#90 Sharing Photos

I watched the video with some interest just to see how many sites there were for photos. I am most familiar with Flickr, as it is used by HCPL, but have truly never messed with it. Took the Flickr tour, and was amazed at how much it offered as far as creative ways to use your photos. Privacy would be one of my major concerns, also being able to post photos for others to see, after doing fancy things with the editing features. Also, it is always fascinating to see others handiwork, and the pictures they share that are important to them.

I may very well download Picasa to my computer, my pictures are scattered helter-skelter all over my hard drive, with no organization whatsoever. The software might be a good way to learn to share the photos that I do have with others, and also use them in creative ways.

# 89 Basic Photo Editing

This is a picture of my Zinnias that my sister took last summer. Using Picnik, I cropped, sharpened and resized the picture, as well as putting a fancy border around it. It was exceedingly easy to use, and I was pleased with the results. And I didn't have to register for it. I may very well use it in the future. My pictures are stuck on my computer helter skelter, and I seldom mess with them. But this was very simple. I did try Fotoflexer, and found it to be a bit more difficult to use, and never did get the picture saved. Although, my cat as an Andy Warhol painting was pretty cool.

Probably the functions that would be most important to me would be editing, red-eye, sharpening, cropping and resizing. The rest would be fun stuff. And anything anti-aging. :)

#81 Media's Future

The world was happy place when I got my first DVD player, probably 10 years ago, and have since collected many movies in this format. Netflix was my next big discovery. Now, I have been introduced to streaming movies on my computer, entertainment at my fingertips whenever I feel inclined. Have yet to try Blue Ray, but am sure its in the cards. How much has changed since the small, colorless, 3 channel set I grew up with. Now, its 3-D movies, although the lack of Oscars for Avatar, the movie that changed the face of moviemaking, is telling in just how interested people are in the technology. In my opinion, its a Fad, just like 8 track tapes, and cassettes, and will eventually follow the same course. And yet, it will be integrated into all forms of media, movies, television. Will people really want to toss thier 50" flat screens, for another, more expensive television, that you have to wear funny glasses to watch? Some will, to be sure, those gatherers of all things technical, but I believe, in the general populace, the fad will not last long. In movies, perhaps, but not TV.

I must agree with Robert Cringely's article on the demise of network television, it is too easy, and there are too many ways to get better viewing and content then on network television, which had its heyday 20 years ago. And I doubt that having 3D will change that. However, I think that 3D will revolutionise the gaming industry, all that reality, all that blood spilling and cars racing and aliens being blown to bits green goo splashing in your face? It will truly make it an experience.

Theaters will always be around in some form, even if it only for nostaligic reasons. There really is nothing like a movie theater experience, whether its something loud and splashy, and soft and mysterious. The dark draws you in, the popcorn smells waft, the rustle of candy wrappers, the shared laughter or cries of fright, there is nothing like it. People aren't going to give that up, and it can't happen in one's living room, no matter how big the TV.

Not being a gadget oriented, I do not buy every new thing that hits the market. Content with a device doing only what it is supposed to do, much of the new innovations are not of great interest to me. However, if and when the time comes that DVD's are replaced physically by something new, I will no doubt be like "K" in the movie Men in Black, when, showing a new, smaller disc-shaped item, proclaims, "This is gonna replace CD's soon. I'll have to buy the White Album again." Guess I will be standing in line.

# 80 Movies

Netflix is one the greatest inventions known to mankind! I have been with them for about a year, have had very few problems, get to see lots of the BBC series that I enjoy, and they come and go in a timely manner. I have not yet utilised the streaming to the computer option, time is a bit of a problem, a small monitor and an uncomfortable chair also add in to the unwillingness to view movies on my computer. However, the option is there, and I will no doubt use it at some point. I don't own a Wii, and I haven't been in a Blockbuster since I got Netflix. I have not had occasion to use the Redbox either, but know they are popular.

I did watch a bit of What's Eating Gilbert Grape streaming on Hulu, and was impressed with the picture and sound quality, and realising I needed to re-watch this movie. I took a look at TheAuters.com, and watched a scene from The Andulasian Dog, a film created by Salvador Dali and friend, which was disturbing in the extreme, but interesting. Apple Trailers was neat, but not something I would use. Internet Movie Database has been part of my world for a long time, for information, movie trailers and to settle Bar bets. Watched two trailers, Alice in Wonderland and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Making movies readily available is a marvelous thing, that almost anyone can enjoy, as long as they have a computer. In today's ecomomy anything to entertain and save a few bucks should be treasured.

#79 Television

Ah yes. I remember the days when the screens were very small, and only black and white. The world was colorless but wholesome, and quite fascinating.It's hard to believe how much the world has changed in the 60 years or so since "The Tube" came into being, and how much "it" has changed our world.

I am not an avid TV watcher these days, too little time and really too little to watch that interests me. However, the article on Product Placement was fun, I knew they had done it for some time and most of the time it is not hard to notice. Still better then sitting through commercials. I checked out Hulu.com, watched some old clips from Sesame Street, looked for In Treatment, the HBO series, but they did not have whole episodes, only in small snatches. If I watched more TV, it would no doubt be quite useful. I liked Viewmy.tv, being able to catch up with the news anywhere in the world.

I can not imagine why anyone would want to watch TV on their cell phone, unless you are stuck in the Dr's office, and don't want to watch Fox News. The screen is just too small to be effective. However, I did find it fascinating that one could get an App to view Al Jazeera in English, and the BBC, according to Mashable. The sports App could come in handy if you are a fanatic, or are a news junkie and wish all news all the time. In short bursts, it would probably be usable, but not something I would in any way wish to have.

I have watched Youtube, as has everyone else on the plant, but have not desire to put videos on the Internet. My life is just too dull to try to make a movie out of it. It would end up being one of those boring documentaries that your science teacher made you watch.

#74 Social Petworking

I have to admit, I created a webpage for my cat Emma on Catster. It was fairly easy, though I had some trouble finding her breed, and it was really slow to load after I had finished filling out the information. Even her picture is up there. I also did a diary entry on Emma's Day, all about her rather dull day at home. It was sort of fun, and something I may keep up with. Checked out Pet.doc, and got advice on how to trim her toenails.

I don't feel a great need to do social networking for my cat. Emma and I are both rather lone wolves, so to speak, and are content to be as such. I can see why many people enjoy doing it, finding folks with the same breed of cat or dog as your own, or just enjoying the company of others. I talk about Emma at work, we all share our pet stories, and she is a very important part of my life. But I would rather not disturb her privacy any more then necessary. :)

#73 Losing a friend

Having lived a good long time, I have lost many pets over the years, most commonplace, some more exotic. It has never been easy, whether they died at home, or when the decision had to be made to end thier life. After looking at the websites listed in the exercise, I found the information useful, and was pleased that some understanding of the grief at the loss of a pet has, over time, has been more accepted as the norm rather then something odd.

The worst time I had was when I had to make the decision alone as to putting two of my cats down within 6 months of each other. Squeaker, a very large Tabby with a very small voice, was found in a parking lot, had been with us for 10 years, and unfortunately had severe diabetes. He had some kind of episode, and needed to have his suffering ended. It was horrible, the feelings I had. But, I was with him to the end, and he was sorely missed.

My other cat, Ming, a Siamese, was 14, and my late husband's cat. A true character and aristocrat he was, sat with Dan and had coffee in the morning, loved deli turkey and peas, very skittish and extremely loving animal. Used to sit by the pond and lay his tail on the water, even though he hated getting wet. He was my companion, along with Squeaker, when the world turned upside down. Unfortunately, he developed cancer of the liver, and there was nothing to be done. When the time came, I took him to the vet, and stayed with him until he was gone. The doctor was kind, there was no other choice. The devastation was complete, and I miss that amazing animal to this day.