So I’ve been thinking about new computers and laptops.. I really need to get one for college.
My computers are a tad on the slow side for the visual work I need them to do. Last night I decided I would open up Macromedia Director and make a very short promo for a band I took a few photos of.
The laptop died! It just couldn’t handle the jpgs I was using. I used 60 something in about 16 seconds of visuals. I was also trying to add some 3d effects on some text, which the laptop didn’t like.
I saved everything and brought it to the desktop pc – got everything done ok. Saved it as a quicktime movie. Now I’m waiting for it to upload to YouTube.
Think I might have made ‘the stage’ a little big. 19 seconds, its 98MB and taking 3 hours to upload 🙁 Ooops!
I had been looking at a couple of different computers, the Samsung N110 a bigger HP one with more RAM. What is important for me is to have one that is fast enough to run video editing software and maybe Cubase along with the Adobe Master Collection. The second thing is to have one I can bring round with me and use. I sometimes get pains in my hands, caused maybe by a type of arthritis, so it would be great for college to have the option of taking notes on a laptop.
Looking at the options I’ve thought a 13 inch laptop is still small enough to carry around but big enough to do artwork on.
So looking at everything I’ve decided I’m definitely buying a MacBook Pro. A 13inch with 4GB of Ram is working out at 1400 (with my student reduction). The HP laptop I was looking at was 899.
No decision really.
…nessy out!
I wake up at some stage during the middle of the night and find ‘Are you hoble-marching tomorrow? *hobble’ on gtalk from a friend. Hobble? Well I am on crutches! Marching? At the equality march today in Dublin.
Now I’m not one to throw a rainbow flag around my shoulders and sing from the rooftops about who shares my life. To be honest I don’t really think its anyone’s business.
So my partner and I are together nine years. Ireland is still quite a conservative place I think so a lot of times at family stuff she’s still introduced as ‘Vanessa’s friend’ or ‘a friend of the family’. We don’t mind that, when you’re dealing with an older generation you have to accept some things are different.
We knew pretty early on we were going to be together. Three months in, I was in an accident and nearly died. There was a fire in the flat next door to where I had my little flat, I was asleep in the smoke and got really bad smoke inhalation. Crawling out of the house I managed to take the skin of the side of my hand on, wait for it, a fire extinguisher!
Even though we weren’t long together my gf was the first person I called. I was so messed up she didn’t recognise me when she came to the hospital.
It was later that night that we found out why its so important to have equal rights. I took a reaction to the smoke and developed oedema in my throat. At this stage I couldn’t talk because I had scorched my vocal cords.
My gf had gone home just before I took the reaction, she had been there for something like 13 hours straight.
While the docs decided they were going to knock me out for a few days, putting me on a respirator. It was kinda scary!
I was in resusitation, with my parents but wanted my gf there. The doctors were magic! I managed to whisper and put out a number to call on my mobile, they called my gf and asked if my parents knew who she was. When she did arrive, one of the doctors distracted my parents so we could have time. I calmed down and didn’t have to go on that respirator 🙂
When I got out of hospital we wondered if I had to be unconscious what would have happened? Would gf be allowed in whenever she wanted?
Later into our relationship this was a question that bugged us a bit. What would happen? If something happened either of us, would the other be allowed make decisions? I love both our families but you never know how some people react in certain situations.
We have a happy little life, we do our own thing and support each other in whatever we do or want to do.
I can understand why some people say ‘No this is wrong’ or it shouldn’t be legal. But are we or anyone else aren’t hurting anyone? No.
Who says we shouldn’t be able to adopt if we wanted or be a legal guardian to the others birthchild.
No one is asking for some magical mystery potion that will let the ‘gays’ rule the world. We just want to do the same boring everyday life things that everyone else does – just without the drama!
Today’s march – Sunday 9th August 2009 from 1.30pm, Dublin City Hall, Dame Street
Here’s a little video to promote the event:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJ4FCDuBdp8
That will bring you to YouTube
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJ4FCDuBdp8&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6]
…nessy out!
Today (Saturday) I attended a seminar on Democracy and Dialogue, hosted by the Darklight Film Festival and the EU commission.
The day set out to be a workshop/how to make viral online videos, as the Darklight Festival are running a Democracy and Dialogue competition.
Introduced and compered by Fionn Kidney, he spoke of the viral effect. Of course H1N1 had to be mentioned. Fionn also spoke of citizen journalism, how images of Burma 2008 hit our screens. Note to self check out Burma VJ.
Derek O’Connor, director of The Darklight Festival and all round funny man (check out DorisMagee on You Tube) spoke of what makes a video go viral. Why some videos and not others.
I found Eoghan Kidney’s talk quite insightful. He has recently made some videos for Fight Like Apes and Valerie Francis. Eoghan also showed us the video he made for Le Bien. I thought this was amazing! I loved the way he was truthful talking about money and the lack of it and has a realistic outlook on the world. He’s the kind of guy who would make you want to get involved which I think is great. I love coming away with a buzz after something like that.
Here’s a link to Eoghan’s Le Bien video.
Colin Hetherington from Zoo Digital spoke about online marketing and commericals and showed us a great Philips advert, a Nike advert and the online version of the TV advert for the Army in the UK which gives you options to choose you’re next move (we always choose and then have a discussion about it when watching at home)
The individual speakers ended with Caroline Campbell, a solicitor who specializes in media law. She explained a little bit more about Creative Commons and how they work and she showed us this little video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3rksT1q4eg
The panel discussion included thoughts from Derek O’Connor, Damien Mulley, Cian O’Flaherty (who seems extremely passionate about the subject, Colin Hertherington, Shauneen Armstrong and Darragh Doyle
It was a great day and I met up also with some people I hadn’t seen in ages! The main thing I got from the day was that everyone does have a voice and you dont have to wait until to have the best equipment to start making content for the internet. Everyone has a voice, it just seems it has taken Ireland a little longer to wake up and not be afraid to make noise with theirs.
At the start of the day, two teams were given the tasks of going out into the big bad and making a viral video each..and trying to get 50 hits each before the end of the day Here’s one of them!
…nessy out!
EDIT: 10/8/09
The days proceedings have been put up on UStream
Part One:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1948055
Part Two:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1948204
Part Three:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1948539
…nessy out (again) !