Seven Free Downloads for Video Editing
For those who have already tried creating their own home videos, you can make use of these seven free downloads for video editing.
If you try to search the internet, you will notice that there are lots of software programs out there ranging from below $100 to over $500. Well, here’s great news ? you can also download certain video editing programs for free. Even if you don’t have money, you can still use a decent video editing tool but you need to spend some time browsing the web.
For newbies, it would be best to make use of these free software programs so that you will learn the basics of video editing. Once you get used to using different software programs, you can now purchase complex ones that offer special effects and other fun stuffs. Commercial software programs are too complicated for beginners so you’d be better off with free software.
The top 7 downloadable video editors are the following:
Latest personal computers now have pre-installed video editors, the Windows Movie Maker. You can create new videos/movie and edit or share them. With a few drags and clicks of your mouse, you can create a movie. You can exclude bad shots and get only the best scenes. You can save the movie and perhaps share it via the internet, in a CD, or through email. If you save it on your computer or camcorder, you can play it over and over again.
For Mac, you can use the Apple iMovie. This is one of the easiest ways to create your own video. You can add new clips to your existing project or replace them. It also allows you to edit the audio as well. This software is free only if you have a Mac system. When the Advanced Tools are shown, you can use additional options like green-screen effects, picture-in-picture, and cutaways.
For Linux and PCs, you can use the Zwei-Stein freeware. You can make use of the advanced features it offers like making custom effects or you can also do panning and cropping.
Debugmode Wax may be outdated but it’s still great for video editing. The visual effects are flexible and so you can easily create superb video sequences.
Jashaka can be used for Linux, Mac, and PC. It makes use of the OpenML and OpenGL hardware which allows users real-time interactivity. The platform comes with image processing, paint, and full CG modules.
Virtual Dub offers very simple editing tools. If you’re an advanced editor, this software is not for you. If you have an existing video footage, you can use this software to make clean and simple edits. It can handle AVI files, read MPEG-1 and BMP images.
These six software programs are downloadable. Only then can you use the software to create or edit videos or movies. If you want to use another good online tool, you can use Jump Cut. However, this can only be used online and you can’t download it. With this tool, you can cut videos; add effects, photos and titles. With Jump Cut, you can upload media, share them, remix, create new movies, or publish it for your friends.
For your video editing needs, get a suitable software program. The free software are easy to work on and you will hardly encounter any problems.
How to Pack Wisely: Tips for Frequent Travelers
Aside from booking airfare tickets, packing up is one of the most challenging tasks that savvy travelers have to endure. Well, this applies to almost everyone, except for those who squeeze a year’s worth of stuff in their bags for a weeklong holiday vacation. On the other hand, some travelers pack too lightly, so much so that they forget to bring the most essential things like medicines and even passport! Listed here are some suggestions on how to pack wisely.
? Pack only the clothes that you will really use. Stuffing all your wardrobe in your bag is never a wise way to pack even if you are traveling for more than a month. For longer travels, you can just bring just a reasonable number of items to wear and wash them right after using.
? Roll your clothes. Instead of folding your outfits individually, you can maximize the space of your travel bag by rolling them. This packing technique works best with skirts, pants, and shirts. Another recommended method is folding clothes together to prevent wrinkles or creases in the folds.
? Keep a digital copy of your important documents. Misfortunes such as lost passport and stolen credit cards can happen even to the most careful travelers. You will never know when they will strike, so it always pays to be prepared. Scan your passport, tickets, and other travel documents and send the digital copies to your email. You must also keep a copy of the emergency hotlines of your credit card or ATM card, which will come in handy in case it gets lost or stolen.
? If you’re using a backpack, put all the stuff you use most often on top. That way, you won’t have to rummage through all the contents of your bag just to get a single item. You can make your bag feel lighter by putting the heavier items on top and the lighter ones at the bottom, as this makes the pack rest on your lower back.
? Use airtight plastic bags. Doings so helps eliminate the mess that comes from the toiletries and dirty clothes. Plastic bags are handy because they can keep the contents of your bag organized and neat. Sort the items according to type (e.g. toiletries, underwear, shorts, etc.) and put them into different plastic bags. This makes accessing a particular item a lot easier.
? Put all your valuables in a carry-on bag. It helps to bring a bag that you can take with you all the time so that you can easily access important items like medicines, cash, and mobile phone. Your carry-on bag should be small enough to keep under the seat and large enough to accommodate larger items like laptop and gadgets.
? Bring only a few toiletries. Don’t stack up on toiletries in your baggage as if tomorrow’s the end of the world. Also, store items such as shampoo and toothpaste in small containers. You will be surprised at the amount of space you are going to save.
All these tips on how to pack wisely boil down to one important point: do not overpack your baggage for the sake your safety and convenience.
Green Tea is a Great Health Drink
Green tea is one of the best health drinks around. In fact, the Chinese have used this for more than 4,000 years which is why we should drink it as well and experience its benefits.
The benefits of drinking green tea include regulating your blood sugar, preventing certain cancers, fighting plaque, lowering your cholesterol and slowing down the aging process.
But what makes green tea so special is the fact that it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate also known as EGCG.
This is a powerful anti-oxidant that does two things. First it inhibits the growth of cancer cells and second, it kills cancer cells without harming any healthy tissue. It also lowers your cholesterol by inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots which causes someone to have either a heart attack or stroke.
Green tea is able to fight tooth decay because it inhibits the major bacteria called Streptococcus mutans from forming in between the teeth. At the same time, drinking this regularly also helps prevent gum disease.
Some people might ask, don’t other types of tea have the same benefits as green tea? They do but what sets green tea apart is how it is processed. The other products are not steamed so the EGCG compound which was explained earlier is not oxidized.
So what are you waiting for? Go down to the supermarket and buy a box of green tea and starting drinking it so you are able to experience its many healthy benefits. If the taste is bland after you pour it into your cup, add some flavoring by adding sugar, honey or even a lemon wedge.
You might be wondering, when is the best time to drink green tea? Since it contains caffeine, you should only drink this first thing in the morning and at different times during the day. You must never drink caffeine when you are hungry because this will just increase your appetite or at night because it will make it hard for you to get a good night’s sleep.
Since it will take some time to finish a box of green tea, proper storage is important. To do that, make sure this is kept in an airtight container once you open it and away from light. You can also put it in the refrigerator at a temperature between 38 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
People who are allergic to caffeine should not drink green tea. If you are pregnant, drink this in moderation. If you happen to have some left over green tea from the day before, throw it away and just make a new one because it is best to drink when it is fresh from the kettle.
Green tea just like coffee contains caffeine. This might lead you to the conclusion that this makes this drink just as bad as coffee but in reality, it isn’t because the caffeine content in green tea is fifty percent less than coffee.
There is no doubt that a health drink like green tea can do a lot for you. If you have never tried it before, it is never too late to start to boil a water of water and putting in a tea bag. You can drink it separately or do with the English do and serve this with a few biscuits.
Fun Activities during Halloween
Halloween is a season of fun these days. It is the occasion when children, teens, and adults wear spooky costumes for more fun. Through the years, there have been numerous fun and exciting activities that have been directly associated with Halloween. Perhaps, people now look forward to Halloween because of such fun activities. Every year, you surely do not run out of ideas to be part of such tasks. Here are several of those activities and events that have become part of the annual Halloween tradition, not just in the Western World but also worldwide.
Trick or treat has become a customary celebration associated with Halloween. It has become a fun activity more especially for children. Such kids dress in their spookiest and weirdest costumes and come to every house in the neighborhood to ask for treats from homeowners. Those treats usually come in the form of candies and other sweet goodies. Sometimes, they collect coins.
The question asked is ‘Trick or treat?’ thus the name for the activity. Trick refers to threat to perform a form of mischief to the homeowner or his property specifically if no treat is provided. In several areas in Scotland and Ireland, kids come guising. In this action, every child performs a talent show to earn treats. That show could be a song number or a dance performance.
Halloween parties are also customary and usual. Organizing and putting up one could be easy. Yes, it may sound and seem tedious at first, but as you go along, you would find yourself truly enjoying it. Begin the activity by planning the party. The first step should be conceptualizing. Aside from making the party a costume inspired one, why not think of many other creative twists to challenge all guests and make the activity more fun and livelier? Perhaps, you could ask families to come in full family costumes. You could also dwell away from the usual spooky costumes. Why not prefer popular superhero attires? Children and adults would surely love it.
Wearing of costumes is a must every Halloween. In the old beliefs, masks and ghoulish costumes were worn to help ward off bad and harmful spirits. It could be logical. It was believed that during Halloween, spirits roam around. They would think a person is one of them if he wears a monster or ghost costume. Thus, they would not do harm. These days, this custom has become part of the fun Halloween tradition. As mentioned, costumes are not limited to spooky creatures and monsters. They now include super hero costumes. Some people just impersonate famous movie characters or Hollywood icons.
Halloween is also the time for other activities. Have you ever noticed why scary movies are shown in time for the Halloween? Think of Jason and Friday the 13th movie series. Many other horror flicks from Asia are given Hollywood twists. Movie producers aim to scare.
Interestingly, people pay for tickets and come to movie houses to scare the nerve out of them. It must be the freaky Halloween spirit.
Business Meeting Etiquette
Etiquette generally means using your common sense well, together with a little practice. All people can identify the things to do and not to do especially if they are attending a business meeting. Your behavior can make or break your professional career, as well as provide some hints to your superiors and colleagues on how you should be treated in the workplace.
Primary Tips
Always be on time when joining a meeting. Arrive a few minutes before the meeting should start. This will show respect for the person who plans the meeting that you are a punctual and organized worker. Be prepared for the business meeting. Know what the topic is about and do some advanced research so you can easily follow the course.
Look for related materials and other rules that should be addressed. You will get better input by studying in advance. Bring the needed materials, such as a notebook and pen to take notes. This also shows that you are serious about the topics discussed. Participate in the meeting by asking questions and volunteering for certain tasks that need to be done.
The Right Behavior
Be polite and attentive when joining the meeting. Do not cross-talk while someone is talking and wait for the speaker to finish or until he asks for your opinion before speaking. Always be courteous and listen to the person talking. Fight the urge to argue with anybody at the table. Conduct yourself in a very professional manner. Doing your research will show that you are understanding and knowledgeable. Always thank the person who organized the meeting afterwards.
If You are Hosting
If you’re the one calling for a meeting, always plan ahead and let people know about the venue and date weeks before the actual event. Send out invitations and notifications to have them prepare for the course. Always include the clear agenda. The action items may also be listed so that participants can address the issues properly. Set a time limit as well so that your colleagues can use the period productively. Provide a set number of minutes for group discussion, as well as for yourself to conduct the agenda.
Taking Initiative
Encourage punctuality by never coming late at your own meeting. Dress seriously and professionally. Even if it is a casual dressing day, come in your proper business attire. Manage the meeting well and make sure you stick to the concerns and given time limit. Each person should have the right to speak at a certain time. Guide the course of the meeting by indicating the key points and turning points.
Always be diplomatic and calm. Stay away from arguments and bickering. Summarize the points discussed in the meeting to wrap up everything. If you should request for a follow-up meeting, indicate that you will notify them with the next steps, time and place. Always request feedback as well, so that you can continually improve in your craft and become a productive member of the workplace.
FAQs On Playing The Violin
They say that one of the most difficult musical instruments to play is the violin. Thus, you have an edge over the others when you know how to use it. The thing is that, other people want to learn how to play it in an instant. Like any other activity, it requires your passion and your skill to be able to effectively execute it. Playing the violin is an art and it is not learned overnight. The following are some of the commonly asked questions about this musical instrument. Read on to find out the answers to your queries.
Is it possible to learn to play it within the day?
As mentioned earlier, playing the violin is a craft that you must master. There is practically no execution of any musical instrument that can be learned in a span of 24 hours. It takes more than that. Those who are experts in playing the violin have spent much of their lives in establishing their knowledge on how to handle and play it. They have not learned even the basics overnight.
What should I do to learn playing it?
There are numerous instructional materials available in the market these days. They will show you the structure of the violin, its parts, and some important facts about what their roles are. Also, some simple major scales and songs come in handy with these materials. A more formal training is that of enrolling in a violin class wherein an expert musician will guide you throughout your learning.
The instructions will of course include a brief background about the violin, its roots, and history. Then, the instructor will lead you towards understanding the parts, how to hold it properly, and eventually how to play some simple music using the scales. As you progress, you will learn to play more songs.
What should I remember during the violin class?
For beginners, you need enough concentration, discipline, careful listening, and above all, patience. If you have a background on reading music, then, you should focus more on learning the correct finger position.
How often should I practice?
There is no definite calendar to follow when it comes to your practice schedule. You can do it every day, every other day, or during the weekend. It actually depends on your own availability. If you have some time to spare on a daily basis, might as well practice with your workbook or learn online. You may also practice the same song that you have previously learned so you can quickly progress on your learning.
To have fun while practicing, you may download your favorite tunes and learn playing them. You may also practice with friends if all of you are available.
How do I know my progress phasing?
There are several indications of your progress. Your teacher is likely to commend your efforts and tell you of your own performance. Personally, you will feel more confident in handling the instrument and feeling the notes. You will not have much difficulty in the finger position and you will be able to play the music without focusing much on your music notebook. You get to play the notes because you know them by heart.
Playing the violin is not only fun but very relaxing as well. Soon enough you will be very confident to perform even in front of other people.
Non-Linear Video Editing
Once you learn how video editing works, you will have a lot of fun in finalizing your video clips on the computer. Videotape editing these days is a lot cheaper as compared to editing many years ago. You can do it quickly by using the appropriate video editing program. However, the learning curve is a bit steep and many individuals give up because they are easily intimidated by the program. If you’re determined to learn how video editing works, you can handle any tasks no matter how difficult it is.
What you need to do is learn the basics and after that, you can have a lot of fun in editing your videos. When you open any video editing program, you will see an interface with so many windows. In fact, among all computer programs, video editing is the most complex. You can easily get overwhelmed with the many windows that pop on the screen once you open the program.
If you’ve tried using WMM (Windows Movie Maker), then you already have an idea of what a universal interface looks like. Most programs follow the same on-screen layout. WMM is much easier to use than other complex programs because you will initially see four separate windows on the screen. Other windows can be opened one by one so you will not be confused in using them. Each of the windows has its own function and once you know the different functions, you can work with ease. You can also hide other windows while you’re working. Almost all editing programs have 8-20 windows. These windows confuse new users especially if they hardly know anything about video editing.
When you open WMM or any other basic video editing program, you will see that the three windows are located on the top-half section and the bottom half contains a large window. These four windows are the timeline, task pane (on the upper left), collections (middle), and output (on the far right). The bottom window is the timeline or the turquoise section.
The timeline is one of the most important windows in the program. You can build your movie or video in this window and it will serve as its visual representation. A squiggly line or waveform representation can be seen on the screen as well as a running time on top. In the WMM timeline, one line is for the standard video, titles, and video transitions or effects; for audio, there are two lines. At the left side of the screen, you will see the labels and black lines separate them horizontally. Complex programs usually have additional lines for audio and video. If you want to create simple videos, WMM and other free software programs may be enough.
On the task pane, the different tasks are shown and included in the list is the ‘edit movie’. Links are also found in the screen which leads to other functions and one of these links teaches you how to edit videos. You can hide/show this window on the menu at the top portion. The collections window contains all the media from your projects. You can watch the edited video/movie in the output window.
In videotape editing, you will be working on these four windows most of the time. You can learn how these four windows work and then learn more about the other windows.
How to Find a Travel Companion that’s Compatible with You
Hate going solo on your next travel? Why not consider sharing a trip with a travel companion? While some things are better done alone, traveling is definitely not one of them. Having a companion during your travel gives you the peace of mind that in case something bad happens, somebody will surely help you. And of course, all pleasant and happy experience in a trip becomes all the more special if you share it with someone, that is, if you’re traveling with a good travel buddy. On the other hand, traveling with a rather unpleasant companion will definitely spoil the fun and may even test your patience. This is why choosing a good companion is very important in a truly unforgettable travel. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when selecting who will accompany your to your next trip.
1. Choose someone you know very well.
Make sure that you are quite familiar with any quirk that your companion may have. Why? If you don’t, you might end up sharing the hotel room with someone whose neurotic behavior will drive you nuts. You don’t want to deal with someone who spends three hours just for bathing and grooming or someone who is too repacking his or her things. Most especially, you don’t want who would rather argue with you all day about everything than enjoy the attraction you’re visiting.
2. Choose a companion who shares your interests.
It would be very difficult to travel with a person whose interests greatly differ from yours. You would be better off traveling on your own if that is the case. How can you enjoy hopping from one bar to another when your travel buddy is more interested in attending theater performances or concerts? It doesn’t mean, though, that you should be together all day. But it would help a lot for both of you if you have several common interests. You can, for example go separate ways during daytime and then meet for some drinks in a bar at night.
3. Put your potential companion to a road test.
This tip may prove to be useful if you are on the lookout for a long-term travel buddy. You can invite a friend or colleague over your home to a dinner or plan a weekend picnic in a great place within your area. Observe how comfortable you are with each other, particularly when you share a room or even bed. Also, take note of any habits that you could tolerate. If you can live with your companion’s smoking habit, then that should not be a problem when you go on a holiday trip together.
Traveling with a companion is a very good idea, especially if you are the type who easily feels lonely being alone and having no one to talk to throughout your trip. Finding the best travel companion is not difficult at all since you can choose anyone from your relatives, friends, and colleagues. If you think no one fits your criteria, then traveling solo might be better for you.
Freaky Halloween Ideas
Halloween is that time of the year when you strive to scare people. It has become customary. Scaring and being scared has become part of pure Halloween fun. Every year, you would notice that people are getting more and more creative in putting up unique Halloween ideas. Interestingly, some people are able to create freaky decors and unique looking foods without actually altering the way things are done. Do you want to scare the nerve out of your visitors this coming Halloween? You do not have to spend too much for it. Here are some practical and effective fun ideas.
Use scissors to cut out different jack-o’ lantern masks out of paper plates. Cut the eyes and the mouths. You could use staples to properly attach rubber band or strings that would keep the mask on. You could also use scissors to create pumpkin pictures if you do not like masks. It is just amazing what you could do using your creativity and materials like glitters, construction paper, yarn, fabric, and glue. You could even turn the time of creating such items into real children and adult fun.
Cut several old clothes and even newspapers into strips. Use these to stuff several other clothing so that you could creatively create a scarecrow. It could be that easy. You could hold all the materials together using a belt, safety pins, or threads. Opt to use a balloon with yarn as a head. A stuffed pillow case could also do. Put up a spooky face then add a hat to make a Halloween creature.
Children would never grow tired of baking and eventually decorating cupcakes and cookies for the Halloween. Strive to allow them to use food coloring, cookie cutters, icing, licorice, macaroni, and patterns to create ghoulish faces. This could be a good time to harness your own as well as children’s imagination. The time you could spend with your kids in doing so would even make all the more worth it. Have fun and enjoy all the Halloween stuff and treats you would create together.
How about turning food into instant Halloween décor? Doing so could be a fun and unique Halloween idea. Use food coloring to spice up and embody your imagination. Transform any vanilla pudding into a green slime using artificial food coloring of course. You could also do so to apply creativity when dealing with Jell-O. There are other food ideas. Attach several almond slivers to some carrot sticks. Insert the items into green slime and you could have a ghoulishly delicious and delectable finger stew.
Here is another Halloween idea. Wrap dough sheets all around several pieces of hotdogs to create mummy treats that every child would surely have fun to eat. You could make your mummy treats a lot spookier if you would use further imagination. Use ketchup or even mustard to draw mummy eyes as well as mouth on the mummies. You could also put in several other edible decors to make your hotdog mummy more appealing.
Basic Telephone Etiquette
The telephone is a very common part of everyday life. However, not all individuals realize that you need to practice telephone etiquette as well, as much as you would other activities. Knowing how to respond will give others the impression that you are a polite and respectful individual, especially when it comes to business. Here are some tips to get you started.
Answering the Telephone
The right way to answer the telephone is by saying “Hello” or “Good morning, followed by the place of residence or company name”. Do not just say “Yes”, “What?” or “Speak”, even if you already know who is calling. The person on the other line can immediately draw a conclusion that you are an aloof person who does not want to communicate. You will have a hard time getting left messages if you do not answer appropriately.
When someone asks for a person through the telephone, you should also respond in the most respectful manner. If someone asks for Mr. Smith, you should respond either “One moment please, I’ll get Mr. Smith for you.” or “I’m sorry, Mr. Smith is not here right now, but I can take a message if you want to.” This shows that you have good manners. Do not just say, “Yes”, “No” or “Wait”. Always try to communicate and evoke the feelings that you care.
Making the Calls
If you are the one making the telephone call, make sure you check the time first. Calling during meal time, napping periods or very late at night are not recommended. Try to aim for hours when you know the person answering is wide awake and will not most likely be disturbed. Try to call houses not sooner than 7:00 am and not later than 9:30 pm. Once the phone is answered, greet the other person on the line, provide your name then ask for the person you want to talk to.
If you called once without anyone answering, wait about 30 to 60 minutes before making the next call. If the number is busy, you can try again after a few minutes. If the other line has an answering machine, leave your name, contact number and message. If you happen to dial the wrong number, do not abruptly hang up. Instead, apologize to the other person and indicate that you have dialled the wrong number. Dial the next number carefully to avoid making the same mistake.
More Manners
Always have a light and pleasant tone when answering the phone or calling, since the other person cannot see your facial expression. When calling, allow the phone to ring a certain length of time, since it can be a bother to go all the way to the telephone and only hearing the dial tone once you answer. Stop making pranks, especially if you are calling an office telephone. Do not inconvenience businesses by taking too much of their time for unimportant chats. If you’re talking to someone who is working, keep the call informative and brief.