Who knew Melissa would like it as much as I do

The family video we go to doesn’t have the highest quantity of video game titles.  Unlike the evil Blockbuster, they might have four or five copies in instead of twenty.  But that’s the price I pay for not having to deal with Blockbuster’s attitude and high prices.  Ever since they charged me to clean a dvd that I just rented with god knows what gooey substance that was spattered on it I haven’t been back.  Service should come with a smile and reasonable price not a bitchy look and $9 for a game rental.

The only problem with having fewer copies is that sometimes I have to wait a few weeks to play the new releases.  Which isn’t always a bad thing. Keeps me from being glued to the TV weekend after weekend with that weeks hot new title.  If the game isn’t available I say “Ok, I’ll check back next weekend” but first I’ll have Melissa ask if it’s been returned just not reshelved.   Every times the friendly Family Video worker (and they are friendly) will say “Oh no we don’t” after they check the return bin. 

It’s a long shot but it never hurts to ask.

Yesterday we went there to if the had Left 4 Dead 2 in stock.  We LOVED the first one, which was a shock Melissa enjoyed it, so we were both excited to play the sequel.  I did my “excited but still wanting to act mature” sprint/walk combo back to the video game section.  I found the spot where the game I would be.  Empty, empty, empty, empty, empty…..and empty.  All the copies they had were out.

Time for the Hail Marry attempt of having Melissa ask.  She went up to the check out to take a shot in the dark and see if it was in the return bin.  I did a final once over to see if anything else tickled my fancy.  My fancy wasn’t tickled and it look like we’d be leaving game-less. 

As I walked to join my wife I saw her mouthing “do you by any chance have any copies of Left 4 Dead 2 that have just been returned”.  I knew what happens next.  She’ll look in the bin, say “No, I’m sorry” and then check when copies are out are due to be returned.

I got a little closer and head the worker say “You know what…..”  and then she turned around.

OH MY!  This wasn’t the normal game rental dance I’ve come to know so well.  She turned around rather than walking over to the drop off bin.  Once again I broke into my “excited but still wanting to act mature” sprint/walk to get the latest on this strange turn of events.

I heard her say “Someone called a few hours ago and put it on hold but they haven’t shown up so you can rent it”

The video game Gods hath smiles upon me!

I turned to Melissa in my jubilation and said “HA!  Everytime I ask you to ask you roll your eyes but this time it worked.  IT WORKED.  THE GAME WAS IN STOCK.  SUCK IT!”  I’m not sure which she was more annoyed by.  That I was right about they might have it in stock, I was going to spend the next eight hours shooting zombies, or I was rather loud in my excitement.

Left 4 dead 2 is a fun game but what makes it great is snatching victory from the jaws of defeat to rent it.

So…..My girlfriend and I headed to family video last night in attempt of making our weekend a little less boring, but then we had to deal with the inconvenience family video had caused us, it took us about 20 minutes to find out what we wanted to rent but when reaching the counter, Kailyn insisted on us to use her account. The clerk goes, “Your Account owes 35 dollars!”. And they made us pay at least 5 of it to rent anything…I think to keep that kind of policy anywhere these days is extremely bad for a company. Oh well atleast the DVD’s were good.

I signed up for a membership with Family Video, our local video rental store in Ripon, Wiscosnin; however, unbeknownst to me they rent porn…soft porn. Porn is porn in my book regardless if it is soft or hardcore.

Upon signing up for the membership, the salesperson offered to show me around the store and the areas and features they have with the membership. I said they did not need to and that I was familiar with video rentals. I guess I should have taken them up on this offer. Had I known they rented porn, I would have taken my business somewhere else.

Over the past month, I have rented a few movies here and there. My initial impression of the store layout is disturbing to me and this is before I knew there was a porn section. All of there ”New Releases” are on the outside wall going around the store; and mixed within these movies is a good percentage that display horror or graphic images not suitable for young children, as well as, overtly-sexual movies (not porn but still not suitable for children)! 

Not until this evening did I find out that they rented porn. I was in the store tonight looking for a film to rent when I saw a younger couple trying to get another couple there were with, into this area back by the bathrooms. I could here some squiking hinges from two swinging doors where I was and was curious. I walked around the corner to find that there was this porn section hidden in the back of the store. I immediately walked out of the store and will not return. Family Video will not see anymore business from me.

Merriam-Webster’s defines the word “Oxymoron” as something (as a concept) that is made up of contradictory or incongruous elements (i.e. Family Video). It is disgraceful that a company can have in there business name the word “family” yet still distribute pornographic materials.

STOP Renting movies with Family Video as they distribute and sell pornographic material.

‘Cause some of you don’t call, write or skype with video…here are some clips of Ramona doing her thang. You know those baby milestones we all had to pass to take it to the “next level” . She is now nine months and beyond the cutest, smartest and bestest baby in the universe. I mean obviously!

Standin’

Crawlin’ with Dad

“Learning to Crawl with The Mighty Sparrow as Motivation” Coming Out Soon (so stick around people this one is gonna be so worth the wait!)

Netflix is ruining the movie experience. There, I said it. The movie experience – both renting and theater-going – is a unique cultural experience that has been lost on the new mail-order movie generation.

When I first signed up for Netflix, it was completely practical. I had no car and no video stores within walking distance. It was cheap, and I was broke. It was convenient to come home from work everyday and have a movie or two waiting for me in the mail. I thought I’d never miss the video store. Netflix was cheap, easy, and convenient. I was disappointed when I was forced to cut it out of my budget. But it wasn’t long before my love for movies threw me into a serious film withdrawal. I was forced to go to the theatres instead of waiting for something to be available on Netflix. I was even forced to, gasp, go to the movie store (yes, they still exist). Indeed, this was completely illogical, as I started spending ten times as much to see about half as many movies.

But it reintroduced me to one thing that seems to have been lost – that movie experience. Movie theaters are the epitome of movie-watching, yet they are struggling. You hand in your ticket and walk down the red carpet and through the velvet ropes. You’re immediately greeted by the smell of butter and the sound of popcorn popping. There’s the fizzle of the soda fountain. You get your snacks, find the best seat in the house, sit back and enjoy the previews (yes, enjoy the previews). And at last, you in the stadium seating, the movie on the big-screen with surround sound, the feature starts. Once it’s all over, you can hear people talking about it on the way out. Movie reviews from actual patrons, no some pompous, over-paid film critic.

And then if you miss them in the theater, enter movie store. It’s a movie-lover’s paradise. Virtually every wall is plastered with film. Shelves, separated by category, movies arranged alphabetically within each category. Real people to converse with, instead of a computer program that spits out a bunch of titles based on what you’ve rented in the past (with no regard for whether you liked those rentals). Rental stores are mini-Meccas for the film community. Where people can gather, discuss film, and talk to a worker (who’s surrounded by movies all day) about what they should check out.

Theaters and rental stores represent the movie experience at its finest. Now, that experience has been reduced to nothing more than a DVD in a sleeve that arrives along with all your bills and junk mail. The sights, smells, feelings of movies have been replaced by an impersonal, mail-order experience. Movies are such an important part of our culture that they deserve (nay, command) these feelings, these smells, this experience. So let’s bring that experience back. Go out to a movie theater. Go rent a movie from a real person. Because Netflix is taking that away form us.

And, if nothing else, Netflix robs you of the beautiful irony of seeing an adult section at a place called Family Video.

One of my favorite things to do in my spare time is to take video and photos that I have of my kids and edit them together with a relevant popular song.

These projects can be easy and fun to do.  They make really great Christmas and birthday presents, too.

So, you’re wondering…where do I start?  There are many different ways to do it.  As a professional, I’ve always had the luxury of having professional editing software at my fingertips, so my family has gotten used to the occasional tear-jerking video scrapbook.  During tough times right out of college, my parents were blessed to get numerous video scrapbooks as gifts…and they cherished each one.

Before you get started, you should know that video scrapbooking can be very time-consuming, especially if you’ve never done it before.  Start with plenty of time to spare before your deadline to avoid sitting in front of your computer at midnight on Christmas Eve just to find out that your DVD burner needs to be replaced.  Trust me, I’ve been there.  Give yourself a few weeks to complete the project comfortably.

First, if you’re lucky enough to successfully get the video into your computer, that’s half the battle.  Then you’ve got to have that perfect song.  Depending on the project, it could be the song of the couple’s first dance, the favorite song of the individual highlighted in the video, or just a song that fits the subject matter.   And a word of advice; “Who Let the Dogs Out” should be avoided at all cost in the video of your furry friends!
Now that you have all of your key elements, a standard computer program like Moviemaker or iMovie will work for a basic memoir video.  These are simple and easy to use video editors that can get the job done and usually come installed on newer computers.
Once you get your video and song in, the rest practically does itself.  You can pick clips and have them transition with slow dissolves to create a sentimental mood, or use fast cuts to signify excitement and energy.

Once you’re done with that part, you can add the finishing touches like titles.

Then, burn a dvd, wrap it up, gift it…and watch their eyes light up.  Most people love memoir videos.  They are a very personal gift and the recipient will always appreciate the time involved in such a project.

As always, you can always gather all of your videos and pictures and dump them onto the desk of a professional.  Prepare to have a quality product in the end, but in some cases it can be expensive, because such projects become very time-consuming unless the “professional” knows the family in the photos very well.   However, there are some things you can do on your end to avoid the high costs associated with hourly rates of the pros.

Video scrapbooks are worth the expense, though.  You never forget the feeling of watching an empty-nest mother and a father remember past times with their grown children…and that it was all made possible because you took the time to put those memories to video.

Right now at FamilyVideo.com you can get Fall TV shows for 35-65% off. Some of the shows include Monk, Survivor, Sex and the City, the Office to name a few.

Shipping for Family Video is typically $1.99 but if you use the code: Septfree you get free shipping until Sept 19th.

Also going on currently is Kids Movie 3 packs are $15.99 for select packages and $5.50 on Young Kids Favorites.

Don’t forget before you leave to check out the previously viewed area for deep discounts.

A video store.

I apologize for labeling Edinboro as a college town, but you know, it is what it is.

But come ON, even towns in the middle of nowhere in Ohio have video stores.

It can’t be THAT bad of a business, can it? Even during the advent of things like Hulu (which doesnt have much) and pirating videos online (which can take quite a while out here)- the economy can’t be killing videostores too, can it? Really?

This is depressing- Edinboro- meet your new best friend:

Right outside of the Giant Eagle.
Redbox is notorious for having the worst selection of movies that you could ever think of, so have a blast watching old Mario Brothers dvds  or something.

Now, technically the closest video store is in Albion, check out their website here:

http://finalcutalbion.com/ – Final Cut

Those popcorn kernels are freaking me out- they look like some sort of a monster from a David Lynch movie.

We’ve all heard them – those wonderful tales our relatives love to tell at family gatherings. Sure, sometimes we even hear them more often than we’d like. But when you stop to think about it, at some point those stories will eventually be lost forever. And although we can try to repeat that information in our own words in order to preserve the memory, it’s always more meaningful and accurate coming directly from those who have lived the experience.

So, if you agree your family history is worth holding on to, it’s time to take action and capture the memories once and for all – literally!

There are companies like ours (Tate Video Services, www.tatevideoservices.com), that can provide professional video services to meet your family memory needs. But if hiring a pro is not feasible, you can just take matters into your own hands.

But before you run off and point the family camcorder at Grandma or Uncle Bob, here are some tips to help you be successful in capturing your family history on video.

Do It Sooner, Not Later
As people get older, memories fade or worse, so the first tip is do this ASAP. If there’s not a family gathering of some sort already planned in the near future, consider being the one to initiate a get-together. Be sure to tell the participants in advance that you plan to set aside time at the event to videotape one or more interviews to capture one-of-a-kind family memories. Also consider asking someone with video camera experience to operate the camera while you ask the interview questions. This will enable you to focus on getting great content while sharing production tasks with another family member.

Choose Your Interview “Stars”
Many times, it’s ideal to include two or more people together on-camera to obtain the most amount of information. Getting siblings or couples to tell a story together tends to keep the conversation moving while eliminating “stage fright” or self-conscious awkwardness. Seeing the interviewees interact while story-telling also gives future video viewers a sense of their relationship, which can validate or refute family lore.

Location, Location, Location!
Choose a quiet spot where everyone can focus without distractions or interruptions. Usually this requires a place indoors where you have more control over the surroundings. You don’t want nosy strangers standing around gawking. Pay attention to the background of the shot (avoid shooting towards a window!) and make sure it is fairly neutral, with adequate lighting. An approach we professionals use is to move the subjects’ chairs away from the walls toward the middle of the room, so the background isn’t competing visually with the subjects.

Steady, Freddy
Always use a trusty tripod when videotaping an interview! You want the scene to be steady and look professional. There’s nothing more distracting, annoying or headache-producing to a viewer than a jumpy, wobbly video. And if you’re holding the camera in front of your face, that’s what you’ll get!

It’s All About the Audio
Too often our sole attention is on the visual composition of the shot, when in reality, what’s being said is the most important feature of the video. Ideally, you should use an external microphone, such as a lapel mic, placed on a shirt or dress collar or a jacket lapel a few inches from the speaker’s mouth. If that’s not available, make sure your camera’s built-in microphone is close enough to the subject(s). We always recommend a sound check test prior to taping the actual interview. Ask your subjects to state their name and the alphabet in a normal speaking voice while you roll about 30 seconds of tape. To make the test most effective, use headphones on your camera to monitor the sound while shooting. Play back the test footage to be sure the audio is loud and clear enough. If possible, have another person operate the camera so you can focus on the conversation and listen over the headphones. Then if the voices get too low, you can subtly signal the speakers (without interrupting them) to adjust their voice level. Also listen for ambient noise such as air conditioners, fans, loud traffic, etc. that can compete with the subject.

More Conversation, Less Q & A
The goal of your interview should be a conversational style with your “stars”, rather than just getting them to answer your questions. After you set-up your camera, step to the side and conduct your interview from there. Asking questions while you make eye contact with the subjects (rather than being a disembodied voice behind the camera) will make the interaction feel more personal; your subjects will be talking to you, not the camera.

Ask questions beginning with who, what, where, when, why and how. Avoid questions that can be answered with a one-word ‘yes’ or ‘no’. If you’re having trouble thinking of good questions, general categories of questions that work well are about childhood memories, education, career, hobbies/interests, marriage and children, faith, life lessons and perhaps some wisdom to share.

Sometimes interviews can last longer than anticipated once a good dialogue gets started. Take pre-arranged breaks as needed every 10 minutes or so, to ensure your subjects are always at “their best” on camera.

Plan Ahead
Prepare for the interview well ahead of time. Put real thought into the type of information you want to preserve on video. Have all your questions written in advance. Conversations may flow differently than planned, which is fine, but a written list will help you stay on track to cover your key topics.
Bring photo albums to the interview to help spark memories. These can also be good topic starters, as it’s easy to describe a photograph you’re viewing. This is also a great way to elicit spontaneous and genuine emotion. The photos can also make great “B-roll” (cutaway shots) if you intend to edit the video.

Especially with people who may be shy on camera, tell your participants a few days in advance about the types of topics you will be talking about, so they can be gathering memories and organizing their thoughts. Consider showing them your list of questions so they’re not taken by total surprise. Remember that many people are reluctant to answer questions off-the-cuff, especially when their discomfort or fumbling for answers is being recorded as part of family history.

Of course, make sure you have plenty of tape (if applicable) and batteries or and AC adapter for power.

Share Your Video
Once you have your interview “in the can”, it’s time to share it with everyone. Not only will family and friends love watching the video, but also this distribution strategy ensures back-up copies will be stored in different locations, increasing the odds that your video will be around for future generations to enjoy. You may only get one chance to document these precious memories, so the more copies are spread around, the better.

Gratitude
Be sure to thank your participants – your interview subjects, camera operator and anyone else who contributed to this team project – for their time and effort. Make them each feel like “stars” by gift-wrapping their personal copy and enclosing a home-made certificate of appreciation. You can also quietly ask everyone at the event to sign a Thank You card that expresses the family’s appreciation to the video subjects. If the stars use email, encourage family members to send their own statements of gratitude. Think about other ways to show thanks for their contribution to the worthy cause of “family history”.

Questions?
If you need more tips on making your family video a start-to-finish positive experience, call, email or stop by and tell us how we can help you achieve your goal. If Tate Video Services is not in your area, or you prefer to work with someone closer, you can find a videographer to suite your needs at www.FindAVideoProfessional.com.

Last night, Shawn and I decided to stop by redbox to rent “I Love You, Man.” (this has started off a tad gay) Anyways, I have been on the fence about redbox until last night. Thus, I have decided to convince you never to go to Redbox ever again. Reasons why Redbox sucks:

• The awkward line – If you have ever been to a Redbox, you know what I am talking about. You pull in and there are four other cars parked as well as three people standing in line by the machine. Do you stay in your car? Do you go stand in line and risk the chance of a person getting out of his or her parked car and giving you the stare down? As I stood in line last night, I was talking about the good and bad of Redbox and informed Shawn I would blog about the pros and cons of today. Literally two seconds after I said this, the guy in front of me hocked a loogie landing two feet away from me. Instantaneously, I decided to make a pure con blog.
• Selection- You go to a Redbox, and you never find what you were looking for. Like clockwork, “I Love You, Man” was nowhere to be found. It did not even show up as an option, even though the big poster for the movie was right next to us. Even more, most of the movies are low-budget flicks that I would not even consider wasting a dollar on.
• Quality- Maybe this has just happened to me, but I feel like every time I get a movie from Redbox  it ends up being scratched. This happened when I had a big group of people over to watch “Step Brothers” and the movie skipped most of the time and simple froze halfway through.

I could list 4 to 5 other reasons why Redbox is trash. Bottom line, I ended going to Family Video on Constitution. So yes, maybe this is a plug but Family Video was great. Nice selection, no awkward lines, and the movie played perfect last night. Anyways, random post but I just needed to vent.

Right now I’m going through a video game phase.  I guess you could say I’m always in a video game phase but lately I’m at the high point of the cycle.  I’ll go 4 months not renting ( I don’t buy games any more I rent them from Family Video)  a single xbox 360 game and then I’ll fall off the wagon and rent one week after week after week.  Once I get hooked again it’s hard to stop.  I’ll see a game I want to rent after I’ve already got one picked out and say “Ohhhhhhh my I’ll have to rent that one next weekend”  And the pattern keep repeating until I’ve played all the new games that tickle my fancy. 

Since I’m shelling out $5.99 a week for my addiction for video game fun I might as well tell you my thoughts on drug of choice.  You can now learn from my knowledge and game renting mistakes.

A few weeks ago I rented the new Red Faction Guerrilla for the 360 and was pleasantly surprised.  It’s a opened ended “sand box” style game where you can do anything you want similar to the Grand Theft Auto series but set on mars.  You play the role of a reluctant member of the underground mars resistance whose trying to free the people of the red planted from tyrannical oppression.  Or at least I think that’s the story.  Got to be honest.  It gave the the option to skip cinematic cut scenes so I’m not really sure of the entire story but it is set on mars. 

And who really needs a story with this game.  It’s a blast to play.  The destructionof building is really nothing short of amazing.  You can actually destroy everything and it debris has great physics.  When you blow up the door of a outpost to gain entrance the door react just how the would in real life.  Or at least I assume how they would in real life.  I’ve never blow the doors off a building personally.  One of my favorite things to do was blow up three of the four corners of a super huge sky scrapper (don’t worry it was the bad guy’s base.), then plant explosive I can trigger from a distance on the remaining supports, drive a distance away and bring the building down on other bad guys’ responding to my assault. 

I actually kept this game for a few days incurring a late fee not because I was to lazy to drive it back but rather I was having such a great time playing it.  Now I can’t recommend going out and buying this game, 60 bucks is a lot to spend even on a perfect game, but I strongly suggest you rush out and rent this game right away.  But be prepared to play for a while becauseonce Red Faction Guerrilla get it’s hooks in you it won’t let go. It’s just a plain flat out 100% fun game to play.  Quite an enjoyable experience

Last week I rented the brand new, highly anticipated Ghost Busters Video Game.  I looked forward to this one with extremely high geek levels of expectation.  When I first saw the trailer for this game last year tears of joy ran down my face as I babbled “OH MY GOD OH MY GOD!  I get to fight Stay Puft Mash mellow man!”   When I got home from Family Video after snagging  this from the rental shelves I almost jumped out of the car before Melissa has it in park.  Yeah, I was this excited.

But once I got the game in and played about 15 minutes I my expectations for all for nothing.  Don’t get me wrong it’s a well made  game and not a half assed attempt that most games based off movies are.  It’s very thought full on how the game play is, stay truth full to the original movies, even has the original cast doing the voices………..but just wasn’t that fun to play.  I found myself getting bored very easy while wrangling ghosts. 

Ghost busters for the Xbox 360 felt almost like an additional movie, which isn’t a bad thing, but it just didn’t do anything for me as a video game.  I’d say rent it if your a fan of the Movies.

 Finally the last game I have to comment on is Bionic Commando.  It’s a remake of the old school Nintendo’s smash hit.  I loved the old school version and was really looking forward to this new remastering of it.  It’s a great game only problem is the disk has a huge gash the size of the Grand Canyon so once I get to about the third level it won’t play anymore.  I’m not that upset because Family Video it very good about if somethings is wrong with anything they do their best to correct the situation.  Unlike Blockbuster video they will fix the disk if something is wrong with it.   Ever try to tell Blockbuster their DVD is scratched?  They pull a Tommy Boy like reaction of “What did you do to it?”

Once I get a copy that runs correctly I’ll have a better review.

Events – Starting my job at Piccadilly, Cabin Fever, Telling my Dad about City Year

Mood – weary

Thoughts – With working at the office and Pic’s my work days are 13 hours long. Though Pic’s his challenging, the kitchen is hot, the knives extra sharp, the business is booming and when I come home at 11 I’m soaked in dirty dish water and grease from head to toe, it’s rather enjoyable. My coworkers are strange and a bit unconventional, and the owners feel like family. I love seeing all the regulars again,  the pace, and constant problem solving.  It seems the restaurant is getting well deserved media attention, Pic’s was in St. Louis Magazine, and I’ve seen them on the news on KPLR and KSDK (I think..) multiple times due to their reasonable prices during the recession and for original home cooked meals in unpretentious atmosphere. I’m happy to be back  in the midst of their success.

I only felt a little guilty taking off the first weekend to flee to southern Missouri, my friend’s family has a cabin deep in the woods 30 minutes from ANY signs of civilization, pretty far for us city kids.  It was built by his great grandparents, and every generation since has added to it, rustic charm oozing out of every wood paneled crack. Us city kids pretended we were country kids, fourwhelling and drinkin by a shallow river. It was the time of my life until a four-wheeler crashed, thank god no one got hurt but the buzz was killed for the rest of the weekend. Boo hoo.

Boo Hoo. My dad came home drunk the Sunday I got back and asked me when I was going to tell him about Americore.  I had asked my mom to please not tell him, obviously, she did anyway. The reason I told her not to tell him is because I knew his reaction was going to be callus, and he was going to put me down until I told him I wasn’t going, which wasn’t going to happen, so I knew it would be painful. I was trying to postpone the torture by waiting until I had more of the minute details worked out  but mom can’t keep a secret. It was just as bad as I thought it would be.

He told me it was the dumbest decision I’ve ever made, he told me I was a big disappointment, that I was stupid, I was going to be killed, that I was fruitless, fickle and flaky (not in that order), I was too selfish to want to help anyone and the only reason I was going was to see California, and that I was going to hang out with the gangs of east LA.

After my dad stepped down from his soapbox and dismissed me I used the excuse to return movies to leave the house because I didn’t want to my dad to think I was upset, and I didn’t want him to see me blubber which is what I wanted to do. Kyle is my favorite person, his character is allot like my dad’s but he’s a better more intelligent person and he gives me attention unlike my dad, he works at family video and happened to be working when I came in. I told him the story and he simply said “I think he’s wrong.” and the clouds part, the sun comes out and the situation is no longer so tragic.

I have nowhere to live in California, no means of getting there, and no idea what to expect if and when I get there.  My car with expired plates keeps getting tickets and sucks away my paychecks. Everything is so out of place I can’t blame my parents for being freaked out. All I know is it all feels right.

After three, almost four, months of being inactive on here, I have returned!

I seriously had not planned on not writing or updating this for so long but I just flat out did not have the time with all my classes, mid program, working, and preparing for an internship interview. Regardless, it was a very productive semester and I have several summaries of what went on these past few months:

Mid program = Passed! After having to start over several times on building my mid program portfolio, I finally got everything done in time, at a much cheaper cost than a lot of my peers, and passed! Having this done and out of the way did wonders for my stress levels.

Classes = 4.0! Despite my classes attempts to kick my ass, I did the ass kicking back. It was a rough, rough semester for me. I was extremely stressed out and spent the first half of the semester just trying to get as much done asap because of everything that needed to be done. After spring break, I finally realized that I had more done than most of my peers so was able to dial back a bit and actually eat and sleep more. In the end, I ended up with another 4.0 semester…The question I am still asking myself is was it worth it? I guess since in the end I am fine, it must be.

Work = Um, Work… Back in March, I hit my one year mark for working at Family Video. Given the newness of most of the staff, I am currently the third oldest (working wise) staff there. Because of this, I ended up working a ton this semester (closing and learning how to open) which did not help with my stress levels with school. However, the money I got from working so much was nice as I managed to save enough back to keep me a float this summer when hours are cut back.

Internship = Success! What started back in Novemeber (actually, if we want to get technical, what started in November of 2007), finally was made manfest when I interviewed for being an intern with Nick Vedros. The interview was a success and I started my internship a week ago. It is a lot of driving (1.5hr with city traffic to get there from my apartment), a lot of hours (full time), and no monetary pay (I get paid in knowledge) and I am super excited to be doing this. Not only am I getting to see hands on how a non portrait studio is ran but I am also getting to deal with equipment outside of what I am normally handling. Hopefully, more great things to come from here!

Expo = Win! I entered into Expo competition again this year. Overall, there was a great showing and the most prints to be entered in Expo history. Although the competition was tough, I managed to walk away with 2nd in portfolio this year. Another success to add to the ol’ resume…

Anyway, as promised back in February, I will be finally posting some of my images from Phoenix. Also, I will be posting all the other new work I’ve done since then along with images from the photo projects Vedros sends me and the other interns to do. I have to get everything resized before I can start posting…

Hopefully, those of you who have kept up with me despite my lack of activity can manage to hold on a few more days…I promise it will be worth the wait…

AJ

Giving a gift to Mom

Well its that time of year to think about what a Great Mother you have as Mother’s Day approaches and you need to start thinking about how to thank her.

Before you buy your Mom a gift think about what the gift means to her. If you run out and get her an Ipod then to me it is just an item. I dont care how much she wants one it will still not be the appropriate Mother’s Day gift.

Your mom has created many memories for you and there is nothing more valuable then giving her something to remember. So stay away from expensive stuff and start to think about how to touch her heart.

Unique Gifts for Mom - as a Poet I have a natural tendency to climb into situations of others and feel what they might be feeling. This is what you need to do as you take time to think about the perfect gift. If your giving flowers you need to give her something she would not expect but something she would be blown away with. Flowers by themselves are not unique but when added to the gift as a whole will make her day that much more special.

I will create a Top Ten list of Mothers Day gifts for you to consider in the hopes you wont blow it once again. Remember that Mothers day only comes once a year so choose the gifts to bring tears to her eyes.

Here is a Top Ten List of Gifts For your Mom:

1. Family Video- create a video using old pictures and put them to music. Be sure to pick out some really tear jerking songs to hit the mother load of emotions.
2. Make her a Card- By actually creating a card you show that you are personally getting involved with her gift. If you are not at all artistic try and find a card that you can record your voice and leave her a message.
3. Write her a poem – Writing a poem can really touch her unless your writing ability is totally lame. I suggest you go to Poetryscriber and see if you can borrow a poem to give to your mom or get a couple of ideas for your own poem.
4. Take her on a Picnic - Pic the most beautiful setting and get other people involved to make it a celebration. Have your mother do nothing to help instead be prepared prior so she cant even offer any assistance.
5. Lunch and a Movie -This is only good if she loves movies and theres one playing that she really wants to see.
6. Have a plaque engraved for her - Find a mothers day card and go to a trophy and engraving place. Have them engrave whats on the card onto the plaque and personalize it. My ex -wife has a company called Trophy on Wheels and can aid you with this. She is located in Arlington Texas.
7. A DaySpa -what better way to treat her as she relaxes and gets treated like royalty. I love this one but it can be expensive to say the least. Check it out anyway because whats exensive to me maybe cheap to you.
8. Start her day Early - If she drinks coffee show up to her house early with some Starbucks coffee. Bring her some doughnuts or pastries and plan for a whole day of fun if possible.
9. Write her a letter telling her some of the things she has done for you -we often celebrate Mothers Day but often dont go into detail why she is so special. What better way to do this then in a letter recalling times and events she was there for you and how much you appreciated it.
10. Make her a Web site loaded with family pictures- A web site with all the pictures you can possibly upload will help her to reflect on the past years and may bring tears to her eyes. Let other family members upload pictures to the site so she can see all of her kids and grand kids.

I hope this was helpful and wish all the Mothers out there a very Happy Mother’s Day!!!

This is just some video I picked up of the boys being nuts. It seems like since it has started warming up that they have been extra crazy. In this case, they are watching themselves on the computer monitor off screen. There was a very slight delay and let loved seeming themselves move on screen. There is nothing exciting about the video, just them running around.

Video rental business serves its “Family” with cheap prices and excellent customer service

by Lesley Cowie

BURLINGTON, N.C. – When it rains, it pours…at least that is how the employees of Family Video feel when the weather is damp. It is on these days that local residents flock to the video rental store in Burlington to find their top choices for entertainment. Even when the weather is hot and sunny, Family Video sees between 1500 and 2000 customers walk through the door each week.

The privately-owned business, located at 1135 N. Main St., houses approximately 12,500 movies and 1,300 video games and consoles available for rent. Most customers leave the store with an average of three videos per visit.

Store manager Kristina McLaughlin said the Burlington store, which has been located in Burlington for five years, is the second oldest Family Video store in North Carolina. It is one of 600 Family Video stores nationwide. The chain is owned by the Hoogland family of Springfield, Ill., and thusly named “Family” Video.

“We are one of the largest Family Video stores in North Carolina,” McLaughlin said. “In addition, we have the largest New Release wall in North Carolina.”

According to McLaughlin, the Family Video of Burlington was ranked #1 in sales within the company in March and April 2008. For the last two years, she said, we have been in the top five for sales. Right now, this particular store is in the top 20.

“Because sales encompass bundle packs and extras, the number one ranking reflects the quality of customer service at this store,” McLaughlin said. “It means we go above and beyond.”

Treating customers as people and not as numbers

According to McLaughlin, customer service is a top priority at Family Video.

“It is included in our mission statement,” McLaughlin said. “Our mission is to be our customer’s first entertainment choice. We do this by providing a unique mix of great customer service and low prices. Customer service is our top priority! We treat our customers as people, not just as a number.”

The employees of Family Video demonstrate their customer service skills via verbal communication and physical representation. Aside from greeting each customer as he or she walks through the door, employees always dress professionally.

During the week, McLaughlin said, employees may wear business casual attire. On the weekends, employees should wear business professional attire.

“This differentiates us and allows us to become easily recognizable in the store,” McLaughlin said. “We project a professional image.”

Bringing down the prices

Family Video’s excellent customer service extends to great deals for the customers. According to McLaughlin, Family Video has the lowest prices for video rentals in town.

“New release movies are generally $2.09 for one night and $2.59 for five nights,” McLaughlin said. “If a customer gets three five-night new release movies, then he or she is entitled to a forth 5-night release for free.”

“Customers may also purchase a bundle pack, which is two five-night movie releases with popcorn and a box of candy or soda or ice cream, all for $7.95,” McLaughlin said.

The Mid-Week Special allows customers to rent a new release movie and get a $1 movie rental for free. According to McLaughlin, this special runs from Tuesday to Thursday.

The Discount Movie Rental Card costs $9.95 and gives customers a half-price rate for movies and video games for 30 days.

Customers may also get a deal for referring friends. McLaughlin said a customer can receive a free rental for referring a friend to the store.

Playing with prices

Family Video also offers video games and consoles. The store carries games compatible with Xbox 360, Xbox, Wii, PS2, PS3, Game Cube and Nintendo DS. Consoles are available for Xbox 360, Wii, PS2 and Game Cube.

For the PS2, Xbox, Game Cube and Nintendo DS games, customers have the option of keeping the game for one night, two nights or five nights. The prices for each option are as follows: $2.59 for one night, $3.59 for two nights and $5.99 for five nights.

The MVG games, or most valuable games, are worth only .99 cents for five nights. McLaughlin said these are the lowest game rentals in town.

Some of the higher priced games belong to PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii. Customers have the option to keep these games for one night, two nights or five nights. The prices for these games are as follows: $2.99 for one night, $3.99 for two nights and $6.99 for five nights.

Phasing out the VHS tapes

Family Video rents out thousands of DVD movies, but they also have some VHS tapes still available.

“The only VHS tapes that we have available for rent are the kids movies because there’s a good chance that they still have VCRs,” McLaughlin said. “Very few people request VHS tapes these days.”

If someone does want a VHS tape, McLaughlin said, there is a bin full of videos for sale. One video cost $1.99, 5 videos cost $5 and 13 videos cost $10.

Fast, free and easy membership

In order to take advantage of these promotions, residents must sign up for a membership with Family Video. McLaughlin described the process as “fast, free and easy.”

All it takes to become a Family Video member is a valid ID and a valid phone number. Not only is the membership free, but all new members get half-off on their rentals for the first 30 days.

Chris Tracy, a local district manager for Family Video, recognizes the importance of these deals. Customers like to get free items, he said.

After signing up for a membership, Tracy likes to take new members on a quick tour of the store to show them everything that is available to them. The tour starts with the free items and ends with a free coupon.

“Kids’ videos, educational videos, and sports and fitness videos are always free,” Tracy said. “Educational videos are like how-to videos, like how to play guitar. Sports videos are like super bowl games, like when the Steelers won the super bowl. Fitness videos are like yoga videos.”

When it comes to the lowest prices for DVD and game rentals, Family Video is the place to be. Sign up for a free membership, take advantage of the promotions and refer a friend.

Family Video is open from 10 am-midnight every day of the year.

Family Video Tour

Family Video Deals

]]> http://vietnambeach.wordpress.com/2009/03/04/family-and-friends/ Wed, 04 Mar 2009 08:06:24 +0000 vietnambeach http://vietnambeach.wordpress.com/2009/03/04/family-and-friends/

Need help creating a photo montage for your wedding or other special event;  Graduation party, wedding anniversary, Bar Mitzvah ect?  Vibe Productions can work with you to put together a beautiful, original piece you will cherish.

The picture slideshow when done effectively with music and content can be a very compelling  The montage posted below was played during the couple’s wedding ceremony and was apparently  so moving a number of people watching began to cry!  Now whether this is the desired effect depends on the situation but it’s amazing how much emotion can be stimulated by good  image and sound.

We don’t use generic software for editing pictures together, we do it one pic at a time choosing the time and amount of image pan and the lenth of the frames.  Take a look at this example!

http://www.pjstar.com/news_police/x1697629908/String-of-robberies-has-retailers-on-edge

The hold-up of yet another business in Peoria on Monday night has some working in retail wondering if the crime spree will soon come to an end.

The armed robbery to Big Lots, 3013 N. Sterling Ave., about 8:20 p.m. by a man with a knife is the latest in a wave of heists plaguing the city.

No injuries were reported, though the robber poked an employee in the back with the knife until the cash register was emptied.

From bakeries and bars to video and convenience stores, it seems no business is safe. In January, there were 22 armed robberies, two to four a day in some instances.

“I don’t know what is going on. It seems like every day there’s another one. It’s crazy,” said a manager at of one of the two Butternut Bread thrift stores in Peoria. “You work in retail and you always have a chance of getting robbed. Police need to do something.”

Police have beefed up patrols but with so many robberies and very few leads, it’s difficult to know if one or more people or groups are responsible.

“It could be the same two people every time,” Peoria police spokesman Doug Burgess said. “But until we can pin it down, we’re not going to know for sure.”

Police thought they had put a stop to the robberies with the arrests of two teens last week after a botched purse snatching outside the Circle K gas station on Knoxville Avenue. One of the alleged robbers, Christopher Young, 18, of Peoria was arrested a second time over the weekend for the Jan. 10 armed robbery of two patrons of the Elbo Room, 631 W. Main St.

But even with those arrests, the robberies continue to occur.

“They’re hitting whoever,” said the Butternut manager, not wanting to give her name. “It’s a nervous situation.”

Because their stores have been held up three times since Dec. 29, bakery management has allowed the thrift stores to close an hour earlier, at 5 p.m. The businesses also are installing an upgraded security system.

“Hopefully that will help,” said the manager. “We don’t know what else to do to stay safe.”

Peoria is not alone in struggling to solve the cases.

Three of the robberies have occurred just outside city limits in Peoria County. In less than a week, Family Video, 3218 W. Harman Highway, was robbed twice, along with the U.S. Cellular store across the street.

“We are in communication with Peoria, comparing notes and working together to resolve this string of robberies,” said Peoria County Sheriff’s Capt. Dave Briggs. “We know from descriptions it’s not always the same people.”

Police have described the robbers as black men in their mid-teens to mid-20s. They range in height from 5 feet, 4 inches tall to 6 feet, 1 inch tall with medium builds. They wear dark clothing, gloves and sometimes black ski masks.

Some of the robberies may be linked because of the mannerisms of the suspects, but police have declined to elaborate on the suspects’ behavior because of the ongoing investigation.

Anyone with information about the robbers or armed robberies can call CrimeStoppers anonymously at 673-9000 or the Peoria Police Department at 673-4521.

http://www.pjstar.com/news_police/x401296066/Two-video-stores-one-cell-phone-store-robbed

Two armed men robbed the Family Video store at 3615 Wisconsin Ave. on Thursday, making the store the second in the chain to be robbed this week.

Police said the men entered the store around 10 p.m., when there were two employees and one customer in the store.

Police said both suspects were black. One was described as about 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 150 pounds. He held one silver pistol in his hand. The other was about 6 feet tall and weighed 190 pounds. He held a silver pistol in each hand. Witnesses told police the guns looked fake.

The shorter suspect took an undisclosed amount of money from three cash drawers, while the other pointed his weapons at the people in the store.

The robbers then fled out the store and into an alley.

Shortly after 11 p.m. Monday, two masked gunmen robbed the Family Video at 218 W. Harman Highway, across the street from Madison Park Shopping Center.

One ordered two customers and an employee to face a wall of videos, while the second screamed at another employee to empty the cash register of an undisclosed amount of money.

The gunmen then fled in a late 1990s blue Dodge Neon or Plymouth model, police said.

Three days earlier, a man robbed the U.S. Cellular store, 3211 W. Harman Highway, of $400 after threatening the clerk at closing time. No weapon was displayed.

Police said they do not yet know if the cases are connected. No arrests have been made.