ugh.  well, this youtube guy explains the problem.  the kodak zi8 records with a codec that’s not really supported in final cut express.  thus the 45 minutes of re-rendering every time i make the tiniest edit.  i thought the allure of the apple os was the personal serenity achievable in the absence of such ‘windows’ problems.  oh the bait and switch.  and of course kodak wants to sell me a solution.   first tragedy, then farce.