Ryan McLaughlin » vlog

A few changes around here

Ryan — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 05:01:03 +0000

Just a quick note to reference a few changes I’ve made to the site.

First: you’ll notice that I’ve changed the comment submit layout. When I initially designed the look of this site, I was eager to try some new things, and so had the comment submission form stuck at the top of the comments.

This was stupid – I realize this now. It just never fit with the flow of how people read I don’t think. Rare is the occasion that I read a blog and wish to comment without first checking out what others have said. Additionally, I never liked how small the box was.

So, it’s back at the end of the comments – and has some nice new graphics to accompany it.

Next: I’ve FINALLY updated the site’s front page. Bet you didn’t even know the site HAD a front page! When I initially set up this site back in late 2004, I did so with the idea of blogging about my impending trip to China, as well as moving all my old LiveJournal travel blogging onto its own home, and doing some other stuff – though I was never clear about what that other stuff was… maybe a photo gallery, or a home for some of my music…

Blogging, and specifically blogging platforms, has come a long way in the past four years and I can do most if not all that I wish internally in WordPress. And as it turns out, I never really had time or clarity for that “other stuff” anyway. So – homepage updated – basically just works as navigation for the blog and shows off (a) my other sites, and (b) my FriendFeed – a cool service that keeps track of what you’re doing on various social sites (flickr, youtube, del.icio.us, twitter, blogs, etc.).

Next Next: The top menu text has been replaced by their equivalent iconic representations. I think we can all figure out what they mean, and the mouseover text should help the stragglers. The text was always overlapping the image’s shadow, and it has been pissing me off for months. Having the hood popped on things finally gave me the opportunity to correct it.

Last: I’m not sure when it happened, but I killed my vBlog. It would appear that when I transferred my site to a new server a few months back I neglected to copy the database that powered the second install of WordPress I had running to manage my vBlog entries. Meh, there’s not been a new vBlog since 2006, so it wasn’t as if anyone was missing anything really.

However, and this isn’t an announcement (and I’ll deny it if asked directly), I’ve been considering starting to vlog again. It might give me an excuse to get my ass out of the house a bit more.

Regardless if I do or don’t find the time to, I did want to bring the old vlog entries into the fold. Doing so gave me a chance to mess around with some design ideas and WordPress trickery that I’ve had for a while now. You can see the results (and the old vlog entries) here:

So, that’s it – largely just some cleaning up on things I’ve been meaning to sort out for some time, but haven’t had the time. I still don’t have the time, but I’m realizing more and more, I never will. Meh, it’s over-rated anyway.

vLog.07: Happy Birthday Sis

Ryan — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 06:15:13 +0000

Sending gifts over oceans, especially from China, can be a challenge. Thankfully with the help of some talented little students and the Internet, stamps aren’t always needed.

You’ll have to excuse the modified lyrics, but just getting my students to sit still long enough to deliver this little message was tough enough, never mind what it would have taken to get them to sing the song properly.

vLog.06: The Road To Suzhou

Ryan — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 06:09:06 +0000

In late August, 2006, Maggie and I pulled up stakes from Dalian and headed south to Suzhou, a tourist city criss-crossed with canals and dotted with gardens.

With our wedding only months away, this move represents the beginning of our lives together and this video shows the trip.

Download Video: MP4
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vLog.05: Dalian Tour

Ryan — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 06:06:32 +0000

Ok, I know this is cheating a little bit. I got a bit carried away in my geekdom today and made a little video tour of Dalian with Google Earth (and a bit of video ripping software as I’ve not got the $400 to get the Pro version). Good news is you wont have to wait long or kill too much of time watching it. Weighing in at 3:41, it’s my shortest vBlog yet. Just long enough to get the soundtrack stuck in your head all day. Seriously.

Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Like in general, not just about this video. Life, gardens, Scotch tape… whatever.

vlog.04: Morning Exercises

Ryan — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 06:04:51 +0000

The kids are back! Those adorable little munchkins from vBlog.03: Field Trip! are back, this time showing us all how to stay fit, be healthy, and shake our cans! This vBlog contains remarkably little drivel from yours truely, but instead lets the kids, and the music do the talking.

Watch the students of my primary school as they go through their daily regiment of exercise in the yard. Half aerobic work out and half dance routine it’s full-on funny.

Download Video: MP4
HTML5 Video Player by VideoJS

View on YouTube

vLog.03: Field Trip!

Ryan — Mon, 22 May 2006 05:59:14 +0000

So here it is, a bit of a wait for it, but vBlog numero three! For this entry I decided to turn my camera on those that know the most about life – kids, roughly five hundred of them to be non-exact. My primary school recently invited me to accompany them on a field trip to a park in downtown Dalian. For 50% of the journey I had no idea what we were going to be doing and the other bit was mostly just saying “Hello” to kids.

All in all it was a good time though, and it was nice hanging out with my students and not having to officially teach them anything.

vLog.02: A Chinese Wedding

Ryan — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 05:57:49 +0000

It’s hard to accurately describe what it is to attend a “Chinese” wedding. Sitting on a surreal plane, precariously balanced between old school Chinese customs and nouveau bridal magazines. The bride goes through no less than three changes of dresses, your attending gift is a pack of smokes, and forget that ‘one plate of food’ deal – it just keeps coming.

Some will see the differences, some will see the similarities. Check it out for yourself, and post your comments.

vLog.01: Chuar!

Ryan — Sun, 09 Apr 2006 05:49:50 +0000

Here it is, the first vBlog. Some friends and I headed out onto the mean streats of Dalian in hunt of some Chinese BBQ, better known as CHUAR!

As summer approaches, there’s nothing better than a few good pengyous, a couple of cheap pijius and a load of skewered random rou. Formica tables, dirty grills, and every part of an animal you can think of – what dining experience can top that?