Amihan

Consumerism! The Musical – short movie from Whitestone Motion Pictures

I imagined myhttp://www.frostclick.com/wp/wp-admin/themes.phpself singing and dancing in “Consumerism! The Musical” because it is a truly funny satire of my own shopping habits. Watching this film reminded me of what my friends’ often tell me, “You’ve got to learn to rein yourself in.” And to that, I always answer: “I will.” This short musical film from Whitestone Motion Pictures has the tagline “It's a Wonderful Life!” It is inspired by the culture of excess among people who spend just because they can. The director, Brandon McCormick, explains that he drew the elements in this musical from his own choices and way of living, making the satire internal and easy to relate to. He does not intend to raise an advocacy though, or teach the world to live simply. He says, “It's less about being preachy, more about projecting myself into a farcical world."

Tachaaan! A Karmic Tale – Free Animated Short Film

Everybody knows that an elephant doesn’t forget. In “Tachaaan!” we further learn that an elephant does know how to get even. “Tachaaan!” is a funny animated film done by Rafael Cano (Rafiki), Carlos del Olmo and Miguel A. Bellot. It is produced by Nicolás Matji at La Fiesta Producciones. It will remind you of some Tom and Jerry moments while you're laughing like a kid in some of the scenes -- if you're in a good mood.

“Nemesis” – award winning superhero short film

If you are a fan of comic book heroes and if you fantasize of having superpowers, you should watch “Nemesis.” “Nemesis” is a short film (about 8 minutes) produced by a group of students for a school project in the University of Bergen in Norway. While it would be easy to excuse the shortcomings of films made by students, I am glad there is no reason to forgive the filmmakers for anything in Nemesis. It has the quality of a professional's touch right from the concept to post production finishes.
Stanley Ross

MN-EP by Stanley Ross – Free Rock Album from Rock Proper

Get carried away as Nicholas Meiers aka Stanley Ross (vox/guitars) takes you on one journey after another in his transition themed release for netlabel Rock Proper titled MN-EP. MN-EP has something for the old rocker soul (Have It All, Bicycle) and the younger ones (Dream On). “Have It All” will remind you of the sound of yesteryears' rock, which is not necessarily a bad thing if you're into it. “Bicycle” is for those who love the blues, and know what it's like to wait for someone to “come home.” It will pull up all your misery and make you sing out all the pain for a much needed catharsis. I played Bicycle two more times after hearing it for the first time.

Be Shareful – Cologne Commons 3rd Compilation

There is "sharefulness" in the music biz again as Cologne Commons has released "Be Shareful," its third compilation of ambient music featuring electro-folk chillout sounds. The first and second Cologne Commons music compilations were well-received by music enthusiasts around the world, which makes this third issue a much awaited follow up. As in the past editions, this compilation is named after Cologne City in Germany, where a festival for free music is held every year.

Another Quiet Winter by NCThompson – Music for Quiet Moments

NCThompson, an American musician, officially steps into the online scene for the first time with an EP called “Another Quiet Winter.” From the title, one could easily expect an easy listening experience, perfect for a winter that is, well, quiet. Asked about his insights on his new EP, NCThompson says, “These songs just seem connected by the loneliness of looking up and seeing nothing but a cold gray sky; when all that’s left is a longing feeling for times once passed. And as depressing as that may sound, I think there’s something to be said for the kind of emotions that such longing can inspire.”

Practical Open Source Software Exploration – Free Open Source Textbook

“Can Professors Teach Open Source?” The answer is a resounding yes. In fact, TeachingOpenSource.org has written a book that work pretty much in the same way as any other open source software project – improvements, technically known as patches, are very much welcome. The textbook has a foreword by Greg DeKoenigsberg, a Senior Community Architect at Red Hat. He was the founder and first chairman of the Fedora Project Board, the governance body for the Fedora Project, an open source software project.

The Silent Ballet Volume XIV – compilation album from The Lost Children netlabel

The Lost Children Netlabel and The Silent Ballet have teamed up again to present some of the most talented but yet to be discovered musicians around the world. As the album's title says, they are now on "Volume XIV." There are 12 tracks in this compilation album of ambient-electronic music. The tracks are combination of relaxing and emotionally stimulating music, but it is predominantly trance. Some tracks have a far more intense energy than others, so I am not quite sure whether I'd be playing that as background music for a "quiet me time." Most tracks, however, are decidedly soothing.

Darwin’s Tree of Life – see how living things are related

Tree of Life is a collaborative project by Wellcome Trust, BBC, and The Open University. It was aired on BBC1 in early 2009 as part of BBC’s Darwin season. It serves as homage to Charles Darwin, whose 200th birth anniversary falls in 2009. In Darwin's “On the Origin of Species,” he used the term 'tree of life' to describe the evolutionary relationships between all living things on Earth. The collaborators intended to produce an updated version of the Tree of Life, created by Shadow Industries. Sir David Attenborough narrates this six and a half minute video, which invites you to “see how living things are related.”