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

THE FUTURE: 1950 STYLE
Eventually, automated homes such as those described by Ray Bradbury will exist. As of today, I am one step closer to the part where the house plays music. Let's forget about the exact scenario of the short story from The Martian Chronicles as I'd rather leave the fear of nuclear devastation for another blog entry. Also it's important to note that he wrote this short story fifty-eight years ago. Smart houses are assuredly taking longer to come to fruition than my childish notions would've predicted.

SERVING MEDIA
I'm thinking about There Will Come Soft Rains, as I have thousands of .mp3 and .wma files on an external hard drive near my computer. I use it for the collection and backing up important info. from my main drive. As discovered on Saturday the new Playstation 3 will play these networked songs through the built-in media server in Microsoft's MediaPlayer 11. My PS3 lacks a direct DTS output for stereo files, unlike my computer's sound card. However, there's something quite simple and satisfying about making a selection on the large TV screen. It just feels right to pick music with the same remote I use when watching a DVD.

GETTING IT TOGETHER
Many people already have some sort of home network today. Most are wireless and used just to get the Internet on a notebook computer without a plug. This could be a wonderful basis for a smart house. The problem is that most of our consumer electronics products do not get along. Most of the devices are not designed for interoperability. In order to make any of them work together one must work too damned hard.

TO KNOW ME IS TO LOVE ME
I envision a day when, as one walks into the house, all gadgets will ask permission to connect to the home's network. For example, I should be able to listen to a podcast on a visitor's iPod. If the system were clever enough, a graphic representing the temporary device would automatically appear on a screen showing the current technology environment. As well as the calling-card information previously entered by the visitor, the system would recognize the unprotected media on the device. I'd simply be able to direct the system to play the podcast.

FIGHTING IN A FUTURE
This is a little more complex than Ray Bradbury's circuits and tapes in the walls. However, I can easily think of a good topic for a new, short story. Let's assume that all the system devices on our imaginary network have a priority on the system. What if various devices started fighting for supremacy in the heirarchy? Every iPod Nano lusts for power, you know. Somehow, that'd make for an interesting read.

Labels: computers, futurecast, Mediaplayer, podcasts, PS3, sci-fi, technology

A Sony Playstation 3 can use its local network in order to play files shared under Windows MediaPlayer. Who knew?

Labels: Mediaplayer, PS3

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

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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

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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

... a Beer Behind.

It does seem to go like this at times. This is an old phrase that can be used to describe the guy who's never on time, can't it? Okay, maybe the beer behind part was my own invention! I can't really remember. Some days I feel like that. Alright, you caught me, so let me be more truthful: There are some YEARS I feel like that.

Recently I've been very aware of audio communication. Did you check out yesterday's syndication of the beginning episode of X Minus One? I guess 1955 is a bit on the late side. You could, of course, listen at your computer but the whole idea of podcasting is to neatly tuck it into an iPod or mp3 player for later use. Now, there's noise, noise, everywhere!

I'm a beer behind due to the fact everyone is probably playing with Internet video nowadays. The more I try to catch up the behinder I sometimes get. I do provide answers to student exercises by audio though. I'll put a short example here. I made this one earlier today, so the students in the labs can correct their work at their own pace. So, although I'm not exactly state of the art, I am a few years ahead of many of my peers.

Labels: Mediaplayer, podcasts

Pretty cheap, eh?

Labels: Mediaplayer

I've always appreciated popular music but have never been a fanatic. Of course, during one's formative years, music may occupy a more important place in life. If I'm an example, knowledge of what's hot decreases during one's thirties and forties. I will admit nowadays I've been catching a top 20 video program on a local television station. Much of what's being played now is quite interesting. Additionally, because of the visual element, there's something to experience even if one doesn't find the music engaging. It's just that, for the most part, I've not the energy to even bother learning the new artists' names.

In addition, there seems to be too much variety out there. I am a bit thankful that I grew up before the invention of mp3 players. My generation was forced into homogeny. Music was just a backdrop to events. The radio taught us what we should like. My most favourite songs were ones I learned when my friends and I ran a summer arcade. With the old jukebox, people actually paid for the privilege of selecting something to listen to. That meant everyone within earshot was also forced to experience the same artists. Now, listeners select and tote around their own, individualized audio experiences.

I chose this topic today because the other evening I was listening to an album I wanted to mention. The particular one I'm discussing is very logically organized. I would suppose that kids no longer listen to an entire album in order and I suppose we did only because it was too difficult to skip a track on a phonograph.

Regardless, I was impressed with Styx. Earlier I mentioned the term 'formative years' and this group fits the bill exactly. Their Grand Illusion was released in 1977 which is when I graduated from high school. Cornerstone came several years later. The album that sounded so good the other night was Paradise Theater. It made its debut in 1981. I completed college the same year.

Even though a quarter of a century old, the music rocked in .wma format through my computer's HDA Xplosion card and out to my aging Onkyo home theatre system in DTS. You might even say it was The Best of Times.

Labels: Mediaplayer, music

I frequently capture parts of television broadcasts as mpeg files. It's very easy to burn a bunch of them to a DVD. Of course I generally only work with segments from shows such as Mad TV or sections of the Discovery Channel so I can share with others. For example, I sent a copy from an old analog camcorder tape to a former colleague who still works overseas. He was only in about ten minutes of the original tape. Yet, it'd have been silly to fill less than 10% of a DVD, so I simply included tidbits of Monty Python and television adverts I liked.

Readying an mpeg file for DVD is simple. Trying to prepare video that will stream well over the Internet is more of a struggle. The process reminds me of trying to suck a Dairy Queen Blizzard through a baby straw. This music video was captured from a weekly, half-hour Sinhalese program originating from OMNI2 in Toronto, Canada. Click on the player below to attempt to view a broadband .wmv file.

Labels: Mediaplayer, music, television

... but eventually Microsoft gets around to tweaking till it has a winner.



At one point in time, I couldn't imagine a much better mp3 player than WinAmp. Things have changed after waiting a while. The default album cover interface of Microsoft's Media Player 11 is superb!

I'm running MS Explorer 7 beta 2 and from today this new component. At this rate, we won't have to upgrade to Windows Vista as we'll just acquire it one download at time!

Labels: Mediaplayer, Windows

There's gold in -- them -- thair -- hills. It's getting to be, if it was ever flickered on the tube, then you can now get it on disc ... for a price.



Thirty years ago, Lynda Carter, unassuming gal in the 'War Department,' used to twirl around and become the amazing Wonder Woman! I felt obligated to save this twenty-second video capture.

Labels: Mediaplayer, stars, television

I blog as regularly as clockwork, generally. However, it's time for a short vacation to New York City. We'll leave here late afternoon and connect to catch a red-eye from Las Vegas. We might find our way into an Internet cafe, but the full run down will not appear until after we return to New Westminster on May 18th.


Sometimes there is no better way
to express a feeling than by finding a
person who's already said it.

Labels: Mediaplayer, New York City, places

There's probably not a place on the planet you've visited which isn't included in someone's personal photos on Webshots. Click on community and enter a search term. (Are there really only 263,663 current photos of Las Vegas?)


Likewise, there's music in few languages
which is not presently available in a webcast.

Labels: Flickr, Mediaplayer, world

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

Click the player to hear a 4:48-minute song by Bob and Doug McKenzie. It's a Canuk-inspired version of the 12-Days of Christmas. Oh, by the way, a tuque is the Canadian term for a knit, winter pull-over, stocking cap.



(This Windows Media Player file requires the minimum of a solid 56K modem connection.)

Labels: Christmas, Mediaplayer

I can check to see how visitors find their way to this page. I find it interesting that so many people come in through Google searches. Hundreds of visitors have made it to the blog because of this song which was first available last December.



Click the player to hear the 2:48-minute song. It is Santa Baby sung by Eartha Kitt. (This Windows Media Player file requires a 56K modem connection, at minimum.)

Labels: Google, Mediaplayer

If you're mature enough to remember the type of sneakers I discussed yesterday, then you should have no problem identifying this television theme. Press play to hear a one-minute Windows Media audio file.


Really stumped? Write me a message
and I'll spill the beans.

Labels: Mediaplayer, television

You'd think I was talking about the Columbia River. Last week, my entries included photos from Grand Coulee Dam.

.
Okay here's the real stretch in logic. I
searched my musical database and came up
with this gem, Dammit, Janet, from the
Rocky Horror Picture Show. I recently got
that DVD and found it most definitely ...
before its time.

Labels: Mediaplayer, movies

Last night we set the clocks ahead before going to bed. Daylight Savings Time is now in effect. Windows XP knew and didn't even bother to ask if it was okay to change.

.
This song by Styx seemed appropriate
for today! Although I lost an hour of sleep
last night, I've got extra time this evening.

Labels: Mediaplayer, music, Windows

My first job after college was in Kuwait and I recall buying this cassette that year. Kraftwerk was composed of some German guys, drum sets, synthesizers, and tape decks. Had the term technopop been coined yet? They'd been creating music throughout the 1970's; however, this album was born at a special point in time. A confluence of technology was starting to enable the dawn of a new information age.

.
Remember, this music was released the
same year that the IBM PC rolled out. Just as in
Windows XP today, you were not able to set
those system clocks prior to 1980!

Labels: Mediaplayer, music, Windows

Yesterday's jingle written for Burger King proposed that customers had a say in personalizing their burgers. They were suggesting that McDonald's, the arch rival (so to speak!) served just pre-manufactured, warmed-by-heat-lamp fare.

So, McDonald's ran the following campaign during the second half of the 70's. This particular ad strongly suggests that only McDonald's can provide that special taste for Georgia peaches or those on California beaches. More importantly, this 30-second, Quarter Pounder spot culminates with a counter argument that at McDonald's: "We do it all for you!"

.

Related Blog Entry: See private letter to Ronnie from October 29th of last year.

Labels: food, Mediaplayer

Just in case you needed help humming yesterday's entry ...

.

Labels: Mediaplayer, television

I'm still contemplating the eventual purchase of a rear-projection television. Here is a 68-page, 1.8-megabyte PDF manual [link removed] for a Philips 46" HDTV. There were some reviews on the Internet, but I still want to find out more. Have you personally had any experience with Philips products? If you have a comment, please send me an email.




I don't think Nina Simone was singing
about a new wide-screen TV ... but
'The More I See You' certainly fits the bill.
Click the graphic above to listen.

Labels: Mediaplayer, television

Somehow this week's much-heralded photos from Mars didn't make as large an impact on me as they should have.

So, I spent quite a bit of time searching around the Internet for the historic event event mentioned in yesterday's entry. Then, I needed to convert the clip so that it'd play over a non-broadband connection. I quickly discovered a new appreciation for the rich, colour photos that the Mars Rover Mission has snapped. Still, they pale in comparison to the emotional impact of this event:



Click the player to watch a 1:01-minute, b&w, broadcast clip of man's first step on the moon. (This Windows Media Player file requires the minimum of a solid 56K modem connection.)

Labels: Mediaplayer

If you listened to Monday's audio, perhaps you're now ready for another. While you're doing work at your computer you can multi-task by listening to a report in VOA's special English.

Many of you may find that this file opens in your Windows Media Player. If this is the case, and you'd rather not spend 14 minutes listening to this, then go to NOW PLAYING -- > ADJUST SPEED SETTING. I reckon that the recording engineers at VOA electronically slow down the audio. A setting of about 1.2 puts them back in the realm of ordinary human beings!


This audio from VOA is saved in WMA format.
If you click this image, you will hear another
14-minute file.

Labels: Mediaplayer, sharing

This afternoon I begin teaching a new class. I am always looking for material to be used during computer-lab time.

I have been aware of Voice of America Radio for a long time. I learned the international broadcast service was started by the US government in 1939. When I worked overseas in the 1980's and 1990's, I heard their news in "special English". I always thought is sounded very silly! Rather than adjusting the sentence structure and vocabulary, the announcers just read the news items very ... S ... L ... O ... W ... L ...Y !

Apparently, VOA is still alive and kicking and on the Internet too. All audio and video materials they produce are public domain. I will try using some of the science and business audio during lab. I suppose I should not pass judgement until I hear what my ESL students think about VOA's "special English".



This audio from VOA is saved in WMA format.
If you click this image, you will hear a 14-minute,
medium-bandwidth file.

Labels: computer lab, Internet, Mediaplayer

Click the player to hear a 4:48-minute song by Bob and Doug McKenzie. It's a Canuk-inspired version of the 12-Days of Christmas. Oh, by the way, a toque has become the Canadian term for a knit, pull-over, winter stocking cap for one's head. (This Windows Media Player file requires the minimum of a solid 56K modem connection.)

Labels: Christmas, Mediaplayer

Click the player to hear the 2:48-minute song mentioned in one of yesterday's blog entries. It is Santa Baby sung by Eartha Kitt. (This Windows Media Player file requires a 56K modem connection, at minimum.)

Labels: Christmas, Mediaplayer, music

Click the player to hear a short (2:46 min.) MS Media Player message from me. (Maybe, you've not visited with me recently and have forgotten the sound of my voice!)

Labels: Mediaplayer

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