A Collection of Daily Wisdom by Dennis Sylvester Hurd since September 2003.

Once in a blue moon, I look over some of the standard non-blogged information on my site. It's all so general that I almost never need to update it. I do periodically modify the date on my resume document; however, as I'm not looking for a new job, nothing else ever needs changing.

I did try to play some ancient audio files this morning. They were originally recorded on a cheap cassette tape recorder sitting near a transistor radio. I encoded them as Real Audio files at least a decade ago. Unfortunately, that file format is no longer very cool nor even playable. Nowadays, up-to-date the software cannot even the locate old, streaming codec of that era. I knew if I wanted them to remain at all useful, I'd need to convert them.

Fortunately, after a half dozen false starts, I found a piece of free shareware called AudioVideo_to_Exe. It converted the old steaming .ra files to standard .mp3 format. The conversion did triple the file size but, of course, could not improve the quality of the sound. Still at around thirty minutes each, 14 mb files ain't bad.

I'm such an armchair archivist!

MP3 AUDIO

---

Radio Archive 1994 - Dubai FM, United Arab Emirates
Educationally Yours.  The HCT BBS: Mike Friganiotis, Moh'd Al-Shamsi, and of course, me (30:06 minutes)

Radio Archive 1995 - Dubai FM, United Arab Emirates
Educationally Yours.  The Internet: Mike Friganiotis, Tonia Huculak, and me (25:39 minutes)

---

Labels: BBS, Dubai, file archives, Mediaplayer

If you'd asked me a couple of months ago about audio on the Internet, I would've only been able to talk about streaming. That's been going on for more than a dozen years. I can remember trying to get adequate RealPLayer connections from my desktop at Dubai Men's College when the Internet first arrived in the UAE. Now, streaming is pretty old hat although I seldom spent much time listening. I've even offered the following .ra files from my website for at least a decade. [Editor's Note: These have now been converted to mp3 but suffer from poor quality of the original and coversion processes.]

MP3 AUDIO

---

Radio Archive 1994 - Dubai FM, United Arab Emirates
Educationally Yours.  The HCT BBS: Mike Friganiotis, Moh'd Al-Shamsi, and of course, me (30:06 minutes)

Radio Archive 1995 - Dubai FM, United Arab Emirates
Educationally Yours.  The Internet: Mike Friganiotis, Tonia Huculak, and me (25:39 minutes)

---

Things have changed though. I've only gotten interested in the concept of podcasting since buying my little 4GB Creative Zen Plus. (Incidentally, my RMA'd original unit really was dead and Creative is in the midst of shipping back a replacement by UPS. Meanwhile, I'm listening to a 2GB Zen Stone Plus.)



Podcasting is so cool. I like being able to walk out of the house with hours of radio which I've chosen to take along. I never use the FM tuner in the Zen. People may not know how easy it can be with aggregator software. Most of my friends probably know nothing about RSS feeds. It's simply a universal method to automate new Internet content so that it can be easily shared.

The image above is software that I use to collect my audio postcast episodes. Rather than getting involved in Apple's iTunes, I simply enter the rss feed into the ZENcast Organizer. It automatically updates all programs I've selected for download. Some programs might be daily while others weekly or monthly. It doesn't matter because as soon as a new show is released, it is waiting for me on my computer. I can listen on the PC or simply press a button to have the files copied to my Creative Zen.

It might take some looking around on the net to FIND the feeds but as soon as they're subscribed to, it becomes effortless. There are things from literally all over the globe. I favour technology over the news, and podcasting allows me to chose exactly what goes into my ears.

Labels: BBS, Creative Zen, Dubai, file archives, Internet, Mediaplayer, podcasts

Fifteen years can seem like a lifetime. I recently found the following information on an archive CD. This was research when I was working for the Higher Colleges of Technology in Dubai, UAE. In March of 1992, I was interested in getting a computer bulletin board system running at our college. There was no Internet available there at the time. Eventually I set up and operated a 8-modem, Major BBS/WorldGroup system. I fear that most people reading this blog entry may not even be aware of early days of computer communication.

I wish to publish the information today as a tribute to former Gulf-country sysops (system operators) who struggled with old-skool modems, uncooperative telcos, and the temperamental BBS software of the day.

---

G.C.C. Bulletin Boards (March 1992)

Area/ Name/ Number/ Speed/ (Special Hours)

Bahrain

Al-Bahrain/ Al-Madani BBS/ (973) 250454 *6/ 3-12-24-96
Al-Bahrain/ Flyers Wildcat! BBS/ (973) 336 721 / 3-12-24-96
Al-Bahrain/ Stray Cats BBS / (973) 277997 / 3-12-24-96


Saudi Arabia

Abqaiq/ Abqaiq B.B.S./ (03) 572 2197 *3/ 12-24
Abqaiq/ Abqaiq B.B.S./ (03) 572 3884 / 3-12-24
Abqaiq/ Air Ecosse/ (03) 572 1653 / 3-12-24
Qatif/ Ali Mutab B.B.S./ (03) 856 2720 / 3-12
Riyadh / B.E.S.T. B.B.S. / (01) 478 6703 / 3-12-24
Alkhobar / Bulldog B.B.S./ (03) 894 8974 / 3-12-24
Dhahran / D.P.C.S. Bytenet/ (03) 873 7852 / 3/12
Dhahran/ Darkstar B.B.S./ (03) 873 7851 / 3-12
Dhahran / Darkstar II / (03) 873 7853 / 3-12
Dhahran / Desert Boots B.B.S/ (03) 873 9241 / 3-12-24/ (17-00 to 07-00)
Jeddah/ Elyas R.B.B.S./ (02) 683 3120 *2/ 3-12
Al Khobar / Express B.B.S./ (03) 898 3980 / 3-12-24
Hofuf / Hofuf Air/ (03) 586 4382 3-12-24
Al Khobar/ Jeraisy B.B.S. / (03) 894 7394 *4/ 3-12-24
Dammam / PC-Soft (PC-NET)/ (03) 834 4413 / 3-12-24
Riyadh/ Riyadh PC Board / (01) 464 4079 *1/ 3-12-24
Jeddah / Taurus B.B.S./ (02) 667 2353 / 3-12-24
Dhahran / Viking B.B.S./ (03) 878 3887 / 3/12/24/ (21-00 to 08-00)
Yanbu / Wildcat #1 B.B.S./ (04) 396 0285 / 3-12/ (13-00 to 20-00 Sat-Thu)
Yanbu / Wildcat #2 B.B.S./ (04) 396 0285 / 3-12/ (22-00 to 11-00 Fri-Wed)


United Arab Emirates

Abu Dhabi/ Sphinx Wildcat! / (971) 2 5005202/ 3-12-24
Dubai / The First Wildcat BBS/ (971) 4 5005401/ 3-12-24
Dubai/ The Lonestar Wildcat/ (971) 4 5005403/ 3-12-24

---

Labels: Bahrain, BBS, Dubai, Saudi Arabia

I'm a big proponent of mashing up but until the other week, I didn't even know what it was. I've discovered the term can be classed as a characteristic of Web 2.0 services.

In a word, it is simply the re-use of data in another service-oriented web application. I find the whole hype of Web 2.0 interesting but I see parallels to pre-Internet days and the various applications of old, dial-in BBS systems. Sometimes new inventions seem like nothing more than old ideas wrapped in new terminology. Anyway, when I combine Flickr and blog data, it's called mashing up. Cool, eh? Someday I'll even get around to writing on the hullabaloo of tagging.

Today, I wanted to promote my New Westminster community on Flickr. I am happy to see that twenty-four other users have joined my group. Members can dump their favourite photos of New Westminster, BC into this common area. Click the screen shot above and see what's there today.

Labels: BBS, Flickr, New Westminster

I got a nice email from the UAE yesterday. It was a surprise as it was a name from long ago. It was connected with the computer bulletin board system that I initiated at Dubai Men's College of the Higher Colleges of Technology. I helped nurture modem-use in the country before the Internet had arrived.

Mr Dennis:

Hi! How've you been? It's been a long time. Do you remember me eh? You're the SysOp and I was the user! LOL The Electronic Forum BBS! You'd let me create a forum exclusively for English Language! We used to exchange mails even after you've left Dubai. But then we lost touch. I Yahoo-ed you today! That's how I got your email address again. I didn't forget your name. I wrote it in my very first homepage -- couple of years back. You used to inspire me. Still do very much. I miss you.

Sincerely,
Maqsood

It is very nice to know that one's actions are remembered and appreciated. The thing that is scary though is how quickly time passes. (I used to hear old people say that.) We left Dubai ten years ago this year. In some ways it seems like yesterday, but after seeing what present-day college students looked like at the Christmas of 1996 ...

Labels: BBS, Christmas, Dubai

Radio Personalities: Mohammed Al-Shamsi and Dennis Hurd.



This file has been kicking around on my eRésumé for years. It highlights the BBS system discussed in yesterday's entry. Our college used to produce and air a weekly program at the studios of Dubai FM. It was hosted by Mike Friganiotis and combined a mix of music with commentary about events at Dubai Men's College. Unlike most of my blog media, this half hour audio program was encoded for RealPlayer. [Editor's note: These files are now in mp3 format but the quality is poor due to their age and conversion.]

Labels: BBS, Dubai, file archives, Mediaplayer

To further the scrapbook analogy in yesterday's entry, I went hunting on an old, backup-data CD. I decided to fix my sights on something written a decade ago. I was working in the United Arab Emirates at that time. I discovered a complete sub-folder of posters and promotional material that I'd created.

The Higher Colleges of Technology System allowed me a tremendous amount of freedom to explore computer communication. I ordered Galacticom's The Major BBS software which later morphed into Worldgroups. Many newcomers will not remember the days of computer Bulletin Board Systems and cranky, 2400 bps modems which could potentially interfere with a computer's serial mouse. By now, working in ANSI and RipScript is certainly a lot art too. All these were well before widespread adoption of the Internet. I spent far too many hours tweaking and supervising . . .
The ELECTRONIC FORUM Online!
I found this notice that I wrote in February 1995. It looks like a list of names of 'long-lost' colleagues. This should allow me to burn up a bit of processing time with Google today.

---

H.C.T. Staff Accounts are automatically deleted after five months of inactivity. Just log on frequently to keep your account up-to-date.

Abdulla Almarzoqi, Aladin Zayegh, Andre Corbeil, Andrew G Nagorski, Angela Rickett, Anne L. Andres, Athol Dixon, Aziz El-Mutwalli, Barbara Kelly, Basel Badran, Behjat Al-Yousuf, Bobby Mehta, Brenda Bates, Brian Edwards, Bridget Hayes, Carl Haigh, Cecile Blackett, Chadli Belabi, Chandra Sekhar, Charles Richardson, Cheryl Fernandes, Chris Laithwaite, Chris Maloney, Columba Mealy, Coreen Dolan, Dave Tinker, Debbie Bartlett, Dennis Campbell, Dennis Hurd, Dine Lahcen, Ed Gunal, Ed McLean, Farhan Mahmood, Fraser Robinson, Gamini Weerasekera, Gary Theal, Heather McLean, Helen Davies, Hildy Benham, Homa Bina, Hoor Azami, Humayun Qadri, Hung Tan, Iain Kelly, Iftikhar Hussain, Imad Ramadan, J. Gibson, Jamal Shehab, Jamila Qawi, Jill Marriott, Joe Lindsay, John Innanen, John Moran, Jonas Amoapim, Jonathan Wilde, Joseph Yang, Julie Powell, Kamal Karim, Karen Lanphear, Ken Nichol, Khalil Khouri, Kirk Dowswell, Krishna Udupi Diggavi, Larry Garrett, Lorin Ritchie, Lorraine Zaccheus, Mahesh Nileshwar, Marcia Hijaab, Margaret Power, Marilyn Murphy, Mark Derro, Martin Greenwood, Maureen Godfrey, Maureen Szulczewski, Melanie Cranko, Michael Cross, Michelle Hinckfuss, Mike Friganiotis, Mike McPherson, Mike Thompson, Moayyad Mohammad, Mohammed Darr, Nabil A. Mahmoud, Nabil Marshi, Nagwa Abou-El-Naga, Naima Shaikh, Naser Hachem Nasri, Nigel Corroon, Nigel Ingram, Omar Ahmed Bafaqih, P.M.Rajasekaran, Patricia Bosma, Paul Coulson, Paul Mace, Peter Morley, Philip Thornhill, Prakash Basrur, Richard Day, Richard Naccarato, Richard Roshay, Rob McTavish, Robert Fournier, Robyn McDowell, Roger Noujaim, Ronnie AlMeida, Saleem Raza, Sally Edwards, Samuel Shanks, Sanjeev Ananth, Shabbir Ali, Shankar Subramanian, Shoukath Ali, Sian Walters, Souad Al Chalabi, Stella Caudill. Steve Shorb, Steve Woodward, Suad Mannaa, Sue Crosby, Suhail Manzoor, Sundari Balasubramanian, Susanne McMahon, Suzie Nicholson, Talal Sadi, Terence Cooke, Valerie Clarey, Vanitha Swaminathan, Venkat Prithviraj, Ziad Yasmine.

Labels: BBS, Dubai, file archives, lists, software, staff

Let's get a bit techie today: Streaming audio over the Internet is not new. I still have several, half-hour programs I converted from dusty, old audio tape to Real Audio format eight years ago! [Editor: These are in mp3 format now.] Information on the Higher Colleges of Technology BBS was discussed on Dubai FM and remains online to this day. Yet now, what's amazing to me is how increasing high-speed connections are providing extremely high-quality streaming nowadays. If you use MS Windows media, just go to the radio tuner tab and in the search box type 100K. There are a couple of pages of entries which should be available at near CD quality. Years ago, I thought this type of bandwidth use was just too precious for audio. [Editor: Therefore the original encoding is very poor by today's standards.]

Labels: BBS, Dubai, Internet, Mediaplayer

I am slipping. I remember explaining how to install 2400 bps modems. In the early 90's in the UAE, I ran a Major BBS/Worldgroup system with a couple of Galiticiboards (12-port serial boards) on an old 386. I've been playing with HTML documents for six or seven years. I've recently gotten around to formatting with MS FrontPage (example) rather than editing with NotePad!

I've got to admit, though, I've been slow on the uptake with the concept of blogs. Mine'll only be a simple e-journal for friends; however, I see the emergence of an extremely unique way of organizing data. Surely, there will be a lot of silly carping about why an adolescent feels life is horrific. Some people will rush to 'publish' their views on politics and these may remain, for the most part, universally unread. Love of God or guns will undoubtedly be topics consuming gigabytes of data. Yet beneath this explosion of words there is an empowerment of an individual to express ideas.

I teach technical-communication skills. If the printing press was important in the rise of literacy, then the impact of blogs will eventually be felt. Web Logs are undoubtedly important and I promise myself to try to stay more attuned to such things.

See all the blog directories:
Google Directory - Computers > Internet > On the Web > Weblogs > Directories

Labels: BBS, Dubai