Wednesday, June 11, 2008
ENJOYING A SHORT BREAK
With nothing much happening in Manila these days, except for the end of the summer and back to school activities, I've decided to take some time off from blogging and have all the applications in my Macbook updated.
Doing this project online with a dial-up connection would only prove to be an exercise in futility, or sheer madness, so I brought instead a USB memory stick to the Power Mac store where I make my Apple product purchases. The staff were nice enough to provide me with all the necessary updates I needed.
I also took the opportunity to learn how to make use of my iPod video -- transfer all my CDs into it as well compile some of my photographs as music videos. It was indeed a lot of work, but I finally got everything working.
The only thing I need at the moment is to find the best DVD ripper so I could copy all my music videos and movies into my iPod. The free software recommended to me, iSquint, I couldn't get to work. If anyone is familiar with it , or knows of another more effective and user-friendly DVD movie ripper for the Mac -- freeware, of course -- please share with me.
Once I truly learn all these without a hitch and make all these toys to work synergistically, I may include some videos and slides into my future blog entries.
I very much appreciate my articles and photos appearing on fellow bloggers' sites, popular broadsheets, and local broadcast news segments, but I would appreciate even more a request for permission first.
Thank you!
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posted by Señor Enrique at 10:41 AM
23 Comments:
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escape said... we miss your photos senor. but yes, you deserve that break.
looking forward again to your upcoming posts. i like the black mac.-
Photo Cache said...
i second the dong, we did miss you a lot. i was worried you got down with the flu now that the rainy season is upon you.
looks like we're moving on to the next level of blogging, eh.
nice to see you back.-
JayAshKal said...
You worried us there for a while. But you do deserve a much needed break from anything... just vege out! But next time, please let us know... hehehee.
Seriously it is a bit worrying and I did miss reading "the post" and the accompanying photo.
Sorry but I am an MS/Intel/AMD guy. Apple is alien to me (I did try to understand Apple h/w and apps, but wasn't too keen). Anyway good luck with your "project" and enjoy (that is the most important thing)!
Mario
I am still couldn't get my head around that you still uses dial up. But I guess the results speak for itself.-
nutart said...
apologies for my paranoia---but I thought you changed the name of your blog and I was the last one to know! (haha!)
What are those new-fangled toys??? They look impressive for a taong bundok like me! :-)-
said... hello senor. hmm maybe you'd want to to try this one:
http://www.mactheripper.org/
I am looking forward to your next style of blogging. Till then :)-
EM said...
We thought something happened to you! It's such a relief to find out that you had some much needed break. You deserve it! You got us worried for a while.
But you brought back some good news! So looking forward to your plans!
have a nice day Senior!-
Señor Enrique said...
Thanks, donG!
I've had it for almost two years now and haven't really made much use of the other neat applications that came with it. So, after getting it upgraded, thought the best thing is to fully maximize its use.-
Señor Enrique said...
Thanks, Photo Cache!
The Mac comes with a cool application, iMovie HD, which I thought I might be able to make use of and incorporate some of its products to my posts.
Will get back to regular blogging soon.-
Señor Enrique said...
I got so engrossed into the whole thing I didn't realize that a couple of days had turned into almost a week of non-blogging, Mario. There were so much to read and learn ... jeeez!
I came from cable and T1 line Internet connections, and you can imagine how wonderful online surfing at such speed. However, when I came to Manila, even though high speed online connection is available, I was astounded by the steep costs. And I couldn't believe that many locals were actually willing to pay such exorbitant rates.
Cable online connection costs about 4,000 pesos, it should be no more than 1,000 pesos. DSL should be around 200. How could we become truly "connected" if the cost of high speed Internet connection is way above the reach of the average Filipinos?
To make matters worse, there are constant horror stories about the local ISPs' horrendous technical support.
Incidentally, my last job in NYC was in Internet infrastructure design. But be that as it may, my sticking to dial-up is a personal protest to these local ISPs' over charging. Oh well ...
Thanks, Mario!-
Señor Enrique said...
There wasn't much of anything going on, Bernadette, so I thought of taking a short break for the meantime and get to know my tools, as they say. Sayang kasi if I don't make full use of them. But just like a kid, I got so engrossed in learning all these new things that I've lost sense of time and space ... hehehe. I guess you can say I was enjoying it :)
That little thing is an iPod video. It's an incredible portable audio/visual entertainment machine. We've truly gone a long way from the Walkman of old. Remember those?
Will return to regular blogging soon!-
Señor Enrique said...
I've just loaded Mac the ripper freeware, Joy! I will play with it later on today. Hopefully, I'll get to make it work.
Thanks very much!-
Señor Enrique said...
Thank you, EM!
I didn't intend to get you all worried. Masyado lang akong nalibang ... hehehe! Truth be told, I am one of those who'd avoid reading the manuals as much as possible, but I had to. And best way of doing it is by giving it full attention :)
Have a nice day, too!-
said...
it's always wise to take some break... good for you eric...:)
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said...
No worries. I hope it will really work :)
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said...
hi eric,
i am in a sort of a fix and i would like to ask for help.
do you, or anyone else out there have a good, crisp picture of the UP OBLATION in close-up - (high, resolution, preferably TIFF format, 1.8 mb up) that i can use?
as part of the UP Centennial celebrations, i am designing the cover of the HISTORY OF the U.P. MANILA. this is a pro bono project for the university and as such, there is no remuneration for the picture to be used EXCEPT to properly credit the photographer on the acknowledgement and cover flap. the use of the photograph selected will most definitely be also extended on the advertisement and promotional materials of the book.
and here's the hitch... i have to come up with the cover design by JUNE 14th, so the deadline would be on the same day. hehehe, kung larong patintero ito, matatawag nating "kulto finish".
they can have the image sent to my addie at dtayona@gmail.com
again, this is entirely a pro bono project.
thank you so much...-
Señor Enrique said...
Hi Daniel,
Cut & pasted your message to a thread in pinoyphotography.com. Here's the URL:
http://www.pinoyphotography.org/forum/index.php?topic=31336.0
Good luck!-
Señor Enrique said...
Hi Lino, how are you?
Didn't realize that I've been taking more time off from blogging than intended ... hehehe.
Thanks!-
Señor Enrique said...
Doing my very first ripping at this moment, Joy, and it does take much time :)
Will let you know of the result. Again, thank you!-
said...
do you mean that dial up is ever an option with a mac? the reason i ask is that i was once in a town where i had no option but a dial up, and i didn't see any way i could insert that cable in my mac. anyway, good move to update all that you have in your mac. i have never found the time, although i am very very satisfied with my mac, with or without enough memory.
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Unknown said...
i thought you finally went to the mountains.:D welcome back...missed your posts.
so the dsl 'promo' rates are still a rip-off?? arrgghhhh! na-onse pala ako!
oh, let's see if you'd do this meme (haha). i was tagged and i'm tagging you...let us know more about senior enrique.:D-
Señor Enrique said...
Hi Dine,
Anyone who travels with his Mac usually brings along the optional modem in case no Wi-Fi or satellite connection is available, even if to check one's emails only. It costs about a couple of grand at any Power Mac stores -- goodness! every accessory for the Mac seems to costs at least a couple of grand ... hehehe!
Ah ... memory -- I, too, never seem to have enough of it especially with my photos and videos.-
Señor Enrique said...
You'd be the first person I'd contact, Luna, if ever I plan on going up the mountains or down some gorgeous valleys here in the Philippines -- I bet you can provide me with valuable travel tips and information :)
Yes, I'm sticking with my conviction -- a decent speed DSL connection ought to be more than 200 pesos a month. It costs US$14 per month in the States if not even less these days.
Again, the main issue here is ... what good is the Internet for our local folks if unable to afford the high speed costs of being truly connected?
Ok, will check out your meme :)-
said...
ooppss.I hope it will work though. :(
