Sunday night (11/29/09) at 7pm on CBS, 60 Minutes will be airing a segment on the violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  As you may know, Roger and his family, Christ Church United attendees for the past couple months, escaped the violence of the Congo by immigrating to Uganda until they were able to come to the U.S. just recently.  I encourage you all to watch this 60 Minutes segment to educate ourselves a bit about the country of origin of one of our newest CCU families.

60 Minutes on CBS this weekend (7pm EST) will follow John Prendergast of the Enough Project to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to monitor the black market trade in ‘conflict minerals’ – mined in Congo, controlled and traded by armed groups, and used in electronics such as cell phones and mp3 players.

60 MINUTES TAKES ON CONGO’S CONFLICT MINERALS – ALL-NEW THIS SUNDAY

Flip Mino Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Spring Garden)

It’s not just what you say, it’s what you say it with. The Flip Mino camcorder combines remarkable video quality in a pocket-sized package that’s designable.

Reviews from Customers

“Great small camcorder”
The Flip Mino is a great small camcorder for the price, mainly because of the form factor. It’s a lot thinner and smaller than the Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60-Minutes (White), yet yields equal performance. The only negative is that it doesn’t take AA batteries like the Flip Ultra because it’s so thin. Instead, it has a non user replaceable built-in lithium ion battery like an iPod.

The Flip Mino does not neccessarily replace the Flip Ultra and the Flip Ultra is being sold side by side with the Flip Mino. And, the Flip Mino doesn’t come in as many colors, only a black version and a white version.

I would say If you already have a Flip Ultra, you may not want or need to buy the Flip Mino (unless you really want the smaller form factor or you have money to burn) since it yields about the same video and audio quality. If you don’t own a Flip video camera yet, the Flip Mino is probably the one to get unless you require AA batteries which admittedly is nice because they are readily available everywhere. I actually prefer AA batteries over an internal rechargeable battery that over a few years will start to lose it’s charge and not last as long between charges.

That said, the Flip Mino is pretty nice because it’s so small and thin.

Even though I have a digital point and shoot still camera that can shoot video, I find it easier to shoot video with the Flip Mino. The vertical form factor is better suited to shooting video. The built in software is nice and it’s built into the camera so you need not install anything on your computer.

The Flip Mino is a great ‘take everywhere’ video camera that fits in your pocket and can yield some creative and endearing videos.

“Great compact device you can take everywhere!”
The form factor on this product is great. Its noticeably smaller (in both the pocket and the hand) than its predecessor – the Flip Video Ultra Series, 60 min. And the Ultra was already compact to begin with! The sleek size was important to me because I just won’t bring a camcorder out with me if it doesn’t fit easily in my pocket. This device did just the trick. If you don’t care about size (i.e., because you will just put it in your purse, etc) then I would suggest saving the money and getting the Ultra, which lists for about $50 or so less.

As far as I can tell, the video quality and functionality is about the same as the Ultra and they both have the 2GB of memory, similar 1.5″ screen size, digital zoom etc. So the only reason in my mind to get this is for the size advantage. But for me, size does matter. When I think about how many moments passed by unrecorded simply because it was too cumbersome to take a camcorder along, it really makes me wish they made this Mino years ago!

For those of you unfamiliar with Flip camcorders, the Mino has suprisingly good VGA video quality. I’d put it on par with that of much larger, more expensive traditional camcorders. The Mino also records well in a variety of light settings. The lack of a true optical zoom is probably to be expected given the small size, but the 2x digital zoom is good enough for most casual settings. The design is well thought out to avoid many of the classic pitfalls of portable devices – there’s a scratch resistant covering on the lens, an on/off switch on the side that is difficult to trip accidentally and a centrally located record button that has enough resistance to avoid unintentionally starting/stopping recording (I know some have issues with the Ultra record button but I have not).

I have a PC at home and the Mino truly is a plug-and-play device. You don’t have any confusing software or cables to muddle around with. Simply plug the USB adapter into your computer and you’re ready to go! It’s great for the non-technically savvy. I also like the rechargeable built-in battery in the Mino (which is a new feature). It recharges like an iPod, either in the computer or through an outlet which is convenient. I can’t attest yet to the battery life/quality but I figure by the time it dies out on me, I’ll be well on my way to buying a next generation Flip Micro!

I noticed the price dropped on the black Flip Mino. For those of you who don’t know (Amazon doesn’t advertise this) Amazon not only has a 30 day return policy, but a 30 day price adjustment policy as well. So if you bought your Flip in the past 30 days, you can call them up and they will immediately refund the difference to you with no hassles. This policy holds for all products directly sold by Amazon.

“Entrepreneurial videos”
I love my new Flip Mino camcorder. I was mega-skeptical about how good

something this tiny could be, but I needed something quick, easy and

practical for sales-oriented website videos. I was amazed at how easy it

is to use the Flip Mino, and at the quality of the end product video.

Is it the “perfect” camcorder for every ocassion? No, but for those

impromptu, “down & dirty”, on the spot videos it beats the heck out of

using a big camcorder…or a cellphone. I considered buying a Sony

“Webbie”, but dollar for dollar you can’t beat a Flip.

See all detials of Flip Mino Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Spring Garden)

In medicine, before being given a treatment or procedure a patient has the right to “informed consent,” meaning that the patient should be educated by their physician regarding the nature and purpose of treatment, risk and benefits, as well as alternatives. I recently watched an interview on 60 minutes with Dr. Ira Byock, former president of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, where he advocated that some terminal patients should not be given choices. He believes that some patients shouldn’t have the right to CPR with a defibrillator or to invasive procedures because it may only extend their life for a few months. In his eyes, those few months are not worthwhile based on age and their physical condition. He also went on to say that these procedures should not be funded by the government, i.e. tax-payer, while at the same time he openly supports government-run health care. Dr. Byock is espousing that patients shouldn’t be given so many choices; now, a patient that is chronically ill or dying is given options on treatment and able to make their own decisions as to whether the risk/pain of invasive action is worthwhile to them. Byock wants to take these choices away, saying that we should not look at people on a “case-by-case basis” but that we should make determinations about whether people with certain medical conditions should be allowed treatment.
This attitude scares me, not just because I believe in the sanctity of life but also because I believe in patients’ rights. A patient no longer having the right to informed consent because the government is footing the bill is a proposition that would change medicine as we know it. The first rule of medicine is to do no harm; medicine without choices doesn’t live up to this oath.

Adam Lambert, J Lo levando um tombo… a transmissão da ABC do American Music Awards foi recheada de acontecimentos. A premiação atraiu 14.2 milhões de telespectadores e fez ótimos 5.5 pontos na demo qualificada 18-49. Essa é a maior audiência da premiação desde 2002 e a melhor demo desde 2004. Por mais menosprezado que seja, o AMA’s foi a terceira premiação mais assistida do ano, perdendo apenas para o Oscar e para o Grammy.

Mesmo com tudo isso, quem venceu a noite foi a… NBC. Pois é. A emissora exibiu seu tradicional Sunday Night Football. O jogo Philadelphia Eagles Vs. Chicago Bears atraiu 15.1 milhões de telespectadores e excelentes 5.6 pontos na demo qualificada.

A CBS invertou a ordem de exibição de ‘Cold Case’ e ‘Three Rivers’ esperando por audiências melhores, mas as coisas não mudaram tanto assim. ‘Cold Case’ (9.2 milhões e 2.o pontos) caiu um pouco em relação a semana passada e ‘Three Rivers’ (7.7 milhões e 1.6 ponto) teve a pior audiência de sua história. A emissora ainda exibiu ‘60 Minutes’ (15.7 milhões e 3.4 pontos) e ‘Amazing Race’ (11.8 milhões e 3.5 pontos).

Já o bloco animado da Fox esteve todo em queda*: ‘The Simpsons’ (7 milhões e 3.3 pontos), ‘Cleveland Show’ (6.5 milhões e 3.3 pontos), ‘Family Guy’ (7.4 milhões e 3.8 pontos) e ‘American Dad’ (5.5 milhões e 2.8 pontos).

* Peço desculpas pela ausência das porcentagens nos números da Fox. A audiência de domingo não foi muito clara.

Seit James Cameron (Terminator, Aliens, Titanic) vor vielen Jahren bekannt gab, an seinem Traumprojekt AVATAR zu arbeiten, freue ich mich auf diesen Film. Am 17. Dezember ist es endlich soweit und AVATAR stürmt die deutschen Kinos. (Übrigens zeitgleich mit Spike Jonzes WO DIE WILDEN KERLE WOHNEN… der 17.12.09 ist wohl ein cineastischer Feiertag)

Bei 60 MINUTES auf CBS gab James Cameron jetzt einen interessanten Einblick in die Arbeit an AVATAR und präsentiert auch einige neue Szenen. Alles Fans sollten sich das auf keinen Fall entgehen lassen…

Healthcare is being debated in Congress and one of the issues on the table is the rationing of healthcare.   People are concerned that treatment they need won’t be available to them because there are parameters that prohibit you from receiving a particular treatment, medication, or even surgery.  NPR had a journalist on discussing this matter and some of the callers brought up some very interesting issues.

One caller L. stated that his father at 87 years old needed a valve replacement.  The family sat with him and discussed the pros and cons of the surgery.  After careful consideration they decided not to proceed with the surgery.  The outcome?  He lived for another two years and didn’t have to spend six months recuperating from a drastic surgery. 

60 Minutes had Ira Byock on discussing these parameters and it brought some interesting issues to light.  One patient age 63 was having lung and kidney failure.  He was going to need a double transplant, but in order to be considered the patient needed to start exercising and eating.  Dr. Byock discussed the possible need for CPR and the patient decided that yes, he wanted to be resuscitated in case his heart stopped.  Is there any quality of life at this point?  I believe that’s the question that is on everyone’s mind; how can you decide what’s enough and when do you stop any treatment allowing the patient to die.

I wrote an entry about informed medical decision-making.  It’s important that each of us has as much information as possible when making these life and death decisions.  Is it fair that the medical community puts conditions on care?  In order for a recovering alcoholic to receive a liver transplant they need to have at least one year of sobriety, that’s a parameter that doesn’t seem to be argued.

During these debates I hope you’re considering your own quality of life and what limits you would put on your own treatment strategies.  These are the times when digging deep can save you a lot of pain and anguish and save your family from making decisions they may not want or be able to make on your behalf.  The other side of the coin is deciding when it’s time to fight for treatment you believe will extend not only the length of your life, but the quality to live that life to the fullest.

Take some time to really consider your wishes as it pertains to end-of-life care.  Think about what you and your family are willing to endure.  The 60 minutes interview talked about how many people live out their last weeks of life in the intensive care unit.  Is that something you would want for yourself or would you prefer to have other plans in place.  Talk to your providers about all the options.  Have a living will or a durable power of attorney for healthcare in place outlining in detail your wishes.

Let your voice be heard during this debate.  Your elected officials are making decisions that may impact not only the type of care you receive but the amount of care you receive.  Should it really be up to them?

It’s a profoundly sad commentary on the “debate” about healthcare in the U.S. Congress that the pivotal issue of “end-of-life” medical care can no longer be discussed without invoking ridiculously offensive terminology such as “Death Panels” (thanks Sarah Palin!).

In this regard, last night’s edition of 60 Minutes featured a very incisive and sometimes disturbing piece on the subject, explaining why, as palliative care physician Dr. Ira Byock contends, many Americans are “dying badly” in the present system.

Could it be that profit, greed and fear of litigation, combined with a fundamentally irrational inability to confront mortality in a realistic way are behind so many people dying without dignity or comfort?

Note: Unfortunately, CBS hasn’t posted the complete episode on YouTube yet, but it can be watched here and the full transcript of the piece is available here.

p.s. Just to add a wry little footnote to this, what I found most provocative was Byock’s assertion about the delusional nature of a great many people when coming to grips with death, especially given that the overwhelming number of Americans claim to believe in “God” and existence in the Great Hereafter awaiting them following the magical teleportation of their spirit to the ethereal realm of Heaven or whatever… As such, their grimly determined reluctance of shake off this sinfully mortal coil would seem to indicate an alarming lack of the “faith” they’re so adamantly convinced of otherwise. Curious that.

CBS 60 Minutes made this Avatar interview available with James Cameron as an embed. I can’t embed it here since it’s a hosted WordPress blog, but I’ve linked to it below over at CBS. I was shocked to find that at around the 59 second mark you can totally see the back of me! I was privileged to spend a day as an extra, and watching James Cameron and Stephen Lang work was something I’ll never forget.

I’m to the left of the shot wearing a blue shirt. Yeah, that’s right, the balding guy…

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5737218n&tag=api

EDIT 23/11/2009:

Thankfully this has been posted on YouTube by a couple of people, so here’s an embed of part one of the story.

Il mitico 60 minutes della CBS ha dedicato un interessante reportage a James Cameron ed al suo nuovo film.

James Cameron intervjuades av CBS-veteranen Morley Safer på 60 minutes. Cameron avslöjade fler detaljer om filmen Avatar och vi får se aldrig tidigare publicerat material. 

FilmMedia-Filmblogg

Every now and then they still show some cajones.

This one was good. I have watched this process up close and personal. It is real. And it is a horrible creepy waste of public money.

Sometime awhile back and somewhere in blog comments at Planet Preterist, I noted the observation of how scripture has a Rorschach quality (which no one that I am aware of responded to).
From my current reading I have, interestingly, ran across an essay by an atheist that tackles the moral argument and mentions:

Far from being a truly independent guide to moral conduct, the Bible is more like a Rorschach test: which passages people choose to emphasize reflects as much as it shapes their moral character and interests.

– Elizabeth Anderson (from If God Is Dead, Is Everything Permitted?) Quote taken from Book Review: The Portable Atheist

Now notice a couple striking parallels from scripture:
1. 1 Corinthians 13:12
“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.“
2. James 1:23
“For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.“
===============

And on TV Sunday, November 15, 2009 –

All the homes are built with nothing but reeds. “Without reeds, you can’t have this way of life. Reeds are the skeleton of these people’s lives,” Alwash said.

The house of reeds is called a “mudhif.” Alwash wanted one as a meeting hall for his project, and we were there to watch the construction. It is made of nothing but reeds bound by reeds.

The arches are planted in the ground and pulled into shape. Then woven mats cover the top. Alwash’s mudhif is 15 feet tall and 70 feet long. It is where we did our interview and where one of the village elders came to entertain us, singing traditional songs.

Looking at 5,000-year-old carvings, it is easy to see close similarities of the structures then and the mudhifs of today.

Near the marshes, the Sumerians erected a temple at the city of Ur, known as a ziggurat. The Sumerians thought the marshes were so important they wrote a story about them.

The story goes that the gods grew angry at man, so they sent a deluge to cover the Earth. One of the gods thought that was a terrible idea, so he warned one man to build a boat and save all the animals.

The people of this region came up with that story hundreds of years before the Old Testament gave us Noah. (emphasis added)

(page 3 of transcript for the segment — Iraq’s Marshlands: Resurrecting Eden – 60 Minutes – CBS )
An intriguing footnote in a remarkable story of revival after severe devastation by tyranny

Pēdējās dienās pasaulē pieaudzis cilvēku skaits, kuri cenšas atrast informāciju par to, kas ir resveratrols! . Kāpēc? Jo zinātnieki atklājuši, ka šī viela, kas nelielā koncentrācijā atrodama arī sarkanajās vīnogās un sarkanvīnā, var kalpot par dzīves pagarinātāju.

Pēc tam, kad par šīs vielas ietekmi uz dzīves ilgumu ASV raidsabiedrības CBS ēterā reportieri pastāstīja raidījumā 60 Minutes, vārds „resveratrol” kļuva par piekto meklētāko vārdu internetā ASV.

Zinātnieki atklājuši vielu – resveratrolu – kas labvēlīgi iedarbojas ne tikai uz sirds veselību, bet daudz lielākā koncentrācijā spētu pagarināt cilvēka dzīves ilgumu, pasargājot no veselības problēmām un vairākām ar vecumu saistītām slimībām, piemēram: Alcheimera slimību, sirds slimībām u.c. Raidījumā tika pieļauta iespēja, ka pavisam drīz cilvēki varēs lietot īpašas, šo vielu saturošas tabletes, kas dzīvi pagarinās vismaz par 30%.

Pētījumos iesaistītais zinātnieks Kristofs Vestphāls (Christoph Westphal) atzinis, ka ar šo līdzekli būtu diezgan pagrūti 70-gadīgu pensionāru pārvērst par 35-gadīgu, bet lietojot preparātu būtu iespējams palēnināt novecošanās procesus.

Pētījumi šajā jomā oficiāli tika sākti 2003. gadā, kad pie kopīgiem izpētes darbiem ķērās Hārvardas universitātes speciālisti. Viens no zinātniekiem – bioķīmiķis Deivids Sinklērs (David Sinclair) jau bija veicis virkni pētījumu jomā, pierādot, ka iespējams pagarināt dzīvības procesus raugā. Lai gan raugs no cilvēka sarežģītās uzbūves atrodas krietni tālu, tomēr izrādās, ka gandrīz visām dzīvām būtnēm ir viens kopējs gēns – sirtuīns, kas parasti ir neaktīvs, taču aktivizējoties tas spēj nodrošināt dzīvības funkciju pagarināšanos šūnās.

Turpinot pētījumus un testējot neskaitāmas vielas, kuras varētu veicināt šī gēna aktivizāciju, pētnieks atklāja, ka tas visveiksmīgāk notiek tieši resveratrola ietekmē, kas savukārt visbiežāk atrodams tieši sarkanvīna sastāvā un sarkano vīnogu miziņās.

Šis atklājums savukārt lika pavisam savādāk paskatīties uz daudz senāku pētījumu, kas tika veikts apmēram pirms 17 gadiem. Toreiz zinātnieki centās izskaidrot, tā saukto „franču fenomenu”, mēģinot atklāt, kā iespējams, ka francūžiem, kuri uzturā lieto samērā treknu pārtiku, dzīves ilgums ir tāds pats kā tiem, kas ievēro veselīgākus ēšanas paradumus. Tagad tiek uzskatīts, ka mīklas atminējums ir sarkanvīns, ko francūži lieto savā ēdienkartē, bet tajā esošais resveratrols aktivizē sirtuīna gēnu un tas rūpējas par dzīves ilguma pagarināšanu.

Pēc šo atklājumu un sakritību konstatēšanas, zinātnieki savā darbā iesaistīja arī pētījumu institūtu no Kembridžas, kas sadarbībā ar farmācijas kompānijām pašlaik strādā pie resveratrolu saturošu tablešu izgatavošanas.

Izklausās jauki, taču ir arī kāda negatīvā lieta – resveratrols uz sirtuīna gēnu vislabāk iedarbojas, ja ķermenis ir izbadējies. Eksperiments jau veikts ar pērtiķiem, kuri sadalīti divās grupās, no kurām viena saņēmusi kalorijām nabadzīgāku pārtiku, kamēr otra grupa barota kā ierasts. Visi saņēmuši arī resveratrola devu un vislabāk tā iedarbojusies uz pirmo pērtiķu grupu.

Apzinoties, ka badošanās nebūs veiksmīgs ieteikums tiem, kas vēlēsies lietot dzīvi pagarinošās tabletes, speciālisti pašreiz strādā, lai tās uzlabotu un cilvēki nākotnē varētu saņemt preparātu, kas nodrošinātu organismu ar nepieciešamajām kalorijām un vitamīniem, neļaujot justies izsalkušam, bet tajā pat laikā garantētu, ka tiek uzņemta viela, kas veicinās dzīves ilgumu nosakošā gēna aktivizāciju.

Līdzīgi eksperimenti veikti arī ar pelēm. Divas peles tika vienādi barotas ar samērā treknu pārtiku, taču vienai tika dots resveratrols. Vēlāk atklājās, ka resveratrolu saņēmusī pele ir fiziski izturīgāka, nav pieņēmusies tik ļoti svarā un tās dzīves ilgums palielinājies par 20%. Vietā gan būtu atzīmēt vēl kādu faktu – deviņos no 10 gadījumiem, kad kāds preparāts veiksmīgi izmēģināts uz pelēm, tas diemžēl nav devis tos pašus rezultātus attiecībā uz cilvēkiem.

Zinātnieki atklājuši, ka nelielās devās preparāts izmēģināts arī uz cilvēkiem, kas cietuši no diabēta. Rezultāti parādījuši, ka ievērojami samazinājies glikozes un insulīna līmenis asinīs, lai gan pacienti nav mainījuši savu ikdienas diētu vai lietojuši citus medikamentus. Tablešu izstrādātāji drīzumā plāno jauno, sintētisko resveratrola versiju izmēģināt arī uz vēža slimniekiem.

Interesanti, ka lai cilvēks uzņemtu nepieciešamo resveratrola devu, dienā būtu jāizdzer vismaz 1000 pudeles ar sarkanvīnu, jo, lai gan viela sarkanvīnā atrodama, tās koncentrācija ir ļoti neliela.

Zinātnieki prognozē, ka jaunās tabletes sabiedrībai būs pieejamas pēc aptuveni pieciem gadiem, taču parādījušās baumas, ka melnajā tirgū tās varētu būt pieejamas jau daudz ātrāk. Nav skaidrs, kāda varētu būt maģisko tablešu cena, turklāt izskanējis viedoklis, ka preparāts ierobežotā skaitā varētu tikt izplatīts noteiktām cilvēku grupām, bet vienkāršiem mirstīgajiem būs vien jāsamierinās ar to, cik Dieviņš lēmis.
Info no: http://www.tribine.lv

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Flip MinoHD Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Blue Lightshow)

Put the power of HD in your pocket. MinoHD offers stunningly crisp, HD-quality video in a sleek, simple camcorder that’s designable.

Reviews from Customers

“It is HD and does a fine job for what it is”
Amazon should really consider only allowing those who actually purchase the product to review it.

Contrary to D. Knapp’s inaccurate claim of false advertising(do your research), this unit is indeed capable of High Definition video at 1280×720 and it looks quite stunning, more so than I expected. I was satisfied with the original Flip Mino’s video and audio quality. This is icing on the cake.

The software seems to be improved over the original and regular Flip devices. I found it to be much snappier too.

My only gripe is low level lighting situations. It would be nice to see an add on infrared light system or a light accessory attachment. I’m sure battery issues might play a role in the decision to leave that option out though.

If you’re like me and only drag your real camcorder out on the holidays, or you always seem to miss those Kodak moments with the kids, the Flip Mino HD is for you!

“A Review for Mac users ”
The camera

The camera has a 1.5 inch screen that is vibrant but small. The camera is thin and can easily be slid into the front pocket of your jeans. It is extremely light. The buttons on the back are touch sensitive and are not typical buttons that you “press”. There is a nice quality built in microphone. Operation is dead simple. Turn it on and push the large red button to start record and then press it again to stop.

The video quality:

The video quality from this camera is phenomenal considering its price tag. No its not a Canon HV30 but its not supposed to be.There is very little motion blur and the colors are nicely saturated. Due to the higher quality video shakiness is more pronounced in the videos but its not terrible. The more still you can hold this camera the better. The sound is crisp and clear. I can easily say the quality of this camera trumps all other flash based camcorders in this price bracket.

The Software

Mac users rejoice! The Mino HD’s video files ( MPEG4) are natively supported by Mac OS X, Quicktime, & iMovie 8 or iMovie HD. The software (Flipshare) even allows stitching the footage together, adding music and transitions and exporting the finished result directly to Youtube or just onto your desktop. I am very impressed Pure Digital rewrote the software package so that the features for Mac Users were the same as PC users. When you first plug in the camera iPhoto will open and offer to import the video’s. You can override this in iPhoto’s preferences. From then on the Flipshare will open automatically.

Final Conclusion:

The Flip Mino HD billed as the worlds smallest HD camcorder (as of 11/14) is worth its weight in gold. Especially if you have a Mac! If I had to choose one con for this camera I would say that I wish they would’ve added an external microphone jack to it-but thats really reaching. It’s a wonderful camera for the money and they say the best camera for the job is the one thats with you when you really need it.

“Absolutely cool camera, lightweight, great video, pocket sized fun!”
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3LPJ7PO0WVSWR Within 15 minutes of the camera arriving, I had it opened up, had taken a video, and created this video review for amazon. The camera was so easy to use that I think it took me less than 3 minutes to have it up and running and taking video.

For what it is, it gets 5 stars, however, I do want to say that after a full day of exploring the camera there are a few things to consider…

First, the viewing screen is very small, as you’ll see in the video review below. This isn’t a big deal, and again for the type of product, you go in knowing there will be limitations of some sort. In terms of taking video, that’s about the only limitation I’ve found so far because the camera is just that easy to use. From one touch recording to fast playback and delete functions, you really can’t get much simpler.

After you’ve taken the video, getting it onto your computer is also a snap. Flip out the USB plug and shove it into your computer’s USB port. Make sure it’s a 2.0 port. The software automatically starts and runs and it allows you to save the original video file to your computer in mp4 format, save it in wmv movie format (with rudimentary title/credit slides and optional music track), and a few other basic functions like image stills. There isn’t a lot of fluff, and you really don’t need fluff for this.

If you want to use the native file format you’re going to need a video program like Pinnacle or Ulead that can read mp4, or a conversion program (you can use the one that’s included to convert to wmv if you want). Windows Movie Maker will not read native mp4, so to use that tool you’ll want to convert first.

The camera records in 1280×720 at 30fps. This isn’t 1080i/p but you’re really not going to notice that much of a difference – though I do wish it recorded at 60fps just for a cleaner and smoother video (just a personal preference – not a downside to the camera).

For the price, the size, the ease of use, and the ease of getting video off the camera, this is a crazy cool gadget that I’ll be using very frequently for some great video!

Enjoy!

See all detials of Flip MinoHD Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Blue Lightshow)

“Integrity is not a 90 percent thing, not a 95 percent thing; either you have it or you don’t.” – Peter Scotese

Sort of like you are either pregnant or your not.

Integrity is the foundation of character. Character is the light of one’s personality.

Integrity has has been washed away and diluted in a sea of apathy and pragmatism.  It no longer matters how one got to where he/she is at just that they got there.  The ends justify the means even if the ends has no real value.   Society today bases integrity from a subjective, Survivor-type mentality.  People will do eveything they can to build a facade of integrity.  However, when circumstances of life come calling to test one’s true character many readily embrace a pragmatic mind-set that contradicts their facade.  A mind-set that will do anything to get ahead or to keep one from experiencing challenging consequences of a decsion based on integrity.

“We all make mistakes.”, “I am not perfect”, or Christian sin to.” – These are all true statements, but they are not statement to be used for sentimental purposes of easing one’s conscience about mistakes, inperfections, or sins.  These cliche’s are used to justify a lowered standard.  Another conscience easing trick is to tell one self and other -” I want to go in such and such a direction”, but continue heading in a different direction.  More important is the direction one is heading.  Mistakes and sins only have redeeming worth if one is heading in the right direction.  Mistakes will be made and sins committed.  the battle lies in which direction one is heading.  When one is heading South when he/she should be heading North and continues on such a course after being advised the direction is wrong will only end in failure in the end.

The deceiving aspect of direction is the wrong direction can feel like the right direction. Heading in  the wrong direction can be  easier than heading in the right direction.    Many times success seems evident while heading in wrong direction.   When one becomes secure and content to head in the wrong direction it is hard to turn them back, especially when the right direction probably will be more challenging with great obstacles and less comfort.  Ultimately, the journey is not about what we are to the world or about what stuff we accumulate, but about who we become in the process and how we impact others in what they become.

With the loss of integrity comes the loss of true excellence because without integrity pragmagtism takes over and the primary goal is to feel good about oneself and just get along without a true sense of standard.  It is human to think and then portray ourselves as something more than we truly are.  It is  men and women of integrity who step outside themselves to see who they truly are in order to realize what excellence is and how to successfully get there.

These men and women know it is not about them – their careers, their comfort, or their reputation.  They believe it is about doing what is right no matter the cost.  They live it and just don’t talk it.  None of their time is spent waxing and buffing how they want people to perceive them.  If any of their time is wasted it is in finding apathetic and cowardly standards.

The following link below is to PBS Frontline -The Warning

It is about a women of integrity – Brooksley Born  She stood up against the establishment of Alan Greenspan and his cronies and lost her job.  What she predicted has come true.  Alan Greenspan in the end admits his economic theory of 30 plus years was flaud.  This is a man who everyone worshipped.  American leaders blindly followed his leadership.  His decisions and thinking has led American down a destructive path.  Greenspan’s theories were wrong because he lacked integrity. 

Brooksley Born had integrity and courage .  She stood her ground not for her benefit but for the benefit of the American people.  She is a true patriot, a true person to follow after. 

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/warning/?utm_campaign=homepage&utm_medium=bigimage&utm_source=bigimage

They’re marshes, and they’re in Iraq. What the? Seriously. And the people that inhabit them staged a minor uprising against Saddam in the 90s. Saddam got pissed, and made a conscious effort to divert water away from the marshes, thus draining them. The people were displaced; the land turned to desert.

But seeds are robust. After the fall of Saddam, some of the diversion banks were breached in order to send water back into the area and restore the marshes. It’s working. Reeds are growing once-again.

The story was on 60 Minutes last night. I remain intrigued and amazed. I’ve already placed a book about the marshes and its inhabitants on hold at my local library. The story and video is here.

I can’t remember the last time something has interested me this much. The combination of an environmental impact story AND an anthropological one, about a group of people I’ve never heard about, is just too much for my skepticism to stand fast against. I must know more, and I’m sad to say there’s not much in this world that piques my curiosity to this extent…

Side note: I hope there’s not a human alive that thinks the earth’s too big — or too perfect a creation — for man to do any harm to it. I once heard a christian fanatic in a Lakeland coffee shop say, “man’s so high and mighty in thinking he could ever have caused global warming.” I was shocked at the idiocy. If you can relate to that Lakeland coffee shop believer, contact me: we need to talk.

Quite a storm at the moment, here’s our current weather forecast:

SOUTHERN LYNN CANAL-
400 AM AKST SAT NOV 14 2009
...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...
.TODAY...S WIND 35 KT INCREASING TO 45 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS
9 FT. RAIN IN THE MORNING...THEN RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS IN THE
AFTERNOON.
.TONIGHT...S WIND 35 KT DIMINISHING TO 25 KT LATE. SEAS 7 FT
SUBSIDING TO 5 FT LATE. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS.
.SUN...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. SNOW SHOWERS.
.SUN NIGHT...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. SNOW SHOWERS.
.MON...N GALE TO 35 KT. SEAS 6 FT. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS.
.TUE...N GALE TO 35 KT. SEAS 7 FT.
.WED...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT.

Power went out around 7:30am, so decided to go tour the area. The entire town is in the dark. A power boat had broken loose in Aurora harbour and driven by the gale had pinned an also loose sailboat to the breakwater. Found a small leak at one window frame, and the cover to the stack from the boiler blew off – retrieved for safekeeping until things are calmer. Mother nature at her most powerful. Reminds me of my childhood in Oban, Scotland - same latitude, same storms.

Power came back on at 8:30am, good job AEL&P. Be interesting to find out what was the cause, and if the additional power from the new Lake Dorothy power station reduced the need to use backup diesel generators.

After watching 60 Minutes last Sunday on Sabotaging the System about the potential for hackers to get into computer systems that run crucial elements of the world’s infrastructure, such as the power grids, water works, etc., very thankful to be “off the grid” and reliant on hydro power which, given the amount of rainfall here, is a renewable resource.

No hot tub this morning – how fortunate I am to have this as my only complaint.  The World Food Program states that, for the first time, a billion people are hungry and without food security. It has launched a campaign – a billion for a billion – to help raise funds for the starving.

Even though I believe that feeding hungry people is simply keeping them alive until the next crisis, and that such crises are nature’s way of controlling the human population explosion, from a humanitarian perspective how can one not contribute without being callous? The human dilemma: we can control neither our exploding population nor its consequences. Pass the word…… [Note: I earmarked my donations to "provide meals to more school children, especially girls, thus allowing them to stay in school." It's my belief that the best way to control population is by educating girls - not to mention ameliorating the over-abundance of testosterone that has produced our present climate of global violence.]

In case you missed it on 60 Minutes, this is what Andy Rooney thinks about women over 40:  

As I grow in age, I value women over 40 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why:

• A woman over 40 will never wake you in the middle of the night and ask, ‘What are you thinking?’ She doesn’t care what you think.
• If a woman over 40 doesn’t want to watch the game, she doesn’t sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do, and it’s usually more interesting.
• Women over 40 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won’t hesitate to shoot you if they think they can get away with it.
• Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it’s like to be unappreciated.
• Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 40.
• Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 40 is far sexier than her younger counterpart.
• Older women are forthright and honest. They’ll tell you right off if you are a jerk, if you are acting like one. You don’t ever have to wonder where you stand with her.

Yes, we praise women over 40 for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it’s not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed, hot woman over 40, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year old waitress. Ladies, I apologize.

For all those men who say, ‘Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free? here’s an update for you. Nowadays 80% of women are against marriage. Why? Because women realize it’s not worth buying an entire pig just to get a little sausage! Andy Rooney is a really smart guy!

Responsável pela segurança de tecnologia do Brasil garante que sistema de controle da rede elétrica não tem acesso à web, mas admite possibilidade.

Governo minimiza possibilidade de ataque cibernético como causa do apagão – Segurança – IDG Now!.

Pois é, eu acredito que o sistema de gerenciamento não esteja conectado a redes vulneráveis ou à internet, porque já trabalhei em empresas que tinham a mesma preocupação com segurança, administrando justamente esse tipo de redes. Entretanto, é possível que estações individuais tenham acesso às duas redes, e também, que as redes sejam isoladas apenas logicamente, mas compartilhando switches e roteadores. Esses switches e roteadores são administrados através de uma rede que possui computadores que podem muito bem ter acesso à internet. Portanto, é possível um ataque que faça com que a divisão lógica da rede seja contornada, fazendo com que exista a possibilidade de invasão na rede “não conectada”. Entretanto, os níveis de segurança são tantos, as senhas são tantas, os dispositivos de detecção são tantos, a criptografia, etc. são tantos, que seria um trabalho enorme e de formiguinha fazê-lo. A não ser que fosse alguém com o conhecimento necessário para fazê-lo e aí, teria de ser alguém de dentro do sistema.