murrays

Enjoy your new macBook!! I'm torn between a MacBook and a new iMac...I'd like the portability but I'd also like the larger HD, etc. It will have to wait until after the Xmas bills are paid but I won't be waiting too long. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

I'd pass on .Mac if you only want e-mail. It's great for synchronizing address books and appointments on different Macs which is why I pay the freight for it. For using iChat you can sign up for a trial .Mac membership and get your .mac id for using iChat. When the trial period runs out you can still use iChat. iChat is great for video chats! -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

My first Mac was purchased in 1999...a G3-400mhz DV SE...the first iMac released with Firewire and iMovie. It edited DV video just fine. I sold it to a friend in 2002 when I bought my current flatpanel G4 imac...he still uses it nearly everyday and it is still capable of editing video....not as quickly as you'd like but then, no machine is ever fast enough...an unfortunate fact of life. All of LouDiamond's suggestions are good ones. The refurbs can save you quite a bit of money but I think you have to be careful because of the RAM included and the fact that right now all the refurbs I see on the Apple Canada website are one processor generation behind. The same friend I sold the G3 DV SE to bought a refurbed 20" iMac several months ago and it has been golden. But, when he bought it it was a current processor....a Core Duo when the new machines had Core Duos unlike now when the new machines have Core 2 Duos and the refurbs still have Core Duos. I've been looking at a new machine and would like to save some bucks as well but right NOW I would buy a new iMac rather than a refurb because the savings would be greatly eroded by adding more RAM, smaller HDs and slower and older generation processors. A student discount would be the preferable way to go IMO. Also, don't forget the built-in iSight in every iMac and Mac laptop and iChat...great way to stay in touch. Macs are loaded! -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

If you are serious about composing music Apple offers you two options beyond Garageband which is included on every new Mac:Logic Express and Logic Pro.... Logic Express Logic Pro The above links have guided tours and in depth explanations of the features of both pieces of software. I've heard some pretty amazing stuff done just with Garageband. There are several sites devoted to using GB such as icompositions.com. I don't think you can go wrong buying a Mac laptop....but if you are serious about music, etc you might want to check out a MacBook Pro. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

I've seen that photo somewhere before...is it in one of the Skies Call books? Is that Roger Nelson at 9 o'clock in the base? -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

Guy, Have a great trip to the States! Merry Christmas! -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

About 20 years ago a student that had gotten to freefall a couple of years earlier at our little club returned. He made an IAD or two...whatever we felt was required before starting him back on a freefall progression. When he went up to do his first clear and pull from 3,000' , he smiled at the instructor, stepped off...perfectly stable...did a backloop, waved at the instructor and pulled. The instructor was pretty stunned by what he had just seen. It turned out that this guy had bought himself a set of gear while still a student and taught himself to pack it from the manual. His family owned a farm and an aircraft and his brother would take him up for jumps. He had over 100 jumps like this before he came back to the dz. He never came back to jump with us again after that day.....maybe he's still jumping over his farm -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

The sad part of the digital world is exactly what you just said...it will be cheaper and better tomorrow. Norm Kent used to be just about the only guy that shot medium format film...and the difference in quality between 35mm and 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 shot on film was always evident. More detail and better tonal gradation. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

I bought a large bottle of iKlear "Apple Polish" that comes with a bunch of the special non-scratching cloths to use with it. You spray it on and then polish the screen until it feels 'slippery'. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

I bought Sarah Maclachlan's "Wintersong" for my wife and have to admit that I think it is pretty good. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

Don't think you can do what you want to do...you're asking iTunes to shuffle, then not shuffle, then shuffle....which it won't do unless you turn Shuffle on and off. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

The Who - 1968. I was 16. Still one of the top 2 or 3 concerts of my life. I was a couple of bodies from the front of the stage, directly in front of Townshend and Daltrey. When they were smashing their equipment wood chips were flying right over top of me It was great! -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

Calvin19, To export photos and resize, etc using your Mac and iPhoto and Preview: 1 - click on the photo you want to export. 2 - Click on File, Export... jpg format and specify the size..i.e. 640 x 480 or 480x360. I put something like this on my desktop. 3 - Check the file size Click on the exported file on your desktop and then press Command-I. If it is below the DZ.com limit...attach away. If not, go to step 4... 4 - Open the exported file using Preview. 5 - Click on File, Save As ...Choose jpg again and use the quality slider to reduce the quality and size of the file. Hopefully, you should be able to get it to the required size without having to start over at a smaller dimension when exporting from iPhoto. Hope your bag (and other parts) are feeling better soon. Been there. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

I have it on 16mm film. Anybody know how convert it to DVD? . I am sure that you can find an audio-visual place that can go from film to digital. I don't know how they reconcile the difference in frame rates (24fps/film vs. 29.97 fps video) but there are ways to handle it. Doing from a 16mm video could result in an awesome product....I wonder if it could be captured in HD resolution...you'd have black bars on the sides but I bet it would look incredible. BUT...these are things for which Jean Boenish should receive the benefit. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

"Happy are those who dream dreams and are willing to pay the price to see them come true." - I wrote it in the front of my 4th logbook. I think that was at the end of "Skydive". I would dearly love to see that film (and other films by Carl) done up right on DVD. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

Here is Bill Cole's (Chuteless) post regarding this incident. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

I agree. I think GSP is just hitting prime time. Strength, fitness, skill, experience & desire all coming together while he is still a young man. He'll be a top MMA fighter for several years. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

Tito will have to fight the fight of his life to beat Chuck. Liddell is an awesome striker and has an uncanny ability to keep the fight standing up. I think Tito has the ability but whether he and his brain trust come up with a winning game plan that Tito can carry out...will determine whether Tito gets carried out or not I'm just hoping to see a good title fight. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

Thus far, I'm the only guy taking Tito. Why? It's the year of the upsets! Franklin, Hughes....Chuck is next. These things happen in threes. Seriously, I think Tito can beat Chuck...whether he does is another story. Could be a very good fight. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

What's up with the Canucks? Nashville thumped them 6-0 tonight. I've seen them play a couple games on tv and haven't been impressed. They are in 8th place in the West which isn't too bad but I was sure expecting better after they landed a bona fide No. 1 goalie in Luongo. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

The Vegas odds at pinnaclesports.com have it as follows: Liddell -246 Ortiz 226 Which would make it appear to me that Tito is a big underdog. You have to bet 246 bucks to get 246 + 100 back if Chuck wins. You bet 100 on Ortiz to win and you get 226+100 back if Tito wins. (At least I think this is how this betting works. JT - You're a Vegas guy...do I understand how that works and have I stated it properly?) A chance to pick up some nice cash if Tito is capable of an upset. GSP was an underdog...but the #s were -140 Hughes and 110 for GSP the last time I checked before the fight. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

Just read on sherdog.net forum that GSP is going to fight Serra in UFC67 and then fight Hughes later in 2007....in Montreal!!!! That will be exceedingly cool. I may have to get a cheap Westjet flight out there, visit some friends, see a Habs game and see the UFC live. It would be an insane evening being in GSP's hometown and all. Looks like Diego is going to have to wait for a while before he goes with GSP. Is BJ Penn definitely dropping down to lightweight? - I think I read that somewhere a while ago. Lots of interest in seeing him and GSP go again. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

yes.. raffi's goal was a nice one...three head fakes and then gently slide it under... -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

Who is next for GSP? Matt Serra? I like Serra but GSP will be way too much for him. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

I was following the play by play on Sherdog.net .... one of the guys posted that Hughes didn't even know it was a kick that GSP smoked him with... is that right? -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey