The Other Hawaii

Before I begin, let me say that I am not comfortable discussing matters of government or any sort of radical movements or whatever. I am not comfortable discussing these things because it is too easy to rile up someone or get some kind of reaction that ends up angering people. So I have therefore avoided doing mentions of the past. But after watching a two-part YouTube video, I will try to do a rare blog post regarding political or social matters. This is not a personal commentary piece. It is instead a digest based on what I've read online and in a two-part YouTube video series. These have helped me to better understand Hawaii and its history. I am not going to make any serious opinions in this blog post. PLEASE correct me on anything I've messed up on (because I WILL mess something up here), and do so in a respectful manner, please.

This blog post was made somewhat per the request of someone who sent me some YouTube videos showing a deeper side of Hawaii apart from the tourism and happy times. These two videos were purely powerful. If you are someone who feels that I am not giving enough quality material regarding Hawaii, I'm sorry. I don't post anything truthfully unless I truly know something (or come very close). Most of my material comes from YouTube and Wikipedia.

Before you read further into this, here are two 11-minute videos describing what this deal in general. "The Other Hawaii" was shown in two parts. These videos were posted on YouTube on September 26, 2008. Both are rather long (both 11 minutes long), so if you don't want to see these videos, you don't have to. They are just there to give you insight as to what this blog post is about.

Part 1 of "The Other Hawaii" can be seen here (11:47.000 long):


Part 2 of "The Other Hawaii" can be seen here (11:00.000 long):


Now let me post on this deal.

--- The Issues at Hand ---

Let me try to discuss this as best as I can. Before Hawaii became the 50th state of the United States, it was known as the Kingdom of Hawaii. Two videos from Al Jazeera English's YouTube channel have gotten me to understand a side of Hawaii that is much different from the tropical paradise and tourism giant Hawaii can be. A deeper look at Hawaii, however, notes what all Hawaii has endured in its long history. Issues such as poverty, homelessness, and various health care problems. A once proud kingdom was taken over by the United States starting in 1893. Even before then, there was the so-called "Bayonet Constitution" which was the document turning over Hawaii of its monarchy government in favor of control under American, European and native Hawaiians. The Bayonet aspect was called such because the Hawaiian King (King Kal?kaua) was forced to sign it with armed militia to avoid being deposed.

The key issue here is on (from the two videos you might have seen earlier in this post) Hawaiian self-determination. These are about people who want to maintain their indigenous character rather and not have their native culture and customs purely taken away. It's about many Hawaiians feeling like most of their land and customs have been taken away without consent or consolidation.

--- Hawaii: State or Country? ---

Considering that Hawaii used to be the Kingdom of Hawaii, I became curious as to if Hawaii is truly a state or a country. Some native Hawaiians feel that their native way of life and culture have been taken apart since the United States took control of Hawaii in 1893. Hawaii has its own state song, called Hawai'i Pono'i ("Hawaii's Own"). It used to be the national anthem for Hawaii back during the Kingdom of Hawaii days.

If you want to hear "Hawaii's Own," here is one version I found on YouTube:


From the 2010 Miss South Pacific Pageant in Papua New Guinea, there was a representative for Hawaii. The beautiful Pomaikai Klein (or Pomaika'i Klein) was Miss Hawaii/Hawai'i in this competition. Not "Miss American Hawaii," but Miss Hawaii.

The Quest for Hawaiian Self-Determination.

The year 1993 (Bill Clinton was U.S. President) marked 100 years since America's overthrow of Hawaii. The many acres of land (1.8 million acres) wanted by Hawaiians. What generated controversy in all of this is that the United States admittedly seized Hawaiian land without consent or compensation. Some Hawaiians feel their native culture and way of life have been taken away. When you have Hawaiians saying "I am not an American" as was said in 1993, you know something is up among some Hawaiians. A number of Hawaiians are either for becoming its own sovereign state of indigenous people, and others are not in favor of Hawaiian sovereignty. Those who seek Hawaiian independence or sovereignty feel that through the United States, some Hawaiians aren't getting much in terms of money, land, compensation, or anything like that.

A lot of Hawaiian people feel new energy in reclaiming their culture and way of life and trying to retain their identity and indigenous ways. Some Hawaiians really dislike the United States today even since the invasion of Hawaii long ago. A group called Sudden Rush expressed Hawaiian sovereignty. They are a powerful music group delivering messages of sovereignty through adult contemporary music.

--- What If: Hawaii Reinstatement of the Kingdom of Hawaii? ---

I honestly don't know what it would be like for Hawaii to return as a Kingdom. I do wonder what it would be like if the compensation and such was granted to Hawaii. Could it mean that you have to have a visa or a passport or something to visit Hawaii? How could Hawaii sustain itself as a reinstated kingdom? I honestly don't know what to think about this.

Some believe that if Hawaii returned to kingdom status, the possible heir to the throne could be musician Owana Salazar (featured in my "Music of the South Pacific" blog post), who is related to the royal family of Hawaii. So she would be Queen of the Kingdom of Hawaii if Hawaii returned to being the Kingdom of Hawaii.





All you have read and seen here is a different Hawaii. What many of us consider a travel destination has its own dark history. Apart from being a travel destination lies a deeper and more hate-filled part of Hawaii among most who dislike the rule of Hawaii. As I read in a graphic, some Hawaiians feel they are "Hawaiian by blood, but American by force." Again- I am providing all of this for exposure and education. I am a native of Texas. I cannot, therefore, say that I have heartfelt feelings about Hawaiians seeking sovereignty. A lot of Hawaiians are somewhat divided on this. Some want independence and their culture back, and some others just don't know what to think about this whole thing even years since the overthrow of Hawaii back in the 19th Century.

As I said earlier, I don't know enough about this issue or want to discuss any further into this to where I start a firestorm. What I've been able to learn from all of this is that there are some Hawaiians who feel like Hawaii was taken over and taken away by other nations. What has sparked any recent wanting for Hawaii to seek self-determination and soverignity is beyond me. Topics relating to government are too strong for me. That's why I avoid them, because it's too easy to say the wrong thing and get people in an uproar. The last thing I want to do is offend any of my readers or visitors by posting something inaccurate or anything to incite a firestorm. I don't want to lose my fan base. All I have done here was express certain issues in a digest manner. I have not expressed any opinions because I just don't know what to think.



So where do you stand on Hawaii wanting sovereignty? Should Hawaii have country-within-a-country status? What do you make of this? Here are a few websites to tell this story from multiple sides. Each of these links are provided on an educational basis:

* Hawai'i Independent and Sovereign
* Legal Foundation for Hawaiian Independence (various legal archives)
* Statehood: A Second Glance
* Hawaiian Kingdom Independence Blog
* Hawaiianindependence.com
* Hawaiian Independence Action Alliance
* Hawaiian Sovereignity on about.com
* Free Hawai'i (a Blogspot blog)
* Hawaiian Sovereignity: Which Path Should Be Taken? (an essay)
* a timeline of Hawaiian Independence on Google



Special consideration for this blog post goes out to a friend of mine online from Hawaii named Ann (whom I've mentioned in my "Music of the South Pacific" blog post. I told her that I don't do topics regarding government or deep social matters, but I did attempt to discuss this in a professional and non-threatening or non-biased way because the two videos from earlier in this post were so powerful. She suggested that I blog about this just to expose the whole issue of Hawaiian sovereignty and independence. And so, I really thank my friend Ann for influencing me to post this.





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Music of the South Pacific

Pacific Islanders have their own distinctive music tastes and styles as with any other culture. Continuing my blog label of Pacific and Oceania-themed blog posts is this blog post regarding music of the South Pacific. I will try to showcase a variety of music from various nations in the South Pacific. While I do mention Oceania, I won't really make mention to Australia and New Zealand. Instead, I will mostly feature various other South Pacific nations and South Pacific island nations.

WARNING: This blog post has many YouTube videos, which may slow down your browsing performance. Please let me know if you are unable to view everything. This way, I will replace some of the videos with links to videos so you can view them freely.

NOTE: All videos are provided for educational purposes.

--- Hawaiian Music ---

Aloha! This section features Hawaiian music. This is your chance to get to enjoy some lovely Hawaiian music from various artists. I will only showcase a few different names and then move on. Click on the names in the headings to visit their official home pages or fan sites (if available).

Allison.

Allison Chu exudes a level of positive energy that is incredible. The singing star sings a variety of songs ranging from traditional Hawaiian songs to a variety of operatic pieces. Allison is very fun and very lovely.

Listen to her sing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" below (you may need to turn down the volume):


Or, you can hear her perform a more traditional Hawaiian melody here, called "Akaka Falls":


I am a great fan of Allison. Been that way since hearing Allison's Myspace music page and seeing her YouTube videos.

Owana Salazar.

The queen of Hawaiian slack-key guitar jazz is one Owana Ka?ohelelani Mahaelani-rose Salazar (or just Owana Salazar). Her voice is wonderful, as is her guitar play. Listen to her sing from the heart and sweetly as a mellow guitar melody fills the air. Hear this beautiful woman in action:

Brittni Paiva.

Brittni's YouTube channel (alternate site)
Brittni Paiva is a native of Hilo, Hawaii. The young musician knows how to make incredible music with a ukulele. Have a listen to her lovely music. by visiting her Myspace page or her YouTube channel.

Kalei Gamiao.

Kalei's YouTube channel (alternate site)

This young Hawaiian has a real experimental flow to his music. As a result, you will hear sounds and see techniques inconceivable in playing a ukulele. You will be blown away by his music.

Pauline Wilson.

The Hawaii-born Grammy winner Pauline Wilson is a great jazz singer. She was born in Hilo, Hawaii. I've first heard of her as she provided voices for the vocal version of "Like the Wind" as part of the Gran Turismo 1 soundtrack. I personally like the instrumental version since the instrumental version has better flow than the vocal version. Still, both are lovely.

Here are two songs from the Hawaiian songstress for you to check out:


^ "Like the Wind" (Vocal Version)


^ "Follow Your Road"

--- Guam and Northern Mariana Islands Singers ---

This section is a combination of both Guam singers and Northern Mariana Islands singers.

"Hafa adai and tirow" ("hello and welcome!" in Chamorro) to all of my readers/subscribers from both Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).

K.C. DeLeon Guerrero.

I know nothing of K.C. DeLeon Guerreo except that the fellow from Guam is representing the Chamorro folks with pride. Check out the amazing singing here in this song, "Chamorrita Girl."

Chrishia.

Chrishia Leon Guerrero is a young singer who jams on her ukulele and sings beautifully. Chrishia was only 14 years old when she did "So Over You." Chrishia is very cute. The Chamorrita cutie boasts a wide smile and lovely hair. Her older sister, Christal, is a model. Both are sisters from Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. Both sisters boast lovely hairstyles and wide smiles. And... both are amazingly hot!

Amber Mendiola.

This is Amber Mendiola, who was 14 years old creating this lovely song. I would probably go as far as to say that this Chamorrita cutie has the same musical dedication among Mariana Island singers as Taylor Swift in American music.

Ashley Hernandez.

This young lady from Guam has beautiful singing and looks. The video is a good indication of her musical talents as well as her looks. Feel free to check out the video above.

Tanya "Teeh" Manibusan.

Teeh's Facebook Fan Page (alternate site)
Tanya (or Teeh) may look like a boy, but Tanya is very much a girl. The young singer is not afraid to express herself through the medium of music. That is especially considering her making songs with names like "Let Me Be" and (pardon my language) "Fuck the Bitch." The boyish Teeh from Talofofo, Guam is very much a talented singer who makes songs based on personal experiences. Tanya says that she doesn't really like guys. I think many people can respect that she still has great musical talent and doesn't have to be some super-sexy diva (like Miley Cyrus, for example) to push her music and gain fans. You can check out "I Want You" by checking out this video below:

Pete "Badu" Magofna.

Who says Chamorros can't rap? Pete Diaz Magofna exhibits his skill in throwing down mad rhymes in "Daggao Hulo." Embedding the video was disabled, so click on the the link at the end of this sentence to see the video to "Daggao Hulo".


Marianas Multimedia Inc., and at MMV's YouTube channel has played a big role in allowing me to showcase these videos to all of you.





There's more music to showcase and mention! I'm far from done here! Make sure you are reading the full blog entry if you've enjoyed what you read so far (or disregard this line if you are reading the full blog entry)! The jump break is provided for performance purposes.

--- Papua New Guinea Music ---

I know very little about Papua New Guinea. Here is a sample of Papua New Guinea music below. The song is called "Nipa Pere" from Elizabeth Tandoa. Elizabeth Tandoa is from Southern Highlands Province in Papua New Guinea. This song is a very nice dance music song sung in the native language of the Papua New Guinea province of Kagua:



This was one of the better ones I could find. So I apologize for not finding anything better. I hope you enjoy this!

--- Cook Islands Music ---

"Kia orana" ("hello" in Cook Islands speak) to all of my Cook Islands readers/subscribers! Here's a focus on Cook Islands music. Here is a beautiful song I heard on YouTube called "Tiare Maori" below:




Here is a video from 2009 highlighting on Cook Islands music in New Zealand:

^ courtesy of tagatapasifika1's YouTube channel

Judging on this video, I do become a bit concerned that there aren't as many Cook Islands music talent getting themselves noticed. I guess their concern is in trying to grow and evolve Cook Islands music. Some Cook Islands singers include Melissa Gosselin (any relation to Engara Gosselin?), Kathy Brown-Pitomaki, Tara Kauvai, and Brother Love among others.

Engara Gosselin.

Last, but not least, Miss Cook Islands 2009 winner Engara Gosselin. She was one of the first I came across singing lovely music. Engara Gosselin came across with an album called "My Rarotonga" in 2006. Two of her songs are in these two videos below (featured also in my "South Pacific Beauties" blog post). She is one of my personal favorite ladies from the Cook Islands along with Joyana Meyer (who recently won the 2010 Miss South Pacific Pageant). The first video is "My Rarotonga," and the second video is "Avarua Enua":





I am proud that I get some traffic from the Cook Islands. So I salute all of you Cook Islanders out there!

--- Samoan and American Samoan Music ---

"Talofa!" ("Hello!" in Samoan) to all of my Samoan and American Samoan readers! I know very little about Samoa and American Samoa, but I want to showcase a little bit of Samoan music. The video below features a song called "Nai Nei Mea Fou" by Moefaauo Lotomau Sugar Komiti. Check it out. Come get your Samoan love!



Unfortunately (according to comments to this video on YouTube), Moefaauo Lotomau Sugar Komiti is no longer with us. So I hope you were able to enjoy this video while paying tribute to this fellow.

--- Marshall Islands Music ---

"Yokwe!" ("Hello!" in Marshallese) to all of my Marshall Islands readers! I want to give some mention to Marshallese music. Marshallese is spoken by people of the Marshall Islands and Nauru. This song below is from a group called 7-Degree North (or 7° North) apparently called "Toun wot an al romak naij yokwe yuk." Have a listen:



Here is another Marshallese music video. This is a good one, trust me:

--- Kiribati Music ---

"Mauri" ("Hello!" in Gilbertese/Kiribatese) to all of my Kiribati folk! For those of you who don't know where Kiribati is, it is an island nation to the left of the International Date Line and along the Equator. Its capital is Tarawa. Here is a sample of Kiribati music:



I like this song as it has kind of a reggae flow to it. It is a great-sounding song that will greatly touch you.

--- Honorable Mention! ---

I want to pay special tribute to certain people and services whom have helped me to come up with these names.

* A friend of mine online named Ann from Hawaii has somewhat introduced me to certain Hawaiian music talent on Myspace. She promotes "Stars of Tomorrow" Channel 52, 'Olelo Community Media in Hawaii. After being friends with her on Myspace, I checked out some of the Myspace Music talent to get to hear some of Hawaii's music stars. So I want to pay special tribute to Ann for showcasing me to these stars. And if you are reading this, I say hello to you from here in Houston! Thanks for reading and thanks for being a wonderful friend!

* Marianas Music Videos was responsible for exposing me to music talent in Guam and in the Northern Mariana Islands. They haven't uploaded much of anything for a few years, nor has their blog been updated anytime recently, but their music is still a great deal.

* Even though Anieszka is of Mauritian descent (which is an Indian Ocean island nation, not a Pacific Island nation), she was born in Papua New Guinea and lives in Australia. So this is another bit of Honorable Mention. Hello to the beautiful young Aniezska if she happens to read this!

Some Sad News...

Krash Kealoha (Victor Opiopio), father of modern Hawaiian radio, died on November 25, 2010 from a tumor he was dealing with. To learn more about his passing and what he has brought to Hawaiian radio, read this article on Krash Kealoha. My thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family and all whom have known and loved him.

--- My Message if Any Artists/Groups/People Were Mentioned in This Blog Post... ---

If I made mention of you in this blog post, PLEASE feel free to say hello to me here in my blog! I wanted to provide this blog post to provide more material to my international audience. I appreciate your musical talent since this blog post regards music. If I didn't mention you, I probably have never heard of you or don't know anything about your music to make any solid commentary.

And please- if you enjoy ANY of my blog posts and want to show continued support, just subscribe to my blog! You can even friend me on Facebook and even join my Facebook fan page if you love my work. Don't just show up here and leave- let me know if you love my work! The best way to do so is to either subscribe or contact me on Facebook (or even contact me directly). Just let me know that you love and appreciate my work!






Here are some more sites you can visit if you are fond of the music you've heard or seen me make mention to:

* HawaiianRadio.com (listen to streaming Hawaiian music online)

* "Stars of Tomorrow" on 'Olelo Community Media, Channel 52 in Kailua, Hawaii, USA

* Tara Kauvai (Cook Islands singer)...
...Tara Kauvai official
...Tara Kauvai Productions
...Tara Kauvai Facebook Fan Page

* Marianas Music Videos official and MMV YouTube Channel

* more information about Elizabeth Tandoa

* Stel Star Productions (Chamorro music)

* Tanya "Teeh" Manibusan on Myspace
* Tanya "Teeh" Manibusan on Facebook (Fan Page)

* Anieszka...
...Anieszka official
...Anieszka on Myspace
...Anieszka on Facebook (fan page)


More links may be included in the future.





If you are from the South Pacific and want to share your music sites or videos with me, contact me, and I'll be sure to include you too if I like your material!

Thank you for reading!

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Be Thankful ALL THE TIME!

It doesn't have to be Thanksgiving to be thankful for what you have. We develop a sense in which we let holidays on the calendar let us know that we have to do certain things, or think of certain things in observance of a certain holiday. Think of holidays like Valentine's Day. Why do you need one day out of the entire year to do something nice for your lover/spouse? Be thankful for what you have ALL THE TIME (TODO LA VIDA). Think of people who are not as fortunate to have many things we take for granted- friends, family, food, water, shelter, and of course... our own well-being. Some people, however, need certain days to realize and recognize what all we are thankful for. Or for some people, be reminded of what a certain holiday is about (which is acceptable).

If you are reading this blog post and if you observe Thanksgiving, I want to wish you a happy and safe Thankgiving to you and your family. Same goes for those of you shopping on Black Friday after you're doing getting a bit heavy from Thankgiving grub. :) Please take care and have a fantastic day, lovely people (yes... YOU are lovely!)!





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Gran Turismo 5 Has Arrived!

See? This game would be released despite the delays. GT5 wouldn't become the Duke Nukem Forever of racing games. You lived through it all. You had your own preoccupations regarding Gran Turismo 5. You've read through all the different previews and news bits regarding Gran Turismo 5. You probably even feared that with all the delays, that this game would never come. Well, IT'S HERE! You can stop playing "Gran Turismo 5: Prologue" or practicing "Gran Turismo 5" on kiosks at stores because GT5 has released proper worldwide! I am posting just to get you people excited. So get excited, Gran Turismo fans!

^ from: playstationchat.co.uk (and taken from my "Car Style" blog post about the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG)

No more waiting... it's here! Get it NOW if you're a GT fan and have a PlayStation 3!

Brief Thoughts on GT5's Arrival.

I can say that I'm very excited to finally have my own chance to anticipate playing Gran Turismo 5. For a guy who is still very behind with PlayStation 3 games (remember that I don't have a PS3), GT5 is SURELY a game I want to play the heck out of. Why so? Because I'm a Gran Turismo fan. I've done all these speculation videos on all kinds of aspects of GT5. I've posted blog entries speculating on Gran Turismo 5. Speculation no more- the game will be released proper to stores elsewhere around the world as of the date of this blog post.

You Got to BELIEVE!

Some people have just stopped believing like waiting on Gran Turismo 5 is inexcusable or that we can't live without GT5. With all due respect, Gran Turismo 5 is just a game. And yes, it took over five or six years to make Gran Turismo 5. I am not going to complain about the long wait unless Gran Turismo 5 is completely lame (which I sincerely doubt it will be). We all still come back and enjoy the game though, right? Something like Gran Turismo games make us forget all about delays and long development of making the game... and just play the game like it was meant to be played!

Doubtful of GT5 Being Great?

We also have our own doubts about certain features of the game. I don't think things will be anything seriously disappointing unless you just have sky-high expectations. Issues of Standard vs. Premium will be a key issue as well as that of the Course Maker. Every game will have shortcomings. Question is, will Gran Turismo 5's shortcomings (and there are shortcomings) be enough to draw away most fans or lead to frustration among most fans? Will people basically think that five or six years of development went for nothing (or not enough)? These, and other questions, will be answered when we all have a chance to review Gran Turismo 5 for ourselves.

If You Have Read and Responded to my GT5 Material...

Thank you! You helped me in the speculative process. We can only speculate about what GT5 MAY have to offer. However, we REALLY know when GT5 shows up in stores ready to be bought and played. DO NOT trust the big media reviewers. Look to them for insight on the game, but the best reviewer isn't some company or some show- it's YOU. YOU are the best reviewer of all games. Pay no mind to what the mainstream wants to tell you about each game; trust your own ideas and judgments on games. Make your own judgments rather than trust a company or show to tell you what THEY think about a game YOU are/will be playing.

Gran Turismo 5 American Commercial.

Here's the TV spot for Gran Turismo 5 if you haven't seen it already:

^ courtesy of: PlayStation on YouTube



Gran Turismo 5 is here, players! Get Gran Turismo 5 on Amazon right now (¡ahora mismo!)! Only one question: Standard or Collector?

...or... ?

(first image: Standard Edition; second image: Collector Edition)

--- In Case You Didn't Know... ---

I launched a new Blogspot blog last Wednesday called "John's Gran Turismo Space." This blog of mine is my Blogspot contribution to the Gran Turismo series and Tourist Trophy. It features everything from resources, insight, comments, and more regarding Gran Turismo and/or Tourist Trophy. I want all of my Gran Turismo fans to check this new blog of mine and even subscribe. I make this for all of you to enjoy. So if you want to visit and subscribe to my new blog, click on the link below:

Visit John's Gran Turismo Space now!

--- If Anyone from GTPlanet is Reading This Blog Post... ---

I want to say hello to you! I'm the fellow known as "JohnBM01" on GTPlanet. I hope you enjoy my personal blog here as well as my GT-exclusive blog. I hope you enjoy my material as much as I enjoy posting it online for all of you.





So get excited, GT fans... GRAN TURISMO 5 HAS ARRIVED! Now if only I had a PlayStation 3... :(

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Just Bring on 2011...

...because this sports year has been depressing for me as a sports fan. All or most of my favorite sports teams have failed (sometimes badly) this season. This was further brought about as my Rockets just lost to the Suns 123-116. Here's a rap sheet for you showing my frustration as a sports fan this season:

* 2010 Texans
great disappointment. I love them, but they've failed in clutch times and overall. I hate the notion of people saying we find creative ways to lose games. Save talk like "creative ways to lose games" for times like when Sage Rosenfels basically gave away a 17-point lead on the Colts at home. THAT is creative losing. The loss to Jacksonville on that Hail Mary was a prayer from Heaven answered by the Jags as we failed in heartbreaking fashion. Yet still, it won't stop networks like ESPN showcasing the Texans to show them while they are down and prostituting their "Always Hate Houston" policy. I am still a Texans fan even if we're croaking winning opportunities.

* 2010-2011 Rockets (so far)
What the hell can I say? I'm a Rockets fan, but this team is much better than their current 3-10 record after letting Phoenix dominate them just tonight. The Rockets need to get their heads in the game and play much better than how they are playing. It has been since 2008 or so since last making the playoffs. It's been since 1995 since we've been champions. Some fans are already calling Clutch City as "Choke City." I'm still a Rockets fan despite our depressing start to the 2010-2011 season. In preparing this blog, one woman just called into the call-in show after the Rockets' loss that we're finding "creative ways to lose." I'm like... damn it, SHUT THE HELL UP WITH THAT! There are teams in other sports much worse than us that do much better in finding ways to lose. Stop making it sound like we're the only team or the only sports city that finds ways to fail.

* 2010 Houston Astros
The Astros made a huge turnaround to go from doormat to NL Pennant Winners in 2005. Since? Out of the playoffs five successive seasons with pathetic play all around. Roy Oswalt reluctantly wanted a trade to play for a contender despite his solid work for the Astros. Then... whoever would have heard "former Astro Lance Berkman?" Isn't that a shame to hear? This team is in disarray and has been for some time. I almost wish I could clone the 1998 Houston Astros so that we stand a better chance of winning than falling on our faces constantly. Michael Bourn, however, is still one of the most solid players, and he had a heck of a year. Still, this team needs to do more winning than failing. I'm still n Astros fan despite my hometown baseball team's inability to consistently be a contender.

* 2010 Houston Dynamo
We've stumbled a great deal this season and never shown the championship form we've enjoyed since the Dynamo arrived in Houston. I don't usually watch football (as in "soccer"), but I am huge on the Dynamo in the MLS. You can't win them all. You can't be a heavyweight champ all the time because someone will always knock you on your bottom. I certainly love the Dynamo despite our losses.

* 2010 Houston Cougars- Football
I'm a Cougars fan, and while this season hasn't been completely disappointing, it's still sad Case Keenum was done for the year along with the other guy we lost at the UCLA game. I'm still a UH fan regardless; just sad this season could have been much better.

* USA Soccer
Ousted by Ghana when many predicted the United States could go very far, I was sad the US basically seemed to give up in their World Cup match against Ghana. I saw a US team basically concede defeat by not making timely defensive moves to try to give themselves a realistic chance. Football/Soccer isn't our sport, but I am still a great fan of USA football/soccer.

* Pearland Little League
I do cheer on the Pearland Little League team that played in the Little League World Series. They just get hammered by two different teams, basically being outscored 24-2 respectively to Hawaii (a 10-0 defeat) and Chinese Taipei (a 14-2 defeat). I still have respect for these little guys on a job well done.

* Jeff Gordon
Jeff Gordon is used to winning. It's sad when a four-time NASCAR champ has a 50+ winless streak. I absolutely hated how this season has gone for him this season. Just never finding that winning magic. He hasn't won a race since Texas in 2009 or 2008. If that's not bad enough, his pit crew was traded to the #48 team. There were also those times late in the season when Jeff Gordon just had his rough 2010 season end in frustration. I love Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon, but I'm sad Jeff Gordon hasn't been in his past form. Today's NASCAR is basically Jimmie Johnson... and 42 other drivers. I still love Jeff Gordon.

* Danica Patrick
Let it be known that I love one Danica Sue Patrick and love watching her race. This past season, unfortunately, hasn't been very good in the IndyCar Series. She had an AMAZING run in ARCA at Daytona, finishing 6th or so. My heart went out to Danica in her Nationwide runs, even when Danica was on pace for a great finish until being tagged by James Buescher at one race. Danica had a great season last season, though the second half was a bit rough as she had a tough time getting out of 5th in the points. If there was a favorite race from 2010 with Danica, hands down- her performance at Texas. She was rock solid and raced harder than I've ever seen her race. I think Danica is finding her way in racing in NASCAR Nationwide. She will be a consistent contender in NASCAR in due time. I still love seeing Danica race.



The one prevalent issue in all of this? I'm still a fan of many of these various teams. I am not going be a Lakers fan or a Spurs (especially not the Spurs) just because they're doing better than my Rockets. I'm not going to praise the Colts or Titans just because my Texans are disappointing as crap. Some people just become fans of other teams in bandwagon fashion just to be fond of winning teams. I think some people stop becoming fans of their favorite (yet struggling) teams strategically to say that their real favorite team is so bad, that they'd rather follow other teams than see their true favorite teams stink up games. Like every team has to dominate EVERY season. Sports do not work that way. Teams will stink. Athletes will stink. May not happen often, but not every sports team dominates, and it's not the end of the world if one team just isn't doing that well. I'm just sad that most of my favorites have done so poorly this year.

Two feel-good stories for this year for me- USA basketball in the FIBA World Championship in Turkey and Texas Southern Tigers' football clinching the SWAC West conference crown. Also, I'm proud for the NL to win both the All-Star Game and the World Series. I have NL solidarity because of my Astros and the handful of great NL teams. I'm also proud for UH men's basketball because the Cougars returned to March Madness for the first time since 1992. I just wished they played better in their game against Maryland in the NCAA tournament. Other than this, just bring on 2011 because most of this year has been depressing to me as a sports fan. Perhaps releasing my frustration as a sports fan will be motivation for my favorites to play better for the rest of this year/season or for next year/season.

So... bring on 2011 because 2010 has been most depressing for me as a sports fan. :(

Top Gear America

America's Top Gear debuted on The History Channel at 10:00 PM Eastern Time. This is America's version of the world-renowned Top Gear. Even the Top Gear theme (a song called "Jessica") played to open the show. Top Gear America features a unique three-man crew. The crew of Adam Ferrara, Rutledge Wood, and (one of my personal favorite driving personalities) Tanner Foust. Many purists of the Top Gear series think Top Gear America is going to be so not as spectacular as the world-renowned Top Gear of BBC and of the United Kingdom. Even Fast Lane Daily host, Derek DeAngelis, noted in a segment with news on the prospect of Top Gear America that Top Gear America is going to be nowhere near as incredible as the original Top Gear. Derek D himself even wouldn't mind being one of the three hosts. I mean, let's face it... the automobile was born in Europe (or at least the modern automobile), Europe boasts some of the best roads and tracks, and the distinct flavor of the world-famous Top Gear would be tough to replicate or better with this American version. Throughout this blog post, I will use "Top Gear America" to differentiate between Top Gear on the BBC in the United Kingdom.

I will not post any real spoilers or sensitive information in this initial post. I may update this in the future with a few different key figures.





I sometimes feel like our attempts to bring non-American material to American television usually lacks the character and personality of the concept it's based on. A world-class TV show like Top Gear has to be world-class for a non-British version. There is Top Gear Australia, for example. I think Top Gear Australia is done pretty well based on videos on YouTube that I have seen. So it was time for Top Gear America to get some face time. How did it do after tonight's big premiere?

The show does instill the elements that make the original Top Gear great- humor, interesting driving segments, the Stig, its own Top Gear test track, and of course... the cars. The Ferrara-Wood-Foust tandem is a nice combination. It may not be Clarkson-Hammond-May, but it's a good combination worthy for American television. I am a great fan of Tanner Foust. I knew if there was an American who could take a car to the limit and look cool doing it, it's Tanner Foust. Rutledge Wood did some pretty good comedy himself. I think the way Top Gear America describes everything is done so professionally and quite well. You can know nothing about the Top Gear series and already get a basic understanding of all the different concepts of Top Gear by watching the American Top Gear. It's that good.

The "Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car" segment of Top Gear on BBC is "Big Star, Little Car" for Top Gear America. The reasonably-priced car is the Suzuki SX4. I'm a little surprised they didn't use a car like the Chevrolet Cruze. Buzz Aldrin was the first star to take on the Top Gear America course.

The two segments involved a race between between two "snakes," and another was about three awesome Lamborghinis. Again- no sensitive information revealed here.

--- Overall Review ---

Top Gear America isn't the world-famous Top Gear on BBC, but it is a great program. The people behind Top Gear America really did their homework in figuring out how to make Top Gear America as great as the BBC's Top Gear. This is essentially a Top Gear us Americans can be proud of. If you're thinking that this Top Gear is going to surpass the Top Gear almost every car fan knows, think again. Then too, I don't think the Top Gear America crew cares if they are even trying to compare our TG against TG on BBC.

The best aspect of Top Gear (let alone T.G. America) is that you do not have to be a car fan to love the show and the series. I think Top Gear America has many elements that make for our own unique Top Gear as opposed to being some kind of little brother/sister to Top Gear BBC. The driving and the humor makes this show great for what it is. I think you should give this show a chance. As of this blog post, I hear there are nine more weeks of the first-ever Top Gear America season. This is the first of a ten-week season. Rather than think of Top Gear America as something to better or surpass the original Top Gear, think of Top Gear America as a show that is OUR Top Gear. Doesn't mean ours is better. It just means that we have a Top Gear to be proud of. I mean, Top Gear Australia is a good program for the Australian market. And when you're talking Top Gear, you'd BETTER be as good as the world-famous Top Gear program. You wouldn't want to disgrace what the original Top Gear brought to motoring television by coming up with a dissatisfying program. Homework was done and complete on making Top Gear America as good of a program as the Top Gear the rest of the world knows.

The moral of the story- this is a quality Top Gear American audienecs can be proud of. Give this show a chance, and you'll actually be rewarded (especially if you are a fan of the original Top Gear) with a quality Top Gear for the U.S. Top Gear America is more like an expansion team of Top Gear rather than some show trying to steal the original Top Gear's thunder. I actually thought this was a great show. I may not watch Top Gear America often, but I do appreciate the amount of work and the amount of effort to make this show as good as the world-famous Top Gear. My salute goes out to everyone who helped make this show happen.

To learn more about Top Gear America, I have included some links for you all. Have a look at the following...

* Top Gear America
* Top Gear America on Facebook




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My THIRD Blog... "John's Gran Turismo Space" is Born!

I do not want to give away too many details, but here is what's up. I have started a third blog to compliment my other two blogs. This third blog blog idea that I have long conceptualized. When John's Blog Space debuted, the initial intent was to focus entirely on the Gran Turismo series. I ran out of ideas and then started to make blog posts on various things. So a blog supposedly of and about the Gran Turismo soon became my personal blog. Many of the labels and topics today weren't around when I started out. In fact, I didn't even know how to use labels until some time later.

So what is this third blog about? This third blog will be my first-ever niche blog. That niche blog is all about the Gran Turismo series. I may even mix things up by adding insight from other games. Having focused entirely on Gran Turismo in the past, I will attempt to blog about and only about the Gran Turismo series. At its earliest stages, still-relevant blog posts from John's Blog Space regarding Gran Turismo will be featured. But later, more exclusive content will be featued. I am hoping that what I've tried to do with John's Blog Space and John's Shop Space will work for Gran Turismo.

To help you to understand what I am working on, let me give you a look at what my blog's missions are.

--- Understanding my Plan ---

Because I don't specialize in one specific topic, I have created this blog post to help you understand what it is I am working on.

John's Blog Space - Mission and Purpose.

From being a Gran Turismo-themed blog to being my own personal blog, I have made a lot of progress building up my blog from barely cracking 100 views each day to exceeding 500 to even 1,000 views daily. I still use Gran Turismo as one of my largest topics for my blogging work. I am thankful for all the support I have garnered from everyone in the months and years posting on this blog.

John's Shop Space - Mission and Purpose.

John's Shop Space was supposed to be an attempt at easing up posting both a blog and various items. JSS is shopping-specific, meaning that the primary intent was to offer content from my past blog entries on JBS. The Amazon content was ported over to JSS to take the load off of discussing a topic while also trying to find relevant items to supplement my work. Because this blog was not supposed to be anything truly spectacular in concept and execution, I haven't seen very many great results because of this. It will still remain part of my blogging experience because I want people to find items online that might interest them based on blog posts I've made previously. A few exclusive blog posts have been made for JSS.


Now that you know about me not trying to make niche content, it's time to explain why I came up with this third concept.

Explaining the Third Blog.

The reason why I don't create niche blogs is because I can not fully commit to one specific topic. Lots of things run on in my mind. That's why I usually don't think about making a niche blog of any kind. What certain blogging types usually recommend is that you make niche content to better sort your content and provide a more complete and coherent audience. "John's Blog Space" has been successful mostly because I try to feature content for everyone on a variety of issues. Even though blog posts on various topics can lead to getting more readers worldwide, there is the potential for an underlying issue- a vastly mixed audience. With a blog that goes in multiple directions with various topics, it can be tough to market such a blog to one specific audience. That is why I've avoided trying a niche blog.

On the other hand, not creating a niche blog of some kind will mean I can not make something completely devoted to a certain topic. It also means that I will not get a decent blog made for a specific audience. I do not make blogs, blog posts, or blog labels if I feel a certain topic or group of topics will be discussed in the "casually professional" manner that I take my work as. Making something you are not going to devote time and energy to is like teying to open a lineup of products... with only one to three products. You do NOT set up something new without thinking about making something to grow and expand upon. That is why I try to make material only when I feel I can make and build upon. I will try to expand upon Gran Turismo chatter with this blog.

The name of the blog is something I am still deciding on. Part of my inclination is to go with something space-themed, as it has been my trademark. This blog will be no different in that department. I don't want to call it a franchise, but it is almost like a franchise I've set up with the two blogs I have set up so far.





Don't worry- most of my Gran Turismo material on John's Blog Space will still remain. I am just posting past GT material from John's Blog Space over to the other blog to get more people to check out my content. I just want Gran Turismo fans of mine to enjoy content posted exclusively by me. I may even allow for guest blogging to give more people the chance to check out and enjoy my work.

(The content below will be edited when the link is complete)

Click on the heading below to visit my third blog:

John's Gran Turismo Space!

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Star-Crossed Houston Texans

My Houston Texans just lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars in improbable fashion, and I'm mad as hell. We should have forced Overtime by batting the ball out of the endzone on a Jaguars' hail mary. We did bat the ball... until a Jaguar showed up to catch the ball as we were trying to bat it down. End result- Texans lose again.

This is one reason why I hate pro sports sometimes- it's like there's no excuse to lose to anybody. While that's true, reality is that you're not going to win every game. I get so sick of some people talking like "we find new ways to lose." We play to win the game as much as any team in any sport. If we didn't believe we could win, then all the effort to go win wouldn't mean anything. Yeah, we lost in improbable fashion. I know my Texans are trying to make a playoff run. As much as every win is important, we're not going to win every game. It's like we lose, and people already think it's the same old song and dance. Keep in mind that we were tied 24-24. We fumbled the ball, discombobulated with an Offsides penalty, and then with eight seconds left in the game- the Jags pull an improbable win.



This loss is going to be as widely played and replayed like so many other famous Houston losses. This is going to be up there with ESPN prostituting the North Carolina State upset of Houston in 1983 for the National Championship. It's going to be up there with that Brandon Roy three-pointer to beat my Rockets in Portland. It will probably also be as replayed as former Texan, Sage Rosenfels, giving way a 17-point win over the Colts at home. This will only give more ESPN "Always Hate Houston" replaying.

As for the Texans' loss itself, we just lost. We could have done much better on defense. With a chance to force Overtime, the Jags denied it with a heads-up play. We need to win, but we know we're not going to win every game. That's why I don't like pro sports as much as I do college sports- people just take pro sports like we're not supposed to lose to anybody. Everyone is the best in their field, and you can never underestimate your opponent. Even if you predict to win big time or keep a game close, ANYTHING can happen. And just because we lose, some people treat a loss like we lost in a rout.

I'm still a Texans fan and still supportive, but that was just a tough way to lose, and some people just have to calm down about certain losses. We unfortunately lost late. Nothing more, nothing less. It's like as much as some fans want to see a team win, they always seem to know that we're going to lose anyways. It's just sad how some people are about teams and players when they lose. So I guess it was just nothing when the Browns beat the Saints AT the Saints. It's sad. And if we do have to shuffle some players or coaching personnel, who's going to take their places?





Congratulations to the Jaguars on this win, but I'm still both upset and disappointed at the outcome of this game.

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Sony Bloggie MHS-PM5 Review

(UPDATED: April 12, 2012)

The Sony Bloggie replaced the Webbie in offering a much more complete and easy experience in making videos. Settings for video and picture sizes along with a bevy of extra options help make this camcorder one of the finest on the market. Many people have complained of many things about the camera (including its name). I don't think the name is silly at all. It isn't cute, it isn't annoying... if name means so much to you, stay away from this camcorder. Even though the Bloggie MHS-PM5 (as well as the MHS-CM5) models have been outdated by the new Sony Bloggie Touch, I still wanted the MHS-PM5. What you're about to read is my own personal review of the Bloggie MHS-PM5 along with various things you have to know about this camcorder.

I wasn't requested or paid to do this review. You know I speak from the heart. The Bloggie MHS-PM5 that I bought came in White. Other available colors for the Bloggie MHS-PM5 include Blue, Eggplant, and Pink. If you order a Bloggie from Sony online, you can customize your Bloggie by having it engraved with certain designs.

LATEST UPDATE(S)/REVISION(S):

APR 12 2012 - edited look of post as well various individual edits

--- Sony Bloggie at a Glance ---

Here is a picture of the Sony Bloggie MHS-PM5:

^ from: bizrate.com - The Sony Bloggie MHS-PM5. Also available in Blue, Eggplant, and Pink.

As I mentioned earlier, the Bloggie is the replacement for the Sony Webbie HD. It was the cool camcorder before the Bloggie lineup came along. Whereas the Webbie offered up to 1440 x 1080 video at 30 frames per second, the Bloggie offers up to 1920 x 1080 video at 30 frames per second. It had capability for external media cards, but ONLY Sony's proprietary media card- the Memory Stick PRO Duo. The Bloggie allows for the Memory Stick PRO Duo along with basic Micro SD cards. That is a good thing because a Memory Stick PRO Duo can cost a bit more than a basic Micro SD card. A 16 gigabyte Micro SD card can cost up to ten US dollars less than a Memory Stick PRO Duo of the same capacity. So the Bloggie is more versatile in memory than the Webbie.

People have complained so much about the video quality of the Bloggie camcorders. Almost as if people were expecting an extremely powerful camcorder, yet get disappointed because this isn't some super-powereful camcorder. Before anyone complains, this camcorder is NOT for the one who wants a professional camcorder. The Bloggie is merely a point-and-shoot challenger to the Flip cameras (among others). Almost the proper intent of a camcorder like this is for the video blogger to make great videos. You are even able to photograph yourself by simply swiveling the swivel lens towards you. This camcorder gives you full control. If you want to make YouTube videos or if you want to shoot a quick video to share online, this camcorder will allow you to do just that. You could probably look elsewhere if you want something with better image quality (like the Kodak Zi8). But what if you don't want the Zi8 (or any other challenger)? Well, you won't be disappointed with the easy-to-use and utilize Sony Bloggie MHS-PM5.

Speaking of the models, the Sony Bloggie MHS-PM5 is the basic and completely useable camcorder. This version is easily pocketable, unlike the MHS-CM5, which is the more camcorder-like and easier to handle version of the Bloggie. Some say the MHS-CM5 is a better performer with better quality than the MHS-PM5. There are kits you can purchase for the MHS-PM5 to give the Bloggie some extra features. For one, you can purchase the MHS-PM5K. The Sony Bloggie MHS-PM5K/W features a unique 360° lens that is good for taking panorama shots. It's awkward in video, though. You'll know how awkward it can be if you look up "Bloggie MHS-PM5K" on YouTube and see how videos shot in the 360 lens look. The Sony Bloggie MHS-PM5/V features a special wide lens you can attach to the Bloggie to take wider-angle shots. I don't think it's sold in the United States, though.

To keep it simple, I will ONLY discuss the MHS-PM5 through this blog post.

Why You Need External Media.

The Bloggie MHS-PM5 has 26 megabytes of memory. If you don't have an external media device, here is all you're going to get with this camcorder:

--- Still Images (without an external media device) ---
• 162 still pictures at VGA (640×480) resolution.
• 30 still pictures at 2 megapixel (1920×1080) resolution.
• 17 still pictures at 3 megapixel (2048×1536) resolution.
• 13 still pictures at 4 megapixel (2592×1728) resolution.
• 8 still pictures at 5 megapixel (2592×1944) resolution.

--- Video (without an external media device) ---
• 1 minute, 29 seconds of video at 640×480 (VGA) at 30 frames per second.
• 41 seconds of video at 1280×720 at 30 frames per second.

You somehow have to admit- these capacities not really that bad if you just want to use this to shoot some quick video or take a few pictures. If you want to make some more material or shoot better quality videos, you're better off getting an SD card or a Memory Stick PRO Duo.

What Comes With the Bloggie MHS-PM5?

The Sony Bloggie MHS-PM5 is now an older model, having been overshadowed by the new Bloggie Touch. Here is a brief feature list of the Bloggie MHS-PM5:

• 270° swivel lens
• LCD screen
• rechargable battery included
• cable included to attach to the PC, but also includes a USB arm of its own
• multi-AV terminal cable included to connect to TV units (no HDMI cable support, however)
• five different still image sizes- from 640×480 to 2592×1944.
• four different video sizes- 640×480 at 30p, 1280×720 at 30p, 1280×720 at 60p, and 1920×1080 at 30p
• zoom up to 4x (for most modes)
• support for Micro SD cards and Memory Stick Pro Duo; up to a 16GB(?) micro SD card or Memory Stick Pro Duo can be used.
• software on a CD that includes PMB software for porting over images and video.

These are all among a number of different things included.

--- Initial Impressions ---

The Sony Bloggie MHS-PM5 is my all-new camcorder. I needed to take the next step with my video making. One such big step is to get a new camcorder. The reason why I went from my Insignia NS-DV1080P to my new Bloggie is because for the life of me, I could never seriously utilize the Insignia to make the kind of quality videos I want to make. I've mostly used it for beauty shots and for small video pieces. You might have seen a few of them if you watch my YouTube channel and seen some of my latest videos.

An important thing to note is that the Sony Bloggie MHS-PM5 represents the previous generation as the new Bloggie Touch is on the market.

Getting my Sony Bloggie.

It was a goal for me to go out and see what stores have a Sony Bloggie. I first visited a Walmart. I've seen the Bloggie I was looking for a few times at Walmart. This time, however, only the Bloggie Touch was offered. So I was a bit disappointed. However, I had a Plan B- go to a Target store. Lo and behold... I found what was the only Sony Bloggie still available! So I went ahead and bought me a Bloggie to look forward to making better videos, but also to have more versatility in making videos.

Getting Adjusted to the Bloggie.

Life is different getting adjusted to the Bloggie MHS-PM5 after spending most of the year with the Insignia NS-DV1080P. The transition, however, was rather smooth. I had to get adjusted to the swivel lens and all the various nuances of the Bloggie. I took some practice photos and videos using the PNY SD card from my Insignia camcorder. Unfortunately, the PNY SD Card never became recognized to my PC. It was recognized to my Bloggie as I had 4GB of space to work with, but NOTHING to show for when I tried to upload the SD card to my PC. Fortunately, my parents had a pack of SD cards from SanDisk that I could use as a substitute. I loaded up a 512 MB SanDisk sound card, and everything I put on it could be read. I could freely be able to store content onto my Micro SD card and place the Micro SD card into my PC. I don't need to have the SD card inside the Bloggie MHS-PM5 as I attach it to the computer to utilize my stored data.

So the moral of the story for me- NEVER buy a PNY product ever again! I will be using most of the items that I've had from my Insignia camcorder, like the carrying case and the tripod I bought as part of the package.

(added: November 15, 2010) - Actually, my PC does NOT read SDHC cards. So that's why my PC doesn't read them. I have to hook them into some other device to be able to use them effectively when trying to read them on the computer.

(added: May 14, 2011) - Since my PC doesn't read SDHC cards, I use a 2GB SD card. It still gets the job done. I recommend you get a 2GB SD card to use unless you have an adapter for SDHC cards available.

Taking Pictures and Making Videos (Initial Reactions).

Images are recorded in JPG format with five different image sizes you can choose from. There are two problems I've had taking pictures- (1) you have to hold down the button for about a second or so for the image to be completely snapped, and (2) this is NOT recommended for taking pictures in low-light situations. All you will see is darkness if you try to take pictures in the dark. Pictures are a bit grainy at normal resolution, but nowhere near as grainy as with my Insignia NS-DV1080P.

Videos are made in MP4 format with the Bloggie MHS-PM5. I use Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD9 to edit videos. Someone asked me if this was the only way to edit videos. Well, it isn't. Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD9 is just the program I use to upload and edit my videos. An important thing I learned is how to take out parts of videos. This allowed me some extra versatility in making videos. Just like with pictures, do not shoot videos if it is really dark.

Later in this blog entry, I will compare the Bloggie MHS-PM5 to my previous camcorder (the Insignia NS-DV1080P). Stick around for that.

Playing with the Bloggie.

You had to flip the screen on the Insignia NS-DV1080P to get it to start. You either press the On/Off button or swivel the lens to make the Bloggie come on. Everything seemed to work like a breeze with the Bloggie. You could even set screen size for still images (unlike the Insignia NS-DV1080P's fixed 2592×1944 images). Video sizes were also easy to set. Video sizes start at 640×480 at 30p, there are also two modes of 1280×720 featuring both 30p and 60p, and the largest size goes all the way up to 1920×1080 at 30p. The ease of control makes this camcorder absolutely incredible to use. A few notes... the camcorder does NOT have a flash or a macro setting. One of the primary criticisms of this camcorder is how poor close shots can be.

Making Videos.

Loading up Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD 9, I learned how to take advantage of this camcorder's abilities. Videos are only recorded in MP4 format. Fortunate for me, this is a Sony camcorder playing with a Sony movie maker. End result = easy and seamless use of importing video pieces. I later learned how to take advantage of the available formats for editing MP4 videos. Also important... I FINALLY learned how to trim and reduce parts of videos. Anyone who knows me on YouTube knows that I try to do everything in one take. So that's why I seem so awkward in a number of my videos.

Let's put this to perspective for a moment. If you read my Insignia NS-DV1080P blog post, you know I mentioned having to convert the AVIs to a more recognizable format for my PC, thus extending the wait to make proper videos in WMV format. I have to convert the videos because Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD 9 fails to recognize the audio in videos from the Insignia camcorder. With the Bloggie and with Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD 9, I just put the MP4 video right in, and I'm already in business. I just have to remember to save the video in a certain format based on video size for it to be uploaded successfully and play great. The process runs much better than what all I had to go through with my Insignia camcorder.

The only problem I have faced in video-making is trying to play back my MP4 files with certain programs. This is my first experience with MP4 video after two years of working with WMV videos. I basically needed a few codecs for which to play MP4 files as easily as WMV video. I would recommend you at least get the latest DivX codec package for your PC if you have trouble with videos. Picking up ffdshow and x264vfw wouldn't be bad ideas, either.

Recharging the Bloggie.

There are two ways to recharge the Bloggie. One way is to connect it to your PC or laptop, or you can recharge it with some sort of charger for the Bloggie. On the bottom of the Bloggie MHS-PM5 is a slider that allows you to access the USB arm. Slide this out, and then connect the USB arm to an available USB port on your PC. If you don't have a USB port to freely connect the Bloggie to without needing the USB cable, connect the USB cable to an available USB port, and then connect the USB arm to the USB cable to recharge it. I don't have an external charger, so I can not help you here.


After just one day with this older model Bloggie, I already feel I can make a lot of progress with a lovely camcorder like this. I now feel I can use my SD card to hold my data rather than have to worry about storing everything to my PC for better availability and usage. I may also think about uploading videos from a device other than my PC to share material online. I was thankful to find this at a Target rather than have to order one online.

--- Sony Bloggie MHS-PM5 Specifications ---

This section pertains to some of the finer points of the Sony Bloggie MHS-PM5.

Still Images.

There are five image sizes you can choose from:

• 640×480 (4:3, VGA)
• 1920×1080 (16:9, 2 megapixels)
• 2048×1536 (4:3, 3 megapixels)
• 2592×1728 (3:2, 4 megapixels)
• 2592×1944 (4:3, 5 megapixels)

With the Insignia, the pictures appear very grainy. With this Bloggie, the pictures appear clear, but rather soft. Color quality is wonderful without needing to fully saturate the images. Images can sometimes be a bit blurry. Close pictures are not really recommended with this camcorder. Also, you may want to avoid taking dark pictures. Unlike my previous Insignia NS-DV1080P, there is no flash with the Bloggie MHS-PM5. So you are unable to take quality pictures in low-light situations. Also, you can not digitally adjust light to allow for better viewing quality in darker situations. It's perhaps best to have the beeping noises on because you can never really tell if your picture really flashed. You have to hold down the photo button for about a second or two for the picture to be taken.

With 5 megapixel (2592×1944) images, this camcorder delivers better quality images than the Insignia NS-DV1080P (which is fixed at 2592×1944 images). The color quality is better without needing to saturate the images to enhance the color quality. Pictures appear more grainy as you zoom in with the Insignia. However, the quality of images with the Bloggie MHS-PM5 is rather modest when zoomed in. The images may be a bit blurry sometimes. So rather than make images softer with the Insignia, I sometimes have to make images sharper with Bloggie MHS-PM5 images.

Videos.

The Sony Bloggie MHS-PM5 allows for four different sizes of video. Videos are recorded in MP4 format. Audio quality is expressed in 48000 Hz with stereo sound. The microphone is fixed with mono sound (no external microphone support enabled) You can select from four video sizes:

• 640×480 at 30p
• 1280×720 at 30p
• 1280×720 at 60p
• 1940×1080 at 30p

The Bloggie MHS-PM5 has a very sensitive microphone. I once did a demo video walking around my house, and I could actually hear the steps I was taking as well as the breathing I was doing while recording.

One great thing about the Sony Bloggie is that you are able to use a monitor or TV to hook in. The Bloggie MHS-PM5 comes with a composite cable that you can use to hook into a TV. I was able to get this to work on the first try with the Bloggie, whereas I had tried and failed to hook in my Insignia NS-DV1080P to any TV. For owners of HDTV units, the Bloggie MHS-PM5 does NOT include HDMI cable support. There is not even an HDMI port for this camcorder. You can use a TV or monitor to view your pictures on your TV. All you need to do is tune your TV to its auxiliary channel (or AUX channel), hook in the Multi-AV cable to the proper slots, and just turn on the Bloggie to check out your material on any TV. It was great seeing my pictures and recordings on a TV unit. The TV or monitor serves as the screen for your Bloggie once you make the proper connections. Everything stored on your Bloggie or on some sort of external storage device is shown. You can use your Bloggie to show off videos and images stored on your Bloggie or in any external media device to be displayed on TV or on a monitor.

--- Sony Bloggie MHS-PM5 Reactions ---

This is a notebook of ideas regarding the Bloggie. Have a look.

• You don't need to swivel the swivel lens to activate the Bloggie MHS-PM5. In fact, you don't even need to swivel the lens to turn on or off the camcorder. You can just press the On/Off button (with the lens in its off position) to turn on and off the camcorder. The Bloggie will still ask you to rotate the lens portion, but you don't have to. You can press the On/Off button and rotate the lens, and then press the On/Off button to turn off the camcorder. Just remember to put the lens back into its off position.

• For one thing, you can not attach the Bloggie to your PC while you still have an SD card included. You will need to take out your external media device and insert that device (whether an SDHC card or the Memory Stick Pro Duo) into the proper slot in your PC. If you have the PMB software installed, you will be able to use your Bloggie (with the card in the device) to upload media to your PC or to any number of online sources (like Facebook, YouTube, etc.).

• Set the memory feature to "Multi" to allow for usage of both the Flash memory on the Bloggie MHS-PM5 AND the Memory Card data.

• You can zoom up to 4x. It won't make your zoomed-in images any better, but you are able to record and take pictures from far away. It is a bit slow to zoom properly.

• The Bloggie (MHS-PM5) comes with a secondary USB cable to attach to your PC. This is great if you don't have a laptop or some easy access to the PC with a USB port. This camcorder seemed to be better served towards uploading to a laptop or netbook rather than to desktop PCs. The USB arm was my biggest concern with the Bloggie. Thankfully, having this extra cable helps greatly. You can charge the rechargeable battery by hooking it into your PC or with some sort of charger.

• You don't need much in the way of codecs as you do with the Insignia NS-DV1080P. It took a lot for me just to play back the AVI files from the Insignia.

• You can turn off the sounds of the Bloggie, but it's recommended to keep the sounds on, just to ensure that whatever is being recorded or photographed actually goes through.

• If you need to enhance your pictures, make sure to have a good program for which to edit images with. I needed to soften my images and then re-sample them with my Insignia NS-DV1080P camcorder. Don't forget that you can adjust the initial image sizes for pictures taken with the Bloggie MHS-PM5.

• You may want to purchase a tripod if you intend to do some professional-style videos from a set position.

--- Sony Bloggie MHS-PM5 vs. Insignia NS-DV1080P ---

As I own both camcorders, I feel I must give a proper comparison of these two camcorders based on my experiences with them. Allow me to offer my own thoughts

The Sony Bloggie (MHS-PM5) is Better than the Insignia NS-DV1080P...

• ...in still image quality (most close shots notwithstanding).
• ...in video quality.
• ...in interface and usability.
• ...in inserting and taking out external memory cards (Micro SD or Memory Stick PRO Duo).
• ...in versatility.
• ...in processing pictures.
• ...in starting up and shutting down. It is much quicker than the Insignia. You don't need to have the swivel lens open to start up the Bloggie. Just press the On/Off button, and you can turn it on or off without needing to engage the swivel lens.
• ...in vlogging (video blogging). That was the primary intent of this camcorder- for video bloggers. Don't look for this camcorder to be your 1080p video blog of your own Discovery Channel-quality Amazon rain forest adventure.
• ...in adjusting image sizes. You have five image sizes to choose from as opposed to the fixed 2592×1944 resolution for the Insignia NS-DV1080P.
• ...in editing/deleting files stored on the Bloggie or on a memory card of some sort. You can delete multiple files at a time unlike with the Insignia NS-DV1080P.
• ...in the spirit of point-and-shoot. The Insignia NS-DV1080P is more bulky and not as pocketable as the Bloggie. The Bloggie is very pocketable. To protect it in your pocket, though, you may want to buy a protective sock or something to prevent it from picking up scratches while in your pocket.
• ...in being quiet. The sounds are minimal for the most part. The loudest sound effect is when a picture is taken. The Insignia NS-DV1080P has some loud sounds and is not very good if you're trying to covertly take pictures or shoot video.
• ...in allowing for timed video or pictures. You can set the timer to set either for ten seconds or two seconds with the Bloggie. Compared to the Insignia NS-DV1080P, the Insignia ONLY allows a 10-second delay if you use the timer feature.
• ...in remembering your saved settings. With the Insignia NS-DV1080P, everything is set to Auto in picture quality and in color quality. You also have to manually set for digital light images if in dark settings. The Bloggie remembers almost everything without needing to manually change things all the time.

The Insignia NS-DV1080P is Better Than the Sony Bloggie (MHS-PM5)...

• ...with low light settings (because of the digital light settings and the flashlight). Even if pictures and videos are grainy, at least this can show dark pictures and videos. The Bloggie is not worth using in low-light situations as most of what you record is very dark.
• ...in zooming in and out. The zoom is rather slow with the Bloggie compared to the NS-DV1080P.
• ...in taking pictures. You don't have to push down on buttons for a brief amount of time just to snap a picture or take a video with the Insignia than you do with the Bloggie (MH5-PM5).
• ...with Mac support. You can use AVI or MOV for the Insignia camcorder, but you can only select MP4 for the Bloggie. Mac support is available for the Bloggie as a free download (or so I hear).
• ...in not being as easy to scratch up. I use a protective sock from the Insignia to store my Bloggie.
• ...in being better to hold onto. It can be easy to slip the Bloggie accidentally and drop it. You'll need to be very careful holding onto the Bloggie. If it helps, hold onto the Bloggie while using the wrist strap (after attaching the wrist strap, of course).
• ...in HDMI support. It has an HDMI port unlike the Bloggie MHS-PM5.

--- Final Thoughts ---

So all in all, the Bloggie (MHS-PM5) is a substantial upgrade from the Insignia NS-DV1080P. The Bloggie was everything I had hoped for, and it has even surpassed some of my own expectations. This camcorder and the NS-DV1080P are about in the same price range. When I bought my Bloggie at Target, I would recommend you also buy a warranty plan to cover it. I think I bought a 2-year warranty plan to cover it. The camcorder was about $150 USD from Target. Add on the 2-year plan, and it adds about $30 USD more to the price of the Bloggie. There is little to no doubt that the Bloggie is going to be an essential tool in making videos and taking pictures.

This is the camcorder for you if you want to take your own personal pictures and videos in point-and-shoot fashion. Its versatility and almost uncompromising usability makes it a worthy camcorder for all of your photo and video needs. It is perhaps the most versatile point-and-shoot camcorder on the market. Rather than relying solely on flash memory, you can use external media storage cards to port over your material effectively online or on your computer. You could simply shoot a quick video and then go post it online. You can even take a few quick pictures to quickly post on photo-sharing sites. The disadvantages are either minimal or moderate. If you want a more capable camcorder, get a proper camcorder. But if you want a camcorder good for point-and-shoot goodness, this is one of the best camcorders to get.

Even though the Bloggie MHS-PM5 has been recently surpassed by the new Bloggie Touch, this is still a very good and easy-to-use camcorder to use. Sony has really done a great job in providing a fun and easy-to-use point-and-shoot camcorder. The camcorder's many positives outweigh many of the negatives. For a point-and-shoot camcorder that costs about $150 US dollars, there aren't too many great point-and-shoot camcorders that is comparable for its price. There may be other camcorders that have better image and video quality, but none of them are as usable and pocketable as the Bloggie MHS-PM5. Do yourself a favor and go get this camcorder to boost your versatility in pictures and video.

--- If You Enjoyed This Blog Post... ---

Let me thank you for your support! I am committed to making quality material for my blog. I do everything with hopes that someone will actually read and enjoy my material. It is a personal blog of mine, but I do my best to be professional in all of my work. If you have any questions on what you read, or if you want to post some comments, feel free to reply to this blog post. I may not have the answer to everything, but I will try my best to service you.

Maybe I'll update this blog post in the future with more thoughts and more things to recommend, but this is basically the totality of my thoughts on the Bloggie MHS-PM5.

--- Other Reading and Links ---

The following includes various material you can see online. Click on each heading to visit the material in question:

Sony Bloggie

Learn more about the Sony Bloggie series by visiting Sony Style USA. Other regions may be available for international readers of my blog.

The Sony Bloggie Series

This is my blog entry discussing the entire Sony Bloggie lineup, including my first thoughts on the Sony Bloggie MHS-PM5 prior to eventually buying one.

Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD 9

This is my blog post on the video-editing software I use for my videos. You can even buy the program in question if you have Amazon and want to buy this program for yourself.

Insignia NS-DV1080P Review

I have mentioned the Insignia NS-DV1080P in this blog post. You can read this blog post to learn more about what the Insignia NS-DV1080P has to offer. It isn't right for me to post a blog entry on another product, but if you want to know more about the other camcorder of mine, you can by visiting that blog post.


Shop for all things Sony Bloggie by using this Amazon widget:



...or search specificially for the Sony Bloggie MHS-PM5 (and accessories thereof) using this Amazon widget:



...or buy your own Bloggie (MHS-PM5) from Amazon here:

^ Sony Bloggie MHS-PM5. Available colors: White, Blue, Eggplant, and Pink.


NOTE: More resources may be made available in future edits.





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