Archive for the 'video' Category

The Need for Thoughtful Vision

Published
by
Ehren
on June 25, 2008
in Interests, Mentions, Ponderings, Unthinkables, fun and video
. 0 Comments

How we do or respond to something is fascinating, don’t you think?  Whether it may be a casual glance, a dismissive wave, or an onerous glare — these are just a few of the many combinations of actions that can occur.

So far here’re a handful that I’ve come up with:

We first run into some random stimulus — something that triggers a response or reaction from us.

The Just Do It Attitude

Some Random Spontaneous Stimuli –> Roll Dice + Take Action

The Deer in Headlights Approach

Blank Look –> Hope for the best … and let’s cross our fingers in case

The Puzzle Piecing Fanaticism

Some Random Spontaneous Stimuli (i.e. random tidbit of information) –> Search and Acquire Mode is ON!

The Pondering Life Act

Stimuli triggers mental white noise –> Flashbacks occur in the mind faster than the average CSI episode

No.  Nothing else happens.

The AUGH! Syndrome

Perceived sudden stimuli –> Some ear-piercing or bass-heavy scream of sorts

The Swerve & Disintegrate Tactic

Bothersome Stimuli Occurs –> Avoid at all costs until stimuli fades from sight or mind

The Twitch Process

Stimuli triggers emotion –> Result: a form of habitual behaviour

The MudderFudder Grumble

Stimuli Here –> Some form of “pleasant language” spoken under one’s breath

The Rebel Without Even a Reason Effect

Some shape or form resembling stimuli –> A response that happens anyway … just because

The Backwards Logic Drive

A stimulus –> Rational thinking that is triggered but is ignored because it makes too much sense

Perhaps we can compile a list!

So the point — visualizing.  What do we do when we visualize something?  We seem to make better decisions.  We can see into the distance, the impact of our decisions. A simple example would be Amazon’s review chart.

More importantly — being able to visualize our behaviour or the behaviour others allows us the opportunity to change.  Check out Chris Jordan’s video on Picturing Excess.  Quite astonishing.

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It Was All Bland Until…

Published
by
Ehren
on May 7, 2008
in Interests, fun and video
. 0 Comments

I saw the trailer for the Animation Show 4 had arrived! Thank you for making my day that much better.

I highly recommend checking out this show in your neighbourhood theatre, or in some cases for people like myself — drive 2 hours to a city where it is showing. Last year it wasn’t showing in Toronto so we drove to Waterloo!

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Ideas are Exciting

Published
by
Ehren
on February 28, 2008
in Aspirations, Mentions, Unthinkables, video and web 2.0
. 0 Comments

Bad ones, good ones, they are all worth hearing regardless of whether or not we agree with them.  Why?  Why not?  It doesn’t really matter because the more ideas you have to work with, the more resources you have to build towards something successful.

Think of how many ideas are actually floating out there and most likely how many are likely the same or very similar to one another.  Only a minority of ideas actually are put into action — think of Google and Microsoft.  I am sure both companies are bursting with ideas (as are many other businesses).  Unfortunately, the company will only invest in ideas that they feel are successful.

What makes one company more successful than another?  It’s usually an idea or lots of ideas put together that lays the foundation for that level of success.

TED has a live webcast taking place at 5:15pm Pacific time.  Argh!  I wish I could watch it.  Suffice to say — if you are able to watch it, check it out.  Like their slogan says, they’ve got ideas worth spreading.

Ideas are always exciting.  What will make an idea successful?  Pretty much … more ideas.

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8 Keywords to Success

Published
by
Ehren
on February 21, 2008
in Aspirations, Mentions, Ponderings, marketing and video
. 0 Comments

In three minutes, Richard St. John presents his point on success. I have to say this is one damn good presentation. So how often can we shorten our whole marketing campaign into as few words as possible while retaining the power of the original message?

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One Brilliant Marketing Campaign

Published
by
Ehren
on November 30, 2007
in Aspirations, Interests, Mentions, fun, marketing, politics, video and web 2.0
. 0 Comments

Today my friend passed along a website called CheatNeutral. I have no idea if many other people in the world have heard and seen this but I had no idea what it was. I definitely encourage you to visit their website and view the video clip.

Their idea strikes hard at the viewer and with some pretty zany humour which really brings home the story behind the whole concept of Carbon Neutrality and Carbon offset credits that many webhosting service providers like Netfirms and Dreamhost have been buying up in order to have the ability to market themselves as “Green friendly”, especially as being green is becoming trendy in the eyes of many consumers who are increasingly environmentally conscious. A prime example is the banner I have on the left hand side of my blog declaring that I am green — which I will remove over this weekend.

The point is … I’m guilty … just as almost all of us are guilty of looking for an easy way to deal with our environmental issues. Thank you Alex and Christian … and Beth ? … for helping people realize what the Carbon offset industry is doing and how ridiculous it really is.

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Tackling Adobe Flash - One Stick Man at a Time

Published
by
Ehren
on October 20, 2007
in Aspirations, design, fun, technology, video and web 2.0
. 0 Comments

Macromedia Adobe Flash has been around for quite some time. If you began using the Internet since the mid-1990s on a dial-up connection, you would have noticed the introduction and gradual rise of Flash technology in proportion to the number of Internet users that have broadband connections. Nowadays we don’t usually think of how long a Flash animation will take to load unless there was a Flash developer/designer that created a poorly made piece of Flash.

I’ve been toying with Flash more and more as I see it becoming a more relevant part of the Internet and that Google will soon introduce a version of their Analytics software that will make it easier for web content managers to be able to monitor how users interact with Flash components or a website completely designed in Flash. They’re already helping …

Regardless, I’ve been playing with Flash, Actionscript and hoping to design my own first site in Flash soon! I know, nothing spectacular these days but I consider it one of my firsts.

My uncle sent this over the other day and I absolutely love this animation. I’m not sure if it was done in Flash but it definitely illustrates how users/designers using the program Adobe Flash Professional can feel when things just aren’t working out … or are they?

Kudos to Alan Becker for creating something awe-inspiring in a setting that Flash users/designers/developers see on a day-to-day basis. Go visit his DeviantArt site for more great creations!

 


Animator vs. Animation by *alanbecker on deviantART

Now there’s even a game made by Charles Yeh! Amazing stuff!

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Some Rocky Inspiration

Published
by
Ehren
on September 18, 2007
in Mentions, Ponderings, fun, history, philosophy, travel and video
. 0 Comments

In a good sense that is …

During my recent trip to Pennsylvania, we explored Philadelphia for a couple of days. Philly is quite the city full of political and labour history. Definitely would go back to check out what I didn’t have time for. One thing I did get to do is visit the Museum of Art.

First thing I knew of and noticed was the constant flow of tourists who flocked to the statue of Rocky. Posing with Rocky Balboa was one of the primary attractions but not only did it seem that Rocky inspired people to pose, people ran up the stairs of the Museum of Art reenacting the scene in Rocky, and people would applaud and smile each time a group of people raced up the stairs. Some people were so enthused that they almost fell down the stairs!

Nevertheless, I find it interesting that Rocky inspires so many … for better or for worse … the character appeals to the nature of many Americans as well as those around the world who have watched the movie. I didn’t run up the stairs though … I just walked up and enjoyed the view at the very top of the stairs.

On the topic of inspiration … I’ve somehow found the inspiration to dive into linux and experiment with Ubuntu. I have to say I haven’t tinkered with command lines since DOS on PCs, but I am enjoying the opportunity to play around and explore the Linux environment which I have not yet done before. Hopefully my patience will still remain after a week …!

Now since we’re on the topic of inspiration, a neat little site called Should Do This has come up. Feel free to wander on over and suggest what Ehren should do :)

Here’s to Rocky!

Rocky Statue in Philadelphia

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Some new animation on its way - Tekkonkinkreet

Published
by
Ehren
on July 12, 2007
in Interests, Mentions, Movie, fun and video
. 0 Comments

I just recently dished out a chunk of change on Samurai 7, an amazing re-telling of Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai which was later made into the popular western movie The Magnificent Seven. I’ve only watched the first episode of Samurai 7 and I am hooked, by the way they introduce the farmers from the little village and a few samurai themselves. The plot I think is generally the same but I am sure that the 7 DVDs versus the 1 DVD original will provide a whole lot more depth to everything!

Aside from Samurai 7, my friend Dan passed on a link to a fantastic looking animated film called Tekkonkinkreet. I am really not sure what that means but the trailer reminds me of a blend of Japanese anime with some international animation styles that I have seen before at the Animation Show.

Check out the trailer below or at the site. The trailer website has better quality if you’re willing to wait a little longer for the file to load.

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