Hirst

A normal 625 line frame (we will use the PAL standard in this example)takes 1.2 Megabytes of data if no compression is used. As there are 25 frames per second, this will give us: 1.2 x 25 = 30 Megabytes per second

So a DVD with 4.7 Gigabyte of storage will give us: 4700 / 30 = 156.6 seconds or 2.6 minutes of video playback.

Obviously some way of reducing the amount of data that needs to be stored on the disk is needed.

One way to compress the data stream is to analyse each frame and remove information that is repeated within the frame. This frame by frame compression is called JPEG. This might be ideal for individual frames but is not sufficient for movies. Jpeg looks best with compressions of 5:1 or less, even this will only give 13 minutes of video on a DVD.

A better method is to use MPEG compression. This works by taking the first frame and compressing it as above. This frame is still quite large as it contains most of the information about the frame, this is called the I frame. The next frame of picture information is compared to this I frame and only the difference is stored. There are two types of difference frames, B and P frames, B frames are bi-directional, and P frames are predictive. The fact is that B and P frames can be quitr small depending on the amount of movement within the picture information. Typically with MPEG we can realise cpmpression factors of upto 30:1.

The grouping of I, B and P frames is called a GOP structure (group of pictures) the default stucture of a GOP within a DVD is usually IBBPBBPBBPBBPBBI, 4 P frames within each I frame sequence, and 2 B frames between each P frame sequence. A GOP sequence of 16 will give a very good compression ratio and take up less disc space but may present problems as below.

In the DVD authoring process certain functions have to happen on an I frame and as each GOP can only have one I frame then for some videos a smaller GOP structure is more flexible but take up more space. Foe example a chapter point has to happen on an I frame, if the GOP structure was 16 frames you might find the nearest I frame upto 8 frames away which might result in an inaccurate position to begin a new chapter.

Kevin Round is a Director of Cofiant, a video editing and dvd authoring company based in the UK.

My sons birthday is coming up in a month or so. If you have a kid, there is a propensity to fondly recall the whole birthing experience as the special day draws near each year. When they hit milestonesmy son is turning twenty onethe thoughts are even more profound. I suppose at this point I could go on and on about his birth; the stirrup being shot across the room; my mistaking it for my son; the three nurses wrestling mom's flailing leg back into its place as if they were grappling a crocodile into a sack; my son peeing like a loose garden hose over the delivery room doctor and staff. Theres more but hey, we all have our self-important stories that do little more than engross those involved and bore all others to tears.

However, in my case, it is not the birth I remember most. It might be the fondest memory but not the mostest. What I recollect the most is that I was fortunate enough to even be alive to take an active part in the whole birth ordeal. You see, there was ample reason for me to be dead. No, not from some kind of life threatening disease or terrible car accident. I was lucky to be alive because I wasnt murdered a few weeks before the blessed day.

Have you ever said something kind of nasty about someone behind his or her back only to discover he or she is standing right behind your back? You know that feeling? How you kind of want to crawl away after that initial knot of dread subsides from the pit of your stomach. Well, I committed such an indiscretion except only a hundred times worse. I did something so wrong that my heart still palpitates like a Buddy Rich drum solo every time I replay a second of it in my head. As a matter of fact, its happening right now as I type.

The atrocity occurred about four weeks before the delivery, which was several weeks earlier than expected. So lets set the clock at seven and half months pregnant. It was a pleasantly warm early April afternoon. Birds were chirping. Flowers were springing. Children were giggling as they skipped to and fro. All was as nicey nice as could be. With joy in the air and anticipation bursting, we decided to go to the mall to do a little diversionary shopping. Eventually, we meandered our way to the earrings glass case at Bloomingdales.

It all happened quite unexpectedly and quite quickly.

I was distracted a moment while she engaged the salesperson in a conversation about a particular set of gold hoop earrings under the case. I remember picking up on an ominous silence to the recognizable cadence of their background conversation; similar to elevator music suddenly stopping. When I turned my attention back to her, she was bent over the jewelry case, her head to the side pressed against the glass, eyes dull, glasses crooked. She formed a perfect L if you discount the bulging baby. Her breath gently pulsed a silhouette of life against the cool glass. The salesperson was crouching down to make contact with her.

At that instant, the stars and planets of male intellect were all lined up. It was time for me to execute the perfect jackass of the century maneuver.

I looked down at her. Assured by her visible breath she was alive, I performed a reflex visual sweep of the growing number of onlookers. Having confirmed she was drawing attention, I returned my concentration back to her. With an indignant tone in my voice, bordering on a Rodney Dangerfield punch-line delivery, I callously spoke a bunch of words that would forever be regretted.

Honey? What are ya doin? Pregnant pause, so to speak. Youre embarrassing me.

Oh yeah! You heard it right. Thats what I said.

Take a second or two to mull it over. Chew on the entire morsel for a bit. Taste the sour residue it leaves on the tongue.

As my words dissipated over the gaping mouths and popping eyes of those nearby, the salesperson looked at me as if I had just spit on her counter. In a way, I had done far worse.

I looked at the salesperson incredulously, What?

It snapped her out of it.

Maam you need a chair?

She yelled across the counter top to a salesperson on the floor. Sylvia! Get this woman a chair! NOW!

Would you like a glass of water? she asked the fading pregnant stranger spread across her counter.

To my credit, it had only been seconds since I uttered the sentence heard round the mall and I already knew I had done something really wrong; something severely punishable in most civilized circles. I reached over to put my arm around her and comfort her while Sylvia pushed a chair against her legs, being sure not to touch me in the process for fear of feeling Satans reach.

Pale and faint, she incoherently mumbled, doh ... na ... ta ... meh ... yeh ... basser.

What honey? Here sit down. Thats better. What are you trying to tell me dear?

DONT TOUCH ME YOU BASTARD!!!

I recoiled back and looked at the salesperson in disbelief.

And dont touch me either! In fact, I recommend that you just shut your big mouth up now before you kill this poor woman, she abruptly added, her eyes dilated in disbelief.

I decided it would be wise to heed her advice.

After receiving a rather robust and ribald tongue lashing all the way home in the car that continued up the stairs and into our second floor apartment, I was immediately sentenced to nine days of the silent treatmentreal silent I might add, she was a professional. It deserved me right! Needless to say, I remained on best behavior for about twenty three months. By then her pain was pretty much over with, except for some residual humiliation I endured after public appearances I made during my confession tour; an idea I actually came up with as a way to channel the negative vibes into positive energyor something like that.

The occasional public shame though was small potatoes compared to what could have transpired. The reality is if she had a gun on her person at the time, Id be history. If the salesperson had a gun, Id be history. If anyone had a gun within a square mile, Id be history. But my life was spared so that I might live to talk about it with you today.

So there you have it. An amazing story huh?

That is what I think about every time my sons birthday arrives; a haunting memory of a moments indulgence in self absorption so inappropriate and so vile, it makes me wonder if I can ever fully rejoin the human race.

In closing

Ive been sorry about a boat load of things in my life but never more fully or sincerely as I was after that episode of unexplainable senselessness. It was all my own doing too. Couldnt blame it on a bad day at work. Couldnt blame it on the media. Couldnt blame it on the weather. Couldnt even blame it on my mom wooden spooning my sorry childhood ass. Its one hundred percent owned by me.

And Im just as sorry today as I was twenty one years ago! The truth is my remorse is greater, almost universal. In fact, I want to apologize to all women of all living species who were pregnant, are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, thinking about becoming pregnant, or just learning to spell pregnant. I am very sorry for the monumental insensitivity I exhibited that day at the expense of one of your sisters.

As for you men out there who plan to play a supportive role in the whole pregnancy thing some day.

Listen up!

Learn from my folly. Teach others so they may not walk in my steps. Lets end male stupidity together.

This article was written by humorist Robert Crane. He has plenty more stories about his addiction to stupidity. Please visit his popular website for more the same;

http://www.cranelegs.com

Once your choppers bike is ready, just look if it is in the top condition. You do not need to do bike maintenance on the side of the road in sub-freezing temperatures, so you can regularly do a thorough check to ensure that everything works perfectly. It is also best to go with the wider tires to avoid flats during winter. You can also try working little harder riding than to changing the flat in the cold.

Fenders are worth their weight in gold when it comes to riding in New England. Do not even think of doing a winter or spring ride without them. Even in case there is no rain, snowmelt keeps the roads wet and fenders keep the water on the road off for you. It is always emphasized on fenders that they are one of the most valuable components for staying dry, warm and even for comfort purpose. One should never forget to carry enough tools to do minor roadside repairs, tire levers, tubes, chain device, etc.

It is amazing to use choppers bike in most of the winter. A chopper bike provides more control on icy surface. It is not suggested taking your first spin on a fixer on icy roads, but once you get used to riding fixed wheel, you might find the fun behind it. With no derailleurs there is far low maintenance and there is in fact no chance of dealing with ice-covered shift cables. Many bike racers used chopper gear bikes in the winter for their training - it would as well increase your capability to spin.

At this phase winter bike is a cross frame with horizontal dropouts that would allows you to have a fixed gear, permission for studded tires and fenders, and as well braze-ons for racks. Use it both for traveling and recreational winter rides. Since it is your traveler, it has lights. This is also useful for a weekend ride, since the days are much shorter, and an even, mechanical difficulty may appear or long break could result in a ride finishing after dark. So plan well in advance if you wish to have the best winter bike ride.

Chris Martin is a SEO Copywriter of Choppers He written many articles in various topics.For more information visit: Chopper Bike contact him at chrismartinseo@gmail.com