Recording ADR

Powering up the mixer to record some automatic-dialog-replacement for "Oregon Trail: Zombie Edition" (though in truth it's a little more manual than automatic). Here is a taste of the voice-over:

Oregon Trail Zombie Edition - Voice Over Preview by David August

Pumpkin Says Hi

My jackolantern says hello, and wishes you a happy halloween!

Photo Bomb

This plane is photo bombing me (click to enlarge).

Yellow Flower with Red Center

(click to enlarge)

Get Found: Lecture at USC Business School

I'm guest lecturing at USC's business school tomorrow. Here's a sneak peak at 2 slides from my lecture "Improve the World → Make Things Findable" (they make more sense in the context of my whole presentation).

Sites I Cite:
http://davaug.com/befast
http://davaug.com/uptimematters
http://davaug.com/deadpagerank
http://davaug.com/write4search
http://davaug.com/filterbub

Some Thoughts on Focusing on the Positive

When big blue, the chess playing computer, plays chess, it does not try to win. It tries to not lose. It makes the least negative move. This tracks closely what some primate tendencies are: through evolution we, like many living things, withdraw from negative, and notice danger, risk, or the unknown so much because billions of humans over millions of years have managed to survive by doing such threat assessment. This is much as a chess playing computer can out survive by focusing on the disadvantageous; it can out survive its opponent in the game. However, while this may very well serve the need to survive if a rook is bearing down on your king, a saber-toothed tiger is bearing down on your family or a truck runs a red light and is bearing down on you since you were about to step into the crosswalk, it is not the most vital, nor most human.

One of the things I'd like to think separates us from animals and machines is our ability to do more than merely survive, more than simply last a little longer. While I'm all for living a good long time, I also think joy, love, beauty, connection, affection, dreams and sometimes self-sacrifice for others' sake (ex: soldiers) are among the reasons survival has value beyond simply indulging a base instinct to do so. Our ability to focus on the good, the positive, is a big part of why stepping back away from the truck running the red light is worthwhile. Also, focusing on the positive is a lot more fun. As I tweeted last night: you can see your life as nothing but opportunities, or as nothing but obstacles, and whichever you choose, you'll be right.

It Arrived

And now I can shoot from my eye level :-) looking forward to unboxing my new tripod later.

I was a Boy Scout (and Cub Scout)

(click to enlarge). Perhaps I will go camping again at some point.

Vlog Day for Night Test

My 4th vlog testing how to shoot day for night; shooting during the day, but making it look like night. Not yet sure I have the perfect mix of filters, but there's real potential.

Vlog at Nightmare on Elm Street House

My 3rd vlog shot at the house used in the original "Nightmare on Elm Street" movie. Short vlog because it's someone's home now.

Vlog at Lone Ranger Rock

My second vlog shot at Lone Ranger Rock, where the intro of the Lone Ranger TV show was shot.

Movie Ranch Area Panorama

I took this 360 degree picture in the midst of where thousands of western movies and tv shows shot (click to expand). It is still beautiful and still makes for a great setting.

Owl Rock

Rock, fence and sky in Los Angeles, CA.

Vlog at Ruins in the Mountains

My first vlog shot at some ruins in the mountains that may be a location for The Temptress' Chest: Isle of the Amazons. I've blogged stills of this location before and today blogged another picture.

Ruins 2 (location scout)

Another picture with dramatic clouds of these ruins in the mountains (click to expand). I shot a vlog there today, and I've blogged more pictures at these ruins earlier.

Half Moon Over Street

Half moon is center, with the street light fighting for brightness (click to expand).

The Walking Dead Q&A

The cast of 'The Walking Dead' in a question and answer panel after the screening of the first episode of the second season (click to expand). It's a really good episode.

Orange Flower and Green Leaves

(click to enlarge)