The Year of the Snake & Comet a Coincidence ??

Greeting Folks,

2013 has been called the year of the Comets by Astronomers around the World for a reason. It's  a year that Three or more Major comets  will be Grazing by our earth and hopefully putting up a grand show of our lifetime. But the main reason is Comet ISON ( C 2012 S1 iSON ) , which will be passing by our earth this November and predicted to shine as bright as the '' Moon ''....!!! Wow !! You read it right, if  things goes according to  predictions, this baby will be a sight to behold. Just like Comet Hyakutake of 1996, it's tail would have stretch across 3/4 of the night sky.

This is a Pic of Comet Hyakutake taken back in April of 1996. If things goes as plan this is what we may likely see this coming November.

Now back to the other comets that are considered Major events for this year. Firstly, comet LEMMON  ( Which is grazing the southern skies now ) and is fading. It's the First among the three comet in our list and is visible just on top of comet Panstarrs right now. They both share the night sky this coming months.

Here's a Pic of Comet Lemmon shot recently by Rolando Ligustri of Australia. It's now a Mag 4 comet.

The Next one is of course Comet PanSTARRS ( C/ 21012 L4 ). This Comet is curently visible in the southern continent of Australia and New Zealand. It's special because it's a Twilight comet and is easy to search as it's just above the setting Sun over the Horizon. This is also a good chance for folks living along the west coast of malaysia to have a look at a Live comet ( Many have never seen a comet in their entire Life ). It's for this reason that I am organizing a Comet watch/ Star Party / Astrophotography and Creative Photography Outing for my friends and fellow Forumerd over at Chiaroscuro.net.

This is also a good chance for our friends and fellow photographers to get together and have Fun. It's also a time to share and learn from one another. Here we are all equal and everyone has the right to voice and share their opinion on any subjects matters.

A Latest Pic of Comet Panstarrs shot by George Ionas of New Zealand ( 27th of Feb ).

This is a Sky Chart from Sky & Telescope with the dates and viewing directions.

Recent brightness estimates indicate that the comet could be experiencing a surge or “second wind” after plateauing in brightness the past few weeks. If the current trend continues, PanSTARRS might reach 1st or 2nd magnitude or a little brighter than the stars of the Big Dipper when it first becomes visible to northern hemisphere sky watchers around March 7. That’s little more than two weeks away!

For Now lets just concentrate on Comet Panstarrs this coming weeks and have fun while were're at it. Below is my official Logo of the Comet watching event.

This is only the first of two Major Star gazing events i have for the year.. The second will be held around November, and that will be a Major one .... ( COMET ISON ) !!! For further info on the outing and a Detailed intinerary of the event, Please log into our 4/3's site here : 

http://mychiaroscuro.net/forums/showthread.php?t=7172

So finally, what has The Year of the water Snake has to do with all this comets ?? In my fun opinion it has to do with '' Water '', and since most comets are made up mostly Ice, and has a tail, doesn't that reminds you of the Water sssssnake ??? And to cap it all, a comet over the sky looks like a snake falling fro the skies ...Ha.Ha.!!!  Just my candid explanations of the Mythological world of Zodiacs and Astrology.

Remember, all are welcome and feel free to drop by if you're anywhere near here.


Cheers ...!!!


Regards ..... Uncle James Moh.

Where Now ?? ... Four Thirds .

Gooday Folks,

It's being a while since Oly last launch a regular 4/3 camera. If it was a stand alone system like the old days, one may say that it's a norm for oly to launch a camera every 3 to 4 years. But since the advent of Micro 4/3, Oly has been concentrating most of it's resources on the later. We can clearly see why, for it's m4/3's that's moving sales. Not that a '' one country, two system '' is bad, it's just that a lot of the regular 4/3 users are left in the doldrums.

So, the million dollar question is ... Will ( and not when ) the E-7 ( or whatever they may call it ) .... ever surface ??? This question has surface around the photographic world recently....!!  Personally, I have a hunch it will arrive, albeit a little longer, maybe around 2014 or even early 2015, the reason being the OMD ( EM-5 ). The sales and success of this baby surprise so many including Oly themselves. This camera even won a number of camera of the year awards. It's m4/3 that's making money and moving sales for Oly, so, it's only natural for Oly to concentrate it's resources on it. 

On the other hand I see the E-7 being the last of the Mohicans. Simply because like most of the top end Oly cams, it's a money losing line and an unsustainable option for any company.  The Future clearly is Micro 4/3's and one that I feel will see the test of time.

As for me, Oly will always have a place in my heart ... This collage of pics below are my Appreciation for what Oly cameras has done for me in the past. They are all Regular 4/3 cams that I have shot with, along with a theme to match. I loved them for the OOC Jpegs and Rich Oly colours. Whatever the outcome maybe , just go out and have fun, and let things take it's natural course.... Cheers !!!

Here are a set of six collage along with the cameras that the pics were shot with. They are of course Regular 4/3s cameras. The one that I didn't own were the E-330, E-3 and E-5, but I did try it out with sets from my students and friends.

Remember at the end of the day, it's the Pics that matters, for all your gears are but  just tools of your creative imaginations.


Regards ... Uncle James Moh.

'' Meanings of Life '' ... My Brief View .

Hi Folks,

“What is the meaning of life?” is hard to get a solid grip on. One possible translation of it is “What does it all mean?” One might spend a lifetime trying to answer such a heady question. Answering it requires providing an account of the ultimate nature of the world, our minds, value and how all these natures interrelate. I’d prefer to offer a rather simplistic answer to a possible interpretation of our question. When someone asks “What is the meaning of life?,” they may mean “What makes life meaningful?” This is a question I believe one can get a grip on without developing a systematic philosophy.

The answer I propose is actually an old one. What makes a human life have meaning or significance is not the mere living of a life, but reflecting on the living of a life.

 Even the most reflective among us get caught up in pursuing ends and goals. We want to become younger ; we want to read more books; we want to make more money. These goal-oriented pursuits are not meaningful or significant in themselves. What makes a life filled with them either significant or insignificant is reflecting on why one pursues those goals. This is second-order reflection; reflection on why one lives the way one does. But it puts one in a position to say that one’s life has meaning or does not.

Another way of rephrasing the question is “What is the purpose of life?” Again we all have our own subjective purposes but some would like to think there is a higher purpose provided for us, perhaps by a creator. It is a matter of debate whether this would make life a thing of greater value or turn us into the equivalent of rats in a laboratory experiment. Gloster’s statement in King Lear comes to mind: “As flies to wanton boys we are to the gods – they kill us for their sport.” But why does there have to be a purpose to life separate from those purposes generated within it? The idea that life needs no external justification. Our efforts may ultimately come to nothing but “the day was sufficient to itself, and so was the life.” (Good and Evil, 1970) In the “why are we here?” sense of the question there is no answer. It would be wrong, however, to conclude that life is meaningless. Life is meaningful to humans, therefore it has meaning.


Hence it's only logical that you and you alone can see the lights of  life in a way it's meant to be. We all have our ups and downs in life, at times even questioning the purpose of life. But in the end, it's only right that we fulfilled what we set out to do in this life, after all there's only one life. So, live life to the fullest and cherish every moment with the ones you love, be it your friends, family, hobbies or your pastimes.

Therefore ''Look to this day for it's life, The very life of life '' .... Cheers !!!

Have a nice day ahead ... !!!


Regards ....Uncle James Moh.

Those Magnificent Men and Womens of Batu Pahat !!

Hi Folks,

It's almost Election time, and as usual, those  folks who are involved directly or indirectly are busy planning for what seems likely a Game Changing year. As with the most of us, Change is something that's long overdue. Lots of us are fed up with a system of goverment that's meant for the elite few. It's a goverment that lays too much emphasis on Quotas and Racial preference, Personal Gains and where the word '' Demi Rakyat '' is pocketable. Most of them are more concern about where the next Millions are coming from. This will eventually lead us nowhere but to a Stagnatory State, where it is us the Rakyat, who suffers.

Now for something away from the norm and back to those Men and womens who made Batu Pahat Proud. Believe it or not, many folks around the country still thinks that Mr. Lim kit siang and son are from Malacca !!  Surprisingly, both the proposition and opposition of the Chinese communities are from where else but Batu Pahat. Besides the political sides of things, Batu Pahat has in the past and present produce Men and Womens of Academic, Entrepreneurship, Political, Scientific, Humanitarians, Artist, Singers and Adventurers. There is very little left to be uncovered when it comes to Talents. But of course there is always a reason behind all of this. For that I try to do a write in the near future.

Here are some of The Men and Womens that most of you are familiar with, be it famous or infamous.

How many of them can you identify ??

There's a secret behind all of this, I have my own theory, but as always there's more to it than just plain coincidence.  It's a long story but the main word here is '' WILL ''.

This are just a few amongst the Thousands of Talented B.P. rians who are spread around the world today. I will update the best of the rest in my second part of this series. This above is only the Political sides of things. Three Cheers to them All...!!!



Regards.........Uncle James Moh.

The Year That Was 2012 ( In Pictures )

Hi Folks,

It was a year that was filled with the usual Natural Disasters, Wars, Religious Conflicts, Famines, Political changes and some breakthrough Scientific discoveries. It's also a year when the world as we know it, never did comes to an end. But the Doomsday Hype did made a lot of folks in the media world Rich . It was also a year that President Obama made that 2nd term in office against all odds. The year saw the rise of the Arab Spring uprisings turns even more violents and a death toll that rises by the day. It's a sad fact of life and one can only pray and hope for the best. Be at Peace with you fellow humans whoever they may be.

As for me, there are two things that stands out , and they are my returned to roots and meeting up with my forefathers and relatives in China. The other being breaking my record for Flying in 5 different types of Aircrafts in a single year.

Here's a review of the year done in the Photographic way.....in Pictures !!!

Below are 2 sets taken by yours truly ........ First, my Flying adventures !!

The Man behind all of my Flying adventures...MR.TAY ( Instructor, Examiner, Aircraft Builder, Flight Worthy examiner and Golf Instructer ), He is of course '' The Man of the year for me.

Mr.Tay is seen here on the Left of the Pic with fellow Flying Enthusiast Haan Boon.

  

Those nostalgic trips back to Hainan, China.....My Roots and the wonderful Childrens of Hainan, China !!!

 

Now for the best of the rest of the year that was 2012....From Atlantic.com, the year in focus.

Here's my favorite 2 events of the year....Felix Baumgartner's record Skydive from the edge of space and The discovery of the '' God Particle '' by CERN.

The Best of the rest, Stunning shots from around the world. These here are a good example of the phrase '' A Picture is worth more than a thousand words ''. This is the part of Photography where the word '' Capturing The Moment '' clearly defines it all.

Here's wishing that 2013 will be a year where your Dreams, Enthusiasm, Goals, Passions and wishes comes true. May you accomplish whatever you set out to do and may Peace, Good Health and Prosperity be with you all.....Cheers !!!

Regards...........Uncle James Moh.

A Christmas and New Year Message

Ho, Ho, Ho Folks....Here's my Fresh '' Out of the Oven '' Macro shot of Water Droplets taken late this evening. Since we don't have Snow over here, but what we have are abundant Rainfall and loads of Raindrops...!!! And what better way to Wish our christian friends here and around the world than a '' Tropical Blue Droplets '' Christmas and A Happy and Prosperous New Year......Cheers !!!

Pic shot with a 85mm Micro Nikkor F/3.5 and Nikon D80.

Cheers...!!! Uncle James.

Some Thoughts on 2012

Hello Folks...The year is drawing to a close and 2012 was another year filled with the usual Natural disasters , uprisings, political turmoil and another Mass killings due to the ( Lax 2nd Amendment Laws ). What a sad way to end the year and my heartfelt condolences to those who have loss their loved ones. It is still a Noisy and confusing world that we live in. Show compassion and love to all living things as a whole, and this world would be a better place for all of us. Here's a pic dedicated to all of you here and folks around the cyber world....Cheers !! James.

 

 

Hi Folks,

Here's another Pic with a Quote of the day . Just to warm things up on a Cold and Rainy day.






Cheers !!....Uncle James.

Hi folks,

It's been a while since I last posted any thoughts or article here.I think I will, as usual, do it the Photographic way, by means of Pictures. From now on I shall do it on a '' THOUGHT OF THE DAY '' basis. I will pop in a Pic along with a Quote of the day.

Here's sharing one for Today .....Cheers !!!

Regards......Uncle James.

The World From Above...'' A Bird's Eye View ''

Howdy Folks,

Here's a Quick series of Five random shots taken recently while flying on a '' SKYWALKER II '' Ultralight aircraft. They were all shot over and around the Tanjung Labuh Airfield with my Trusty EPL-2 & Kit lens.

As you can see, flying has always been one my dream since my childhood days. Eventhough I can't fullfill the Fighter Pilot dream, any form of flying would have had me on cloud 9. I love anything and everything related to Flight....from Model airplanes to Balsa gliders during my younger days and recently those remote control aircraft and even UFO'S.

Besides Flying, my other Hobbies and pastimes includes  Audiophile, Archeology, Astronomy, Antiquites & Antique Appraising, Aero-Modelling, Birding,  Photography, Philosophy and Religious Studies, Nature Conservancy and Volunteerism and last but not least Travel.  This has taken up a large portion of my spare times and of course my Finances.

Here's sharing my first of the many Hobbies and pastimes...To begin with, I shall start with a mix of both Photography and Ultralight Flying.

Here are some recent updates as of September 2013.

Thanks for taking the time and effort  just to browse through my Blog.

Regards........James Moh.