zonked out from cramming stuff in my brain
Archive for » November, 2008 «
08
November
I never knew how hard it was to convert a flash (.swf) video until I wanted to do it myself. In the process of finding the ideal .swf video converter, I also realised that .flv and .swf are very different even though both are “Flash”! Did you know that FLV files are Video files and are completely different from SWF files which are Animation files?? Well now you do =)
Below is a table of the various video converters I’ve tried out.
| VIDEO CONVERTER |
PROS | CONS |
| WinAVI | - Easy to use - Converts multiple formats including flash (.swf) files! |
- Can’t define flash animation dimension, it automatically cuts margins. - Frequently crashes and has bad audio-video sync |
| WinFF | - Converts multiple formats including flash files - Fast, simple design |
- Can’t convert video, only seemed to do audio?! |
| AVS Video Converter | - Simple to use, converts multiple formats including flash files - Also a video editor, great for replacing Windows Movie Maker |
- Does not convert from flash even though it converts to flash |
| Xilisoft Ultimate | - Fast and efficient - Converts multiple formats including flash files |
- Only the audio is converted |
| SoThink SWF to Video Converter | IT ACTUALLY WORKS! | - Only works for SWF files… |
I think that Xilisoft and AVS Video Converter would actually be pretty cool to use if I wasn’t looking for a SWF converter, they sure look a lot cooler to play around with compared to SoThink. There’s a lot more functionality with the other programs compared with SoThink, perhaps to the point that it may be a bit unnecessary.
So if you’re looking for a video converter, especially one that converts .swf files, I hope this helps you out and cuts down a bit of your researching =)
Category: Reviews
2 Comments
04
November
Cream is a classy little restaurant located in East Perth, which was highly recommended by a friend of a friend. I was curious, but not convinced because both my siblings hadn’t heard of it and they eat out at these types of restaurants all the time. The restaurant itself is not too difficult to find, especially with the help of GoogleMaps =)
The easiest way is to just GoogleMap search:
Cream Restaurant
Suite 2
11 Regal Pl
East Perth 6004 WA
The restaurant itself was very nicely done up, the only complaint I might have is that it was a bit too dark for my liking. If the food had been bad, I might have suspected they didn’t want their patrons finding strange things in our meals hAHa! ^_- As a group, below is a list of the dishes we ordered at Cream
| ENTREE | PRICE |
| Twice Baked Lemon & Goat’s Cheese Soufflé Fresh Grilled Local Scallops |
24.5 |
| Warm Fillet of Cream’s Home Smoked Tasmanian Salmon Steamed Spinach Tossed with Horseradish Crème Fraîche, Salmon Caviar |
25.5 |
| Handmade Potato & Ricotta Gnocchi With Fresh Tomato, Basil & White Castello Sugo, Reggiano Parmesan |
22.5 |
| MAINS | |
| Crispy Roasted Pork Belly Caramelised Apple, Leek & Goat’s Feta Strudel |
36.5 |
| Red Wine Slow Braise of Baby Beef Green Pea Puree, Horseradish Potato Crush, Crispy Onion Rings |
35.5 |
| Slow Roasted Breast of Free Range Chicken Fluffy Organic Roast Vegetable Couscous, & Wild Fig Jus |
35.5 |
| DESSERT | |
| Individual French Chocolate Baci Cake Frangelico Vanilla Bean Ice Cream |
16.5 |
| Fresh Passionfruit Cremé Brulee Tart Belgian White Chocolate Sorbet |
16.5 |
All in all it was a good experience, and the bill totaled to a bit over $50 per person. Pretty good considering the range and quality of food we had. I’m no critic, but I do have my personal preferences, and I think that the food at Cream Restaurant was pretty good. Things to note:
- The pork belly, which I ordered, had a really crisp and overly sticky skin
- I would totally go back just for the gnocchi =P
- The Baci Cake tasted a lot like the Beard Papa ‘Fondant au Chocolate’ I had in Beijing. It cost was a whole lot more though!
- Baby beef main seemed very mushy. Mushy beef sitting on a pile of mash potatoes and mashed peas. It was very filling, but felt like it was more appropriate for people who don’t have teeth… But you’ve got to love the onion rings!
- Loved the fresh scallops (they were pretty big!) but wouldn’t have paid that much for it (Freo would probably be better), I would rather have had another salmon or gnocchi dish…
- The walls are furry…
- Staff was friendly and efficient, we only had a bit of difficulty getting their attention because we were hidden in the back darkest corner
- The wait between Entree, Mains and Dessert were okay, though it could be better. We were just a little miffed that a couple of the other tables who ordered after us were served before us.
So maybe I won’t be going back there any time soon, but I wouldn’t mind going back (when I’m actually working full time) ~
Category: Food, Reviews
4 Comments
02
November
After weeks of stressing over unfinished assessments, arranging last minute group meetings and touch ups, Friday was the final day of Uni. In the end, I didn’t end up going to the last day of classes (which I was meant to do a presentation), instead I had to attend the Dental Seminar at Kings Park.
Although I’m sick of sitting in on lectures and tutorials, learning about things I can’t apply in my life, I really enjoy listening in on Dental related presentations. When they brainwash you at OHCWA, they brainwash you thoroughly =P
The Dental Seminar reinforced a lot of what I had learnt (but forgotten) at OHCWA, and refreshed my knowledge about dental products/issues/conditions. I found it really beneficial to hear from fellow hygienists, about their opinions on certain procedures and so on. I was so pumped up that I came home and tried to subtly nag my family =P
DHAA organised a fantastic event, the turn out was really good, the presenters were interesting, the whole event ran smoothly…. except for the sound of planes blasting through the sky in preparation for the Perth Red Bull Air Race. Good thing the planes only zoomed around near the end of the seminar, it would have definitely been annoying if that was all we heard all day.
It actually felt totally great to speak with colleagues and talk teeth the whole day, and this is even when I had to wake up at 6:30am (I snoozed til 6:45)!! I’m looking forward to the 33rd Australian Dental Congress & Exhibition event in Perth next year, it’ll definitely be interesting to hear the other presenters… and there’s also no harm in getting a collection of samples either =D
Category: Dental Blog
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