Monday, July 23, 2007

v:blog - Christchurch Sightseeing with Dave

Hakuna matata,

Have I already told you that my friend Dave stayed with me for a little bit more than a week earlier this month?

It was good, barring his snoring!

I managed to compile a video for you of two separate days of sightseeing, with all their various fun experiences that Dave has never had of Christchurch.

I won't spoil it all for you, I'll just let you watch it for yourself!

I noticed two things about Dave:

1) He seems to have never seen a tree before (Dave: "Wow, look at that!"; Iain: "Where, behind that tree?"), and

2) He gets very self-conscious on camera and tends to turn around / look over his shoulder lots. It laughed at him an awful lot when I was putting this together.

I have a very minor backlog of videos in the wings, but I'm also fairly run off my feet at the moment so editing will have to wait. This massive 8+ minute, 22mb epic montage should tide you over, especially you suckers on snail-up (get a real internet connection!).


Above: Iain takes Dave sightseeing around CHCH!

I'm still practising with sound volumes, fades, and editing, so feel free to let me know what you think of my production as much as the content!

The order of the day was the penultimate U2*, so the songs on the video are:
U2 - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb - Vertigo
U2 - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb - Yahweh
U2 - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb - Love and Peace or Else
U2 - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb - The City of Blinding Lights


*I suppose U2 must only be penultimate since we know that Tenacious D have confirmed the existence of 'the greatest song in the world', alas, their version is only a tribute.

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Saturday, July 21, 2007

Aotearctica / New Iceland

Strength... fading...

too... weak...

Must... remain conscious...

Christchurch has its ups and down in temperature. It's drainingly cold. This is my first long, Christchurch winter and I feel it-

Old picture of snow on CHCH's Port Hills courtesy of Kalena_ at Flickr.com

-in me bones!

Okay, maybe not in my bones, and it hasn't actually snowed yet this year in Christchurch City itself, but its cold. I do 'sleepover' nightshifts and usually rise by 10:30 or 11am, but today I just couldn't do it. The cold seeped into me and I just felt... drained.
Eventually I focused the chill into my spleen - I'm not sure what it does anyway - and found that my limbs worked well enough to get out of bed.

Curse ye, Wintery Gods of Antimotivation!

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Monday, July 16, 2007

Poem: Kaikoura

Poem: Kaikoura

By Iain McMahon,
written about my Kaikoura Road Trip, July '07.

Twisted stone reaches
For boundless skies above;
Backbone of a dragon
Etched from stony shore.
Am I alone, of those
Who marvel at your age?

Undying mountains encircle me,
Pure white teeth of fallen gods.
Winds bear your greeting,
A chill touch at my back.
Do any exist, who make
You hear their reply?

Even the stones cry out,
Chattering with each wave.
Hopeful spray escapes
To soar amongst the birds.
Is there a heart that
Would not break at your beauty?


Note: stay tuned for my Kaikoura road-trip video!

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