This Week's Showdown: Mac vs PC (Basic Editing Software)

Last week I wrote about French vs American literature.  This week it'll be part 1 of Mac vs PC.  I think I might begin doing a showdown every week as the format for my blog.  But anyway, let's get started.

It seems to be a commonly accepted fact that Mac is a better platform for editing video than PC.  Now, as someone whose sole purpose in life is to topple the Apple empire, my point of view may be slightly biased.  But regardless, I think the view that macs are more useful for editing is based entirely on the fact that iMovie comes free with Mac OSX.  But Windows Live Movie Maker, the free PC editing suite, is just as good.

The reason iMovie has become so popular is that it is a very user-friendly editing program.  Since the world has seen a huge increase in amateur movie making over the past few years, editing software that is user-friendly is in high demand.  However, Windows Live Movie Maker is even more user friendly, and can carry out any basic task required by an amateur movie maker.  iMovie can perform more advanced functions, but if someone who is in need of more advanced editing should most likely invest in a more advanced editing suite.

There is also the fact that while the newest version of iMovie comes free with a newly-purchased Mac computer, you must pay 15 dollars in order to unlock the updatable version of iMovie.  Windows Live Movie Maker is 100 percent free.

Tune in next week for Mac vs PC: Mid-Level Editing Software.

 

This Week's Showdown: French vs. American Literature

I'm in French 4, and we are currently studying Antoine de Saint-Exupery's iconic novel Le Petit Prince.  While most Americans know of this book, few have actually read it.  Most just assume that it is a children's book, and to a certain extent, they are right.

On the surface, Le Petit Prince is a cute story of a little kid who travels the universe to learn about life.  But on a deeper level, it is a criticism of the gap between children and adults just about every other flaw the author finds in human nature.  For instance, when the little prince visits a man who is obsessed with counting the stars, thinking that because nobody has claimed them yet they all belong to him, and that he must find out how many he has in order to determine their worth.

Le Petit Prince is comparable to several American classics, but the connection that I made as soon as I began reading it was to The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster.  The Phantom Tollbooth is another children's book that can be interpreted on many levels, starring a boy named Milo who goes to the Lands of beyond, where he meets all sorts of characters and places that are representations and criticisms of human nature, among other things.  For example, when Milo stops thinking on the Road of Expectations, he ends up in the doldrums, a place where people are encouraged not to think.  This is a criticism of oppression and the limited freedoms experienced by some, as well as of the human tendency to want to follow rather than to lead.

They're Still With Us (I'm With You Review)

I've been a fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers since I was 8 years old.  At the time, of course, I didn't really understand their music, which is, in general, not something an 8 year old should be listening to.  So, as you can imagine, I was extremely exited when I learned that they were coming out with a new album called I'm With You.  The Peppers went on hiatus after releasing their 2006 album Stadium Arcadium, which resulted in roomers of retirement.  No one took these roomers seriously, however.  As bassist "Flea" put it, "the Chili Peppers never went away."

For a band that's been around so long, and kept most of it's core members the whole time, it's impressive how good they still sound.  I could not find a single track on I'm With You that I didn't like.  I was also impressed with how well Josh Klinghoffer's style meshed with the traditional funk/hard rock/punk style that the Chili Peppers are known for.  Klinghoffer was confirmed as a permanent replacement for long-time guitarist John Frusciante.  While many fans were upset to see John go, Josh's style provides a different yet interesting effect on the music.  Where Frusciante was known for his psychedelic riffs, Josh does a good job of keeping a good background rhythm that complements Flea's bass riffs very well.

Overall I'd have to say that I'm With You is one of my favorite albums by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.  It has less of a hard rock feel to it and draws more influence from funk, which is an interesting but not unwelcome change from the traditional Chili Peppers sound.  The only album that I think tops I'm With You is Californication, which was and still is a gem.