Netflix is upping their prices, presenting new plan options.

I understand the need for companies to increase revenue to stay effective and profitable.

However, I have one big beef with the recent Netflix price hikes.  The timing is rather suspect.  I know from chatter on the net, and from my own social circles that a lot of people have been high tailing it from their expensive cable providers for more cost effective services like Netflix.  I am one of them.

Plus, ironically, the past three days (at least in my neck of the woods) have revealed serious latency issues with Netflix’ service.  Screens loading slowly, movies taking three times longer to buffer, etc, etc.

I saved hundreds a year making the move to having my XBox be the primary source of video entertainment.  It helps with day care, my son’s illness, and living in general.

So, when I receive an email that states there is to be a 30% price hike to my subscription, I got a little perturbed.  Yes it’s only a few bucks, but then so is a shift from $3 for a gallon of milk to $7.

I may be making a mountain out of a mole hill but all the different events unfolding concurrently puts a sour taste in my mouth.  The reliance of people shifting to Netflix from cable being just one factor.  It comes across as profiteering.  That may be a bold claim, but the basic evidence gestures that way.  As it stands, I probably will drop the disc mailing service, but I really don’t want to.

http://www.sfx.co.uk/2011/07/12/evil-dead-4-on-the-way-confirms-bruce-campbell/

So, is this an example of history repeating itself? In a small cycle of 15 years, it could be I suppose. More likely, it is simply an example of the propensity for humans to act upon stupid and dramatic notions when presented with an opportunity to.

In short, if the chance arises to cause mayhem, people will take it, it seems: especially in Canada!

STS is about the only place you’ll see a direct reference to Silver, the main character.  Serious events are unfolding for her, dangerous events.  Follow her at http://www.twitter.com/FiraxiaSilver.

On a side note, I’m working on the STS Blog format, and plan on unveiling a distinct mission for the site.

Hypothetical twitter received responses to Weiner”gate” 2011!

1. Joe “Natalie on Twitter” Strumbold

Response: “I recieved a message from Congressman Anthony Weiner.  He showed me a lovely well centered portrait of his grey underwear clothed genitalia.  I’m pretty sure it was probably some other person’s picture.  He’s such a passionate fella, couldn’tve been him.”

2. “Air-eee-ell”

Response: “I was swimming through the ocean and saw an engorged rock up ahead in the murky darkness.  I thought it might be the marker for Orshella’s lair, and I really wanted to see her to get my hearing back!  It turns out that it was a giant… what?  What did you say?

3. “Eye-Car Lie”

Response: “I am an underage television star who was sitting at home one night answering tweets when suddenly something shocking passed across my phone, it was a photograph of what I am fairly sure was the Washington Monument  When did they knock it down?  Should we start a fund to rebuild it?

E-mail me at mailman@shockingthesenses.com!

Of the dozen or so phones we were asked to configure Exchange mail accounts on, I touched four.  Of those four phones, there were 3 different iterations of the Android operating system.  Each time I’d start working on a new device, I had to relearn the menus and steps to take to configure the email client.  The directions I had from our ‘expert’ (I put that in single quotes because he’s actually really awesome) were even different per device.  Later I was informed that there are different launchers you can install.  Okay, different launchers.  Why then was it the case that I found myself confused when stumbling through menus to find something as simple as “My Account”.  One would have “Exchange Account” and the other would have “Corporate Sync”.  That bridges beyond different launchers and into different core nomenclature between devices which are named the same!

Okay, I’m not one for participating heavily in the fight between Apple and Google, and this isn’t the first Android I’ve touched for my company, so I have to say that from the perspective of a person who now has first hand experience with irritation about the inconsistencies between one Android device and the next from a support standpoint, I’m happy with my iPhone.

Many of you know that I’m pro small government, but I tell ya, Apple, keep your fingers in my business.  I’ve been lectured on jailbreaking.  I also have read the articles about Apple’s intrusion in my personal life by tracking what I do.  Well, I went to a grocery store recently and bought a few items that have nothing to do with my baby boy.  Three baby product coupons printed when I bought the pack of frozen chicken breasts and broth.

Reasors Grocery, why do you have my debit card info on file?

Apple, keep up the good, consistent work!

Email me with your irritations, I’d love to hear from you.

I finish editing the video together and low and behold, it won’t compile.

I should have seen it coming considering that every time I split a video, a new FFDShow icon would appear in the systray.  It gets to about 30% and fails due to “disk space” (nope) or “some other error” (….??…..)

So I uninstalled the ffdshow codec and installed the newest DivX full pack.  Got to 75% this time.  I think the answer is ditching Movie Maker.  The problem is, it’s free and I don’t have the budget for anything really decent.

I may give it a go again though.  Maybe having ffdshow in there dorked up the project.  Will let ya know.  This weekend I’m going to tackle it again.

The formatting isn’t really correct but I’m proud of it never the less.  I have another idea in mind too for my next one !

By the way, since filming is done I’m going to start editing tonight.  Hopefully I’ll have something to post soon.

Right Click Me, Save As…The Accident

I’ve learned many lessons about filmography from this little endeavor.  First and foremost, I’ve learned that I need to take a class for this if I’m going to continue to write and participate in the industry.

Lighting : Wow.  It’s such a key element in film but such an art to compose a scene with correct lighting.  I filmed some outside only to find out that the professionals light then stop down in post production.  Indoors, I tried to add angled light sources as best I could but my budget is such ($0) that I had to use what was available, lamps and such.  I have a lot to learn.

Camera : I’m using a cheap HD Sanyo handheld.  I chose it because 1) It’s digital, 2) I can adjust white balance, aperture/exposure and a few other factors.  However, it only autofocuses.  I always heard this can be a problem but didn’t realize how much of one.  Had to do some takes several times just to compensate for this.  There will still be some focus issues in the final product too, thanks to my lack of lighting knowledge outdoors at night.  Other than those things, the picture is fair.  I’ll invest in a “real, film quality” camera when I am able to.  I believe then I will be known as a “prosumer” instead of “consumer”.

Audio : Ugh.  I need a directional microphone.  Another cost issue.  As it stands, I re-recorded most of the noises/lines and will do what I can to clean it all up.

Summary : I only scratched the surface of the things I need to learn but I’m glad I did this project.  I have a great respect for all of the Indie film folks out there who produce such quality work.

Update soon!

I’m working outside at night with little lighting, so it’s tough to get the shots I want but I edited what I could get into a decent effort.  I’ll provide more detail about the script and such soon.  Just wanted to let anyone who reads this know that “doing it” beats sitting around and “wanting to do it.”