99 - “Blade Runner”

Blade Runner on IMDb
Synopsis: Harrison Ford gives androids psych tests. Then shoots them.
Pros: Very cool characters with awesome sets and effects, even for the 80s.
Cons: It’s chock full of symbolism. Can be a little obtuse at times.
Verdict: Dark cyberpunk with a deep, literary flavor. Very cool stuff, but you’ll have to concentrate a bit.

Ogg Theora/Vorbis Conversion Information

Here’s what I used to convert the LGM video to Ogg Theora + Vorbis format:
Low Quality (Theora 118kbps/Vorbis 32kbps mono, 16×9 video):
ffmpeg2theora -V 118 -A 32 -c 1 -x 320 -y 176 -aspect 16:9 -o creating_comics_in_inkscape_theora.ogg lgm_video_final_better_audio.avi
High Quality (Theora 372kbps/Vorbis 128kbps, 16×9 video):
ffmpeg2theora -V 372 -A [...]

Concert Review - Porcupine Tree w/ 3, Rams Head Live, May 22

Porcupine Tree’s Website
Synopsis: Porcupine Tree and 3 play lots of cool music in downtown Baltimore.
Pros: It’s Porcupine Tree.
Cons: The concert had to end eventually. And, they didn’t play “Trains.”
Verdict: I’ve liked Porcupine Tree for a very long time now, and this concert lived up to my expectations. Yeah, I’d see them again.

96 - “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington”

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington on IMDb
Synopsis: James Stewart fight the MAN!
Pros: Very fine acting, and a great, easy-to-follow introduction to government corruption.
Cons: Some bits were a bit choppy due to the old print that the DVD was made from.
Verdict: I’d watch it again. Maybe right around election time.

Linux iPod Video Conversion Information

First off, if you’re using a flavor of Ubuntu Feisty, build a full version of ffmpeg: http://po-ru.com/diary/bleeding-edge-ffmpeg-on-ubuntu-feisty/
Next, have a friend with an iPod Video and AppleTV who can test the files for you.
The specs listed on Apple’s iPod Specs Page are the maximums. You can reduce these down pretty far:

Using mono sound instead of [...]

Libre Graphics Meeting 2007 - Creating Comics in Inkscape Presentation Video

Here it is…the presentation that started it all. MenTaLguY and I present “Creating Comics in Inkscape” at Libre Graphics Meeting 2007 in Montreal.
You’ve got a few options to view the video:

Download the Ogg Theora/Vorbis file

Low quality (Theora/Vorbis 160kbps, 38.8 MB, right-click and Save Target As…)
High quality (Theora/Vorbis 500kbps, 93.5 MB)

Download the iPod Video [...]

98 - “The Apartment”

The Apartment on IMDb
Synopsis: Jack Lemmon loans his apartment to his corporate superiors.
Pros: Very well acted, with a good critique of corporate culture.
Cons: A bit long.
Verdict: A very good movie, with wonderful characters.

More Cinelerra and Mencoder fun!

The LGM 2007 presentation was shot in a fairly dark room with no extra lighting so it was noisy. And, since my little Canon Optura 20 isn’t a 480p camera, I have to deinterlace the footage. It also has still images interspersed throughout the video, which can be destroyed by some noise reduction algorithms. Here’s [...]

100 - “The Wizard of Oz”

The Wizard of Oz on IMDb
Synopsis: Judy Garland goes Somewhere Over the Rainbow…and then goes back again.
Pros: Syncs up real well with “Dark Side of the Moon.”
Cons: Doesn’t sync up real well with “Wish You Were Here.”
Verdict: It’s a fun movie, with good music and lots of Munchkins. Total classic.

Extra - “Hot Fuzz”

Hot Fuzz on IMDb
Synopsis: Big-town cop in a small village in England. From the folks who brought you “Shaun of the Dead.”
Pros: Lines like “Have you ever fired two guns whilst jumping through the air?”
Cons: A little slow in the beginning, but that’s OK.
Verdict: It’s everything that a cop movie should be, and more. [...]