[7/31/2007 11:31:15 AM] pD says: saw the film blood diamond last night
[7/31/2007 11:31:48 AM] pD says: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0450259/
[7/31/2007 11:32:05 AM] pD says: Di Caprio is a much better actor than I expected
[7/31/2007 4:05:33 PM] nsy says: hm. sounds interesting. what’s your rating out of 10?
[7/31/2007 5:02:08 PM] pD says: 'm back. sorry, having a particularly bad day today
[7/31/2007 5:03:23 PM] nsy says: no problem-o. some days, i get so swamped; i just have to check out entirely. go on and do your thing. i hope its just trivial work stuff, and nothing really bad...?
[7/31/2007 5:06:00 PM] pD says: thank you for your kind words. it is a bit more than the trivial stuff - but it is a bit complicated which requires a stiff drink or two
[7/31/2007 5:06:08 PM] pD says: hmm... maybe i will make a martini when i am home
[7/31/2007 5:06:14 PM] pD says: on the movie
[7/31/2007 5:06:27 PM] pD says: it is hard to give it a straight score
[7/31/2007 5:06:37 PM] pD says: nothing is straight forward with pD
[7/31/2007 5:06:49 PM] pD says: i think the story line is good enough
[7/31/2007 5:07:00 PM] pD says: the direction and actions are quite spectacular
[7/31/2007 5:07:49 PM] pD says: the moralistic tone of the story can be a bit off-putting; but naturally, one would be hard pressed to argue that he/she is in favor of chopping people's limbs off and/or child soldiers
[7/31/2007 5:08:12 PM] pD says: it is interesting to note that the practice of chopping limbs off started with the Belgium king Leopold
[7/31/2007 5:08:35 PM] pD says: whose abuse of the Congo inspired the story of "heart of darkness"
[7/31/2007 5:08:43 PM] pD says: going back the limb chopping bit
[7/31/2007 5:08:59 PM] pD says: apparently, he demanded one limb per 100 slaves to keep the slaves in line
[7/31/2007 5:09:13 PM] nsy says: wow, seems counterproductive
[7/31/2007 5:09:26 PM] pD says: ever since, limb chopping has been a "stable" in African politics
[7/31/2007 5:09:33 PM] nsy says: hard to polish a candlestick with one hand
[7/31/2007 5:09:40 PM] pD says: well, actually, similar practice is time honored
[7/31/2007 5:10:09 PM] pD says: for example, the word "to decimate" came from the Roman practice of killing 1 in 10 of the mutiny soldiers
[7/31/2007 5:11:35 PM] nsy says: wow, i love those fun facts from pD's brain
[7/31/2007 5:11:55 PM] pD says: morbid, you mean
[7/31/2007 5:12:14 PM] nsy says: morbid=fun
[7/31/2007 5:12:28 PM] nsy says: ok, maybe not every time
[7/31/2007 5:12:58 PM] nsy says: morbid obesity = not fun
[7/31/2007 5:13:09 PM] pD says: usually though - death and sex, the two unfailing ingredient of a good joke
[7/31/2007 5:13:36 PM] nsy says: exactly!
[7/31/2007 5:13:46 PM] nsy says: especially if you can get them both in the same joke
[7/31/2007 5:14:02 PM] nsy says: wow, i'm a jerk today.
[7/31/2007 5:14:08 PM] pD says: i suppose, following the same logic
[7/31/2007 5:14:16 PM] pD says: necrophilia jokes are the funniest of them all?
[7/31/2007 5:14:23 PM] nsy says: definitely
[7/31/2007 5:14:27 PM] pD says: (you can see that one coming a mile away, no...)
[7/31/2007 5:14:45 PM] nsy says: yep, there it is on the horizon.
[7/31/2007 5:15:27 PM] nsy says: well, i'll have to tell you one of my favorite jokes offline sometime after a few martinis.
[7/31/2007 5:15:36 PM] nsy says: totally tasteless
[7/31/2007 5:17:37 PM] pD says: (still lurking, the necrophilia story...)
[7/31/2007 5:17:42 PM] pD says: speaking of tasteless
[7/31/2007 5:17:47 PM] pD says: have you seen either of these two films
[7/31/2007 5:17:52 PM] pD says: Team America
[7/31/2007 5:17:59 PM] pD says: and The Aristocrats
[7/31/2007 5:18:11 PM] pD says: they are not "tasteless" in my view
[7/31/2007 5:18:20 PM] pD says: but, conventionally speaking, they really shock!
[7/31/2007 5:19:01 PM] nsy says: America, Fuck Yeah!
[7/31/2007 5:19:24 PM] nsy says: and i only saw a scene from the Aristocrats in the Sarah Silverman Movie - Jesus is magic.
[7/31/2007 5:19:37 PM] pD says: team america was one of the few films that i was rolling on the floor literally.
[7/31/2007 5:19:39 PM] pD says: what fun!
[7/31/2007 5:20:39 PM] pD says: jesus is magic is also fun - but i would recommend aristocrat - it really gives you insights on the person telling the joke
[7/31/2007 5:20:59 PM] nsy says: i didn’t know it was out - i'll queue it up!
[7/31/2007 5:21:12 PM] pD says: and, if you want to, i think compelling arguments can be made about the notion of what constitutes "Taboo" over generations in america
[7/31/2007 5:21:28 PM] pD says: anyway, i need to leave soon to pick up the little boss
[7/31/2007 5:21:55 PM] pD says: my BIB (benevolent illustrious boss) is out of town so i am a single parent this week
[7/31/2007 5:22:58 PM] nsy says: ok, safe travels. at least the little boss will carry your genetics into the next generation to push the boundaries of what is taboo... or so we can hope. and now you have more of an appreciation for single parent’s plight ;)
[7/31/2007 5:23:19 PM] nsy says: fair well!
[7/31/2007 5:23:41 PM] pD says: appreciation ain't worth nothin'
[7/31/2007 5:23:50 PM] nsy says: hahaha
[7/31/2007 5:23:54 PM] pD says: i want an award or medal
[7/31/2007 5:23:57 PM] pD says: and big ones too
[7/31/2007 5:24:49 PM] nsy says: here's your metal! http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9ovgVXdcjBU
[7/31/2007 5:26:10 PM] nsy says: bummer - i thought it was a video of dave mustaine playing guitar. oh well, at least you got a montage. (team america sings "montage"...)
[9:03:52 AM] AE says: Look how educational legos and the internet can be!
[9:03:53 AM] AE says: http://youtube.com/watch?v=-5ak6X-mOkA&mode=related&search=
[9:06:13 AM] nsy says: the "dragging" scene is classic!
[9:06:54 AM] nsy says: wow, i didn’t know about the snake omen - cool
[9:07:45 AM] nsy says: and darth vader too! wow, that was great!
[9:07:59 AM] AE says: vader?
[9:09:09 AM] AE says: oh, conducting the Imperial march?
[9:12:20 AM] AE says: even better: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-967254940440792524&q=pink+five&total=546&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0
[9:14:47 AM] AE says: course... you have to endure some commercials first...
[9:19:14 AM] AE says: and it gets better:
[9:19:16 AM] AE says: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-734898518739208205
[9:35:55 AM] pD says: i am embedding some of the clips:
[9:36:20 AM] pD says: lego trojan war is pretty neat, somebody clearly has too much time on their hand
[9:39:09 AM] pD says: pink five: hahahah!
[9:39:11 AM] pD says:
[9:41:31 AM] AE says: oh, the last two are the best: Return of Pink Five volume one and two.
[9:41:51 AM] AE says: in reverse order: Volume 2: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8983943213224739541
[9:43:05 AM] pD says: pink five strikes back I embedded
[9:43:06 AM] pD says:
[9:47:49 AM] pD says: pretty good voices of obi wan and yoda
[9:51:56 AM] AE says: yes... it's really well done for a fan film.
[9:52:11 AM] AE says: here's volume 1 of Return:
[9:52:12 AM] AE says: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6993648185637675797
[9:52:35 AM] AE says:
[9:53:01 AM] pD says: i understand that they have to make money somehow, but i must also confess that it is annoying to have to watch the commercial
[9:53:16 AM] AE says: that's from Atom films....
[9:53:44 AM] pD says: return of pink five V2: embedded
[9:53:45 AM] pD says:
[9:53:48 AM] AE says: it' kinda why we don't got to the Cinema 9 anymore... commercials after paying full ticket prices at a theatre... bad form.
[9:54:11 AM] AE says: The embed linked was for volume 1... so I think we have the whole collection.
[9:54:16 AM] pD says: the films are pretty technically slick
[9:54:22 AM] pD says: i do wonder how they are done
[9:54:22 AM] AE says: Guess they haven't made part 3 yet.
[9:54:32 AM] AE says: CGI, green screen...
[9:54:40 AM] AE says: here's another fan film classic:
[9:54:41 AM] pD says: specifically, how do they embed characters
[9:54:46 AM] AE says: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=643405919082518371&q=troops&total=22910&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0
[9:54:51 AM] pD says: green screen makes sense
[9:54:59 AM] AE says: in the movie you mean?
[9:55:07 AM] AE says: they can simply edit them in.
[9:55:09 AM] pD says: but, that is assuming that they have access to the original film stock to superimpose
[9:55:16 AM] AE says: we can do it in Final Cut, and that's not too difficult.
[9:55:29 AM] pD says: really!
[9:55:37 AM] AE says: sure, that's stuff practically public domain now.
[9:55:39 AM] pD says: and, it would not look "obvious"?
[9:55:47 AM] pD says: i am way behind...
[9:55:49 AM] AE says: depends on how good you are.
[9:55:54 AM] pD is an old fart
[9:56:13 AM] pD says: i suppose i would need to get a mac if i ever to want to do something constructive with my video clips
[9:56:14 AM] AE says: The Pink Five series is way above the typical fan film in terms of production quality.
[9:57:13 AM] AE says: it's a good way to do it on the cheap.
[9:57:51 AM] AE says: Troops is another fan film that's very well done, acting and production quality wise.
[9:58:21 AM] pD says: yeah, you have shown me troops already
[9:58:25 AM] pD says: very cute
[9:58:47 AM] pD says: i think it would be interesting to inter-cut these films with the official version, it would be a riot
[10:23:43 AM] pD has changed the chat topic to "portable storage"
[10:23:54 AM] pD says: a quick stat: little boss turned 1 last week
[10:24:15 AM] pD says: and, i am seeing about more than 100GB of pix and video clips
[10:24:46 AM] pD says: more importantly, my 300GB HD is going to run out of space - not immediately, but it will given the growth rate
[10:24:59 AM] pD says: i have been backing up files by burning CD's
[10:25:09 AM] pD says: however, remounting CD to look for data is kind of painful
[10:25:26 AM] pD says: so, i am thinking that some kind of portable external drive could be nice
[10:25:55 AM] pD says: on a related front, when traveling, it would also be good to be able to download files from the digital camera to an external drive
[10:26:24 AM] pD says: anyway, this is my theoretical musing, do you guys have any suggestion on how to approach these needs and if you have any specific recommendation, that would be great
[10:35:10 AM] nsy says: jungledisk rules: http://www.jungledisk.com/
[11:08:57 AM] pD says: i prefer an appliance approach - something about holding the data in my own hand
[11:09:07 AM] pD says: also, when traveling, internet connection is sometimes hard to get
[11:27:31 AM] AE says: there are several one button backup solutions.
[11:27:36 AM] AE says: but they're all hard drive based.
[11:27:47 AM] AE says: and there are only two types of hard drives:
[11:27:52 AM] AE says: the kind that have failed.
[11:27:55 AM] AE says: and the kind that will fail.
[11:28:04 AM] AE says: so, it's not an archive solution.
[11:28:27 AM] pD says: it will not be for archive as such
[11:28:30 AM] AE says: There is tape... but it has many of the same problems as CD/DVD backups... mainly, they will not last 5-10 years.
[11:28:33 AM] pD says: i burn CD/DVD for archive
[11:28:48 AM] AE says: but the media has a 5 year shelf life for most of them (archive wise)
[11:29:01 AM] AE says: the best is a NAS
[11:29:16 AM] AE says: then you've got enough hard drives to back each other up.
[11:29:23 AM] AE says: when one fails, you toss it and put a new one in.
[11:29:26 AM] pD says: what I am thinking of is some sort of external drive so that i can offload files while on the road and be able to quickly access the files at home (unlike CD/DVD where i would need to copy files over to improve the performance)
[11:29:40 AM] AE says: Then get a USB 2 drive.
[11:30:01 AM] AE says: there are several small (2.5 inch) drives on the market that have 150 GB storage.
[11:30:18 AM] AE says: Or you can get a full size case and go much larger (up to 1 TB now)
[11:30:28 AM] AE says: it depends on how much gear you want to tote around.
[11:30:47 AM] AE says: La Cie makes some one button backup solutions in the 500-1 TB range.
[11:31:02 AM] AE says: brb
[12:05:46 PM] nsy says: a 16 gig thumb drive might do nicely... http://reviews.cnet.com/usb-flash-drives/axiom-usb-drive-usb/4505-3240_7-32335454.html?tag=prod.txt.20
[12:08:13 PM] nsy says: alternative mfr http://reviews.cnet.com/usb-flash-drives/edge-diskgo-usb-2/4505-3240_7-32310463.html?tag=prod.txt.18
[12:08:54 PM] nsy says: i've never heard of these manufacturers, and there are no reviews, so you could be a pioneer
[1:13:59 PM] AE says: pioneer = guinea pig
[1:16:09 PM] pD has changed the chat topic to "BFT"
[1:16:28 PM] pD says: 28-wheel truck, check out the video. it does not "look" that big...
[1:16:33 PM] pD says: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6922967.stm
[1:17:39 PM] pD says: thumb drive are too small for my purpose, unfortunately
[1:17:58 PM] pD says: i think an USB external drive with 300+GB would be ideal
[1:18:16 PM] pD says: any suggestion on that front?
[1:19:19 PM] AE says: sure: http://www.lacie.com/products/range.htm?id=10036
[1:19:54 PM] AE says: prolly this would fit your needs: http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?pid=10833
[1:20:00 PM] AE says: though it's a bit small.
[1:23:06 PM] pD says: is this any good? http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3176017&CatId=136
[1:24:38 PM] AE says: sure. friend of mine has one. but you wouldn't want to pack it along with you.
[1:24:50 PM] AE says: it's pretty big.
[1:25:01 PM] AE says: and i'm not sure how travel-worthy it is.
[1:31:26 PM] pD says: that is a good point, i did not see the measurement, but the picture does look pretty good size
[1:31:42 PM] pD says: the problem with hardware is that there is always tomorrow when things are better and cheaper
[1:33:15 PM] AE says: yep.
[1:33:31 PM] AE says: you can always get a case that's rugged and put a larger drive in it later.
[1:33:44 PM] AE says: the 2.5 and 3.5 inch form factors will not change any time soon.
[1:34:06 PM] AE says: though the internal connectors might (i'm thinking of the switch to SATA that recently occurred)
[1:38:52 PM] AE says: here's a fancy shmancy one by Porsche: http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?pid=10558
[1:39:01 PM] AE says: it's 250 GB.
[1:39:29 PM] AE says: cool, doesn't require AC power either, so you don't need to lug a brick along.
[1:39:40 PM] AE says: and it's made to travel.
[1:42:50 PM] AE says: Or there's this one: https://www.olixir.com/products_SecurFlash.php
[1:43:19 PM] AE says: They have them up to 750 GB... but expect to pay a premium (like $900!)
[1:48:26 PM] nsy says: imagine lugging this around? not! but how do they make it waterproof?
[1:48:29 PM] nsy says: http://www.klsecurity.com/disaster_ready_drive_iosafe.htm
[1:49:15 PM] AE says: wow! That's a good question!
[1:49:39 PM] AE says: how do you make an electronics device that requires cooling waterproof?
[1:57:34 PM] nsy says: what's your price range?
[1:59:34 PM] nsy says: whats the necessary storage? ex: 40 gig or 400 gig?
[2:00:38 PM] pD says: those are hard questions - fair, but i do not know
[2:01:04 PM] pD says: actually, one of the "problems" is that i have not figured out how to add a new HD onto the mother board
[2:01:22 PM] pD says: there seems to be only one bus/port for HD
[2:02:33 PM] AE says: then you can have two devices if they're ATA or SATA, the hard drive being one, the CD/DVD being the other.
[2:02:59 PM] AE says: if they’re SCSI, you can string up to 15 (depending on what variant of SCSI)
[2:03:22 PM] AE says: but these we've been showing are external; they'd hook up with USB 2.0 or Firewire.
[2:03:51 PM] nsy says: http://shopper.cnet.com/4566-3186_9-0.html?filter=503164_11795436_500076_14824018_100021_7810606_500489_5054007_
[2:22:01 PM] pD has changed the chat topic to "NY Philharmonics"
[2:22:05 PM] pD says: this is a rant
[2:22:24 PM] pD says: i was just listening to the NY Phil playing Strauss' Blue Danube (waltz)
[2:22:28 PM] pD says: it sucks!
[2:22:42 PM] pD says: the river was sluggish and muddy
[2:23:43 PM] pD says: interestingly, the same can be said of the Vienna Phil when they play American composers such as Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue
[2:24:57 PM] pD says: there is no question on the technical proficiency of both orchestras and to the extent that both pieces are very well known and falls squarely within the classical construct - you would think that both pieces can be play with a high degree of dexterity by both orchestras
[2:25:58 PM] pD says: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhapsody_in_Blue
[2:27:32 PM] pD says: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blue_Danube
[3:22:38 PM] nsy says: so, are you saying that technical proficiency is not enough to perform a piece well? if that's the case, what is missing? an understanding of the artist's intent? emotion? ...?
[3:23:53 PM] pD says: at a very crude level
[3:24:01 PM] pD says: (in the world according to pD)
[3:25:02 PM] pD says: that means the NY Phil people have not been on the silly boat for the Danube tour where they would stay left to right on waltz
[3:25:34 PM] pD says: similarly, Vienna people have a darn time getting the "swing" mood
[3:26:09 PM] pD says: i think part of it is at the gene and cultural level
[3:26:42 PM] pD says: american grow up with a particular sensibility so although people may not think of "swing" as a music choice
[3:27:11 PM] pD says: but, it is a fundamental beat in the american context - from blues, Elvis, to today's R&B
[3:27:56 PM] pD says: if you would allow the poor analogy
[3:28:12 PM] pD says: it is same as "white men cannot play basketball"
[3:28:24 PM] pD says: it is not a physical or willingness issue
[3:28:38 PM] pD is wondering if he is making any sense
[3:29:06 PM] nsy says: hahahah - yes, it makes sense, i think i catch your drift.
[3:30:00 PM] nsy says: like speaking a foreign language, it is almost impossible to get rid of your accent. natives always know "you're not from around here"
[3:31:34 PM] pD says: that is the same idea
[3:31:48 PM] pD says: i would make one modification, often time it is not the accent,
[3:32:24 PM] pD says: perversely, it is the fact that native speakers tends to be more "sloppy" with the language whereas the fluent foreigner would be speaking "proper" all the time
[3:32:59 PM] pD says: another give-away is when the foreigner is using terms that are no longer in use - learnt from text book instead of regular conversation
[3:33:32 PM] pD says: and, the flip side of the same coin is when the speaker is using excessive amount of slang - watched too much BayWatch for example
[3:33:42 PM] pD says: this reminds me of an unrelated story
[3:34:08 PM] pD says: when i was in japan, i learnt that they run a brisk business of selling the scripts to movies
[3:34:22 PM] pD says: apparently, it was considered an excellent way to learn colloquial english
[3:34:40 PM] pD says: i wonder if the advent of DVD with subtitle has killed off that business
[3:50:40 PM] nsy says: there must be an exception to the rule. can you think of any example where an orchestra plays music that originated in another culture, and does it well?
[4:02:52 PM] pD says: well, there are any number of good examples
[4:05:23 PM] pD says: for example, the most inspiring Tshechosky [i am butchering his name] performance I have heard is done by Vienna Phil
[4:05:24 PM] pD says: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyotr_Ilyich_Tchaikovsky
[4:09:05 PM] pD says: this is the CD, took me a while: http://www.amazon.com/Tchaikovsky-Symphony-No-Pyotr-Ilyich/dp/B00000IIXV/ref=sr_1_3/105-1672069-1958045?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1186009723&sr=1-3
[4:11:04 PM] pD says: similarly, a good number of american orchestras are known for their interpretation of European works - Philly under Ormandy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Ormandy
[4:11:40 PM] pD says: Chicago under Reiner: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz_Reiner
[4:11:49 PM] pD says: actually, you know what, i think i know what the catch is
[4:11:53 PM] pD says: it is the conductor!!
[4:12:18 PM] pD says: we are talking about world class orchestras with the best players from around the world.
[4:12:48 PM] nsy says: wow, interesting revelation!
[4:12:54 PM] pD says: but, if the conductor cannot find the music in his soul, there is little the players can do since the conductors ultimately controls the finer points
[4:13:20 PM] pD says: the difference in a pause that is rushed and meditated is just a split second
[4:13:27 PM] pD says: but, that makes the world of difference
[4:13:43 PM] pD says: part of it, you can attribute to personal styles, but
[4:14:10 PM] pD says: there is a lot to be said about if the performer (conductor in particular for these kinds of orchestras) gets it in his guts
[4:14:29 PM] pD says: for example, Muti and Abbado are both Italians
[4:14:42 PM] pD says: but, they can do German operas like nobody’s business
[4:15:25 PM] pD says: Muti: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riccardo_Muti
[4:15:38 PM] pD says: Abbado: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbado
==
NSA Chatters crew
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