Slashdot | Sign Language Via Cell Phone
A fascinating discussion that starts with an article about a new technology for sending low-bandwidth video optimised for sign language. It moves into issues of communicating using technologies and the different qualities of text vs. video vs. TTY and some others.
This is a poll of American attitudes to news media. Apparently they are mostly unhappy with the state of the media but think that free online sites present an opportunity to professional journalists and improve the quality of news. Odd.
This is a trailer for what looks like it will be a great movie. If it’s as good as the trailer it will be anyway. This is really awesome documentary filmmaking – full of personality, personal stories, a political angle, a window on a world you’ve never seen before. Kind of inspirational.
this is kind of sweet if you don’t mind looking at someone’s mouth close up.
Josh Leo’s Vlog » Popping the Question
This video has been sitting in my FireAnt for a couple of weeks. I didn’t know if I could bear to watch it because I find any kind of public proposal intensely embarrassing and cringeworthy, but what with going through the same stuff myself with a wedding this summer I was intrigued to know if this was a moment you could videoblog well. And wow, you really can.
One of the guys in the comments makes the point that the focus is on the proposer, not the proposee (as it were), which makes it incredibly sweet and touching because Josh Leo starts off all composed and gets kind of flustered and overtalks it a bit, but it’s lovely because it seems so real. But the other great thing is that you don’t have to see his girlfriend’s surprise. Her reaction isn’t exploited at all but handled really delicately through intertitles.
The end of the video where you actually see the two together after the decision has been made is so incredibly sweet and touching. This could never be on tv but it’s a really special thing to watch.
Short and sweet. Except for Josh Leo’s unfeasible long toes.
Bicycle Sidewalk » Blog Archive – 243rd Post
Another awesome happened-upon-in-a-mall from Bicycle Sidewalk. This time no talking head superimposed, but a poem in subtitles that kind of goes along with the action, or at least gives you something to think about while you watch these women walking up and down in what is essentially a really weird, but totally familiar way (especially if you love Project Runway).
The poem has the great line “he was supposed to fix everything, but we knew he was only a temp” then it goes on to explore the idea of transience a bit. Like most people of my age, I have worked as a temp, so I know that feeling of not being quite real that it gives you.
Anyway, I love how this guy manages to do fly-on-the-wall with his own personality stamped on it and never seems too heavy handed with his messages. This is what smart personal web video can be. Yay.
Not totally sure about all of the poem/story, but then I’m a bit of a literature Nazi at times.
