Nic’s blog
I write about building businesses, failing and building a life, not a legacy.
Striking, Violence and Idiots
12% is one helluva increase don't you think? I do. I understand that there needs to be an increase, I really do and the teachers, nurses and other public servants definitely need the recognition and the increase.Is it not possible however, to note that an increase of this size cannot be afforded by our government?At the end of the day the only people who are suffering are those who need care and those who need to be educated. Wake up and smell the injustice.
The Times And Video Embedding
I am curious to know if The Times is going to be releasing their video for other sites/blogs to embed?I know that their are some contentious issues surrounding this topic, however I do feel that it would definitely help to promote The Times and their multimedia team. I think that The Times is doing a great job with their new media ventures and holistic approach to media integration.Surely it must be somewhat beneficial to release their video production in order to enable others to embed the videos? Would it not be beneficial for SA Rocks to feature the latest video from The Times on the Lion King production? I think it would. This is not possible at this time however, unless I am missing something?If I am missing something could someone please let me know so I can catch up?!Since I am talking about The Times and I haven't made an attempt at blogging about the topic yet, here goes:The Times is meant to be an integrated platform for readers to access hyperlinks, video, podcasts, photographs, written stories and more. Why then, is it so difficult to access the multimedia aspect of the website? Yes you can tell me to click on the "Multimedia" tab in the navigation menu, fantastic, and then? Then you have a long list of video stories that appear but no video. You need to then click on the headline of the story and get to the story page and then search for the video which is tucked away in the top corner away from the main body of the story. The video is also strategically placed above an advert of some sorts to fool you in to thinking it's an advert.I am not an all knowing web designer/users but I know what I like and this is not it. I would like to see the main video placed within the body of the text, top or bottom and possible on the left of the screen as the main feature, since I am viewing what is coined as a video story.The Podcasts on The Times website are even more difficult to find. After clicking the main "multimedia" tab in the nav menu you then have to strain your eyes to find the submenu containing the podcast link which takes you to a blog format website. Why are the podcasts not featured on the main site?There are vodcasts on the podcasts page which I find somewhat strange. I really love the content on the site, I think that the media producers are doing a phenomenal job, as are the eds and the rest of the team so don't think that I am slating, I am just interested that's all.
Synthasite Mentioned On TechCrunch
Reading my TechCrunch feed this morning I noticed that Synthasite received another mention on the blog.While referring to a Facebook plugin called Sampa which provides Facebook users with the ability to customise their webpages within the Facebook platfrom, Synthasite was mentioned. Sampa is apparently more focused on content while the TechCrunch blog says that Synthasite is more of a designed based creation platform.Very interesting. Mr Lingham and his startup are making waves. I think it is fantastic for South African startups and Vinny deserves all the praise he can get.
Sing While Your Winning, Or Alone
I think that nino's in Rivonia must be where all the weirdos hang out.I am sitting having breakfast and next to me sits an elderly lady on her own. She is reading the newspaper quietly, that is, until the music becomes audible. It is Josh Groban (not my cup of tea thank you) and apparently he is this womans hero because she begins to belt out one hell of rendition of his song.There goes the neighbourhood. There goes breakfast, I think I threw it up. It's never nice to see one meal twice. Maybe she should take Eric's place on the Idols ad as "what not to sing like"!!
Paris Hilton Goes Back To Jail... How The Risen Can Fall
Yes, it is true, the untouchable just got touched by the long arm of the law. Paris has been ordered back to prison.Apparently the judge that sentenced her specifically noted that her sentenced was not to be served, at any point, in her home. This was contravened by the Sheriff who sighted medical illness as his reasoning.Tsk Tsk Tsk. Paris, go back to prison, eat that food and love those women as only a CRIMINAL could. 'Cause lets be honest, Paris is now nothing more than a criminal with a record who has been to jail. Yes she has millions upon millions of dollars to her name, but in prison she is literally just a number.I am so glad to see that celebrities are not untouchable in the eyes of the law. May this be a lesson to all the other idiot celebrities who do stupid things and think that money will save them.
Pink Tells President Bush About Real Life
I am a huge fan of Pink. Those of you who are laughing at me, hold off and watch this video:This video rings true in more countries than America and could be directed at more presidents than Bush.I appreciate it when artists take a stand against something that is destroy our culture. They have the power to change things and the power to make a difference. I just wish that more of them would rally together and release singles along the same line, with a similar message at a similar time. Even just as an experiment to see what kind of impact that would make.I can only image what would happen if Greenday, Christina, Beyonce, U2, FooFighters, Fall Out Boy, PDiddy, Snoop, Eminem and the rest of them all released and anti-Bush campaign (not that kind of bush, calm down).
And On The Third Day... Hilton Walked
And we all thought Jesus did a good job of getting out of the ground. Well Paris Hilton seems to be unstoppable on this Earth.There is nothing she cannot do. Record an album, become an actor, start a fashion label and dupe the police in to thinking she isn't suited for prison. My goodness. People complain about the South African Judicial system, let us look at our American brethren and ponder for a moment, shall we?Paris; walk on my girl, walk on. In fact, fucking run and hope that no one catches you and takes you back you sneaking cow.Hilton is now under house arrest for the rest of her 40 day sentence. She is said to be wearing a monitoring bracelet for the duration of her sentence. Mark my words, save this post, digg it, del.icio.us it or whatever but in 40 days from now every tween, teen and trendy biatch is going to want or have a monitoring bracelet as a fashion accessory. Stupid idiots.
Cyanide Really Is Happiness
I must admit that I love cyanide and happiness. This comic, without a doubt, has my in stitches every morning.
Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.netAnd now for a little Cyanide movie madness. Wow, what a ripper:
Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net
Mac Tutorials Online
I am a recent Mac user and some stuff just escapes me. I am sure that I am not alone.There is a way to discover the stuff that you just don't know and it is called Macinstruct. This site recently held a competition asking for people to create tutorials of things that they thought people should know about a Mac. The results are great and the tutorials are awesome.There are 38 tutorials available on the site covering topics that extend from copying DVDs to right clicking. The simple stuff, the Mac stuff and the stuff that pertains to Mac through various other programs and applications.Go on, give it a look, you know you want to. If you are a Mac user, I am interested to know what the most frustrating thing was when you began using your Mac?
Sniper in Afghanistan Goes Mental From Over 2000ft
I received an email today containing the following video. First let me share the text from the email:
Canadian Sniper in Afghanistan.These video shots are not made through the shooter's telescopic sight...they are made looking through the spotter's scope. The spotter lies right next to the sniper and helps the sniper to find and home in on the target.The sniper is using a 50 caliber rifle. A 50 cal. round is about 7-8 inches long and the casing is about an inch in diameter. The bullet itself is one-half inch in diameter and roughly one and one-half inches long.Pay close attention to the beginning of the video. A Taliban is lying on top of the peak in front of you... when you hear the shot fired.... watch what happens. The sniper is also about a half mile away... or more.A Canadian sniper in Afghanistan has been confirmed as hitting an enemy soldier at a range of 2,310 meters, the longest recorded and confirmed sniper shot in history. The previous record of 2,250 meters was set by US Marine sniper Carlos Hathcock in Vietnam in 1967. The Canadian sniper was at an altitude of 8,500 feet and the target, across a valley, was at 9,000 feet. Canadian sniper units often operated in support of US infantry units, which were grateful for their help. The record lasted only one day, until a second Canadian sniper hit an enemy soldier at 2,400 meters (8000 feet).The Canadian snipers fire special .50-calibre McMillan tactical rifles, which are bolt-action weapons with five-round magazines. The Canadian snipers were the only Canadian troops operating without helmets or flak jackets as they had too much other equipment to carry. Each three-man team has one sniper rifle, three standard rifles (Canadian C7s), one of them with a 203mm grenade launcher.
I am not claiming that any of it is true or untrue but I do think that it is absolutely incredible, astounding and frightening to think what a sniper is capable of.On top of all of this, I personally know a sniper in the British Army. He is in fact one of the top snipers currently in the British Army. He holds the record for the most accurate shot or something or other. It is frightening what these people are capable of and capable of putting away in a dark place.Imagine witnessing some guys head fly off his shoulders and then returning home to a nice warm meal cooked by your mother and getting in to bed with your girlfriend? A bit out of my capacity I think.This discussion (is it a discussion if I'm talking to myself?) can easily venture in to apartheid territory and conscription back in the day. But I wont go there unless I'm asked.
Photoshop Screwing With Our Youth
This headline might seem a bit extreme but after my post yesterday about the dramatic video illustrating a fat lady becoming a model via photoshop I am a bit concerned.I have friends, cousins, and nephews who all read magazines and watch movies. They see these stunning women and chiseled men and think that they need to strive to become these things. I have heard talk recently of clothes stores being blamed for young girls wearing padded bras, I have heard talk for years about Television causing violence and movies causes crime. What about photoshop?Is photoshop not contributing to anorexia, bulimia and other weight related and image related diseases? Should we not be calling for good photographs of real people instead of real photographs by bad photographers who are good at photoshop and make the impossible real?I say bring on the wrinkles and imperfections, that is what is real, that is what is attractive to me. I don't like every women I see on a magazine cover to be airbrushed in to goodness. It's a big fat farce and I for one do not accept it.Yes I read these magazines but I do not think that these women exist anymore. Maybe magazines need to start printing disclaimers stating how much photoshopping has been done:
Trust No Magazine, Trust No Hottness
There are tons of videos similar to this one all over the web. This is one of the best that I have seen in a while.Watch in wonder and never, ever trust a magazine again. Not all the girls in these magazines are hot. It has become easier to photoshop a fatass than to find a thin one!
Synthasite Beta Falls At The First Hurdle
I can't register for Synthasite. It gives me an error, and not a particular descriptive error at that:
Maybe I just can't enter an email address and password or something but surely this should be the easiest part of the process that doesn't incur problems?Vinny, any advice?UPDATE:I managed to register on my 6th attempt at signing in my details. Now on to beta testing.