DSE

The LDS-owned Deseret News held an essay contest "Entries are now being accepted for the 2004 contest. The stories should be original and approximately 700 to 800 words in length, or approximately two typewritten pages, double-spaced. The winning entries will be published in the paper the week prior to and on Christmas Day. The editor/judges prefer stories that cover a wide range of Christmas experiences, including humor. Ideally, stories should be written using a computer. Legible handwritten entries are acceptable. The author's name, address, daytime and evening telephone numbers and e-mail address (if the entrant has one) must be included." A 12 year old girl was notified she was one of the finalists in the contest, and that the newspaper "would like to publish the essay." Then the newspaper's editor contacted the little girl's mother, and asked the question, "Are you Mormon." The mother replied, "No, she is not." And the little girl and her mother were informed that the contest/publication offer were "for Mormons only." Notice the link above makes no mention of any religous affiliation. The newspaper can be bought at any newsstand in the Intermountain US. Paul Rolly of the SL Tribune, felt badly for the little girl, and ran her essay in his column. Local activists are calling for a lawsuit against the DesNews, because they didn't specify the contest was for "mormons only." What say you? Fair? Unfair?

According to the LDS Journal of Discourses, xix, p229 George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and the rest of the Founding Fathers are LDS/Mormon. Of course the Constitution was founded upon Christianity. Wasn't one of the reasons they left England was for the freedom of religion?

Don't confuse 24p with mere progressive. 24p is difficult to shoot on the ground, let alone in the air. If you're smooth in the air, you can probably shoot reasonable 24p at 1/48. I'd recommend 30p (which the Sony A1/Z1/V1 all shoot) before shooting 24p, and I'd recommend 60 (only the EX shoots this) for best of all worlds. However there are dozens of very good deinterlacers today. And depending on the NLE, you rarely have to deinterlace first. Sony Vegas, for example, applies titles, generated media at 4:4:4 progressive on any timeline regardless of source. You'll only need to deinterlace on final render, and this won't have any impact on FX, generated media, or stills.

Just verified this, Vegas 7c, d, and e all offer this template. If you're running Vegas 7a/b, you won't see it. Go do the downloads page at http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/download/step2.asp?DID=697 and get the latest version.

Ship me a working, functioning camera right now, today. We both know what we're not talking about, so we'll leave the discussions of recall, plate, viewfinder outta here. Additionally, 4K is not HD.

you don't have these templates? Both Vegas 7 and 8 should have them, unless you're running unlicensed software, but then you likely wouldn't have the AVC encoder at all.

The Panasonic HVX 200 has high framerates too, and it's got just as many snag points. Problem with the HVX (from my perspective) is that you're better off jumping a PAL DV camcorder for all the resolution it gives. The HVX200 has the smallest sized imager (960 x 540) of any HD camcorder in the history of the world (and likely for future camcorders as well), and the smallest recorded image (960 x 720) of any HD camcorder in history. Additionally, the P2 format is ancient history as far as PCM/Cardbus. No laptop or desktop supports the card, so you need a very expensive card reader. All of the small Sony consumer format camcorders also offer high framerates, but the framerates aren't sustained, with 12 seconds being the longest record time, and those 12 seconds are at quarter resolutions, or less resolution than SD. With the EX, the microphone mount is removable, but since we're using this in run n' gun right now, I've left it on. It's just a small elimination anyway. I did the same thing with my Z1 camcorder, too. BTW, 24p isn't a high framerate, quite the opposite, it's a low framerate.

I jump a Silhouette 170. At 6K, it's not that expensive compared to the other cams we have in our packages. Haven't freeflown with it yet, hoping too, if the weather warms or I go somewhere fun for the holidays. The late December project I had planned fell through, so not quite sure where I'm heading for the holidays. Either way, the stabilization shouldn't be an issue with it, given the system they have in place. Fuji has a lockable lens system, unlike the Zeiss, and if it's anything like their standard .5 and 2/3 broadcast systems, it locks when it's off. Jarno, obviously I haven't wingsuited with it, but having done some beautiful undercrank work with it...it's simply gorgeous. Shoot slo-mo progressive at full resolution....I'm sure it'll make you cry as it's so smooth. Wish I was a better wingsuiter.

Mem stick/semi-pro...prolly not. The new Z7, scheduled to ship in March or so, will record to both tape and CF card, and it's a very sweet cam. I can't see any of the broadcast division (ie; semi-pro) cams ever recording to mem stick. CF, yes. Mem stick falls into the category of consumer no matter how you look at it. V7 is about the same size as FX7, the consumer camcorders are getting smaller, ie; CX7, and for the moment, I can tell you that isn't going to change. You'll see one marginally new design in about a month, but it's not different enough that it'll matter, IMO.

Coupla PM's asking about the XDCAM EX, so here are a coupla pix. It's *not* a camera for your average tandem, that's for sure, but the 60p makes it a SMOKIN' sweet camcorder, as does the undercrank, overcrank. I haven't been able to jump it with the over/undercrank enabled, only two jumps so far (tempted to travel to Eloy just for this) but the one thing I learned on one jump, is to rotate the handle, it whistles with the handle in the flat/normal position. Shoots many formats, my fave is 60p mode, but in any event, it offers a 1920 x 1080 imager and 1920 x 1080 recorded stream, making it the first full-raster camera in the 1080 world for sub 500K. Shoots to MPEG IMX, which is the highest grade format for HD sub 20K in a small package. Half inch imager, easy to get shallow DOF if you want it. I've had a prototype til recently, this is the shipping model. Weighs about the same as a Z1, so not too heavy at all. No, it does not have standard LANC, but rather uses a professional lens controller similar to any broadcast-level camcorder. Balance is very sweet.

1-I had Vegas installed under Bootcamp. Bootcamp expired, so now waiting for the next iteration of Leopard so I can go back to running Vegas under my Mac. If it wasn't for Motion and DVDStudio Pro, I probably wouldn't use my MacBook at all. As far as pro/semi-pro AVCHD; Panasonic will shortly begin shipping AVC-Intra, which is their new format. I've seen early vid from these, it sucks as one would expect. What makes AVC function so well is the GOP format, and losing GOP but trying to contain the stream is pretty funky. Kinda like taking a round tire and making it not quite round, it makes for a bumpy ride. So for the moment, the jury is out. SxS has nothing to do with AVC, not sure how you connected the two. Then again, I just spent half an hour in a conference panel having some idiot explain to me why P2 is a superior video format to HDV. P2 is a storage device, not a video format. In other words, there is a lot of market miscommunication/conception out there. SxS is the Express card format, and currently the new Sony XDCAM EX uses it, expect to see it on more cams. Extremely fast Xfer, and no worries about dirt, etc in the portholes. but it's just a storage device, AVCHD can be stored on it just as can XDCAM IMX

One of my daughter's friends has a similar rule in their family. They are highly religious and not allowed to watch anything that involves supernatural forces of any kind. Hello?! Just try to produce film/broadcast for these groups. You should see the lists they put forth about dress codes, color schemes, language, etc. We had one project that called for re-edit because the lead character utters the word "Marshmallows" in an agressive manner, thus making it a curse. We had to cut/dub a "Grrrrr" in place. Not sure why a "Grrrrr" is more acceptable than "Marshmallows" but when it's one word holding up b'cast to a specific group...no point in fighting it.

Kinda hard to buy a laptop with an OEM license. Either/any way you slice it, it's significantly more expensive to purchase a system without the popular OS on it, in terms of either time, $$, or both

Interesting points all. In reading the local paper, the most visited webpage (and positively rated webpage) of the day is the letter to the editor entitled "Mormon Theocracy" Mormon theocracy Public Forum Letter Article Last Updated: 12/11/2007 10:41:52 PM MST During Mitt Romney's recent speech he stated, "Let me assure you that no authorities of my church, or any other church for that matter, will ever exert influence on presidential decisions." Nice rhetoric but the reality, after living under the Utah Mormon theocracy most of my adult life, is that most Mormons do look to the Mormon leadership for direction. In Utah the Mormon theocracy is one whose Mormon legislators usually submit bills to the LDS First Presidency before enactment, for their review and approval; a Mormon theocracy that was sold a portion of Salt Lake under the guise that it would become "a bit of Paris," then after the purchase is made becomes a Mormon enclave, complete with guards, to ensure that fact; a Mormon theocracy that cancels civic functions on Mondays to facilitate Family Home Evening; a Mormon theocracy that proposes a shield to hide all liquor in restaurants so as not to offend Mormons - and on and on. Victor Roblez Holladay I'd say this guy hit it straight on the head. The county I live in has fewer mormons than any other county in Utah and we feel a tremendous impact on our lifestyle anyway. Then there are counties like Utah county where you can't even go see an R-rated movie. But at least *so far*, we don't have to hide our liquor in public places like they do in SLC and Utah counties. Would you believe that one commissioner wanted to pass a law that says if you drink beer in public, you must keep a brown bag wrapped around the beer??

Harder to do on a new computer. You not only get dinged for the new computer with Vista, but you get the pleasure of uninstalling/wiping, installing XP, hoping all the drivers are accessible. Or, you get the option of simply spending more $$ and buying a machine with XP on it, which seems even more silly. Before the Macheads chime in, the new Leopard isn't much better, ie; it breaks more than it fixes or enhances. I wasn't able to bring my MacBook on this trip with me because Bootcamp expired, and Leopard won't work with my off-board adapters yet.

Dunno why either of them would be going there. The driver for default 1394 card that is OHCI compliant is included in WinXP ServicePak1, and included in all versions of Vista. Running Vegas Pro 8 on 2 different desktop Vista machines, and on 25 laptops that are all Vista machines. PM me with more detail, I'll do my best. side note, i'm getting on a plane today to head back to the states, so will be off for the better part of the next 24 hours.

USB to firewire adaptor that actually works? Who makes one? I rode a Harley(s) and finally got a Diana (now owned by Honda and they call it a Valkyrie). built in the USA for those that call em' rice burners.

MacBook Pro is my choice. Funny thing is that Sony Vegas under bootcamp, renders the same .mov file as final cut in about half the time of final cut. Weird, but much appreciated.

just use the avc encoder set on the iPod preset, you're good to go.

I agree. I wonder how long the Conatser family would let me get away with making "Perris.bum" Tshirts, or how long Larry Hill would let me get away with making "Skydive Aridzona.bum" Tshirts. They've invested in building their brand. In a large coporate world, I don't agree that using a logo is as harmful as it is in a small boutique community, particularly when the exact/identical logo is used. I find the "Bounce" shirts quite clever, and have no problem with them, because even at a side glance, it's pretty obvious that it's not "Bounce" laundry products. Then again, I've also always been a pretty staunch defender of intellectual property rights, just google my name with "copyright" appended to the search.

you likely won't like the look of Cinematic. It's not true 24p, it's a 24p cadence in a 60i stream. Some NLE's, and CineForm NEO can extract the 24p, however. Why on earth would you want 24p for skydiving footage?

perhaps to raise awareness and hoping to find more investors?

Comes right back to the original commentary; it's obvious to even the most illiterate that those T-shirts are parodical, and couldn't possibly be owned by, generated by, sold by, or promoting the products/manufacturers which they make fun of/refer to. Looking at the Tshirt in the photo posted by Bolas, it looks like a Dropzone.com T-shirt to me. Can't tell that it's a parody. But no one could mistake the Snickers/Survivor shirts for being the real thing. Also comes back to the second point, even if it wasn't apparent that the parody is related to Snickers et al, it's a corporate image vs a brother in a very small community. IMO, there is where the problem lies, and without Sangiro's blessing (which might be forthcoming, who knows..?) then it's inappropriate aside from any other considerations, IMO.

A-I don't find the shirts as parody. Kinda doubt a court would either. If there is a likelihood of confusion as to the originator of the parodical product, then it doesn't qualify as parody. I'd imagine that there are those that might think HH originated the shirts. Weird Al Yankovic, master of parody (and ground breaker in the legal channel of the concept) goes well out of his way to be sure no one could ever confuse him with the original artist. These go as far as they can to portray the original art work. B-don't think the comparison is an appropriate comparison.

Obviously, it's up to HH to feel/act as he pleases, but to compare the work to Warhol? Warhol was not parody (and neither are these shirts, IMO) but rather making social commentary, and the reason he specifically chose soup cans as his subject for the hand-drawn, manually transferred 4 screen soup can design was so as to not compete with nor be compared to another artist. Moreover, if the community that supports DZ.com is opposed to a fellow skydiver taking money from HH's hard works, shouldn't conscience preclude the continued manufacture of the shirts? Had Campbell's Soup had issues with Warhol, it's a big, faceless corporation slamming a little guy. In this case, assuming Sangiro isn't cool with it, it's a brother slamming a brother.