It’s coming to that time of year again when the sky starts getting darker and the coca cola adverts start to come out. I’ve been debating for a long while on what to get myself for this upcoming Christmas. As a budding young web design and avid amateur photographer I’m currently torn between two areas of investment. For a long while I’ve been after a portable computer, not only for ease of use but also for its mobility. The other area of interest is photography, in particular one of Nikons highly rated DSLR cameras. Of course with any selection process I have narrowed it down to only a few items within these categories, all come at a substantial price and as such is it a case of buy now or wait until prices possible drop.

Laptop

For this category I have primarily focused on the Apple Macbook range. I have always enjoyed using Apple Macs and as my work in web, graphics and photography is expanding the Macbook seems the perfect choice. The Macbook I’m interested in getting at the moment is the 2.0 GHz model http://www.apple.com/uk/macbook/.

DSLR Camera

In this case I’ve narrowed the selection down to two cameras, both of which are Nikons. They are the D40 and the D80. From what I’ve read in various reviews around the internet I’m told both are fantastic cameras however when it comes down to the issue of value for money it seems the better deal is with the D40. Not only does the D40 work out cheaper, it’s also smaller, lighter, and easier to use for people just stepping up to a DSLR camera. Whilst both are cheaper than the Macbook I would also have to invest the lenses and filters for any camera I do buy.
One review in particular http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/d200-d80-d70-d50-d40-5d-xti.htm

Which one to choose

After all the fuss I still can’t decide where my money is better spent, do I buy a Macbook and work on my web and graphics design from anywhere or do I go out and get a DSLR Camera and build on my collection of photographs to publish on the internet.

Any ideas on what to go for?

I've been neglecting this blog, been busy with Uni work. I'll just recommend visiting myvue.com for local cinema listings and checking out no6 cinema for artsy films that may not have been on at Vue (or not for long enough). 

I'd like to do some more with this blog, as it could be more than me just occasionally reviewing films.

I'm enjoying BBC telly at the moment. Survivors may not be great but its not unwatchable, Heroes is ticking along nicely, and Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe has started well. Spooks came back strong and I'm enjoying the comedy panel shows (HIGNFY, Buzzcocks). Oh and, Harry Hill's TV Burp isn't bad, but it is at risk of parodying itself if its not careful (audience pre-empting 'Fight!', I don't like).

 The IT Crowd on Channel 4 is back, and has been funny. I particularly like the re-appearance of Chris Morris' character and Moss is just a very good character, and is well played.

Saw 24:Redemption and wondered why there's no restrictions on who's allowed to look after orphaned children in made-up African countries, but dismissed it as an idea more stupid than the entire show, a feat in itself.

I recommend trawling about on the iPlayer website if you've got a spare hour, there's usually something good and interesting from BBC 4 or something funny from Radio 4. I must admit enjoying some of the stuff on CBBC as well, but purely from a Media Studies POV, you understand (Suspect gets kids playing CSI, and Sarah Jane Adventures is must-see for a geek-padawan like me).

I have audio-visual ideas for this blog/my career in the media too. But they're taking a backseat whilst I blog instead of writing essays.

Comments welcome, especially if you've found a gem on iPlayer!

(Might edit to add links later, but don't count on it.)

Hi Portsmouth Students!

Just wanted to let you know that the UoP Tchoukball Club is a brand new AU Club to the University and we want this club to grow and grow in the University because we have the potential for big success! (We are in the Offical OutRAGous Calendar aswell on the Boys Side in April!) This is mainly because we are being coached by some of the Great Britian Internationals in Portsmouth and maybe in a few months/a year we might have a few people representing our country! Also with our strong links to the Portsmouth Tchoukball Club we can play in Tournament around twice a month and also other matches against Southampton University (and beat them this time!)

TONIGHT!!! (TUESDAY 25th NOVEMBER)

FREE Training Session at 7:15-8:15pm at Portsmouth High School, Southsea 

 so come along and learn Tchoukball in an hour!!!

.....and then followed by the 1st Team playing the Portsmouth Rhinos in the same hall. (You are all more than welcome to come along and watch how we play the sport!! The more the merrier!)

SO COME AND PLAY AND NEW SPORT FOR FREE INSTEAD OF SPENDING MONEY ON GOING OUT!

SUPPORT YOUR UoP TCHOUKBALL CLUB!!

See you all there!

Oliver Laurenson-Gore

Social & Media Sec

Krusty20041@hotmail.com

Happy Thursday!!!

I hope you are all good on this miserable Thurday afternoon, I'm certainly dandy.  I am looking forward to the blood and sweat of tonight.  Yes its another UOP boxing night.  We are sure to be victorious yet again.  Chin up opponents. 

Anyways, few things going on.  I went to the Hindu society's Garba night last week, which is a celebration of the godess Lakshmi.  I've never seen the waterhole looking so pretty! And filled with such beautifully dressed people.  I was amazed by the music and dancing and had a fab time.

Shoe boxes have been coming in all week, thank you! Last day tomorrow, so get them in please!  Two VIP events coming up on 6th and 7th of December, if your interested please email vip@upsu.net.

A few societies have decided to put on a Nightmare Before Christmas Ball at the beginning of December. Watch this space!  There will also be a society trip to Amsterdam in January.  If your society is interested please contact tom.harrison@upsu.net.

Juggling Society have been doing some workshops with Purple Door teaching kids to juggle.  Bellydancing Society's dance classes have continued to be really popular which is great for a new society.  They're on a Monday at 5pm in Nuffield centre if you fancy it. I'm gonna give it a go.

 Tomorrow night the New Music Society are doing their Rubberdub night at Bar 8 tomorrow night.  See you there!  And on November 28th the Drum & Bass Society are doing their Drum All Over Your Bass night at the same place.  I went to the last one and will be there again so don't miss it!

Oh and on a final note, Sam and Mark (Mark in particular) stop slagging me off on your show!  I seem to be a regular topic of conversationand I'm not sure I like it!  Contrary to your thoughts Mark I'm not after the attention!  Cheeky.

 Stay sweaty unionites xxxxxxxx

This has really got me thinking.

For those readers of UPSU.net, who may not know, members of the web-team can add things to the website via a restricted Content Management System (CMS). UPSU.net runs off the Mambo platform and was created, tweaked by last years MAPO Alex, and is now under the management of Mr Tom Worman. I didn't know that much about CMS's a few years ago, but maintaining a few websites has given me an understanding of what they can do, and how easily they can just slot in and 'do the task in hand'. 

A lot of CMS's happen to be free and heavily customisable and I guess this website's is no different. 

What really intrigued me however is what else we could do with this system that could allow our Union's website to be the best it could possibly be and at the same time improve the relationship between the website and its users. Now the following ideas may be looking way WAY into the future, or some may not even work, but I hope you'll be able to see where I'm coming from. 

•  Profiles-UPSU Profiles already is a firm base for what could potentially be a 'restricted/limited' rival to Facebook. I really like the fact that there is a calendar function on the main website which displays the forthcoming events and dates. Facebook, of course, is notorious for its events and group pages, but can we do something with the profiles and the Union? Imagine being able to add yourselves to these events within UPSU.net and then have reminders et al sent out to you. Whilst Facebook is awesome, we can't expect it to be up forever and with it being events within OUR Union, I reckon having the event management withing OUR website would improve the exclusivity. 
• Still on the topic of UPSU Profiles,would it be possible to have some form of status updates like on Facebook/MySpace/Twitter.  These status's could then be imported directly onto the front page under a 'What are YOU doing?' style box so we could have: 'Joey Bloggs is getting ready for Purple Wednesdays'. The only problem I can see with the logistics is that people may end up promoting other nightclubs/bars outside of UPSU/UPEL which isnt really ideal. 
• Fred Bradley mentioned an idea about using Twitter to allow the Sabbs to update the website easily. In my opinion, that is a superb idea as it keeps things ticking nicely and even if there is no major breaking news in Portsmouth one evening, it would still be nice to see the page change with the latest news on who's turn it is to make the hot chocolates!

On that note, I think I'm going to go down to the kitchen and make me a cup of hot chocolate!