Ferdinand Cruz's October CMAS presentation

[mkirda]

As I had indicated previously, the presentation was videotaped.
I do have it converted over to digital video format and it will be available on DVD shortly.

At the presentation, Ferdinand was asked what we could do to help. His answer: Jars. The fishermen need plastic jars to hold the fish before shipping.

In honor of this, we at CMAS decided to start a Jar Fund. More details will be forthcoming as we finalize the quotes, but we aim to have about 30 jars per fisherman. In order to raise some money for the fund, CMAS will sell copies of the DVD for $20 each, with approximately $15 of that going into the Jar Fund. (The rest will go for media and postage...) One DVD will supply one collector with approximately 30 jars.

Before we make a more formal announcement, I'd like to have a few volunteers to try out the initial run of DVDs so I can be sure that they will work in most DVD players.

If you are interested, please contact me via e-mail so we can make the arrangements off-list.

Thanks for your patience.

Regards.
Mike Kirda

 

[mkirda]

Short update:

I've got the finished DVD in my hands finally.
Those who have contacted me: I'll have them duped and checked and out in the mail on Monday.

Regards.
Mike Kirda

 

[mkirda]

out in the mail on Monday.

Oops. Tuesday. Make it Tuesday. Forgot that today was a bank holiday...

Regards.
Mike Kirda

 

[Anonymous]

And the world shut down for Presidents day, but hey, traffic is light!!

 

[MaryHM]

Mike,

Does CMAS have a paypal account or something similiar to send donations to via the net?

 

[mkirda]

Mike,

Does CMAS have a paypal account or something similiar to send donations to via the net?

I don't believe so, Mary.
At the moment, we are only going to accept checks.

Regards.
Mike Kirda

 

[mkirda]

BTW, Gresh, dizzy and knowse- Yours went out out today.
My stash of envelopes disappeared, so had to buy more.
The rest (sciguy2, MaryHM and John) will go out tomorrow.
If I am forgetting someone, e-mail me please!

Regards.
Mike Kirda

 

[Anonymous]

Mike,

Watched the DVD today and found the lecture very interesting. Being ADHD I'll need to review it several more times for everything to sink in.

Having lived in the PI, the living conditions of the fishermen didn't surprise me. What did, was the difference of the exchange rate between the peso and US dollar. It's a shame that they can't even get $1.00 each for most of what they catch.

Now I feel like I'm cheating them big time.

 

[dizzy]

Mike,
I got my copy today and I'm headed home right now to watch it.
Mitch

 

[dizzy]

Mike,
I watched the video last night. Fascinating subject matter for sure. Ferdie has a well organized slide presentation that really gives people a feel for what it is like to live and work in the marine ornamental fish business in PI. The quality of the CD was only fair. I have a hearing loss in one ear and there was a bit of a backgound hum that made it difficult for me to understand everything. Ferdie was absolutely charming and I'm sure that everyone who attended was glad they did. Mike I think you should send a free copy to the Boston Reefers so they can consider Ferdie as a speaker at MACNA. Sounds like they might need a fill-in for John Tullock. I also think you should send a copy to Jaime or any other Ferdie critic. This video will absolutely eliminate any negative images that might be out there. The questions section at the end was a bit like an old Godzilla movie where the words looked dubbed or off speed. I loved it and will get the check in the mail. Thanks for making this available for a great cause.
Mitch Gibbs

PS Next time don't have a meeting your going to tape at the library. How about posting that opening slide shot for us.

 

[tstone]

Mike,
Mike I think you should send a free copy to the Boston Reefers so they can consider Ferdie as a speaker at MACNA. Sounds like they might need a fill-in for John Tullock.

Mike I would consider Ferdie for MACNA. Is it possible to get a copy?

Thanks
Marvin

 

[mkirda]

Mike,
Mike I think you should send a free copy to the Boston Reefers so they can consider Ferdie as a speaker at MACNA. Sounds like they might need a fill-in for John Tullock.

Mike I would consider Ferdie for MACNA. Is it possible to get a copy?

Thanks
Marvin

e-mail me your address and it will go out on Monday.

Regards.
Mike Kirda

 

[mkirda]

Mike,
I watched the video last night. Fascinating subject matter for sure. Ferdie has a well organized slide presentation that really gives people a feel for what it is like to live and work in the marine ornamental fish business in PI. The quality of the CD was only fair. I have a hearing loss in one ear and there was a bit of a backgound hum that made it difficult for me to understand everything. Ferdie was absolutely charming and I'm sure that everyone who attended was glad they did. Mike I think you should send a free copy to the Boston Reefers so they can consider Ferdie as a speaker at MACNA. Sounds like they might need a fill-in for John Tullock. I also think you should send a copy to Jaime or any other Ferdie critic. This video will absolutely eliminate any negative images that might be out there. The questions section at the end was a bit like an old Godzilla movie where the words looked dubbed or off speed. I loved it and will get the check in the mail. Thanks for making this available for a great cause.
Mitch Gibbs

PS Next time don't have a meeting your going to tape at the library. How about posting that opening slide shot for us.

Hey, Mitch.

All our meetings are at the library.
Any idea how expensive it is to rent rooms outside the library?
It would have cost more than Ferdie's flight from Florida...

Yes, the audio quality isn't the best. The video was an afterthought, and renting a camera was out of our price range. (Also the cost of Ferdie's flight...) I borrowed one from my father, and we got what we got.
I have not yet attempted to clean up the sound- It might be possible to do, but not sure. The original's quality wasn't all that great either.

Sorry about the hearing loss- Didn't know we had that in common.

I'm glad you liked it otherwise. If I can ever get Ferdinand to send me the slides in Powerpoint, I may be able to add that to the video.

Regards.
Mike Kirda

 

[mkirda]

Mitch,

I think I have a much improved mix of the DVD available. Since we share the same hearing issues, figured you'd be the perfect candidate to listen to it.

The issue, in hindsight, is clear: The LCD projector was too close to the video recorder. The cooling fan noise is broader than I initially thought, and where it is, I cannot pull out too much of it without seriously effecting the midtones of the voice...

On the other hand, I was able to conform the audio, then apply a few filters to it so that the sound is much louder and cleaner, with an expanded dynamic range. I can cut some of that fan noise out, but it will not go entirely.

Got a little bit more to play with, but this should help quite a bit.

Ferdinand was going to send me his presentation, but sent me his Marine Ornamentals presentation instead, presumably by accident... However, I did get the pushnet video, and it looks like it will be easy to add to the DVD.

Regards.
Mike Kirda