Amazing Shadow Puppets

Thanks, Ben!

BRIAN REGAN LIVE

You have an iPod, of course. right? good.

It's a hysterical album, but even better -- it's clean enough that your whole family can enjoy it. In fact, it got us through a good long part of a trip to grandma's house.

If you liked this. You'll like the entire album. You can get to it directly by clicking the iTunes button, below:

New Web Address.

Hey Fun Video Stuff Fans...or Fan. Or Hello? Is anyone there...?

Well, in case anyone is paying attention, I should let you know that there are two ways to view this site. One is here, at www.funvideostuff.blogspot.com, and the other is there...at www.funvideostuff.wordpress.com.

Honestly, I just haven't been able to decide which I like better, yet. Each has some pluses and minuses. So...until I decide, I'll kind of be keeping up both.

OK? great. See ya.

Quick Hit: "Catch the Wave"

All I have to say about this wave pool in Japan is: "Oh the humanity!"

And to think I used to complain that Wave Tec -- the wave pool we used to visit every summer with my cousins -- was crowded...

Fun, Fraudulent, or Ghoulish?

Call me behind the times, but I recently learned about the controversy behind a little video magic used in the last episode of the Sorpranos.

Apparently, well... let me just quote Studio Magazine:

[Rhinofx took on a] somewhat controversial job for ... The Sopranos where they literally brought the dead back to life. Actress Nancy Marchand, who played Tony Soprano's mother, had died during the off-season and Rhino was asked to create a scene 'with woman who was no longer in existence.'

So I ask you. What do YOU think about their digitally replacing a body-double's noggin with the noggin of the dear-departed?

It sounds a little "Running Man" (The movie, not the short story) to me.

Then again, if you remember that movie, and the insane "reality-tvish" game shows and mad digital realtime effects used to fool the audience into thinking that dead people were still alive, or more far-fetched still, that Arnold Swartzenegger had been defeated by the bad guys, then you'll agree, we've pretty much already taken a few grand steps into that dark possible future.

But I don't wanna bias your opinion. You tell me what you think.

And please don't forget to take the poll, below.

Oh and PS. I really wanted to find a video clip of Ms. Marchand, but YouTube has woefully let me down.

Video Showdown: Battle of the Commercials

We have 4 commercials up for your consideration. Please view each, then choose your favorite, using the poll, above. Thank You!

#1: Figure Skater



#2: Frisk Mints



#3: Post Bank


#4: Ameriquest Brownie

Amazing Guitarists

Today on Fun Video Stuff, we'll be talkin' music! I chose these three pieces because they're more than just fun to listen to, they're also fun to watch. Each of these guys is not what I'd call "mainstream". In fact, if it weren't for Youtube, I'd have only heard of one of 'em. Let's start with him. Mr. Stanley Jordan:

Now HERE is something really fun to watch!

I first learned about Stanley Jordan about 22 years ago (good god I'm old), right around the end of highschool.

Then I didn't think to check into him again until about a month ago, since my son has sort of recently started coming into his own as a guitar player. I knew he'd dig this, and I hope you do, too.

One of the most interesting things about this "two hands on the neck" style, is that he taught himself, if I'm not mistaken!

Now. In the process of finding Mr. Jordan on Youtube, I also ran across this guy, who's a lot of fun to watch and listen to, as well:

But my music tribute would not be complete without BEN: You go, you 8-year old wonder!

For those who've played the game, you know how challenging this song is on Expert! I should mention that he's since bested even this performance, but I chose this video because it was more fun to watch. If you'd like to see his perfect score, check this out.

Video iPods & the Future of TV

Video iPods
Before I make my bold predictions about the future of television, I'd like to start with something a bit smaller. Pocket-sized, even. By now, anyone who hasn't been living in a bomb shelter for the past coupla years knows what an iPod is. But the two displayed below aren't just any old iPods, of course -- they're video iPods. That is, after all, what this blog is all about!

Again, most of us are familiar with the video iPod, but I've been asked the following question enough times that I finally decided to put it in writing. That question is:

Is the video iPod "worth it"?

I mean, sure, it looks pretty enough, but do you get the bang for the buck?

Well, let's consider. At $249, it's the same price as the highest capacity non-video iPod (which only stores 8GB, by comparison!) When you factor in that the video iPods are the only ones that allow you to play the downloadable games from iTunes, the question really shifts from "Do I want to go video" to "Do I want the 30GB, or the 80GB iPod?"

Of course, this is all presuming that you're in the market for an iPod or MP3 player at all.

The Future of TV?
Now, it's time to get to my prediction about the future of television. And it sort of ties into this other piece of Apple technology -- the Apple TV:

Available with either a 40GB or 160GB hard drive, Apple TV lets you enjoy movies, TV shows, music, and podcasts on your widescreen TV — wirelessly, from your Mac or PC. You can even watch YouTube videos.

Another neat thing about it is that it automatically grabs the digital media on your computer and makes it available on your TV. It also automatically updates whenever you buy or download video from iTunes.

So what's my prediction? I believe the internet will be available directly on most of our televisions by the end of 2008. I know. Some people are already sort of doing it, but I'm talking about wide-spread usage. Like, most of us are using our televisions to watch YouTube, instead of the computer screen.

Beyond Apple, other set-top video recorders are, of course, being made. And beyond iTunes, other companies, such as AT&T with it's HomeZone Interactive TV, are providing mass quantities of consumable video content online.

One noteworthy service called Movielink, recently purchased by Blockbuster, is hard core evidence that the rental realm is definitely headed for the internet. They offer "rental downloads" much like you may have experienced in a hotel room, that offer unlimited viewings over a 24 hour time period. If you'd like to get a glimpse of that internet movie-rental future, you can check out these Movielink's Free Samples .

Help Me!
Now, as much as I believe that it's a natural progression, and we'll almost all be doing it by the end of 2008, I have to confess, I'm a late-bandwagoner. Or is it wagoneer...? Either way, I traded in my tapes for CDs around 1992, and I finally jumped on the laserdisc bandwagon about 2 months before they stopped making 'em.

So I would really like to be ahead of the curve, for a change. I, of course, am totally on board. The only trick is to convince my wife. I know I can use the argument that we spend more in late fees at the video store than I would on a season of The Office, but I don't think that'll be enough. I know that the 160GB version is $399, which isn't much more than a fancy DVR.... And I'm going to go with those arguments, believe me. But I want to have all the ammo I can, so....If you have any suggestions on how I could do that, please add them to the comments of this post!

No Time for VCRs & Ain't Got TIVO

If you're like me, you don't have Tivo, and you can't be bothered to set up a DVD recorder to catch your favorite shows. Solution? Sure! iTunes. iTunes has all your favorite shows available.

For example, each of the links below will take you into iTunes, where you can purchase individual episodes of your (read "my") favorite shows, or even get a "season's pass" -- pay a lump sum up front, so you can download episodes at will, for an entire season. Pretty cool. Check it out.










WARNING! You will, of course, need the video iPod, if you wanna be able to take it on the road, or watch it on your TV.

Welcome to Fun Video Stuff

HELLO!
This site begins as a catch-all for video stuff I have deemed "fun". This includes, but is not limited to videos that are available on the internet today.

I don't know about you, but over the past year, I've found myself increasingly 'sharing' internet videos with people. We'll have someone over, and at some point we'll end up huddled over the computer screen, Youtubing some video we've "got to see."

So, herein, I've compiled my "got to see" list of videos, and I'd like your opinion on 'em.

But I did say that it's not just about watching videos. I also believe that making videos can be fun. In fact, it is not only my profession, but a hobby as well. I don't want you to think I'm one-dimensional, though. But I suppose this paragraph doesn't help.

Anyway, my point is that there are a lot of tips, tricks, and tools to making fun video stuff, that I intend to discuss on this site, and hope you enjoy it. In fact, I would eventually like to get some videos submitted from anyone who reads this blog.

Poll-lease!
Your first assignment, should you choose to accept it, will be to vote on a video. If you'd direct your attention to the right, you'll see a Poll, followed by three videos. Please view these very funny videos (OK, granted, my opinion...) and let me know which you like best. I'd really like your feedback.

Thanks!
-jim