JIMM 33 - Play That Funky Music

Mood: soooo tired
Listening to: The SG Show #28
Reading:Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince - chapter 16
Eating: LaRosa's pizza
Watching: Disney channel with Keisha, soon I think

Well, the latest podcast is now available. I used some different software to produce it and a different set of microphone and headphones.

With that in mind, and after having listened to it, I feel the need to offer an explanation about what happened as I was recording it:

I had set the configuration of Pod Producer, the software I used to record the podcast, in such a way that the volume was really loud upon playback. I knew that wouldn't go over well.

Also, as I mentioned on the podcast, I recorded the whole thing simultaneously in Audacity, the software I'd been using to record and mix the podcasts prior to this episode.

The version from Audacity sounded better, but it was still a little bit loud. I adjusted the Gain on the file to make it sound softer and then mixed it into a different mp3 file.

I preferred using Pod Producer because I could put show notes into the ID3 tag, as well as a customized album art picture of myself. So I discarded the original mp3 from Pod Producer and opted to play the mp3 that Audacity generated in Pod Producer; basically, it was a one-track show. I'd also reset the configuration to what Ed Ovett from Ed's Mixed Bag recommended.

I think the version that is available sounds so soft is because I didn't look at the mixed sound file from Audacity before bringing it into Pod Producer.

In order to listen to this podcast enjoyably, you'll probably need to turn the volume on your mp3 player and computer up higher than you would normally do. Another option, if you're so technically inclined, is to bring the file into your mp3 editor, such as Audacity, and apply a higher amplification to it - so that it sounds louder overall.

Furthermore, in order to be able to play sound clips and record my voice, I had to switch back and forth from Stereo Mix to Microphone, using Windows Volume Control in the system tray. That meant that there's not much cross-fading going on, and that i couldn't do voiceovers for the music.

In addition, there were some brief moments where, when recording using the Stereo Mix control, the windows event sounds and sounds at a website were picked up. The most noticeable instance of this occurs during the second clip from Police on the Scene with a Crime Prevention Lean. I'd begun instant messaging someone, and the sounds from that session were picked up by Pod Producer.

Nevertheless, I am very pleased with the amount of work it took to produce this episode, and I think I can only get better. I'm very much interested in your feedback, good or bad.

Thanks for listening!

Orthopedic surgeon and Podcast Updates

Mood:tired
Listening to: fan in our apartment
Reading: Harry Potter and the HBP (beyond chap. 14)
Eating: LaRosa's Baked Buddy and Italian Garden Salad for lunch
Watching: miscellaneous goings on from our living room window

Jennie went with me to the orthopedic surgeon appointment this afternoon:

The doc looked at the MRI results and checked my mobility and reflexes, specifically in my left leg, since that's where it's been affected most.

He showed us where the disc had degenerated and is pushing against a nerve. There's another one near it that also isn't looking that good.

Nevertheless, he didn't feel that surgery was warranted. (whew!) He's ordered some physical therapy: twice a week over the next month, and we'll see how things go from there. As for the pain, etc., he wants me off the Vicodin and on a different muscle relaxer like Naproxen.

So, a big thank you goes out to everyone who has had me in their thoughts and prayers.

Podcasting Update:

I'm feeling very tired right now, and since I just put out the podcast on Monday, I probably won't get to one until over the weekend. Jennie and Keisha have helped me pick out the songs I'm going to play. Maybe we can get some other content to go with it soon.

Speaking of podcasts, you don't need an iPod to listen to them. There are so many ways you can listen, including via CD, when someone has burned them onto one. In keeping with this, Adam Curry, yesterday on his Daily Source Code podcast, provided a 21 second CD Intro for folks to place at the beginning.

Jennie recently bought Keisha a portable CD player, so I've been getting some tracks lined up for a custom CD with some podcasts and podsafe music to put on it. And I'll be putting the Podfather intro on it, to be sure.

Hearing Loss News and Articles: Finding the right headphones

I found this article especially good for two main reasons:

1. I have a daughter who is hard of hearing
2. I spend a lot of time listening to audio content on a portable mp3 player

Hearing Loss News and Articles: Finding the right headphones

Workplace Worries - JOKE ALERT!

crossposted to Get That Job!

Fresh out of business school, the young man answered a want ad for an accountant. He was being interviewed by a very nervous man who ran a three-man business:

"I need someone with an accounting degree," the man said. "But mainly, I'm looking for someone to do my worrying for me."

"Excuse me?" the young accountant said.

"I worry about a lot of things," the man said. "But I don't want to have to worry about money. Your job will be to take all the money worries off my back."

"I see," the young accountant said. "And how much does the job pay?"

"I will start you at eighty-five thousand dollars."

"Eighty-five thousand dollars!" the young man exclaimed. "How can such a small business afford a sum like that?"

"That," the owner said, "is your first worry."

via the Funny Jokes - Funny Jokes and Humor page

My IQ Score

Mood: upbeat
Listening to: Le Jazz Affair 16-012206 (podcast with a tech flair)
Reading: Harry Potter and the HBP
Eating: not had lunch yet

Tickle: Tests, Matchmaking and Social Networking, says:

Congratulations, Dan!
Your IQ score is 133

This number is based on a scientific formula that compares how many questions you answered correctly on the Classic IQ Test relative to others.

Your Intellectual Type is Visionary Philosopher. This means you are highly intelligent and have a powerful mix of skills and insight that can be applied in a variety of different ways. Like Plato, your exceptional math and verbal skills make you very adept at explaining things to others — and at anticipating and predicting patterns. And that's just some of what we know about you from your IQ results.

JIMM 32 - I C U Shiver with Anticipation

Mood: relieved
Listening to: Keisha sleeping in her bed
Reading: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2nd time)
Eating: Honey pepper chicken, snow peas, and "shells and cheese"
Watching: The Weather Channel (ooh how exciting!)

It took a lot longer than usual, mainly because of our car search last week, but the latest episode of Journey Inside My Mind is up.

Head over to the podcast page and listen. Then let me know what you think!

My Flickr Photos Are Fun

Until I get the sidebar links updated, I'll just post this here:

Flickr: Photos from danimal0416

On the Search for a Different Car

Mood: hard-pressed, but not beaten down
Listening to: 6620 West Kidcast
Reading: lots of used car ads
Eating: Smooth and Bumpy, a snack that Keisha created for us

It has been a very trying week for us, as we've been on the search for a different car. You may recall that our other car - our only mode of transportation - died last week. I thought I'd provid an update here:

More than anything, it's a faith-building experience, an experience in surrender before the Almighty God. Some may say that's a little bit or a lot over the top, but we believe that God is able to do for us things we cannot do ourselves.

To be true, we need to do work for this ourselves. But, at least for me, I'm so prone to stress and anxiety in this situation. I know that God can help with that. I believe that God is able to work certain things that are beyond our control out for our good.

We've looked at a few cars, and checked a lot of other cars out on the internet via CarFax, which I highly recommend.

We've been renting a vehicle during this time, and that is the equivalent of more than filling up the gas tank every day. This big drain on our bank account is a cause for stress, and it's overflowed in my interactions with Jennie, Keisha, and our pets.

I'm so prone to frustration, and the anger and rage I feel from not being in control of these aspects of our circumstances has led to sinful behavior; namely, angry outbursts, impatience, and episodes of self-harm.

Please keep us in your prayers. The podcast episode will probably be delayed at least a few days, until we get the car situation straightened out.

Can You Read This?

Got this message in the e-mail from a coworker this morning:

Olny srmat poelpe can raed tihs.

cdnuolt blveiee that I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd what I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in what oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is that the first and last ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. This is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

If you can raed this psas it on!!

Radio is Running Scared

What a crock! A big, steamy pile of bull! Radio is the old way; podcasting is the new. These stations can have their cookie-cutter "artists". I'll keep playing the independent artists.

Radio is Running Scared