With endless capabilities, Final Cut Pro is an amazing program that can do more than just produce quality multimedia clips, it can also send you to an early grave. As I've been working to put the finishing touches on my photo essay, which incorporates both photo and video, I've found myself grinding my teeth, biting my lip, and having wild hallucinations of a computer free falling from the third of Allen Hall.

Why must I "render all" every damn time I make the tiniest adjustment? Give me a break FCP. When I'm using FCP, I always wonder how many clicks a mouse has until it just says "for the love of god no more!" and stops clicking. I ask the same of my right pointer finger...

At least there's hot keys.

Which brings up an important point. Hot keys are an amazing editing tool, and they need to be taught. I've slowly been learning the hot keys for Photoshop and FCP. I finally figured out that the weird symbol that's been eluding me for the course of the year is the option key (thank you Jason Reed), and it's made all the difference. Every lab should have a poster listing the hot keys if the J School is to succeed in the digital editing age.

So that's that for now. I've got a date with FCP to attend, and if things go my way maybe I'll hit all the right keys.