Remove Scratches from DVDs with Liquid Metal Polish

The Consumerist blog lead us to an old post on the Wise Bread blog which discusses several interesting methods for removing scratches from CDs or DVDs. Suggested methods include using tooth paste, a banana, chewing gum, and most effectively – Brasso, or any liquid metal polish. This video shows you how it’s done, but as … Continue reading “Remove Scratches from DVDs with Liquid Metal Polish”

The Consumerist blog lead us to an old post on the Wise Bread blog which discusses several interesting methods for removing scratches from CDs or DVDs. Suggested methods include using tooth paste, a banana, chewing gum, and most effectively – Brasso, or any liquid metal polish.

This video shows you how it’s done, but as a reminder, never try this at home with an American University Library Media Services DVD. Just return and report any problems you have, and leave the repairs to the trained professionals: us!

DC is now down to one Blockbuster

[This Blockbuster is located at 410 8th Street, SE Washington, DC ] Now that spotting an open Blockbuster location is a novelty that merits a double take, and scores of other video rental chains have vanished, movie fans who want to rent some DVDs for the road have had to change the way they operate. … Continue reading “DC is now down to one Blockbuster”

[This Blockbuster is located at 410 8th Street, SE Washington, DC ]
Now that spotting an open Blockbuster location is a novelty that merits a double take, and scores of other video rental chains have vanished, movie fans who want to rent some DVDs for the road have had to change the way they operate.

According to a Washington Post trend story, the lack of DVD rental stores complicates road trips. Noting that D.C. is now down to its last Blockbuster, the reporter talks to renters who lament the changing times.

Read more here.
[As seen on the Consumerist blog]

In the spirit of the Sundance Film Festival, here’s a great post about past year films…

http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/dailyloaf/2011/01/17/greatest-sundance-hits-must-see-indie-classics/ Here’s a collection of films that have played at the Sundance Film Festival…

http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/dailyloaf/2011/01/17/greatest-sundance-hits-must-see-indie-classics/

Here’s a collection of films that have played at the Sundance Film Festival…

Todd’s Tips: Take Your DVDs to the Next Level

One of the easiest ways to put the movie you’ve made onto a playable DVD (as opposed to a file saved on a disc) is to use iDVD. Which is admittedly a fine way to make a dvd for class. But, suppose you want to make a DVD that has your project and your contact … Continue reading “Todd’s Tips: Take Your DVDs to the Next Level”

One of the easiest ways to put the movie you’ve made onto a playable DVD (as opposed to a file saved on a disc) is to use iDVD. Which is admittedly a fine way to make a dvd for class.

But, suppose you want to make a DVD that has your project and your contact info. Suppose it’s something you want to submit as part of an internship or job application? What do you do then?
Well, you probably don’t want to use iDVD since all you can get there are pre-made themes with music and all other kinds of stuff you can’t get rid of…
There is an alternative: DVD Studio Pro. Here are some tutorials to get you started…

20 Horror Films You Should See

Tis the season to be frightened and there are plenty of scary movies in the Home Use Collection in Media Services to get you in the Halloween mood. The following is a list of 20 to get you started. There are tons more where these came from. Coffin Joe Trilogy (Brazillian cult horror) – HU … Continue reading “20 Horror Films You Should See”



Tis the season to be frightened and there are plenty of scary movies in the Home Use Collection in Media Services to get you in the Halloween mood. The following is a list of 20 to get you started. There are tons more where these came from.

Coffin Joe Trilogy (Brazillian cult horror) – HU DVD 497-499
At Midnight I’ll Take Your Soul – HU DVD 497
This Night I’ll Possess Your Corpse– HU DVD 498
Awakening of the Beast– HU DVD 499
Night of the Living Dead – dvd 600
The Orphanage – HU DVD 639
Videodrome – HU DVD 64
Exorcist – HU DVD 2002
Friday the 13th – HU DVD 859
Carrie – HU DVD 5805
Ichi the Killer – HU DVD 1512
The Host – HU DVD 7652
Gojira – HU DVD 6181
Descent – HU DVD 3850
Evil Dead 2 – HU DVD 926
28 Days Later – HU DVD 952
The Thing – HU DVD 1410
Rosemary’s Baby – HU DVD 5783
Dracula – HU DVD 862
Shaun of the Dead – HU DVD 6279
Texas Chainsaw Massacre – HU DVD 352
Blair Witch Project – HU DVD 24
Ringu – HU DVD 1547

Todd’s Tips – Easy Video Importation into iDVD

While iDVD is one of the simplest DVD creation programs out there, sometimes it can throw folks for a loop.   Say for example, you had a video that you made and it’s lingering in some folder somewhere.  You open up iDVD, find a template and then what?  Now, you can use the “Import” command … Continue reading “Todd’s Tips – Easy Video Importation into iDVD”

While iDVD is one of the simplest DVD creation programs out there, sometimes it can throw folks for a loop.  

Say for example, you had a video that you made and it’s lingering in some folder somewhere.  You open up iDVD, find a template and then what?  Now, you can use the “Import” command from the File menu, but there’s an even easier way to do it.
Now, say your video’s file name is “myRadVideo.mov”
It’s as simple as dragging the video from its folder into the iDVD theme.  Now, here’s the tricky part.  Most of the iDVD themes have “Drop Zones” on them, delineated by a black and yellow caution-style border.  DO NOT put the video there.  That will simply make it part of the theme.  Instead, drag and drop the file somewhere else on the theme.  You’ll know you’ve done it right when the file name appears on the screen.  
One last thing to do.  Select that file name and type the word “Play.”  This will appear on the screen when the DVD is played as a clickable button.  You can leave the original file name, but DVD convention dictates that people are looking for that “Play” button and not some odd file name.  Don’t want to give your professor any reason to not be able to watch your video.

Check out the Media Services Blu-ray collection!!

When it comes to Blu-ray, we’re just getting our feet wet. As more quality titles come out on Blu-ray, we’ll be sure to add to our collection and announce them here. Remember: Blu-ray DVDs can only be played on Blu-ray DVD players. We have one here in Media Services in viewing room 10. Please feel … Continue reading “Check out the Media Services Blu-ray collection!!”

When it comes to Blu-ray, we’re just getting our feet wet. As more quality titles come out on Blu-ray, we’ll be sure to add to our collection and announce them here. Remember: Blu-ray DVDs can only be played on Blu-ray DVD players. We have one here in Media Services in viewing room 10. Please feel free to come down to Media Services to check out one of these titles to watch in Room 10, so you can see what Blu-ray’s all about.

Avatar – HU BLU-RAY DVD 7045
Bonnie and Clyde – HU BLU-RAY DVD 1605
Fantastic Mr. Fox – HU BLU-RAY DVD 7046
Nixon – HU BLU-RAY DVD 28
El Norte – HU BLU-RAY DVD 5225
Persepolis – HU BLU-RAY DVD 4498
Planet Earth – HU BLU-RAY DVD 2721 – 2725
Ponyo – HU BLU-RAY DVD 6937
Ratatouille – HU BLU-RAY DVD 3814
Searchers – HU BLU-RAY DVD 1808
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – HU BLU-RAY DVD 6329
Stagecoach – HU BLU-RAY DVD 50
Watchmen – HU BLU-RAY DVD 6080
Up – HU BLU-RAY DVD 6690