ze_kinomaniak

Tweaks and enhancements

• As a number of you reported, a service interruption impaired sending and receiving notifications for a couple of days. This was due to an avalanche of snowflake cookies. We've removed the free snowflake cookie and unclogged the pipeline. Timely notifications should resume shortly. Please note that there's a backlog in our queues, so you'll be getting earlier notifications first. For more details, check out this post at lj_maintenance.
• In anticipation of the new year, we've embarked on a self-improvement kick to boost our backend (pun semi-intended). This will allow us to offer you a holiday promotion in the next few weeks (yes, we're listening and working very hard to make it happen). We sincerely appreciate your continued patience and support.

Holiday vgifts are here!

We've added some fantastic new vgifts to help you spread holiday cheer. We also hope you'll honor AIDS Awareness Month by purchasing virtual red ribbons. Priced at $2.99, we'll donate 100 percent of gross proceeds to IAVI.org (the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative) to support the development and global distribution of an affordable HIV vaccine.

Introducing: LJLimericks

We cordially here do invite you
To craft a fine limerick. Might you?
Each week, a new theme,
Then a poll, that's our dream
Winner posted on news to delight you!

In honor of all the brilliant writers on LiveJournal, we've created a brand new community: ljlimericks! Each week, we'll enter a handful of limericks into a poll (which we'll tuck snugly under an LJ-Cut). The winning poem will be published in the following newsletter. In addition, the author will receive a virtual blue ribbon! If you have the time, come drop us a rhyme. Please keep the "Nantucket" stuff on the downlow, since this is a youth-friendly community. Our first prompt is: Insomnia in winter.

Photos of the week

We're back with more incredible images from our global photography community. Congratulations to sempre_marseeya, who has been awarded a virtual blue ribbon as the winner of our second lj_photophile poll.

We hate to squelch your creativity, but, as a courtesy to other users, please post only one photo at a time and keep the main photo no larger than 350x350 (so images display properly via mobile and on friends pages). You can link to a larger image and/or post photos under a cut. Just so you know, we select photos for the poll blindly, based on user comments and staff feedback. Please continue to vote, comment, and, of course, enjoy. You can check out the week in pictures and view more awesome user content after the jump!

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Curtains

Thanks, again, for joining us. Stay warm and safe out there!

doorwindowwall
A stunning collection of images sure to delight anyone with a penchant for architectural elements, this talented community, largely from New York, is hoping to attract new members from around the world. Featuring an eclectic variety of photos depicting doors, windows, and walls, there's an interesting balance of interior and exterior shots, many from urban streets, some from ramshackle rural farmhouses. Wonderful!

Название: Название: Пророк
Оригинальное название: Un prophete
Год выхода: 2009
Жанр: драма, криминал
Режиссер: Жак Одиар
В ролях: Алаа Омузун, Нильс Ареструп, Жилль Коэн, Адель Беншериф, Соня Хелл, Жан-Филипп Риччи

Приговоренный к шести годам тюрьмы, Малик Эль Джебена кажется на фоне других заключенных самым «зеленым» и самым уязвимым. Ему 19 лет. Он не умеет ни писать, ни читать. За стенами тюрьмы у него нет близких.
Все меняется, когда Лучано, лидер авторитетной банды корсиканцев, решает поручить Малику ряд опасных и рискованных миссий… Выполнение любой из этих «миссий» под прессингом корсиканцев могло бы сломить кого угодно, но не его. Каждое задание закаляет Малика. Он быстро учится жизни в новом для себя мире. Завоевывает доверие корсиканцев и мусульман. И вскоре начинает вынашивать собственные дерзкие планы…

imdb
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Название: История Пиксара
Оригинальное название: The Pixar Story
Год выхода: 2007
Жанр: документальный
Режиссер: Лесли Айверкс
В ролях: Тим Аллен, Лорен Карпентер, Рэнди Картрайт, Дайан Дисней, Рой Эдвард Дисней, Майкл Эйснер, Том Хэнкс, Эд Катмулл, Стив Джобс, Джон Лассетер, Джордж Лукас, Брэд Бёрд, Пит Доктер

Фильм о Pixar Animation Studios - история создания, развитие 3D-анимации, секрет феномнального успеха всех фильмов студии, отношения с Disney, вклад Джона Лассетера, Эда Кэтмулла и Стива Джобса.

imdb
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Оригинальное название: Orphan
Год выхода: 2009
Жанр: ужасы, триллер, драма, детектив
Режиссер: Хаум Серра
В ролях: Вера Фармига, Питер Сарсгаард, Изабелль Фюрман, К.К.Х. Паундер, Джимми Беннетт, Марго Мартиндейл, Карел Роден, Ариана Энджиниа, Розмари Дансмор

Супружеская пара, совсем недавно потерявшая своего ребенка, удочеряет девятилетнюю девочку, которая оказывается совсем не такой милой и безобидной, как это могло показаться на первый взгляд.

imdb
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Название: Бесславные ублюдки
Оригинальное название: Inglourious Basterds
Год выхода: 2009
Жанр: боевик, комедия, драма, военный
Режиссер: Квентин Тарантино
В ролях: Брэд Питт, Мелани Лоран, Кристоф Вальц, Элай Рот, Майкл Фассбендер, Дайан Крюгер, Даниэль Брюль, Тиль Швайгер, Гедеон Буркхард, Джеки Идо

Действие картины разворачивается в оккупированной Франции. На глазах у Сюзанны Дрейфус от рук немецкого полковника Ганса Ланда погибает ее семья. Девушке чудом удается спастиcь и бежать в Париж. Там она устраивается на работу в кинотеатр. В это же время где-то в Европе лейтенант Альдо Рэйн собирает группу еврейских солдат, именующих себя «Ублюдками». К ним примыкает тайный агент Бриджет фон Хаммерсмарк, выдающая себя за актрису. Обе сюжетные линии пересекаются, когда диверсанты встречаются в кинотеатре с Сюзанной, мечтающей отомстить обидчикам.

imdb
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Название: На игре
Оригинальное название: На игре
Год выхода: 2009
Жанр: боевик, приключения
Режиссер: Павел Санаев
В ролях: Алексей Бардуков, Агния Дитковските, Сергей Чирков, Павел Прилучный, Евгений Харланов, Виктор Вержбицкий, Игорь Скляр, Марина Петренко, Тихон Жизневский, Нодар Сирадзе

После оглушительной победы на турнире по киберспорту команде геймеров вручают диски с только что разработанной игрой. Запустив игру, каждый из них подвергается воздействию, переводящему их игровые способности в реальные. Теперь и в жизни они лучшие бойцы, стрелки и гонщики. Данное событие не остается незамеченным. Властные структуры путем шантажа, обмана и подкупа предлагают геймерам «работу». Но как только обман раскрывается, становится понятно, что они не герои, спасающие страну, а банальные наемные убийцы. Встает вопрос: как быть дальше? К тому же дисков у производителя еще много, и появление таких же, как они, профи — это вопрос времени. Теперь перед геймерами стоит задача найти тираж и… либо уничтожить его, либо, создав и возглавив целую армию геймеров, диктовать свою волю… Команда разделилась. Каждый идет к своей цели.

кинопоиск

**FINAL EDIT Thu Dec 10 02:15:47 UTC 2009**

So there is the final update... Over the past day we have processed around 11 million jobs out of the 12 million that were in queue at that time. Please bear in mind that over this past day, more jobs for notifications are also created. So while the queue has been dropping, we are still not fully caught up at this point, due to backlog and new jobs. We have roughly 3 million jobs still pending that involve the notification system in some manner. We had hoped we could have fully cleared the queue in a day, but unfortunately we can't clear it too quickly, since we need the rest of the site to operate normally. From our current perspective on the amount of jobs that are left in queue, and how many it has processed thus far, we believe it will take around another 8 - 12 hours to process everything.

And finally some answers to some questions:

( Read More and Get Some Answers... )

freeskiers
While some of us long to escape the cold, dark stretch of winter for hot tropical beaches, for others, there's nothing quite like whoooooshing down those shimmering sugar alps. If you're fond of freestyle skiing, get ready to slide down the slippery slopes in good company. This passionate, international community shares travel/gear tips, anecdotes, photos, and videos for those who can't get enough of the sweet stuff.

seasonal_icons
Need some extra twinkle to decorate your place? Check out these dazzling holiday-themed icons. If you're an artist, you can post your own creations, provided you abide by the simple rules (which is to say, all cheer and no politicking). Be sure to comment and give credit if you wish to borrow a little spirit (no direct links, please). If you're feeling a touch of humbug this season, this is an instant shot of festivity.

handmade_gifts
High on creativity, but low on cash? You'll find tons of brilliant suggestions for do-it-yourself crafts sure to please everyone on your holiday gift list. Offering detailed instructions, photos, budgets, timelines, and active support, you'll soon turn spare remnants of fabric and time into cherished keepsakes. Be sure to search entries and read user guidelines before you post for help!

LiveJournal: The First Decade

Just in time for holiday shopping, we're thrilled to announce the release of our ten-year anniversary anthology. Published by Blurb.com, the book showcases a decade of extraordinary talent drawn from LiveJournal users around the world. This must-read compilation features stories, memes, photos, comics, editorials, graphic content, and more, including:

1. Excerpts from Oh No They Didn't (a/k/a ohnotheydidnt), the largest community on LiveJournal, covering celebrity gossip, entertainment news, and pop culture
2. A look at post-Katrina New Orleans from the journal of Poppy Z. Brite
3. Gripping narratives, including a poignant reverie on a blind date
4. Photography that spans the globe, ranging from old-fashioned Polaroids to underwater photography
5. Mouthwatering dishes from food_porn

What began as a late-night inspiration back in Brad Fitzpatrick's college dorm in 1999 has grown to encompass nearly 25 million users worldwide, with journals and communities covering every conceivable hobby, passion, and topic. To get your copy, please visit the Blurb Bookstore. For updates and entries from book contributors, please join lj_turns10.

Tweaks and enhancements

• You can now ban a user from all of your communities and journals at once. To access this feature, hover over the person's userpic and choose Ban user everywhere from the drop-down menu.
• Follow LiveJournal on Twitter!

Give a little to help a lot!

In honor of National AIDS Awareness month, we've added a new charitable vgift. For each red ribbon you purchase for $2.99, we'll donate 100 percent of gross proceeds to IAVI.org (the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative) to support the development and global distribution of an affordable HIV vaccine (we'll cover credit card fees). You can read more about IAVI at lj_cares. While we're on the subject, we raised $740 from our November fundraiser for Love Without Boundaries, which supports emergency healthcare and adoption of Chinese orphans. We thank you for helping us help others.

Photos of the week

We're back with more incredible pictures from our super-talented LiveJournal photographers. Congratulations to ilya_gorokhov, who is the winner of our very first lj_photophile poll.

We hope you'll continue to post, vote, and comment! A gentle request: Please post only one photo at a time and limit size to 350x350 (so images display properly on friends pages). And now, without further ado, get ready to cast your ballot and view more awesome user content after the jump!

( Read more... )

Curtains

Thanks, again, for joining us. Stay safe and snug out there!

**EDIT Thu Dec 3 23:24:15 UTC 2009 **

Hey Everyone, we are about to run the last alter job that we need to on our database servers. This will effect userpics / scrapbook / vgift images for the next few hours. Have no fear, your images aren't lost, there is just a really intensive process running on the servers which store the information for mogilefs. Thank you for your understanding and all the LJ love...

Hey LJers,

I just wanted to let you all know that we are going to be performing some mogilefs maintenance over the next few days. We will be upgrading our current version to latest stable as well as changing some db config information to better handle the amount of files we are currently hosting. This shouldn't cause a big impact on site stability, but you may see some minor delays with userpic / scrapbook images appearing or other requests associated with our mogilefs. We would love to not have that happen, but unfortunately with some of the steps we need to take we have to cause a delay with images. I figured this was a better solution than taking down all of LiveJournal because well lets face it, we all need our daily LJ fix ;)

Thanks,

backpacking
Want to embrace your wanderlust on the cheap? If you're high on adventurous spirit, but low on funds, this community can help you plan a trip to anywhere. Offering plentiful tips on how to travel light, you can post about inexpensive hotels and youth hostels if you're into urban exploration or discuss camping gear and mosquito netting for the great outdoors. Hitch your backpack, pitch your tent, and carpe diem!

bookfails
Planning to do your part to help boost the declining publishing industry this holiday? Better check here first. Sure, there are plenty of folks who post glowing reviews of their favorite books. But what about the epic fails? Compose and/or discuss snarky, incisive critiques on the books you despise most.

foundphotos
Ever stumble across a frayed photo in your grandmother's attic? How about a faded picture tucked in the sleeve of an old novel at a used book sale? This is the place to post them. An amazing, eclectic collection of photographs sure to delight anyone with a penchant for history or nostalgic memorabilia.

note_to_cat
Having trouble conveying the concept of accountability to your cat? Now you can share letters to your significant felines and give public witness to your declarations of love and domestic negotiations. Whether you want to publish an apology for falling short on your cat-nip obligations or you need to raise a delicate hygiene issue.