Apr
20

ProShow Gold 2.6

2006 | Filed Under Technology and Gadgets | Leave a Comment

It's been quite some time since I had fun with a computer program, but ProShow Gold is proving to be one of the best applications I've played with for a while. As I mentioned in a previous post, I decided to try to create a DVD with some of the masses of digital photos we have. Should be a breeze, or so I thought. After all, went my reasoning, I'm very late into this game - DVD writers and digicams have been out for the technology timescale equivalent of eons. Well, yes and no. There are many programs which will allow you to create DVD slideshows that you can then show to all and sundry, but not many really exploit the medium to the maximum, with the distinct exception of ProShow Gold, that is. OK, it costs quite a bit at $70 for the download version, but you are getting a fine app and if you have a play around, the results of all your 'labours' will mean your loved ones will be amazed at your computing prowess.

This is a preview of ProShow Gold 2.6. Read the full post (437 words, estimated 1:45 mins reading time)

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Apr
20

Sharm here we come!

2006 | Filed Under Holidays | Leave a Comment

What better way to round off a busy period at work than to go for a week by the sea. Yes, we're off, all three of us, to the red sea for one of those all inclusive hols in a hotel in the middle of the desert. The temperature is a steady 27-28°C and I don't think they can remember the last time it rained there. Now while I'm not a great one for basking by the sea, this is one break I'm looking forward to. Just in case I should get a little bored after the first two days of so, I've armed myself with somesnorkelingg gear so I can have a gander at the reef, which I understand is worth having a look at. I've never really been snorkeling before, but the idea of mosying around on top of the sea fascinates me. I'm not the world's strongest swimmer, but I've got enough natural buoyancy to keep me on the surface for a good while. In fact, having noted that the hotel we're going to be staying at also has a gym, I shall actually be trying to shed a few pounds. Although these type of best intentions often come to nothing, I know, but I'm going to have a go. All I need to worry about is getting myself sunburned, but my other half has got some factor 60 for the little one, and I shall be spreading the stuff all over myself for at least the first few days. In all probability I'll come back looking the same shade as when I left Italy - sort of off-white. I'm no longer the pale white of most English people because I've more or less got used to the sun and it now takes more than five minutes for me to go red. I remember a trip to Turkey many years ago when I managed to burn myself horribly on the first day. The pain was excruciating and all because the man didn't love suncream. Fool. At least I've learnt my lesson now, even though I hate having to put the stuff on. It makes me feel slimy and horrible, at least at first.

This is a preview of Sharm here we come!. Read the full post (678 words, estimated 2:43 mins reading time)

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Apr
15

VOIP Stunt

2006 | Filed Under Technology and Gadgets | 1 Comment

A student told me about this VOIP system which allows you to make calls from your PC to real phones. It's dirt cheap at 10 Euros for 120 days of calls and you only pay if your destination is not a country which accepts free calls. At the moment, the US, Italy, the UK and Ireland are countries which cost nothing more to call. The only limit seems to be that you can blabber for a max of one hour before they cut you off - but this is not a huge problem and you can even call straight back if you really feel like giving your vocal cords a thorough workout.

This is a preview of VOIP Stunt. Read the full post (214 words, estimated 51 secs reading time)

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Apr
12

Elections: Something of a surprise.

2006 | Filed Under Italian politics | Leave a Comment

Somewhat as I had expected, the Italian people had some problems actually deciding who they wanted to run their country for the next 5(!) years, if the results of the elections are to be believed. Certainly the exit polls were miles out. Or were they? Mr Media is asking for a recount - as one would expect in such a close-run race. Personally, I was a little surprised to see how close it all was - with a few exceptions, most of the people I know are not great fans of the tanned one and I was under the impression that the people I knew were not in a minority. However, I did not bank on the left/right divide - which meant that whereas people would not actually vote for Mr B, they would vote for someone in one of his coalition partners. Fini seems to be quite popular here and commands some respect abroad too as I understand.

This is a preview of Elections: Something of a surprise.. Read the full post (448 words, estimated 1:48 mins reading time)

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Apr
9

Elections and the official pencil

2006 | Filed Under Italian politics | Leave a Comment

As most of the known world knows, Italians are deciding who, or rather, which group of people, is/are going to hold the reins in Italy for the next five years. Mr B has been tying himself in knots in his attempts to get everyone to give him a second five year term in office, whereas his opponent, the staid ex-prime minister Prodi has been playing his cards quite coolly. The trouble is the voting system is a bit fiddly, so no-one will really know anything until all the votes are in on Monday.

This is a preview of Elections and the official pencil. Read the full post (398 words, estimated 1:36 mins reading time)

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Apr
9

Bomb scare

2006 | Filed Under Italy | Leave a Comment

What happens when a bearded man runs into a classroom, dumps a bag and runs off? Well, the result of this very incident was mild panic when most of my students thought that the aforementioned bag contained a bomb, seeing as, they assumed, the bearded man who ran off was possibly Islamic. The incident caused a few tense moments and was not the best way to kick off the course I was holding last Friday. In fact, I picked up the said bag and took it to what I hoped would be a safe distance should it actually have been a bomb - although it did feel rather lighter than I would have expected a bomb to have felt. Was I worried? Well, yes I was, a wee bit. I mean I could have ended up being spread all over the building, which would not have been too nice, I suppose. Had said bag really contained a bomb, I would have been hailed as a hero, possibly. As it happens, the whole event blew over quietly, which was what I was hoping for. Although my other half made me feel a lot better by telling me that she considers the place I work in to be a prime target for bombing types. If I'd realised this, then maybe I wouldn't have so readily picked up the bag.

This is a preview of Bomb scare. Read the full post (477 words, estimated 1:54 mins reading time)

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