mrshl | blog

I got my $100 rebate Visa card back from AT&T, and I knew I wanted to get this incredibly cheap flash video camera I had read such good things about. I had initially wanted to buy Pure Digital’s Flip Phone Ultra  after reading some ridiculously good reviews like this one and this one. Then I found out RCA had licensed the technology from Pure Digital and released their own version of the camera called the Small Wonder.

Although the small wonder has less memory than the new Flip Ultra, I ended up buying the Small Wonder for a few compelling reasons:

1. It’s cheaper than the Flip Ultra ($99 < $149)
2. Unlike the Flip, it’s got an expandable SD memory slot, so that it’s 512 onboard flash memory can be expanded.
3. It has a toggle switch between high and low quality.

Here’s the first movie I made when I got home.

It’s really the first time I’ve ever been so close to a video camera, so I’m pretty sure I look and sound ridiculous. Still, this thing is a $100 video camera. Although the video is .avi (not MPEG-2) and the video quality could be better, it’s freakin’ $100! Plus, both the Flip and the Small Wonder are reportedly great in low light, where many more expensive cameras tend to fail. It’s also a lot smaller than most video cameras. The damn thing can fit easily in your pocket. Finally, notice that you can hear my voice loud and clear. That’s not the case with my Canon digital ELPH. Seems like this thing will be perfect for capturing the odd rock band around town.

I’ll try to update you as my feelings for this new machine evolve. In the meantime, here’s a nice comparison of the Flip Ultra and Small Wonder. And here’s another video talking about how awesome the Small Wonder is.

What you need is a deranged go-go dancer who is feverishly applying lipstick to the plastic wrap that is covering her mouth.

Like me, Owen Jarvis is a musician who went to law school. Unlike me, he’s made a fantastic (and fantastically viral) video documenting the experience. 

Jarvis wrote this song during exams for his first year of law school. The lyrics are pretty typical bitching and moaning, but with the sketches (also by Jarvis) and some clever turns, he’s perfectly distilled the cliché angst of your average 1L.

I have to say that I enjoyed law school immensely, and I think the work load is usually overstated (e.g., I had to walk 9 miles in the snow, and write 100 footnotes in a dark, frozen room). But this video had me laughing.

Hat tip: my fellow UH-er, 3L Luke Gilman.

I learned of this video courtesy of Slate.com’s recap of the year’s best singles. I’m not sure anyone in the world does better a cappella guitar solos.

Via Coudal Partners.

I already have to see this movie. Time goes so slowly.

Footage is from the 1996 French documentary Microcosmos. Hat tip: Treefingers.

How does a band of DJs/sound collagists play on live TV? They hire a bunch of fellow ’80s impersonators to flesh out their stage show. Justice rules.

Via Metafilter.

Via Adfreak, which showcases some “behind-the-scenes” footage.

I only thought I knew compliance. Thanks to Jacob.