Protected: Fostering a 5 year old girl, Sanoe
Posted by: evanbabes on: March 31, 2011
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Animation Exhibit at Bishop Museum
Posted by: evanbabes on: March 28, 2009
Last Thursday, we took our daughter to the Bishop Museum where they currently have an exhibit on Animation in collaboration with the Cartoon Network.
It was really neat and fun for the kids. For those who have not seen this exhibit yet, below is some information. You can also check their website: Bishop Museum.
Six thematic areas are explored in the Animation exhibit:
History: Learn about early animation and apparent motion. Visitors can try using a praxinoscope, posing a three-dimensional figure and spinning it to se the figures morph into a single animation. At the penny Arcade, you can “crank” out animations with an old-fashioned mutoscope.
Animation Studio: Explore the process of animation, story creation, and animator techniques and tools. You can develop a storyboard from a series of picture cards, design objects with a pantograph, and create scenes using layered cels and moving backgrounds.
Art in Motion: With help from the characters of Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, discover why art and math are important allies when it comes to creating characters, motion, and change. The illusion of movement will come alive as you magically “move” around a room without using your legs.
Animation Laboratory: In Dexter’s Laboratory, you can delve into the science and technology that make animation possible. Create the illusion of a bouncing ball with the technique of ”squash and stretch” and find out how the action slows down or speeds up with time-lapse videos. You can also see yourself hover while exploring visual effects in a full-body interactive experience.
Sound and Stage: Discover the principles of sound and phonetics with the Kids Next Door, while exploring the complexity of matching phrases to different mouth shapes. You can add your own voice to a silent animation, and set the mood of the film by selecting background music from a variety of soundtracks.
Cartoon Museum: Take a seat in an intimate theater setting and view clips of popular animations while learning the secrets behind their production. Examine important artifacts such as cels, models, and storyboard drawings from classic and favorite animations such as Scooby-Doo, The Powerpuff Girls, and The Flintstones.
Protecting children against online crimes
Posted by: evanbabes on: March 26, 2009
Computer Abuse: Does Restricting Online Information Protect Children?
Introduction
Computer and online crimes against children are becoming common. Sex offenders have learned to use the internet to share pornography and recruit children into sexually illicit relationships. With an estimated 24 million children now online, 75% of these children are willing to share personal information about themselves and their families. On the other hand, only 25% of the youth who encountered a sexual solicitation told a parent and only 1/3 of the households with internet access are proactively protecting their children!
Use of Filtering Software
A filtering software is available to help parents and schools control or block objectionable content delivered over the Web. Among the popular ones include Net Nanny Parental Controls, Safe Eyes and CYBERsitter. Some content-control software includes time control functions that empower parents to set the amount of time their child may spend accessing the internet or playing games or other computer activities.
Problems of Filtering Software
When imposed without the consent of the user, content control can constitute censorship or violation of free speech rights of the individual. It can also pose a problem when it is unable to discriminate between information that is objectionable and content that is informational. Furthermore, designers of objectionable sites have learned to disguise the content of their sites so that it fools the filters.
Alternatives to Filtering Software
Parental controls can also be implemented without using a filtering software. Your web browser allows you to restrict or allow certain web sites to be viewed on your computer, and you can protect these settings with a password. You can also give your child a separate account and set the amount of access and number of privileges she/he can have.
Conclusion
As a parent with a 7 year old daughter myself, what struck me more is the small percentage of households proactively protecting their children. While a filtering software and other alternatives may be helpful, the key is keeping the lines of communication open. Parents should educate and warn their children about the dangers of using the internet and monitor their computer activity. Parents should also be aware of the telltale signs that they may be breaking the rules, indicating the need for more monitoring of their use of the internet.
References
Child Computer Usage Statistics. Retrieved March 13, 2009, from Online Child Computer & Internet Abuse Statistics Web site: http://www.snapshotspy.com/online-child-abuse-statistics.htm#child
Keeping Children Safe Online. Retrieved March 13, 2009, from National Cyber Alert System Cyber Security Tip ST05-002 Web site: http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/ST05-002.html 2009
Internet Filter Software Product Comparisons. Retrieved March 13, 2009, from Internet Filter Software Review Web site: http://www.internet-filter-review.toptenreviews.com/
(I wrote this paper for my ICS 100 class)
Discovering the Honolulu Academy of Arts
Posted by: evanbabes on: March 21, 2009
We took our daughter to Honolulu Academy of Arts to see their exhibit on African Art Collection. There were two exhibits that caught my interest: the Female figure that is made of wood and covered with colorful beads and the Bridal Trousseau called Arkila Kerka (Mosquito Blanket) made of cotton, rayon, plain and supplementary weft weave
The Female Statue
A short description of the statue said that rulers use lavish materials to proclaim their power, wealth and status and to impress and control their people by making a statue.
Extraordinary beaded statuary of royal couples come from the Cameroon grasslands. The fon or local chief, orders thrones and life-size sculptures to be built for use in court ceremonies. Wooden images are first carved and then covered with colorful beads imported from Venice or Bohemia. Cameroon craftsmen stitch the beads in rows on a cloth, then fir the cloth around the form, being careful to follow the contours of the body with the lines and shapes of the colored beads. The red color covering this female statue is a symbol of life and fertility. The other strong colors provide liveliness to her rigid stance.
A pair of female and male figures is typically found on the back of the Mamileke ruler’s ceremonial throne and foot stool (mendu yenu). Representing the king and queen, the figures holds symbols of power: a decorative bowl for kola buts, a carved drinking horn (as seen to the far left), and royal necklaces for adornment.
Bridal Trousseau Arkila Kerka (Mosquito Blanket)
A kerka is usually commissioned by the family of the bride as part of her trousseau and is extremely expensive to make. The weaving may take two months to complete and during that time the weaver and his family are supported by the bride’s family who sacrifices animals several times to give feasts for the occasion.
An especially large type of blanket is made of six narrow strips, each decorated with traditional geometric patterns of talismanic natures commonly seen in kerka blankets. One end strip depicts a slightly different design sequence, giving the piece a subtle but interesting rhythm.
A Fulani weaver wove this stunning arkila kerka for a wealthy Bozo family in the
Central Niger River area. A large caste of skillful male weavers among the Fulani is known for producing handsome thick wool blankets, mostly worn by men to protect against the cold weather and mosquitoes. The Fulani (Peul) people live in Mali, concentrated in the inland delta of the Niger River. Most are pastoralists moving through the flood plains according to a seasonal patterns.
We sponsored a child from the Philippines
Posted by: evanbabes on: October 26, 2008
On September 13, 2008, we sponsored a child from the Philippines through the joint efforts of our home church and Compassion. What we basically do, through this sponsorship, is financially support this kid through school. With $32 a month, we are ensuring this little girl’s future. There were 500 kids presented in our church that night and we picked a girl who is about my daughter’s age.
Her name is Rica Mae Durango who lives with her grandfather and her mother. Her profile states that her duties at home include washing clothes, helping in the kitchen and running errands. Her grandfather is not employed and her mother is sometimes employed as a laborer.
Rolling a hoop, singing and playing with dolls are Rica’s favorite activities. She lives in the hillside community of Brgy. Poblacion, Prosperidad, Agusal del Sur, home to approximaely 32, 000 residents. Typical houses are constructed of wood and native thatch roofs.
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