VideoLAN on the other side of the fence
So, some time ago I reached out to the community asking about how I could fix the problem with my computer's DVD player (it had stopped recognizing DVD video, but plays games and music just fine), and someone suggested to me that I try switching from WinAmp to VideoLAN player, which could recognize files in just about any codec. This didn't fix my problem (as it lies with my player and not the codecs) but I did find VideoLAN to be a robust little player, full of hidden surprises.
One of those surprises is that it can use things called subtitle files to add captioning to any movie you play though it! This was my major gripe with some of the movies, especially older ones; they don't come with captions built in. And the same goes with movies you can download from the internet.
But thanks to this website, I was able to find captions for a movie I had downloaded years ago when the only movie rental store in Roebuck (the area of Spartanburg where I lived) went out of business; so I was finally able to watch it.
The film was Over The Hedge, which had been recommended to me by a furry friend.
It was a very cute movie. It came out during a period of time where all of the 3D Animation films where closely aping each other, so it doesn't feel particularly inspired compared to some of the films in the category you can find today, but that doesn't detract from it's cuteness, wit, or charm. The movie follows the plight of R.J., a plucky Raccoon who's too clever for his own good when he tries to steal from a bear's hoard and lets his greed get the best of him. To get out of being eaten, R.J. promises to replace the bear's food stores within a week's time, and his quest leads him to a human suburbia, where he falls in with a ragtag group of woodland animals who are waking up from winter to discover themselves walled in by the humans. Hijinks ensue, and R.J. learns a thing or two about friendship. Perhaps the most amusing thing about the movie is how the animals percieve human beings. As R.J. leads them through the suburban jungle, he educates them rather amusingly in the habits of human beings, to whom food flows in a neverending supply! The animals are fascinated by things like pizza delivery and advertisements. Overall, it's a great family film with some real charm.
Now Imma delete the file, because I'm not a pirate. x3
VideoLAN's ability to use caption files is really great though, and I'm eager to try it with other films. Which films, I'm not sure yet, though I do have a bunch of poorly dubbed Japanese films I want to try it with (Bruce Lee! Sonny Chiba! You kick ass, but I cannae understand what you're saying!). Got any suggestions?
I'm feeling a little discouraged about my DJing in Second Life. A long time ago, I mentioned something in my journal about being hired on at PlayFurry club; well, that one fell apart when the club uprooted and noone told me where it transferred to. (I just recently got ahold of the manager. He's been unable to play Second Life for at least a year, and the guy he left in charge let the club tank; it no longer exists.) I got another DJ job at the private club of a friend of mine, but he is chronically missing from Second Life, and I end up never having a clue where the club is or whether or not I have permission to take the stream. Now I have a DJ offer at two clubs that are literally right next door to each other. The first one I am waiting on the lead DJ to get back to me on, and it seems she is on only very rarely. The second gig I got...
...but noone seems interested in hearing me play. I don't get it. When I request music from other DJ's that I like, I often get complimented on my musical tastes; but when I play music from my private collection noone wants to hear it? It's really aggravating, and I may just drop that job if I end up continuing to play to an empty club. It's like the rest of the staff doesn't care.
----------------
Now playing: Harold Faltermeyer - Axel F
via FoxyTunes
Here's a website that proves that no matter how bad you've got it, someone's always got it worse than you.
For a brief period of time several days ago, Google's filters had a glitch that flagged every single website that came up in it's search as containing malware.
Here's a scary article. It says the US has already been using illegal cell phone jamming technology on the public. In fact, it's gotten to the point now that many other agencies want to get in on the technology, including local police agencies, prisons, and churches. As outlandish as this may sound, they used the technology in Washington during Obama's inaugeration, and have been utilizing it in volitile locations in the middle east to distrupt communications and signals that might be used to trigger bombs. ETA: The article appears to have already been taken down...very suspicious...I wonder sometimes where this country is heading.
One of those surprises is that it can use things called subtitle files to add captioning to any movie you play though it! This was my major gripe with some of the movies, especially older ones; they don't come with captions built in. And the same goes with movies you can download from the internet.
But thanks to this website, I was able to find captions for a movie I had downloaded years ago when the only movie rental store in Roebuck (the area of Spartanburg where I lived) went out of business; so I was finally able to watch it.
The film was Over The Hedge, which had been recommended to me by a furry friend.
It was a very cute movie. It came out during a period of time where all of the 3D Animation films where closely aping each other, so it doesn't feel particularly inspired compared to some of the films in the category you can find today, but that doesn't detract from it's cuteness, wit, or charm. The movie follows the plight of R.J., a plucky Raccoon who's too clever for his own good when he tries to steal from a bear's hoard and lets his greed get the best of him. To get out of being eaten, R.J. promises to replace the bear's food stores within a week's time, and his quest leads him to a human suburbia, where he falls in with a ragtag group of woodland animals who are waking up from winter to discover themselves walled in by the humans. Hijinks ensue, and R.J. learns a thing or two about friendship. Perhaps the most amusing thing about the movie is how the animals percieve human beings. As R.J. leads them through the suburban jungle, he educates them rather amusingly in the habits of human beings, to whom food flows in a neverending supply! The animals are fascinated by things like pizza delivery and advertisements. Overall, it's a great family film with some real charm.
Now Imma delete the file, because I'm not a pirate. x3
VideoLAN's ability to use caption files is really great though, and I'm eager to try it with other films. Which films, I'm not sure yet, though I do have a bunch of poorly dubbed Japanese films I want to try it with (Bruce Lee! Sonny Chiba! You kick ass, but I cannae understand what you're saying!). Got any suggestions?
I'm feeling a little discouraged about my DJing in Second Life. A long time ago, I mentioned something in my journal about being hired on at PlayFurry club; well, that one fell apart when the club uprooted and noone told me where it transferred to. (I just recently got ahold of the manager. He's been unable to play Second Life for at least a year, and the guy he left in charge let the club tank; it no longer exists.) I got another DJ job at the private club of a friend of mine, but he is chronically missing from Second Life, and I end up never having a clue where the club is or whether or not I have permission to take the stream. Now I have a DJ offer at two clubs that are literally right next door to each other. The first one I am waiting on the lead DJ to get back to me on, and it seems she is on only very rarely. The second gig I got...
...but noone seems interested in hearing me play. I don't get it. When I request music from other DJ's that I like, I often get complimented on my musical tastes; but when I play music from my private collection noone wants to hear it? It's really aggravating, and I may just drop that job if I end up continuing to play to an empty club. It's like the rest of the staff doesn't care.
----------------
Now playing: Harold Faltermeyer - Axel F
via FoxyTunes
Here's a website that proves that no matter how bad you've got it, someone's always got it worse than you.
For a brief period of time several days ago, Google's filters had a glitch that flagged every single website that came up in it's search as containing malware.
Here's a scary article. It says the US has already been using illegal cell phone jamming technology on the public. In fact, it's gotten to the point now that many other agencies want to get in on the technology, including local police agencies, prisons, and churches. As outlandish as this may sound, they used the technology in Washington during Obama's inaugeration, and have been utilizing it in volitile locations in the middle east to distrupt communications and signals that might be used to trigger bombs. ETA: The article appears to have already been taken down...very suspicious...I wonder sometimes where this country is heading.