Bye-bye Screenr, hello fraps

No. of videos which failed to publish on Screenr: 5 (bad); No. of minutes it took to to buy fraps and download it: 10 (good); No. of minutes it took to work out how to record a video in fraps: 5 (v. good); No. of minutes it took to work out how to edit and save a video use Windows Movie Maker: about 60 (bad)
Relationship with Screenr somewhat under strain. Had been using it happily to record video in SL. Can only do 5 minutes, but in some ways that is opportunity rather than constraint, as they say.

However, had something of a SL-fest on Saturday (after 9 days away from SL) looking round Homes and Gardens expo, doing some dancing to virtual Albannach, and fitting in some photo shooting for the 52 weeks of colour. Attempted to capture some of this for posterity, and was successful with Albannach vid, but film of Homes expo persistently failed to publish, so had to rerecord it (see above, it ends with me purchasing the Julia Hathor enchanted moon grotto, but that's another story).
After this was downhill all the way, as tried to record one vid of the Spring Home that am about to delete on Infolit iSchool, and another of the greenhouse on Noyo (which was going to dismantle, but doing the tour reminded me how much I like it, so it stays). In end recorded tour of greenhouse 3 times, each time attempting to publish it endless (well, not literally) times, v. frustrating.
Thus purchase of fraps today. Downside is that it captures the whole screen, rather than allowing you to frame the part you want. Upside is that it records inworld sounds and is simply toggled on and off with the F9 key.

In heady rapture proceeded to record 3 tours had failed with before: the 2 mentioned above plus a broomstick tour round Infolit (since am just clearing out the cherry trees and installing summer), which had tried to record on Thursday. Also recorded art installation by Pixels Sideways and a brief cherry blossom idyll. Files run beautifully on my computer, but are huge, and as want to share some of these with world have to fiddle around with them in Windows Movie Maker. This is in fact why have never bought fraps until now, as see this is dreadful slippery slope towards yet more late nights playing with pixelated technology. Edited 2 videos and uploaded them to Youtube (where resolution seems pretty low grade, or could be way Movie Maker Saved the project, the saving options seem somewhat obscure to me, having been user-friendly-fied to point where not clear what is actually going on).
Anyway, above you should see the greenhouse tour.
My, I do sound twee.

Merry Xmas

Journeys outside house in RL in last month to visit hospital/nurse: 6 (bad); Other journeys outside house: 0 (v.v. bad); No. of vists to SL: 4 (sad); No of dresses bought in SL: 2 (good going, considering)

In RL am recovering from appendix operation but taking ages to heal and therefore still pootering about like lame duck. However last time nurse said wound was granulating, which appeared to be positive thing so soon may be hey-ho for non-medical perambulations (hurrah) and then hey ho for return to work (hmm).
Have had a few brief forrays into SL and in last ones purchased 2 Christmas dresses, a set of antlers and a flopsie shoulder rat plus grabbed a freebie Xmas stocking. Here I am in one of the dresses and clutching the stocking (from Schadenfreude, v. good value and when you or anyone touches it it gives v. jolly gifts, and it is colour change too).
So, a slightly belated Xmas to all, and a happy 2009.

Dialup, LTEA2008

Yoshikawa-type blog entries made by others: 1 (good); Hours spent preparing, running and post-processing SL conference track: lots (good? bad? not sure); Hours spent trying to create blog entries: 1 (bad)

Am still in land of kangaroos and eucalypts, with access to internet but not SL. This is Good Thing in that catching up on writing, but Bad Thing in that currently reliant on Dial Up access which means that could plan and run complete SL discussion session in time now takes to uploads pics of same to blog. Initially felt vague nostalgia when heard kerpling kerpling sound of dial-up connecting but am now wishing for patience of zen buddhist as wait 10 mins for each graphic to load.

Anyway was v. excited and flattered to see blog entry in style of me from SL LTEA2008 delegate Graham at http://tidalblog.blogspot.com/2008/
06/learning-design.html , also blog entry from North who facilitated a session despite fact that was 2am in his time and he had to catch a flight at 6. This is True Friendship. Goldfinch also put pics on Flickr and I am adding to photos in this set.
Wiki pages for SL track of Learning Through Enquiry Alliance conference is here: http://networked-inquiry.pbwiki.com/About+LTEA2008+in+Second+Life. Am still putting up chatlogs etc (i.e. when have access to line that moves at least at turtle speed) so will grow a bit more. Am also mulling over points that emerged from chat and Lessons Learned from organising conference.
Must say that is only when away from office (especially when am paying per hour connected online) that realise fully how much time this all takes up. Still, could not resist buying new outfit and fashion blogging it here http://iheartsl.com/2008/06/30/sea-breeze/ (NB this was when was still carefree spirit with access to broadband at last hotel).

I want

Hours without Linden: 48 (v. bad); Items on shopping list for when access to Linden restored: 8 and counting (v.v.bad)
Due to SL glitch am currently unable to buy more Linden. Keep seeing merry messages on Linden Labs' blog saying "Service restored" but these are lies, since whether try in or out of world still get same gloomy message that transaction has not gone through. Blog acknowledged that "UK Lindens" were having problems but concentration seems to be on sorting out concurrent PayPal problem. Humph.
In meantime am making list of things to buy when SL restored. Top of this are spring flowers from Heart Garden Centre. Have been visiting frequently since was evident that space was being cleared to advertise New Lines and now, hurrah, can splurge on (1) daffodils, (2) snowdrops, (3) tulips, (4) orchids and (5) another flower I forget the name of.
Have not been totally deprived since fortunately today received my weekly L$300 from LL for being a premium customer , so hot footed it to Heart and snapped up 2 snowdrop plants and one daffodil clump.
In RL these would scarcely fill a flowerbed, however as can see in pics, in SL daffodils are apparently 5 feet high, so 3 plants plus a couple of freebie bluebells was just enough (see 2nd pic).
Am also hoping to purchase (6) some implausible pink denim shorts that hope will go with new cream and rose shrug and pink tulle skirt, (7) Egyptian statue of Bast to adorn new Morrocan home; (8) Stone hinge bracelet from Fae Designs.
Of course is possible that should be taking opportunity to quell consumerist urges but that does not seem much fun.