First of all, my niece Veronica (who is the resident slime expert in the family) told me that this blog entry might be behind the trend. But since most of my readers aren't trendy, I figured that it would be all right to do a post on it. There is an entire universe of homemade slime that has swept the Internet, and captured the heart and minds of the young set in the United States.
Slime -- in its most basic form -- is a mixture Elmer's Glue-All (well, glue that contains something called PVA) and water-diluted Borax. You mix/knead the ingredients and the concoction starts forming into a solid. You can add more of the ingredients if needed. Veronica also likes to add shaving cream, lotion, and foaming soap to her mixtures. Many popular Instagram accounts add styrofoam beads (like the filling in bean bag chairs), and clay to make it soft and spreadable. There are also Instagram accounts where you can order slime. You want to be sure they are reputable slime vendors, so read their reviews. Veronica ordered this slime from this account: https://www.instagram.com/p/BTZ3r6Xg6Xv/?taken-by=raindropslime&hl=en "Instagram is the right place for slime," says Veronica.
In addition to the items listed, you can add food coloring/paint to give it color, and powered pigments. You can also add glitter to give it sparkle. I touched a batch of homemade slime, and it felt like a gooey cross between bread dough and Silly Putty. When you knead slime, it snaps, crackles and pops. You can bend and stretch and create giant air bubbles. So, there you have it. Slime. Read my previous post: "He Said I'd 'Be Better Off Getting an 8-Track'"
Yep, that's the 1960s-era antenna I found in my attic last summer…
I must have a message tatooed on my forehead that says, "come up and bother me." Sometimes you just want to browse a store without a staff member bugging you. Know what I mean? Bridge and I were at Sam's Club on the Fourth of July, picking up supplies for Robin Hill Pool (they had run out of cheese for the nachos, which is something akin to a pandemic at that place). While Bridget was at the cashier checking out, I decided to wander over to the electronics section and browse the televisions. A chatty staff member decided to come up and talk to me while I was looking around. He was in his twenties, and had a whole host of opinions on the state of television. At one point during the conversation, he pointed at a Mohu TV antenna and said, "A customer came up to me the other day wondering about the antenna and I told them they'd be better off getting an 8-track. It's all streaming, man." While I enjoy my 4th Generation Apple TV unit, and enjoy streaming a variety of content on it, I also enjoy using over-the-air antennas on my TVs. I think it is a useful and critical component of "cord cutting." Some of you read my previous post outlining how I hooked up a 1960s-era antenna I found in my attic to pull in all the local digital channels (the main channels offered in stunning, uncompressed HD). In addition, I use various "set top" antennas on other HDTVs in my home. I appreciate the ability to stream content via broadband internet. Love it. But the fact remains that there is a significant amount of content available for free, via antenna. For example, I was able to watch former UNO Hockey player Jake Guentzel hoist Lord Stanley's Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins on June 11 of this year via my antenna on WOWT (our local NBC affiliate) -- for free. Since I hooked up the decades-old antenna, everything has been rock solid (even during tornadic weather in our area). I don't have to worry about bandwidth, buffering, or data caps -- all factors to consider when streaming content on a monthly basis. One other point I'd like to make... It isn't like using an antenna is some sort of ugly, makeshift method for watching TV in our home. Look at our lovely setup:
Our video cabinet is neat and clean. Every item has its place. We have our 40-inch LED HDTV, an Apple TV (with an Apple wireless keyboard), and Panasonic Blu-ray player.
The thing that bugs me is that consumers are walking into places like Sam's Club looking for salient advice when they purchase an electronic device.
I've had good luck the past two years with my over-the-air antennas, and appreciate the opportunity to watch live events like the Super Bowl, the Oscars, the Stanley Cup playoffs and a whole host of news, sports and entertainment programming throughout the year.
To suggest that using an antenna is something akin to using an 8-track tape deck is ridiculous.
According to The Denver Post,TV antenna use is expected to grow by 9 percent this year. While the numbers might not be earth shattering, the long-tread technology is enjoying something of a renaissance.
Furthermore, I was alive when 8-track tapes were a thing. We had one in our 1970-something Toyota Corona, and I have many memories of my parents playing The Carpenters as we tooled down the road (that fact should help my retro street cred).
The next generation television transmission standard is called ATSC 3.0, and it is already being tested around the U.S. It will bring signals that are more robust (and can be received on your mobile phone), 4K UHD picture and immersive sound, and other interactive features for a richer viewing experience. Here is a primer video on ATSC 3.0 from the consortium that has developed the standard:
It'll be a few years before TV stations around the country make the conversion, but the new standards promise to bring an even better experience to those who use an over-the-air antenna to receive broadcast television (Samsung and LG are already building sets with ATSC 3.0 tuners for sale in South Korea, where ATSC 3.0 is getting set to launch for next year's Olympic games).
None of it seems like "put out to pasture" technology to me. What do you think? Feel free to leave me a comment below! And be sure to read my previous post: Inflatable Tube Creatures in Kearney
This was Olivia's debut appearance at the camp, and it was Julia's second rodeo out in Kearney (having first attended Digital Expressions Media Camp in 2016).
Arriving at the Camp: Bridget, Olivia, Julia and Veronica Sit By the Fountain at UNK.
Participants stay in the UNK campus dormitories during the week.
In addition to working on various skills at the camp, returning participants were able to visit NTV (ABC affiliate KHGI) and see live TV in action, and take a trip to 107.7 "The Island" (radio station KSYZ).
Closing awards luncheon: Julia and Olivia -- Along With Camp
Counselor Cy Cannon -- Sat at Our Table.
The camp culminated in a closing awards luncheon on Friday, June 16. Staff and attendees at the camp -- along with the campers' family members -- were treated a buffet meal and samples of the audio and video work done during the week.
2017 Digital Expressions Media Camp - Final Group Picture.
I must admit that I walked into writer/director Edgar Wright's "Baby Driver" not really knowing what to expect. When I saw the trailer for the movie a few months ago, I thought it looked like fun. So I checked it out at Aksarben Cinema opening night. Sometimes it can be a crap shoot gauging highly-stylized movies aiming for a firm spot on the quirky side of the spectrum. "Baby Driver" tells the story of a getaway driver named Baby (Ansel Elgort) who works for Doc (Kevin Spacey) -- a sharp criminal who stages various robberies and employs a different crew on each job (other than Baby, who Doc claims is a good luck charm). Baby is working to save up enough money to get out of the business. He lives in a modest apartment with his deaf, wheelchair-bound foster father Joseph (CJ Jones), who yearns to see Baby on the straight and narrow. Baby continually listens to tunes on an old iPod. We find out that Baby's parents died in a tragic car accident, and it left him with a permanent ringing in his ears. The music helps Baby focus and concentrate, and serves as the soundtrack for the movie (a clever plot device on the part of Wright). He also likes to record snippets of people he comes in contact with (on a compact tape recorder), which he then mixes into songs. His mood and focus eventually shift when he meets a waitress at a diner named Debora (Lily James, who does a credible job shedding her British accent for a southern drawl). The two bond over music, and Baby longs to run off with Debora and start a new life. But his dream will have to wait until he does "one more job" for Doc. "Baby Driver" harkens back to movies of the mid-to-late 1990s, when directors like Quentin Tarantino were at the top of their game, and crime movies borrowed heavily from the novels of Elmore Leonard. While "Baby Driver" might not have the polish or edge that "Pulp Fiction" or "True Romance" had in that era, the film owes a lot to those movies, and is a refreshing entry in the 2017 summer movie race. The film itself follows a relatively standard "just when I thought I was out...they pull me back in" heist formula. It works very well in this instance, and continues to be a great recipe for creating a dramatic tension. It is unique to have a heist story told from the point of view of the getaway driver (who is often relegated to the role of ancillary character in this type of movie). Elgort does a solid job in the role of Baby. He is smart and likable, and is able to shed a bit of the "melancholy teen drama" vibe he's had from starring in movies like "The Fault in Our Stars." He might be an unconventional casting choice, but you believe him in the role. Notable supporting performances are provided by Jon Hamm as the strung-out robber Buddy, and Jamie Foxx, who plays the sociopathically-scary Bats. Both are associates of Doc, and both feel like they could have walked out of a Quentin Tarantino script. Kevin Spacey is solid as usual. This is familiar territory for him, and he delivers the goods in "Baby Driver." In my mind, "Baby Driver" is the most entertaining movie (so far) of 2017. It has an energy and pacing that make it incredibly watchable. It might not be the perfect heist movie, but there is quite a bit to like here. Director Wright is smart to keep the movie from becoming "too dark" or "too violent." The movie -- despite its subject matter -- has a relatively light tone. Also of note is the fact that the car chases and effects appear to be of the "practical" variety, and it is refreshing to see an action movie that isn't CGI'd to death. Hop in, ride along, and check out "Baby Driver." Rated R, Runtime: 1 hr 53 min
The first time I saw a "fidget spinner" was when one of my nieces was over at my house. I hadn't heard of them before, and didn't think a whole lot about it when I saw it. The toys apparently are this year's adolescent fad. My dad (who is not an adolescent) purchased the fidget spinner I'm holding in the picture above -- at a gas station. I told him I wanted to do a blog post about fidget spinners...so he dropped it by... There are claims that the spinners relieve anxiety and soothe the symptoms of ADHD. There are also claims stating that those claims are a load of bull. Fidget spinners have been banned at various schools for being a distraction. I saw a post today on Facebook demonstrating how the washer-like metal circles are a potential choking hazard (the "fun police" are never too far from a new fad). I've spent the last four days with this white fidget spinner. I must admit that I feel more anxious since it has been in our home. I'm not sure that is the fault of the spinner, but I feel obliged to be truthful about my current mood since the spinner and I are in close proximity.
I mean, I guess it's cool to watch it spin. I'm not altogether sure why they have become so popular. It doesn't really do a whole lot. My dad said he likes to start it spinning, and then take a pencil and see if he can perfectly thread it through one of the three spinning holes. Maybe this is how people felt about the Slinky when it was introduced in the 1940s -- "Look Ethel! That spring can walk itself down a staircase. Shazam!" The spinners retail online with prices ranging from a couple bucks all the way up to $15 dollars. (Pro tip: Don't pay $15 for one of these things.) I guess there are worse things your daughters and sons could be interested in. In a way, it is heartening that something so "old school" is so popular in 2017. Maybe that's the appeal. In a society that revolves around intently looking and tapping on LED screens, there is a certain retro charm in an item that is the epitome of analog amusements. Check out my previous post: These Kids Are "Sharp … Cheddar Sharp"
My favorite classes in school were those that were skill-based -- courses requiring the use of mechanical skills to create something. The photography class Bridget and I took at the University of Nebraska at Omaha ranks near the top of my list. This was before digital cameras permeated our culture. Everything was shot on Kodak T-Max 400 film. I captured my pics on a manual-focus Pentax camera my dad purchased for me. The course required us to develop our own film, then use those negatives to create black-and-white prints in the darkroom located in the Weber Fine Arts Building. As far as I'm concerned, it was the best class I took during my time at UNO. THE NEXT GENERATION OF CREATIVES ... My niece Julia has had a good time taking a similar type of course at the Omaha Public Schools Career Center (located in the former Omaha Technical High School building). She is taking Digital Video Production. The course allows Julia and her fellow students to learn the process of making movies in the digital realm. They write, produce, direct, act, shoot and edit their projects with a team. Julia has had the opportunity to learn the tools of the trade, and discover the ins-and-outs of using Adobe Premiere Pro CC to edit and finalize her films. As a graphic designer, I'm excited that she has the opportunity to experience the sort of "hands on" learning that is too often shrugged off in favor of a theory-based "college prep" curriculum. LOAD UP THOSE PEZ DISPENSERS Julia and her fellow students had the opportunity to compete in the first-ever Omaha Metro High School 7-7-7 Film Championship.
The competition was an opportunity for local high school film students to try their hand at making a seven-minute (maximum length) film in seven days. There were seven challenges included in the task (example: the students had to include a Pez dispenser in some creative way). The competition culminated with the "7-7-7 Screenings & Awards Showcase" (their own low-key version of an Oscar ceremony) at the Durham Museum on May 2.
HOW DID THEY DO? Julia's team created the film "The Robbery" -- a comedy about a nighttime heist in surburbia. She told me that the scripts of her two teammates (the two male stars of the film) were combined together to create the overall narrative structure (along with a dose of improvisation during the process). She wasn't sure how her team would fare, but the group finished in 6th place in the overall standings (out of 21 teams).
Here is the film. Our Oldsmobile Alero -- which Bridget let Julia borrow -- makes an appearance in the film:
These students are really talented, and I think they created a story that was funny and "cheddar sharp" (to reference a line from the film). In addition to "The Robbery," the other projects screened on May 2 featured some inventive stories and skilled production work. The top finisher ("Best of Show") in the competition was a thriller titled "Memorandum." The team who produced the film is also part of the Digital Video Production program at the OPS Career Center. Their film is dark, brooding and visually compelling. Take a look:
The video was also honored for "Best Use of #7" in the competition (another one of the 7 challenges filmmakers had to incorporate in their production).
What's impressive about these projects is that the students were dealing with difficult time constraints and requirements (considering all the other coursework busy high schoolers have to focus on in a given week). The film "Sweet Love of Mime" was one of my favorites. The team from Westside created a cute vibe and a whimsical style for their entry, and the team finished in 3rd place:
It was fun to see how the students included Pez dispensers in their videos. This team (also from Westside) won the award for "Best Use of Prop" and finished in 4th place:
Omaha needs a jolt. Bridget and I live near these dormant grain silos. Sadly, the silos are no longer home to one of the more novel public art projects we've had the good fortune to experience in this city... An ambitious young lady named Anne Trumble started an organization called "Emerging Terrain" several years ago. The organization was responsible for the "Stored Potential" art project on the silos (which began in 2010), and had set its sights on bigger urban renewal and revitalization efforts in the Omaha area. Trumble left Omaha in 2014. She lives in California now. The website -- www.emergingterrain.org -- is still active. I'm not altogether sure if the organization itself is currently working on anything, but the website houses some interesting information on past projects. I've never met Anne Trumble, and only followed her efforts from afar. I liked the way she thought, and appreciated her mindful perspective on our city. One of the initiatives I found fascinating was the group's "Belt Line" proposal. The project would have revitalized a long forgotten north-south transit corridor through the middle of the city (running by the grain silos pictured above, near 35th and Vinton). Emerging Terrain wanted to bring light rail to this area -- hoping to introduce mass transit and renewal to a neglected corridor running from North Omaha down through South Omaha. Sadly, the plan never got its footing, but you can read about it on the site: www.emergingterrain.org/archives/practice/belt-line The idea of light rail (or even something less intrusive like street/trolley cars) is a hard sell in Omaha these days. The topic has become a "hot button issue" in this year's mayoral and city council races -- and candidates seem eager to distance themselves from the concept. The reality is that older parts of the Omaha are in need of revitalization and forward thinking. We're talking about areas that feature the oldest homes and commercial structures in the city -- property that is often being maintained by a lower income population that struggles to have the wherewithal to improve these structures. Projects like train and light rail might sound expensive on the surface, but they help promote development in older areas and jump start private investment and community interest. The novel art on the grain silos served as a catalyst to spur conversation on some of these heady topics facing our city. We live in a world where people want to shrug off responsibility, and focus solely on "immediate" wants and needs. For a city to thrive, it has to think beyond maintaining the status quo, and steer things in a different direction. I miss the artwork on the grain silos. The structure stands today as just another withering eyesore in Omaha's urban core...bland and faceless. But for a while, the silos illustrated what our city could become... ************ Listen to Anne Trumble talk about the "Stored Potential" art project (from 2011):
