I am simply astounded at how simple Apple has made creating movies with the new iMovie in the all new/upgraded iLife '08.
Literally, it took me longer to upload than to create the movie, from shooting to cutting. I just cannot describe how easy it is: just get iLife '08 and ask questions later. :)
In particular, exporting the movie to YouTube was a breeze... below is the output:
If you are expecting magic tricks here, I won't make false promises.
Doubling my team from five to ten (four of whom start in two days, with one last person starting on Monday) has been no easy task. Here's how I accomplished it:
1) I created the job descriptions: these five people are starting in three different positions, two of which are completely new in our team. I needed to have a means of painting the picture of the job they'd be doing, as best as I could, before I could even start interviewing.
2) I sent out a "blast e-mail" to the company: with close to 1,200 staff members, the response was pretty good. 3 of the 5 people I hired resulted from this effort.
3) I looked back into past resumes of folks that did very well in previous hiring rounds, but didn't end up getting hired. Another person came out as a result of this technique.
4) Another department was hiring for a position similar to one of the vacant spots I had but they were looking for some elements that were not as critical in my case. So I asked them for their best candidates that almost got the job with them, but didn't quite make it. One of those candidates was a very good fit for my position...
Result: 5 people hired in a matter of ten days.
Now, ask me in a few weeks how we are surviving the learning curve! :)
Al ratico que fue publicada la version en inglés, salió en vivo la version en español de "Hola Diabetes" en dLife. Me hace sentir muy feliz, dada la carencia de buenos recursos sobre el tema en nuestro idioma.
I am happy to share this news: today, my first article for the monthly column "Hola Diabetes" in dLife went live! :)
It's part of the dLife Viewpoints section. In a few days, it will also be available in Spanish.
Que buena vaina... recien hoy me entere del fallecimiento de Aldemaro Romero.
Aqui les dejo un lindo video del maestro Aldemaro al piano interpretando "Quinta Anauco" con Maria Rivas cantando. Inolvidable tema...
I was gladly surprised to learn about this little application, not because of what it does, but because of how it was marketed:
"Download the 100% Free LocalCooling Application and it automatically optimizes your PC's power consumption by using a more effective power save mode. You will be able to see your savings in real-time translated to more environmental terms such as how many trees and gallons of oil you have saved."
So there you have it! You can be using your computer while you save a tree! :)
I don't mean to get too controversial with this, but for a while I've been meaning to write about this.
I've been working with web and graphic designers for many years and in recent months I've seen this trend emerge: they just seem to highly dislike simply copying and pasting text from another place, to include in their designs. They would rather retype it.
This wouldn't be much of a problem, except for the fact that copy that makes it to the desk of a designer has typically been proofread, so that opens up the door for unnecessary typos and grammatical errors... and they do happen! :)
I was wondering: am I alone in this or have any of you encountered this same situations?
Designers: anything to say in your defense? :)
This is an article about a Full Sail instructor whom I had the privilege of meeting yesterday, written by Christine Baker.
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Fatima Lotfi-Rice wants to encourage more installation art in Orlando.
Fatima Lotfi-Rice, an Assistant Course Director for Typography & Page Layout, has big ideas about the future of art in Orlando. She has equally big paintings – which she’ll be unveiling in one of three art installations she is presenting Sept. 20-22 in downtown Orlando.
In fact three of the Brazilian artist’s original paintings in the show are 60 feet by 30 feet. All of her works are abstract and infused with bold, vivid colors and strokes and feminine themes.
“I come from Brazil, and color is really important to me,” said Lotfi-Rice. “I don’t know, maybe it’s the sun.”
Opening night is Thursday, Sept. 20 from 6 to 10 p.m. On Friday and Saturday (Sept. 21-22), the exhibition is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event takes place in the “Say it Loud!” studio in the VMI Design District at 1121 North Mills Ave. in Orlando. Refreshments will be served.
An art installation, for those who don’t know the term, is an art show that revolves around a concept or idea, and incorporates a variety of sensory and narrative experiences to convey meaning.
The Exhibits
Lotfi-Rice is doing a series of three art installations for her show, which will include elements like sand, live music by a cellist, printed words, a woman’s voice reading Dante’s Inferno in Italian, and a surprise pop art experience. (We can’t tell you what that is).
Her grant-funded installation, “In Search for Identities,” incorporates the work of lovers kissing in “The Kiss” by Gustav Klimt’s, Auguste Rodin’s sculpture of lovers Francesca and Paolo from “Dante’s Inferno,” and an adaptation on Rodin’s sculpture called “The Distance” by Cornelia Parker.
Another of her art installations was inspired by classical paintings and sculptures of the Gratiae (the Graces) from Greek mythology, who were the daughters of Zeus.
Although she does point out the works that influence her art, she doesn’t like to “explain” her work because she wants people to find meaning in a personal context. “I want you to go there and be inspired and bring your own experiences,” said Lotfi-Rice.
Panel Discussion and Documentary on Grants
As part of the exhibit, the Brazilian artist has brought together a discussion panel of local art experts who will talk on “Change and Growth for the Artist, the Viewer and the City of Orlando.” The panel discussion takes place on Saturday, from 2 to 4 p.m., and students are encouraged to attend.
The panelists include Julio Lima, the artist and owner of the “Say it Loud!” studio where the installations take place; Michael Lehman, a UCF Humanities professor; Philip E. Bishop, and Valencia instructor and Orlando Sentinel arts writer; Triesta Hall a Full Sail Course Director and digital artist; Megan Bardoe, and independent curator; Chris Scala, a sculptor; and Michele Wright, a TV anchor acting as a mediator.
Lotfi-Rice is also screening a documentary on how to get an arts grant. She said that she wants to give back by teaching artists and students how to pursue and win arts grants, since they are not well-advertised.
“You really don’t know about these things,” she explained. Lotfi-Rice heard about the grant opportunity with the local United Arts organization through word of mouth. “It’s very closed.”
Lotfi-Rice said that things are slowly changing in Orlando with regard to art, but that the city has not traditionally been an arts city.
“When I arrived here 10 years ago, nobody really understood my work,” she said. “Abstract, for some people, is kind of scary. If there’s no form, they don’t accept it.”
Originally from Sao Paulo, the artist notes there are few galleries and museums in the Orlando area and almost no art installations – unlike major cities like Miami, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.
Lotfi-Rice is hoping her ambitious art installations next weekend will help to inspire more projects like it in the community.
“Art for me is sacred,” she explained. “I hope the students and teachers go.”
For more information about Fatima Lotfi-Rice and her art, or to find out more about the Sept. 20-22 art installation, go to: fatimalotfirice.com
Los amigos de UEPA.com, un excelente portal web en República Dominicana EsTuDiabetes.com escribieron un gran artículo sobre nuestra comunidad.
Pueden leer el artículo en: http://www.uepa.com/new_article.aspx?id=12260
Best of 2007: Even better than "Before The Dawn Heals Us"
Two years after M83 released "Before The Dawn Heals Us", the brainchild of Anthony Gonzalez comes back with an album that takes their sound to a place that is even more heart wrenching than it was before. Picking up the quieter, more ambient moments of the previous album, Digital Shades Vol. 1 is positioned to become an ambient classic from the get-go.
If you like what you listen, you should go and dig into Raising Your Voice Trying to Stop an Echo by Hammock, The Dead Texan and And Their Refinement of the Decline by Stars of the Lid. If you don't like what you hear... get yourself checked. :)
My friend Bernard wrote a very good article for ONLamp.com about the steps involved in the creation of custom search engines using Google's platform.
He has already authored The Diabetes Search Engine, which searches well over 600 sites and now we're collaborating to create a Spanish version.
Regardless of the topic you want to create a search engine about, make sure to read Bernard's article, so you can get your feet wet before you dive in.
I know this is like a non-revelation, but DVR rocks! We recently subscribed back to Digital Cable (for the fourth time or something like that), in order to be able to watch dLife on Sundays, I must admit. :)
We decided to give the DVR option a try and I am amazed at how cool it is: I mean... it's like the good old VHS "set up the recording timer and forget about it", but digital and much more robust: "do you want to record the episode or the entire series?" -how cool is that? COME ON! :)
Anyway... I know this is kinda lame, and I've probably been living in a cave when it comes to TV technology, but I love DVR!! :D
I just got an invite from a friend to join the new Plaxo... I was a bit confused at first, because I have been a Plaxo user for about four years.
Boy! Am I happy that I checked it out. The all-new Plaxo could blow LinkedIn (and could potentially do the same with Facebook, to a certain degree) out of the water. Their new Pulse basically aggregates all the networks you may belong to, all the activity (blog posts, photos, Amazon wishlists, etc.) from your contacts that they choose to make visible, etc.
PLUS, you can now also sync your contacts beyond your e-mail client: you can sync with Yahoo! Mail, Google, etc.
Like Plaxo co-founder Todd Masonis said in this article:
"I think we've found our pathway over to social networking."
I agree!
