Greetings and salutations!

Some brief updates...

Photos
My recently reorganized photos, including a collection from my most latest trip to Israel, can be found at the address below. Yes, there is a signup but it takes a whole of 2 seconds and you don’t have to check your email for confirmation or anything; you’ve got instant access! Alternatively, click the Browse My Photos link on the left.
http://www.snapfish.com/share/p=327271133164687841/l=68808347/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB

News of Mine
I recently joined the Beltline Toastmasters, affiliated with Toastmasters International. There is actually quite a lot of other news to report, but unfortunately this well have to wait.

News of the World
Of course, as Jon Stewart tells me, we’ve headed into another ever-so-significant election in Canada. Keep on top of things here (http://www.fromtheridings.ca/main/index.php). Speaking of Jon, I was thrilled to hear he'll be hosting this year's Academy Awards (aka. Oscars) ceremony! There have finally been some good movies out this year! The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was wonderful. King Kong was simply too long. Syriana was, without doubt, one of the most important movies I've ever watched. I am very much looking forward to Munich and other upcoming films. Following up on my prediction regarding cinema memberhsips, well known director Stephen Soderbergh has echoed an idea I have championed for a long time. http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.12/soderbergh.html

The insane Christmas lights display you’ve all heard about. http://www.jsmiller.com/dload/lights.wmv

Missing Plutonium is always good times.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/11/30/BAGGQFVT7J1.DTL

Despite progress with Blue-Ray & PS3, Sony once again does something stupid. On the upside, mass reports of crashing Xbox 360s abound, and a recent Nielson survey found 53% of respondents said they would wait for the PS3 release before choosing what console to buy.
http://news.com.com/2061-11199_3-5975007.html?part=rss&tag=5975007&subj=news

Speaking of Xbox, quite possibly one of the coolest ads ever! http://www.linkshard.com/link.asp?ID=756

It’s real…seriously. http://www.breathcapture.com/default.asp

Quotes
C.S. Lewis – “Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.”

Carl Orff- “I am often asked why I nearly always select old material, fairy tales and legends for my stage works. I do not look upon them as old, but rather as valid material. The time element disappears, and only the spiritual power remains. My entire interest is in the expression of spiritual realities. I write for the theater in order to convey a spiritual attitude.”

Maya Angelou – “If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realities.”

A previously published statement by one of the CPT members presently being held hostage in Iraq which I found particularly relevant:"Does that mean I walk into a raging battle to confront the soldiers? Does that mean I walk the streets of Baghdad with a sign saying ‘American for the Taking?’ No to both counts; but if Jesus and Gandhi are right, then I am asked to risk my life and, if I lose it, to be as forgiving as they were when murdered by the forces of [darkness].''

Fictional Dreams
Twilight comes, I am wrapped in eager stars
Covered in night's warm blanket
I stare into Heaven's throneroom
An awed coutier from the galleries of the forgotten
And I remember that ethereal splendour was for me

With Hope,
Joseph

Toastmasters | Jon Stewart | Syriana