforts to design a technological means to identify someone who is THINKING of committing a terrorist attack! I don't know if you saw the movie, "Minority Report" with Tom Cruise. It envisioned a future in which, through a combination of science and psychics, they could predict if someone would commit a crime in the future, and arrest them before they did it. I thought it was a pretty laughable movie...that is, until I read this article. Here is an excerpt:

Tools to fight terror?
Federal Homeland Security officials are exploring how technology can help screeners identify people entering the U.S. with "hostile intent" through two different programs:

FUTURE ATTRIBUTE SCREENING TECHNOLOGY (FAST) PROJECT SENSOR FUSION
Seeking a system that could detect deceptive behavior through physiological and behavioral cues including heartbeat, respiration and facial expression. Technologies used could include thermal imaging, infrared cameras and audio and eye-tracking.

PROJECT HOSTILE INTENT
Monitoring facial expressions and other behavioral, speech and physiological cues through video monitors to identify people "involved in possible malicious or deceitful acts" before they commit a crime. Would work in real time and be "non-invasive," without disrupting the flow of passengers.

And did you know this?:
"Behavioral detection is already used by specially trained officers in the Transportation Security Administration - with 273 arrests made as a result since June 2004, said spokesman Christopher White. That detection is done by individuals trained to recognize subtle facial expressions. "We're very encouraged by the program and we plan to expand it," White said."

Be afraid. Be very afraid.