Egad! Digital Cameras and Video Editing Software!

TECHNOLOGY - We are on a quest to find video editing software that is top notch, doesn't charge an arm and a leg, and is super easy to use (like your illiterate 5 year old kid could use it).

Last year Lilith News bought a new camera, an el cheapo Canon camera which came with a video function. Photography wise we don't have any complaints, but we scarcely use the video function because of three reasons:

#1. Even though we bought an extra large storage disk, the amount of time you can actually record is rather pathetic.

#2. We have difficulties getting the video off the camera and onto a computer properly. It sometimes develops errors while transferring the file from the camera to the computer. Maybe we are doing something wrong. Not sure.

#3. Once we have the video on the computer properly, its an issue to edit it. Since our computer runs Windows 7 (arrrrrggg!!!) it instead has "Windows LIVE Movie Maker" instead of the classic "Windows Movie Maker" (which was a much better program in terms of its range of options, ease of use, etc).

What we wish was that digital cameras and video cameras came with compatible *HIGH QUALITY* video editing software. You know, something which is standardized but really good quality, similar to the classic Windows Movie Maker but with even more options.

A friend of ours has recommended Honestech Video Editor, which unfortunately costs $59.99. There is a free version that we are planning to try using sometime, but there is a watermark on the video. According to CNET its only got 2.5 stars out of 5 and the reviews were mostly disappointment.

Sadly in the field of digital cameras/video cameras there is a lot of competition, both in hardware and the editing software. Every company out there is trying really hard to be "the cool one", but it would be nice if they went a step farther and was also the smart one.

Lets take for example the Samsung SH100, as seen in the video above and the photo shown here. It doesn't look very special.

But what is smart is that it has WiFi connectivity. It allows users to upload their images to the internet (to a location of their choosing, ie. Facebook or Picasa). This effectively means you have UNLIMITED space to store photos and/or videos made using the camera.

Furthermore the camera can be used remotely, like a spy camera, via the internet. That is impressive. And with video recording capabilities of 720p the quality is pretty good.

So that would solve problems #1 and #2 which we listed up above. But what about video editing?

Well as it turns out this camera DOES come with video editing software, a program by the name of Intelli-Studio. According to the video tutorial below Intelli-Studio is pretty easy to use and similar to Windows Movie Maker (which is exactly what we want).

So yeah, that solves problems 1, 2 and 3. The only problem is we're stuck with our Canon camera for now. The Samsung retails for $249.99 CDN.

80 Mobsters Arrested

POLITICS - Italian anti-mafia prosecutors have captured 80 Mafiosi from two prominent crime syndicates, arrested in separate operations in an effort to round up drug smugglers in Italy and Spain.

Anti-Mafia investigator Renato Cortese says 40 were arrested for association with the ‘Ndrangheta crime syndicate in Calabria.

Amongst those arrested are the mayor of the town of Marina di Gioiosca and three of his advisers.

In a separate operation, police arrested another 40 people in Naples from a separate crime syndicate known for trafficking drugs between Italy and Spain. The suspects have ties to the Neapolitan crime syndicate Camorra.

Conservatives win majority government

CANADA - Hell hath frozen over, so says supporters of the NDP and Liberals, but to political pundits the new Conservative majority government of Canada comes as no surprise. Thanks to vote splitting, it was actually predictable.

Its now after 12 midnight so we can legally post results: Conservatives won 167 seats, which means they will form the first majority government since 2004. The NDP won 102 seats, the Liberals 34 seats, the Bloc 4 seats and 1 independent (Green Party leader Elizabeth May finally managed to scratch out a seat).

See The Canadian Political Spectrum.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

The Good

The NDP won over 100 seats for the first time in Canadian history. This signals that Canadians want change and are unhappy with the Conservative/Liberal status quo. The Liberal Party has become too moderate and too centrist in recent years, unwilling to change. This left a large part of the electorate dissatisfied and looking for change.

The Bloc has been reduced to 4 seats and could spell the end of the Separatist movement in federal politics. They lost official party status and will be marginalized. They couldn't even get their leader elected.

The Bad

The Liberals have dropped to their smallest size in Canadian history. Michael Ignatieff didn't even get elected and has resigned in defeat. The party tried to rest on its laurels and prided itself on tradition. Its time for the Liberal Party to consider unification with the NDP or be resigned to the history books for failing to evolve.

The Ugly

The Conservatives won a majority government. This means that their policies will finally be given room to breathe. Policies which have hitherto caused social uproar, everything from wanting to ban gay marriages and make abortions illegal. Harper has repeatedly said they will not reopen the gay marriage and abortion debate, but politicians aren't exactly known for keeping their word.

OSAMA BIN LADEN IS DEAD

POLITICS - Osama Bin Laden was killed last night by a helicopter raid in the town of Abbottabad, Pakistan. The raid on Osama Bin Laden's fortress in western Pakistan was a daring attack vs a small army of bodyguards. President Barack Obama made the announcement last night.

Note: The lead up to and the final assault is sure to become a feature film.

Osama Bin Laden, the leader of Al Qaeda, was shot in the head while fighting back against the helicopter assault force. One of Osama Bin Laden's sons died with him.

Osama Bin Laden was living in a house in the town of Abbottabad that was “custom built to hide someone of significance” according to US intelligence officials.

Abbottabad is approx. 100 kilometres from the Pakistani capital Islamabad, far from the remote mountain caves along the Pakistan-Afghanistan tribal border where it was believed he was hiding.

Instead Osama Bin Laden was living in a million dollar mansion just a stone's throw from the Kakul Military Academy, an army run institution where top military officers train.

Osama Bin Laden has been in hiding ever since September 11th 2001, accused of plotting the terrorism attacks of that terrible day.

The 5-year-old compound Osama Bin Laden was hiding in was guarded by 12 to 18 feet high walls, barbed wire, burned its own trash so people wouldn't snoop through garbage, had no phone or internet connections to the outside, internal walls and two separate security gates. It was practically a prison already.

The building was 8 times larger than other homes in the area and stuck out like a sore thumb. Its amazing people didn't question who actually lived there, and with the military academy so close it seems odd. It was really a matter of time before someone in US intelligence noticed the strange building during visits to the nearby academy.

As it turns out it was a Pakistani informant who told the USA where to find Osama Bin Laden. The informant told the CIA about a courier who worked for both Khaled Sheikh Mohammed and Abu Faraj al-Libi, both high ranking Al Qaeda members. The CIA then tracked the courier to the compound, which kick started an investigation into who might be living there.

The helicopter raid started being planned weeks ago...

On March 14th President Obama held the first of a series of 5 high security meetings to plan the operation. The last meeting was Friday at 8:20 a.m.

Following the meeting Obama traveled to Alabama to witness the damage from the recent tornadoes.

Many critics and conspiracy theorists have long believed that Pakistan might be hiding Osama Bin Laden within their border. The proximity to their highest ranking military academy suggests possible collusion with the Pakistani military.

The team of helicopter pilots and the assault crew are already being hailed as heroes. No Americans died during the assault.

Osama Bin Laden's body was recovered during the assault and American forces are now debating what to do with it. Like JFK and Che Guevara it will likely have to be shown publicly before people will believe he is dead.