Completed: Unlocking Autism

i had seen a portion of this documentary a few months ago but i finally managed to see the whole thing just now.

TL;dr: It's one of the better documentaries on the subject of the Autism Spectrum and you should check it out if you have a chance.

Completed: Terms and Conditions May Apply

I enjoy documentaries.
so when a friend of mine asked what documentary i wanted to see today i looked at the list and one really caught my attention.

I'm one of those people who reads the terms and conditions. everytime.
some of the stuff in them is kinda important as an artist because some sites will lay copyright claim to your work and potentially make money of it without your consent. as an artist i kinda need to hold onto my IP and Copyright for dear life cause... it's all i've got.

i was expecting one of two things.

1. i expected it to be a documentary exposing the amount of power the terms and conditions hold over you and how you should just delete all accounts and live in a  cave on mars.

2. just talking about how stupid the terms and conditions can be.

i got a bit of the first.... but overall it was a really quite.... moderate.

The film for the most part talks about how the fact that the data websites like google and facebook can and are held in a 'encrypted' database.... which can easily enough be decrypted and cross searched and linked to you.
pretty much everything you do online/on your phone/around a camera is recorded forever.
so maybe we shouldn't be as open as some people tend to be... talking about how much they hate their boss or how much sex they are having... honestly this isn't something the world needs to know.

it had some examples of how this technology that is used to prevent crime was really just being used to stop protests or even a flash mob... instead of things like terrorist.... now i'm sure those still get caught or flagged... but still it's a bit scary some of the examples of normal people being questioned or held simply for saying a joke or planning a protest.

in the end the message is know what your getting into and understand that it's all public... even stuff you make private even things that are encrypted it's still all out there... so don't be an asshole and keep some shit to yourself if you want to have any remaining privacy left.

the end was one of the more uplifting endings to a documentary i had seen in a while, i wont spoil it but it made someone feel more human then he ever seems any other times we see them.

this doesn't completely villify companies like google or facebook or tumblr... kinda the opposite.
social media is a sort of necessary evil, everyone uses it, just be smart and understand that companies are always watching... always trying to sell things to you... using info they got from other sites.

the screening had the creator of the film, it was good to hear him answer questions i felt bad that some people asked him about why this technology didn't stop the incredibly sad boston bombing, he's just a film maker guys... he can't know why and your just putting him on the spot.

but yeah great documentary, i have a feeling it will eventually be on netflix since the documentary festival was sponsored by them and yeah netflix is a great place for documentaries to end up.
i suggest that if you have a chance see it for yourself and make your own opinion. i didn;t want to spoil too much cause yeah, it's fairly new.

but yeah i enjoyed it... unlike the other thing i finished on the way home........ i'll post that tomorrow though... i wanna end this feeling good.

you can find out more at http://tacma.net/

Completed: You've been Trumped.

I love documentaries, any time i have the chance i try to watch them... but there is one thing people need to be cognoscente of when they watch any documentary.

All documentaries, hell all media ever, have a Bias.
As human beings we can't help but have a bias. well all have things we like and don't like and that shapes us into who we are. Even those who try their damnedest to be unbiased are still biased.
such is life.
You can't take things at face value, you have to do your own research before you can truly make your opinion.

That being said this review will be based on what i took from this documentary and my own personal experience with media regarding donald trump... that is where my Bias comes from.
I still urge you to go see this film and form your own opinion, do you own research and stop letting people think for you.

So.... whats it all about?

Donald trump is a well known man with a lot of money, a lot of power and an affinity for hotels and Golf.
He sets his sight on a small shire in Scotland called Aberdeen which is known for it's natural dunes and very pretty albeit simple landscape.
The people who live there have almost all always lived there, their homes and lifestyles are simple, many are farmers, some are fishers they all have their place in the community.
However Trump things this community could really use one of his 'lovely' golf courses.
The documentary is about how he treats the locals and uses his power to get his way even when it's going above the law.

Not too long ago a trump towers was built not too far from here and i just need to say it's one of the most tacky buildings i have seen, however i will never need to use it so thast where my opinion of it ends.
What i'm trying to say is I don't personally like Mr. Trumps taste, i'm sure some do but i'm not one of them.

and maybe it's because i myself am half Scottish that i feel part of the charm of going there would be to see the countryside as it is instead of some tacky building among much simpler houses (granted he tried to hide the houses cause... who cares what the people living in the houses would think it's his land and he can do whatever he wants!)

but hey it's not like Scotland has any well established well respected golf courses.
oh... oh wait ... a quick search on this magical thing i've found at random called Google shows there are quite a few gold courses.... well... fancy that.

now i'd love to tell you trumps side on all this but considering he wouldn't talk in an interview all we get is that he doesn't like the houses there and theres an ugly win farm in the ocean thats spoiling his view.
awww muffin... life must be hard.

the way he is show treating the locals is terrible. part of that could be editing but there's a clip used off his own show mentioning that he just wants them to hide one guys house and who cares what people think, it's spoiling his view. i think theres one thing that is obvious... some people only care about themselves. It's quite sad what he does to the landscape which i thought was quite pretty.

but the worst part is.... remember that wind farm? well he's put his entire project on hold simply cause they wind-farm is just too unsightly  and it would ruin peoples enjoyment of the golf.

all that destruction
all that money
essentially wasted.

he may eventually continue to project such is up to him if he so chooses, still i think most of the world sees his empire as a joke... this is the man that tried to copyright "you're fired" simply cause he said it on his show, this is a man who has probably the most ridiculousness comb-over ever... but yeah films like this i'm sure don't help his image.

but again, do not take my word for it, if you have the chance watch it for yourself and make your own opinion. do your own research.

You've been Trumped Website

Completed: Jiro Dreams of Sushi

looks like i wront my retrospective of the past year a little too soon.

oh well, my thing talk about things right after i finish them... so that's what i'm going to do

The documentary i just finished watching is inspiring.
It's about one of the oldest and most prestigious Sushi chefs in japan and how he has perfected his craft by doing the same thing every day for the past 75 years.

It talks about his young life, about his current life and even what he figures will happen after he is forced to retire or dies.

If you consider yourself an artist in any way shape or form I would suggest you see this documentary, it's not terribly long but i found it to be quite an experience.

also when he said a meal at his restaurant is 300 dollars to start.... i damn near had a hear attack. But considering how much work is put into it i'm not all that surprised.

hm theres still time before midnight... better go draw something.

Happy New Year.
and seriously go watch the documentary... it's really good.