More Toys from Ebay Land....The Zoom H4n Audio Recorder

So Blogger does have it's limits, but I am still quite satisfied with it (seeing as it IS free and all... : ). MP3 files aren't supported, so whenever I want to upload an audio clip, it must be combined with photos or video and made into a video file. But beggars can't be choosers, and it probably just means that I'll be incorporating more of my thousands of pictures into audio bits along the way. Whee!

Yet another reason to be prepared at sea...

"Have you ever been hated or discrimated against?"

"I have, I've been protested and demonstrated against" says Eminem, the subject of my in-class presentation of a "Popular Music Icon" and the values they portray to their specific audience. The presentation was supposed to be 10-15 minutes long, with a max video excerpt of 4 minutes or less (mine technically went 4:05). Well, this morning I blew it with an embarrassing 20 minute session. I did a poor job of delivering, in that I gave into free-form more than I should have, and didn't adhere to the guidelines I made for myself(4 pages of bullets), which would have kept me under 15 minutes (I think). Perhaps my weakness is dedication to "telling all" or feeling that rigid dictation is too strict for my personal style - either way, it was embarrassing to find out how long I had actually gone on for, and in the future I'll be using a time-que or other deice to remind me of how much time has transpired. Well, we live and learn!

Cheers,

Danny

Speech - Part 2

Analyzing lyrics (Eminem's): Specifically, those of his rap "Mosh" which is pretty anti-Bush I'd say, not judging him either way for that move (very "V for Vendetta like, ay?). This is my task. Anywho, take a look at the below video, listen to the words, and make your own judgment.

Speech Time Kiddies!

The last time I gave a speech was in my Sophomore year of highschool, in 2002. Now, seven years later I'm doing a similar bit, 10-15 minute bit on the rapper/producer/actor Marshall Bruce Mathers III, aka Eminem, aka Slim-Shady. It's not really that long, considering we're allowed to use a four-minute video clip, but maybe I'll do some more serious speeches this coming Fall? School wise I'm looking at taking Spanish, Bio/Chem, Speech, and maybe a bit of English in the Fall, as opposed to continually bashing myself with Calculus. Anywho, below is the video I'm going to use (partially) for my presentation/speech tomorrow. I believe it to be one of the better videos that Eminem has put out, in that it has an easily deciphered message. For those of us who know a bit more about the details of his life, this song is even more moving. I'll publish my final essay on this topic towards the end of March.

Cheers,

Danny

Um....a great story, but not a good idea.

Although the video on youtube says that the Orca killed the man, he must have died AFTER successfully rolling his kayak back into the righted position, as you can see him do at the end of he video. I think somebody wanted to be dramatic - even though dying seems like a plausible thing after getting squarshed by a whale like that! Two summers ago I saw a similar situation brewing with a bunch of tiered/echelon feeding Humpback whales in Fredric Sound, AK. A small kayak/cruise yacht had two or three kayaks out and amongst a group of actively feeding (and potentially breaching) whales - not an ethical or smart idea on their part. Fortunately nothing happened, but just like watching a boat drive up to the face of an active glacier and attempt to touch the ice, half of me just wanted to leave so that we didn't have to see the event that was likely to follow. Anywho, if you want to see more on Orca whales, youtube "Orca Kill" and watch the one where the seal on the ice is taken by a hunting group of Transients...it's pretty sweet. Or just click HERE.

Before Bed...

You must take a look through this photo series by Mike Simpson - it's quite creative. Click Here.