Bathtime is 'FRO time!

"No one can match my ninja skills...HI-YA!!"

Written up in Bloomberg news!

***Bloomberg News Article link (click here)***

For those of you who may recall, back in June 2007 when we still lived in the USA, I (Brad) secured the second in line position at the Pentagon City Apple Store (Virginia, USA) to be one of the first (probably within the top 10-20 in the world for opening day acquisitions, because of our location/time zone) to get an iPhone 1.0. Anyway, the lot of us in line were photographed, interviewed, taped for news, etc.

One of those reporters, Connie Guglielmo of Bloomberg News, emailed me a couple weeks back mentioning she was doing a follow-up article for the new iPhone 3G model:

Connie Guglielmo of Bloomberg News here. I spoke with you last year after you bought your iPhone. We're doing a one-year anniversary story for the iPhone and wanted to ask you a few questions:
1. Have you been happy with the iPhone? Did you make the right decision buying one? What do you like the best/wish they'd fix?
2. Apple just announced the new 3G model, which will go on sale for $199 in the U.S. on July 11. Are you planning to upgrade to the new model --and if you do, who's getting your current model? Does the price drop bother you -- do you think the price you paid a year ago (even with the September rebate) was worth it?

Let me know if you have any time to talk. If not, I'm happy to take your comments in email. - connie

I immediately wrote back in excitement (who doesn't want to be written up in world news???):

Hey Connie,
Hope you're doing well!
1. Yes, I absolutely love the iPhone, and haven't had any problems with it since being the second one into the Pentagon City Apple store. Of course I made the right decision, why would anyone go a year without the iPhone goodness waiting for the next model (we all knew there would be a 3G version eventually back then...), or settle for some Microsoft mobile OS-running rubbish? The best part about the iPhone is its use of Safari as the browser (actual web-surfing, and not the 'fake' web you get on a Blackberry), and of course, the touch sensitive screen! The things I wish they'd fix are embodied perfectly in the 3G version.
2. Of course I'll upgrade (maybe even camp out again...). Current model will probably go to the highest bidder (or family member who begs the most :). I'm stoked about the price drop, and understand the economies of scale and for Apple's desire to get the iPhone into as many hands as possible. It shows that the company cares about the end user. Besides, the more people with iPhones, the more software
developers will take it on as a viable platform. Win win for me and Apple. I would pay the price I paid last year again if I had to do it over...its been worth every cent (maybe even more?)! - Brad

And, as news articles apparently go, she wanted to change my quote to fit the article, and I totally didn't care, and there you have it! (click the link above to read the actual article) Funny that she didn't follow up to see if I'd changed jobs or moved (since I haven't worked for NatGeo since Oct 2007 and we now live in Sydney, Australia!)

playing at Woy Woy park

this small park is heaps nice, and only 5 mins walk from home!

fun with facial hair

Hanging out with Ted Schilowitz, RED's "Leader of the Rebellion" [UPDATED]

Its not often you get the chance to hang out with people who are making a worldwide impact. First, a little history...For those of you not in the film/video industry, RED is a company founded by Jim Jannard, founder of Oakley (you know, the sunglasses), who make a 4k resolution (think four times 1920x1080P raster resolution) digital cinema camera that can be had for an unbelievable US$17,500 (most of RED's competitor's.

Ted at Lemac Melbourne


At NAB 2007 (big film/video tradeshow in Las Vegas, NV), after standing in line for an hour to get into the RED tent and watch the short WW1 film Peter Jackson (of LOTR fame) shot in New Zealand on two prototype RED Ones (Boris & Natasha), entitled "Crossing the Line", I met Jim Jannard, mentioned I was working for National Geographic Television and that we were interested in looking into the RED One camera. He introduced me to Ted Schilowitz, who gave me his card and told me to get in touch with him a week or so after NAB.

I did so, and organized for Ted to come out to Washington, DC with some representatives from Apple, to talk about RED's 4k workflow. I met up with Ted at the famous Omni Shoreham Hotel (Harry Truman played poker there, Frank Sinatra stayed there, the Beatles stayed there, etc), and had a great two-day event at NatGeo that wrapped with a big turnout in the Grosvenor auditorium that I spearheaded...

Fast forward to a couple days ago (and a good 8 months after the events just spoken of), where John Bowring, my boss here at Lemac Films, informs me that Ted is coming into Sydney before he goes down to Melbourne for two night events hosted by Lemac's Melbourne office. So, we got to chat about the new build 16 firmware, and I took him around to a couple post-production houses in Sydney (one of which, E-Film, had to cancel when, as chance would have it, the guys from Baz Luhrman's new film, "Australia" and the guys from the new "X-Men Origins:Wolverine" film showed up - funny how both films star Hugh Jackman-we'll blame Hugh for everything from now on).

Ted showing off some stills from RED features at Lemac Melbourne


Also set up a tour for him the next day at Fox Studios Australia lot, and he spent the better part of the day touting RED and Lemac's position as one of the premiere RED authority's (since we facilitated the first RED One finished feature, "The Nothing Men", which is written up about on RED's website - http://www.red.com/indie/thenothingmen).

It was quite the temptation to hang out with him thru all the activities on Saturday, but I had better things to do (Kim and I and Amelia took a trip down to the LDS Sydney Temple).

Photos are up on Lemac's website showcasing the two technology sessions (one of which was on stereoscopic 3D production) - http://www.lemac.com.au/

Sydney Apple Store Grand Opening [UPDATED w/PIC]

Back at the end of May I (Brad) posted some of the first pix of the newly unveiled Sydney Apple Store that were seen around the world (via numerous tech news websites that I emailed), and knew I had to be one of the first inside. So, having completed my 8hrs of work at 3pm today (Thursday, 19 June), I hopped the train from St. Leonards to Wynyard and made my way into the line, which by what I could see, quickly wrapped about a kilometre and a half up George St, around and down King St and curving back onto York St pretty much all the way down to Market St.

Yes, all you get when you make it inside is a throng of Apple store employees applauding and slapping your hands, and the collector's item, Bondi Blue Apple store t-shirt (mine read "store's up" on the front (homage to aussie surfing), but you don't go for the t-shirt. You go for the experience. Its like going to a rock concert or standing in line to see the stars walk the red carpet into the Academy Awards.

This time, however, you were taking part in one of the most brilliant shows of capitalism around. I mean, how can you get 3,000+ people to stand in line for hours (and it briefly rained...which didn't deter anyone), who have only heard about it via word of mouth (there was no advertising dollars spent, period.), and they're just going to walk around inside a store that sells things (Macs/iPods, etc) that have been sold in other stores (one, literally just around the corner, NextByte) for a long time???

I'll tell you how they do it...they're Apple, and they make products people actually love to own, and they do it so brilliantly, that they have created a cult following. (ok, so the architecture of the store was pretty sweet az, as well! the glass staircase is a must see)

Amidst all the chaos and throngs of people and cheering inside, I made my way up to the third floor and found the man I wanted to shake hands with, Ron Johson (Apple's Senior VP of Retail Operations, the genius who led the Apple retail chain to a billion dollars in annual sales within two years of their debut), who, surprisingly enough, should have been thronged himself, was only with one other person (perhaps no one knew who he was???), so I got a brief minute to speak with him (should have got a picture with him, but chickend out at the last second).

ridin' along in the wash basket express

"FASTER!!!"

she tries to help out...

Amelia loves it when it comes time to whip up dinner

All-time favourite movie...right now!!

I love this movie!! Brad and I just watched it last night and I have totally and completely fallen in love with it. I would highly HIGHLY recommend it to anyone and everyone! Such a cute cute movie! I will be buying this one for our collection.

Best quote from it: Dustin Hoffman: "Life is an occasion, rise to it!"

Super Milzners!

"The tub is now safe from evil doers!"

Motherhood...

I saw this quiz on my cousin Kelly's blog and I loved it!  (Kelly, you inspire me!  Always have!)  So I thought that I would steal it and share it with you all!  

1. What time does Amelia wake up?  Anytime between 6:30-7:30.  It's never any later than 7:30. 

2. On a good night, what time do your kids go to bed?  Bedtime routine begins at 7 with a bath, a milk feed, a book, prayer, then into bed.  Sometimes it's really quick and she's in bed by 7:15, other nights I just love to watch her play with Brad, she loves to be chased after the bath and before the diaper goes on.  So much fun!

3. How long have you been a mom?  Amelia just turned a year last week!

4. How old were you when you became a mom? 24

5. What is your favourite kids show?  I have fallen in love with "The Wiggles." I can't remember if they are in the states but they are HUGE here in Australia.  Just bought one of their DVD's, they're fun!

6. Least favourite kids show? We don't watch a lot of daytime television around here, but from memory, I HATE all those depressing, serious, anime cartoons!  Whatever happened to the good old Looney Tunes that were just about fun?  The ones that just made you laugh?

7. Favourite chore?  Well, considering that have FINALLY gotten into our own place again, I am actually loving everything!  I know that's annoying to hear, but I am.  I haven't had the opportunity to do it all for a LONG time and I love hanging the clothes on the line (no dryers in Australia), I love doing the dishes, I love seeing the kitchen clean before I sit down to watch movies in the evening, I love cleaning up Amelia's toys.  I am sure if you ask me in a month or two my answer might be different, but right now, I am just LOVING being a housewife/homemaker!  I LOVE IT!!!

8. Favourite meal to cook?  Pasta stuff.  

9. Meal cooked most often? Pasta stuff and indian/asian dishes.

10. What is your kids favourite meal? Noodles and rice, go figure!:)

11. What is your favourite thing Brad does with Amelia? My favourite thing right now, because we have been working on the "control crying thing." You know, put/cry yourself to sleep thing, it's been hard.  So my favourite thing right now is that Brad gets so excited to be the first one to her side in the morning or after her naps (when he's home.)  Also, he can make her laugh so hard.  It's so cute!  She just loves to have him chase her.  So much fun!

12. What are 5 things that make you smile while being a mom? Right now, I am smiling because Amelia is sleeping in my bed and she keeps waking up and looking at me and going back to sleep.  She's a mama's girl!  We just moved and it makes me smile because everything that I put somewhere she thinks should go somewhere else.  She is the world's best re-arranger!  Tiny dirty footprints on the kitchen floor, she loves to get right up in your face and just smile, she has just begun resting her head on your shoulder when you pick her up...I LOVE IT!!!

13. Where do I want to take my kids someday? I want to take my kids to Grandpa's farm!  I can't wait for Amelia to see all the animals!

14. When was the last time you and Brad went on a date without Amelia?  Last Saturday, the 50th Anniversary of the Australian Society of Cinematographers, black tie affair, we were in church clothes:)

15. One thing you said you'd never do as a mom? I'd have to agree withe Kelly on this one.  I will never judge a mom so quickly again.  Never fully understood what it took to be one.

16. Favourite past time with the kids?  Dancing and playing.  Pretty much anything that Amelia is willing to copy, we love doing over and over and over!

17. Favourite quality that my mom has?  Oh, so many.  I think the best quality was, well, I'm not sure if this is a quality, but that she was always there for us.  She made us the most important things to her in the world and she would have done and did do anything in the world for us.  She was ALWAYS there for me and new what I needed well before I asked for it.  I love you mom!

18. Advice for new moms?  Just be yourself.  Your kids need YOU!  Not the experts advice, not the nosey lady's advice from the grocery store, they need you!  You know your kids, you know what's best for them, and you can do it!

Loving life on her own couch

One of Amelia's favourite presents from her birthday was her new little fold out couch courtesy of her little friend, Isobel "Bizzers" Smith from next door.

Choc Tiny Bears

Amelia's new favourite treat (other than broccoli and peas)...

Amelia around the house

Kim ensures that when Amelia acts up in the least bit, she has to suffer the wrath of the pregger belly!!


"Dad, I thought we were only going to get HDMI 1.3b1 cables from now on...whats up with this S-Video rubbish?? It only separates the luminance and chrominance...we need DEEP COLOUR WITH xvYCC!"