My New Hobby!

I'm hooked! I love it and I spend hours doing it. I have been round the world in fact tonight I think I'll go to Rio - guessed what I do? Yes, I'm into flight simulator more specifically the Microsoft X version. I first bought the game, sorry, programme a couple of years ago and used to dip into it every now and again by flying to a few destinations and seeing if I could land the plane without crashing. Now I have a more technical approach as I've learned about the auto pilot and flight controller and ILS landings - it's amazing stuff and to take off from Heathrow and land successfully at JFK in a 747 is a very fulfilling accomplishment. As the years have passed and the technology has improved the experience is much more realistic. You can purchase or download free of charge all sorts of add ons to make the clouds, terrain, mountains, roads, water - everything incredibly realistic. I love it. Go on give it a try but be warned it's addictive. Check out my first FSX video here on my You Tube channel.

Uploaded a new video - scary!

I now realise how difficult it is to make and upload a self-made video. That was my task for today and it was scary. You have to sit in front of your computer and carry on a conversation with it as naturally as you can without looking like a complete knob - it's really hard. You need oodles of confidence and a really good editing programme to take out all the rubbish and tripe.

Anyway I completed my task and the result can now be seen here. I suppose practise makes perfect. I was originally just going to do voiceovers over graphics - but that involved so much more work and effort, and believe it or not I do have a life away from my computer.

My YouTube channel was number 39 most viewed today, I couldn't believe it - thanks to everyone who is watching it. Please leave comments and please subscribe.

More soon.....

X Factor 2009 Programme 2

I watched last nights X Factor and Xtra Factor, big fan in case you didn't realise. It was another excellent show with the usual mix of misfits and genuinely talented people. I wish there was more concentration on the good talent rather than the deluded people some of whom, judging by their body language and verbal skills, have got some form of learning difficulties to a greater or lesser extent. Should those people be exploited the way they are to millions of people to laugh at and to be ridiculed in front of thousands of people and the judging panel? I'm not so sure. I always find it uncomfortable viewing.

The highlights of this weeks show was Rozelle Phillip who came all the way from Trinidad and Tobago just to take part, Miss Fitz girl band formed by 2006 participant who failed to get to the finals - Jemma, Daryl Markham a 40 year old cabinet maker from East Sussex, (with a really sad story to tug at those heart strings) and finally Jamie 'Afro' Archer a musician from London who has failed so far to break into the music business big time.

I Love tv!

I love TV! There I said it. I’m not one of those people who feel embarrassed because they like watching television, “…of course we only have a television for the children” or “..well there was a space in the corner of the room so…” or “its for the sport” or bla..bla.., why do some people have a hard time admitting to the truth that most of us love watching tv, it’s entertainment for goodness sake. Let’s celebrate the wonder of the technology that is Television.

A tv programme really stands out when the unexpected happens, that Susan Boyle moment when the hairs on the back of your neck stand out and you feel a shiver going through your body – those are the moments to relish and it has to be said that they do tend to happen on reality tv shows or talent contests. That is what I want to celebrate in my blog and on my You Tube channel etvable.

Why did Susan Boyle receive so many hits on YouTube, why did the public react the way they did? It’s something to do with how we emotionally react to her and particularly to the very skilfully edited footage of her original audition in Scotland. We saw a middle aged frumpy slightly eccentric lady who had “never been kissed” and we, along with the judging panel thought …here we go again another loser who can’t put two notes together, but that notion was very quickly turned on its head as soon as she started singing and the delivery was completely different to our expectation. We were on her side supporting her, feeling sympathy for her and reduced to tears by the end of her performance. You can’t script something like that, it’s really happening in tv land. It’s been carefully edited with the right amount of emotional face shots, the mood music has been added and hey presto we are watching some glossy soap opera.

What happened next is tv history. The success on YouTube, the huge worldwide interest and the enormous pressure that suddenly was directed at Susan to do it again in the semi-finals and the final of the contest. I am not surprised she was starting to crack under the pressure, wouldn’t anyone in that position.

Last Saturday - same channel, different show although same format. The story depicted by the editing is Simon is feeling grumpy, he’s got a headache it’s been a bad day and they haven’t seen much talent. Danni tells Simon to be nice to the contestants, then on walks Danyl Johnson and it’s that Susan Boyle moment all over again. It turns out to be a standing ovation from the judges and the best first audition Simon has ever seen. Pure TV gold – goose bump tv. Don’t you love it!