Cool Website Intro

Got some new software recently, just trying it out. This is a quick intro I made with one of the preloaded templates from Motion 5 and some effects from Final Cut Pro X. You can get a free one month trial for both of these at the App Store. So, even if you don’t really need the software, but want to create a few videos or intros like this for a project or website, it’s worth tryin’ out. The great thing is, this only took me a few minutes to do. I may put some more stuff up once I learn a little bit more about these programs.

OSX Mountain Lion - Coming Summer 2012

Lion is no longer king of the OS jungle. Believe it or not Apple has just announced another OSX update - Mountain Lion “coming this summer”. I feel like a broken record on the OSX previews. Once again the “upgrades” are centered around iPhone and iPad users. Lion adopted gestures, apps, and many other things from iOS, and Mountain Lion is doing the same thing.



It seems like most of new features mentioned have to do with actually connecting to iPhone and iPad users. With Mountain Lion, Mac computer users can connect with iOS users and send messages, reminders, notifications, etc. Also, Mac computers can now hook up with iOS gamers via the Game Center. As a non-iPhone user, I guess I can finally stop playing “Words Without Friends” and get in on the real thing. hahah. OSX Mountain Lion will feature AirPlay Mirroring like the iPad and iPhone, so you can zap that YouTube video or PowerPoint presentation from your computer to your TV.


Having just started working with OSX Lion this week, this news is really not that exciting for me. Maybe its because I’m bitter. Just yesterday I sent Apple a feedback email about skrewing up my Exposé/Hot Corner workflow I had used for years. (actually dating back to OS9 with the Window Monkey plugin) Anyways, we shall see what happens. With a new iPad coming out next month, this will only add to the 2012 Apple hype.


If you would like some more info, here is a link to the Apple Mountain Lion page:


http://www.apple.com/macosx/mountain-lion/


for those that are attention deficit, illiterate, or just plain lazy here is a Video preview:


http://www.apple.com/macosx/mountain-lion/features.html#video-mountainlion


Update:
Just saw this on the Mountain Lion Features page. hahah! Title should read, “China: our new target demo”

Two Hats

One day in the Fall of last year, I was browsing around the interweb looking for information and inspiration concerning “church media”. I found a new site that i did not know about called ministry127.com , a product from Lancaster Baptist Church and West Coast Baptist College. It is “a resource for Spiritual Leaders...hosted by Pastor Paul Chappell” it reads on the About page. The bulk of the site is a “collection of ministry resources”, which includes articles and blogs on a plethora of topics ranging from secretarial helps to sermon assistance. I landed on the Media & Technology pages and found some good practical information. One of the Articles was about video, written by a young man named Andrew Garcia.

Sometime over the next month or so I was chatting with my pal Chad Phillips, who is now a Missionary in Cambodia. I was working on a project for him and so we were talking about media stuff. I mentioned the Ministry 127 site, since he attended West Coast Baptist College; I also mentioned Andrew Garcia. Chad said that he knew him and then began to tell me about his awesome video skills. Chad compared Andrew’s work to that of his own missionary video that was made before going on deputation. (If you have not seen it, you need to! Click the link) Chad also mentioned that Andrew was working on a full length documentary about a missionary family in Papua New Guinea. I was very interested, so I began looking for more info online. Soon I found “Two Hats” a film by Andrew Garcia. There were only previews and trailers at the time, but after contacting Andrew and finding a blog I learned that it would be released around the holidays 2011.

When the new year rolled around I eventually remembered to check and see what the status was. After having watched all of the trailers and extras multiple times I was really anticipating seeing the film in its entirety. I found where to order online and got a copy of Two Hats. It arrived the Saturday of the NFL League Championship games. Should I watch the New England Patriots smoke Tebow and the Broncos, or finally watch this movie - It was a difficult choice, but I chose Two Hats. I planned on starting it, and then pause it at a good stopping point so I could watch the game. This did not happen. I was glued to the TV the entire length of the film. It was spectacular!

Since I am about to max out my 500 word blog limit (aka. web readers attention span) I will spare you an in-depth review. However, let me encourage you to check this film out. You will not be disappointed. This is easily the best 90 minutes you will have ever spent in front of a Television. The subject matter is captivating. The Wells Family, their ministry in Papua New Guinea, and God’s clear blessing upon these is nothing short of inspiring. And also to be noted, the video quality is impressive on a big wide screen HDTV. Whether you watch it together with your family, or on an overseas flight it will be a blessing and an encouragement to you. I cannot say enough good things about it.

In closing, I would earnestly encourage you to get the film. It is about $15 on Amazon for a DVD version, or you can Rent/Stream it through Amazon for a few dollars. If you just cant justify spending that much, get it as a gift for someone - watch it - and then wrap it. hahaha! No really, think about how much Christian Americans spend on entertainment in a month with TV, Movies, Video Games, Sports, etc. Why not spend a fraction of that on a spiritually inspiring piece of work, by a very talented servant of Christ. You could not possibly spend your hard earned dollars on anything better. The Lord has truly blessed Andrew Garcia, and this film will continue to encourage any and all who view it. I highly recommend “Two Hats” to you and your family.

Links:
The Official Two Hats Website

Rent or Purchase on Amazon.com

Two Hats Trailers and Bonus Features

Andrew Garcia’s Website




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Tim Tebow Poll

OK, this is hilarious and I thought I would share it. I am kindof a sports nerd, so I check ESPN.com daily, listen to sports talk radio, and watch SportsCenter a lot. Tonight, when I was looking at ESPN’s homepage, i saw this poll. I knew that everyone was in love with Tim Tebow, but I had no idea how much. You would think all of the “gator hater” Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State, etc. fans would be down on him. You would think that all the more liberal states would be down on him. But NO, as of right now ( about 40,000 votes ) he has a 30 to 50% point lead in a head to head vs. Mark Sanchez. Everyone has been down on Sanchez this week as stuff is coming out about the Jets locker room issues and work ethic during practice. It’s really just because they have a coach that talks a lot, and then they didn’t go to the playoffs. That being said, Mark Sanchez has helped the Jets win 28 regular season games over the past 3 seasons. But you know what, I voted for Tebow too, hahaha! You can’t help but root for him and the Broncos if you watched any of their crazy wins this season, especially the last one vs. the mighty Steelers. I guess I too am a Broncos fan after the Falcons got embarrassed. GO Tebow!

PS:
The Poll is changing quickly. Check out the latest numbers here:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/fp/flashPollResultsState?sportIndex=frontpage&pollId=131355

Update 1.13.12

Just read a really good article on Tim Tebow written by Rick Reilly. It is well worth your time.
http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/7455943/believing-tim-tebow

Knot November 2011

I have the great privilege of working with the teens at Victory Baptist Church in Loganville, GA. Last month I decided to challenge my Sunday School class (7th - 9th Grade guys) with something that really turned out to be a lot of fun. We wanted to make sure that everyone in the class could tie a necktie. At first I intended this to be a one week lesson; however, I soon realized that was not going to happen. Thus “Knot November” was born. hahah!

It was really quite interesting - I felt like a “real” teacher. I gave a simple assignment, and was then given a multitude of hilarious responses and excuses. A few examples for your entertainment:
“I know how but, my mom usually ties it for me“
“If I untie it, then I will have to tie it back again”
“Is this right....is this right....is this right...ughhh!”
“I did it exactly how you said, but look.”
“My dad doesn’t wear a tie, I don’t need to wear a tie”

We went over a few different knots, the 4 In Hand Knot, the Half and Full Windsor, and the Pratt Knot. We also learned some deadly sins for ties, one - NEVER leave your knot tied after its used. You should have seen some of their faces as they were forced to untie a knot that their mother had tied for them.....probably several months ago. To make the event more fun, we added a challenge and some incentive. The ties we were practicing with, I had collected from men at church. I told the guys, if on the day appointed they could tie one of the knots learned, they could keep the tie they picked. I also created them an official “Knot Expert” card with their mugshot.

All in all, a very memorable experience. Hopefully a learning one too. I want to congratulate every one in my class - they all were able to tie at least one of the knots we had learned! Knot November 2011 was a success.........through and through!

Here is a quick video recap of Knot November, Enjoy!