21 posts tagged “geek”

So here I am, up like I do not have to work but so much on my mind. I'm at a crossroads in my life right about now. People who know me music/the web is like my life line so imagine getting a "rules and regulations" that we can not listen to our iPod/mp3 players. That is like cutting off my life line. To be honest, I can't see how people not have music or not be connected to the web and for me that's like cutting off my oxygen. My wife has mentioned this to me as well as my new Vox buddy SerenityLife that I need to look into something in the line of technology. I think I'm on the right track with my communication degree and down the road I may look into web design because maybe it's just the geek in me but I can't see how people CAN NOT be on the web.

I truly believe I am coming into my own, getting confidence in my writing skills, my voice skills. I am beginning to truly believe I have talent. So many people have helped me along the way this year:Fave, Eve, ToddKelley, ejflavors, Suni, Luis, SerenityLife, Jen,Patrice, Lauren, Tammie, UberTech, northerngeek, Lilia, Ray,doyouknowclarence Ms Genevieve, Lo, crankylibrarian, Michelley-Shell, Steve, Stacey, lemon,trappedinthemindofinvsiblegirl(say that 10 times fast) and to so many others I fool heartily forgot to name I am truly thankful to you all. To be honest I have cut out much television out of my life so that's a start...they already have theirs, now it's time for me to get mine. Back to this iPod/Web thing....

I remember my first computer, The Commodore 64, then I upgraded to the Commodore 128 and to be honest I have to thank my grandmother, Izine Humphrey for my "geek genes". She was the first who bought me my first digital watch, my first Sony Walkman(that is when they took 4AA batteries), my first train set, she taught me about how to appreciate different music, not to be ashame of who I was, what I enjoyed...from talk radio, having me listen to radio drama, from classical music, music by The Carpenters she was there for me and I truly thank God for her (I miss her so much). Izine Humphrey...my true geek hero. From here I have now a couple of iPods, a couple of minidisc player(my crusade continues to bring them back, ya hear me Fave? LOL). So much I have learned about computers but so much more I have to learn which is always a treat because as my mentor Mr. Cleo Horton taught me,

I can't let that happen. I know I am getting older but I can't let my mind, body and soul get "old".

Learning about computers, coming up in the age of the true arcades: remember Pac Man, Ms. PacMan, Elevator Action, Battle Zone, Space Invaders? And music, oh my word: Ohio Players, WAR, Bar-Kays, Lakeside, Parliment/Funkadelics, Aerosmith, Boston, Pink Floyd, Rush, Queen, England Dan & John Ford Corley, America, Grandfunk Railroad...I could go on and on. For me these two things were my escape, coming up an only child, not many friends it forced me to use my imagination that I am so thankful today. To me I was truly blessed to come up in the age of the 70s, 80s music wise. To me true pioneers like Prince, Michael Jackson and groups like The Time, Duran Duran; hip-hop stars like Grandmaster Flash, Run-DMC, Ice Cube, The Sugar Hill Gang(ya can't forget about them), KRS-One, Del la Soul, Tribe Called Quest, Wu Tang Clan, the list is endless.

So, what I'm I waiting on? What are you so afraid of Keith? God has put this in me for a reason and now it's time for me to let it come forth. Even now, it's now close to 2am and I am wide awake. T.D. Jakes has said that you do what you have a passion for, you will stay up late, go without eating and I am seeing this is my passion. To share tech stories, tech tips, God's word, music, it's in my blood and I can't let this passion die. One thing that keeps me going is when I heard some one say (I think it was Joel Olsteen) if you ever want to many ideas that never reached their peak go to a grave site...so many authors, so many talented people never did what God put into them because of fear. I can not let this happen to me and it will not. God put too much talent into me to let it waste away sitting in a cubicle calling ungrateful patients, nasty nurses at doctors' offices.

So, the next move is you Keith, whatcha gonna do?

• focus more on my writing(blogging)
• focus more on my music blog
• focus more on researching more tech stories
• take my education more serious this time around
• do more for my church
• love my wife more
• stop and smell the roses more
• get more more voice on my podcast
• reach out to more people(a close mouth does not get fed)
• love life more

I think that's a good start.

crosspost from mylifethisworld

Don't get me wrong. I know the world is not perfect, I don't walk around with "rose-colored" glasses but does it seems like even the Weather Channel is now dappling into "negative" programming. It used to be a time I would turn on the Weather Channel just to get the weather locally, listen to the cool smooth jazz tracks they would play along with showing of the local weather broadcast, I would tune in to see what's going on in other states. I really do not watch that much local news...it's just too depressing. I really do not follow sports. The Weather Channel was my buddy, my friend.

Now they have programs, "IT COULD HAPPEN TOMORROW!!!" and others programs that I cannot remember (thank goodness) that is painting a dire outlook for our planet. What is going with the Weather Channel? If I want negativity I can watch our local news channels here in St. Louis. Yesterday on our local news channel, KMOV/Channel 4, "How the Social Security department is declaring many dead...AND THEY'RE NOT!!" You know television has taken a turn for the worse when G4 has to air, "Cops".

*geez*

I think I am moving away from television more and more. Used to be a time I would say "that's it...no more television" but would see myself still glued to it. But with school work now, some issues at home I have really become detach from television and really from home life to be honest.

I am a person who like to surround myself with positive people, positive themes....I do not like what I call, "unnecessary" drama. This is why I listen more and more to podcast, listen to public radio and I really need to get a schedule for HGTV, The Travel Channel, The Discovery Channel. Now that I think about it, I think I will save these channels as favorites on my computer. The USA Network was one of favorite channels because they brought intelligent shows like Monk, Pyshc, The 4400, the mini series Traffic; now they are bringing this "Starter Wife" to this channel. I really hope this show does not make it. It's bad enough we have daytimes soaps/Girlfriends/Desperate Housewives shows on the airwaves...now this? Shouldn't this be a Lifetime or Oxygen show? I dunno, maybe I am the only one that feels this way or maybe it's the geek in me but I am really getting sick and tired of crap. It's ironic that they bring crap to television but then wonder why our culture here in the U.S. acts like crap. As the saying goes, "Garbage in...Garbage out". The one show, "Burn Notice" seems interesting and I hope this show takes off in a good way.

I really have to begin investing in my favorite TV series on DVDs and just tune out television once and for all.

Any suggestions for books for me to read?

from my godNgadgets blog...

Windows Media Player 10 : IN...MusicMatch Jukebox 10: OUT:

This past week has been an eye opener for me. For years I never used Windows Media Player unless I really had to use it...this week I had to use and the experience was not bad at all. Media Player 10 by far is a pretty nice player to rip and burn CDs. The latest version of MusicMatch has left a very bad taste in my mouth and I can't brush my tongue hard enough to get the bad taste of my mouth (I'm over exaggerating but I do not like the latest version MusicMatch). Yahoo acquired MusicMatch and as always it was a really power little strong application. It focused on audio, you could record music from cassettes or LPs, the tagging was really nice but it's really sad when some of the companies buy other companies and a was great app will be turned into "junk"

First and foremost I have older versions of MusicMatch so I was upset that whenever I was use my older version they stopped working. At first I thought the program got corrupted or messed up as some programs do from time to time but then I got to thinking about every time I would go and use MusicMatch a pop up window would ask, "do I wish to upgrade" or "another version is available" and I would click "No" and then it hit me, Yahoo reached inside of my system to have my program not function and to me that is just wrong to the 100th power. This is a legal copy of MusicMatch so how dare you come into my system and make me upgrade.

I finally broke down and downloaded the free MusicMatch Jukebox and at first it was pretty cool. Then this past week the headaches began. First, every single time I opened MusicMatch, that window would pop up, "to receive faster burning for CDs and ripping to your computer...upgrade to MusicMatch Plus. Now grant it, it's only 20 bucks and I believe it's a one-time thing where you do not have to upgrade again but that became pretty tiresome

Second, after so many burns you can not burn mp3 cds or data cds. I like burning my mp3s into data cd instead of mp3, this way I like because it keeps the songs in separate folders so when I use my Sony CD mp3 player I can scan to folders to listen to just one artist or I can shuffle the entire cd I have burned and this is a plus for me when it comes to this because Windows Media Player and iTunes does not have this feature so imagine my "ticked off" level going up when it a window pops up saying, "you have used your trial burn extension and you will not be able to use this function unless you upgrade to MusicMatch Plus."

Now my geek brother Luis has told me about Windows Media Player for a while for burning and ripping cds so I tried it this past week and it's not have bad...not bad at all. Score one for Microsoft. ^_^

A couple of things to let you know about Windows Media Player that I have come across. You may have to play around with it and find out exactly how to burn your cds because you have to make a Playlist first (just like iTunes). Once you figure out how to do that your okay. Another thing, Media Player 10 comes with the capability to burn in mp3 format. Media Player 9 did not and if you did you had to download a plug-in and it is not free. One more thing, do not download Windows Media Player 11 because from what I here DRM is all over this version so stick with 10 I think you will really like it.

Now you will have to go inside Media Player 10 and configure it to covert your tracks into mp3 and I would uncheck the box for "copy proctection" because this way when it comes to mp3 formatted cd you can play them in any player that supports that type of format. If you do not uncheck it, the cd will only play in Windows Media Players only.

Now for my older versions for MusicMatch...

I installed it and unchecked any box that will have me check for any updates for plug-ins, drivers, new versions because;

1. I do not need a new version
2. I will only use it now for just burning data cds

Down the road I may try the new MusicMatch but for now I will not because again, for a company to be able to reach into your system and disable an older, "legitimate" version of an application that I own is not cool to me at all. I will let you know how this systems work out for me and will give you an update later but for now I have found a new friend and it's name is Windows Media Player 10..."Hey ya Joe...whad do ya know?" ^_~

{older versions of MusicMatch can be found at OldApps.com}

Note: Since this post I have tried to load my version of MusicMatch Jukebox on my other laptop and it will not let me do so. I have since moved on to Nero. I really do hate this because MM was a cool little program.

*sigh*

Everything thing, good or bad, comes to an end.

{This was written April 3, 2007 Tuesday on a rainy but blessed day while at work and other content has been added today…*sigh*  *_* It’s tough having so many interests and so little time to explore them…it should be 30 hours in a day LOL}

 

   

 
This is one day I wish I was at home either just relaxing or working or writing. I'm here at work and it's not too bad but chatting with my buddy Luis via email we both agree...why is it that when you are on lunch or on your break at work time goes so quick but when you are at your desk or out in the field time just seems to drag?

 Because we are working because we have to work; Let me clean that up...we have to work regardless because we have to small things like...pay bills and eat. But I guess what I am trying to say is we really need to pursue what makes us happy, the gifts God has given us we must really apply them to our lives. Luis read a article on the gentleman that started Satellite radio (he did not say if it was XM or Sirus) but the guy told the interviewer that he would do it for free because he has such a passion for what he does and I can relate.

To my young Vox neighbors, I know you have heard this time and time again but it's best to "pay" now and "play" later. Have your fun true enough but take college seriously, if you stay under your parents' roof...respect and obey them. Parents are not perfect but don't view them as "people that are out of touch with reality". They are not trying to keep you from fun but they have been down that road and your parents do not want you to have to live through the, "shoulda, woulda, coulda" stages.

While doing my research here at work I have been listening to some real soothing music by Billy McLaughlin and Philippe Saisse (the music that I have in this post) and a nature cd with nice electronic music in the background. It's amazing how much music I have and never really listen to it(shame on me). It's amazing how music can make your day. ^_^

 Luis hipped me on to this amazing app....PortableApps and it is so cool. This is a group of applications that you can keep on your thumb drive(the portable application suite takes up a little over a hundred mbs...89mbs to downloads...I'm using a 1gb thumb drive but after loading it...I want a 2gb). PortableApps consists of Mozilla Firefox, OpenOffice, GIAM, Thunderbird, Sunbird, Sudoku. All of these applications on a thumb drive. The neat thing about this is that you can plug this into almost any Windows computer and work without worry about leaving any trace of your data and if the computer has the internet you can use Firefox to surf the web, Thunderbird to check your email, OpenOffice apps to do word documents, spreadsheet, powerpoint presentations, you have GIAM as your aim account...and the cool thing about it is you can add or remove application you are not using (it's according to what space you have on your USB thumb drive). And of course...it's free. ^-^

Finally had a chance to catch up with my other geek brother, Javier yesterday. He’s doing really well. We caught on “geek” stuff. He’s working on getting another desktop. We were discussing how cheap thumb drives are now…it’s really crazy(but in a good way). 15 months ago a 1GB thumb drive ran about $100 bucks but now you can pick one up for around 20-30 bucks, it’s so great to be a geek. I don’t have any regrets but if I could turn back the hands of time just a “little” bit I could have a little more time to enjoy the some of the tech gadgets that will come out down the road…naw, I love my age and what I know and what I will learn as time go on and new technology comes our way.

I really have to get back down to Florida, hopefully later this year, I really miss Luis, Javier, and the people I befriended while working at CuraScript…(I wonder what Joanna(Olga), Chad, Vanessa, Dianna, Natalie, Carolina or up to now?)

Finally added my podcast to my iPod and that feels good so now I can really be at peace will at work. So many unhappy people here dealing with mean patients, unhappy home lives, Thank God I have you in my life Christ Jesus and thank you for blessing me with my best friend…my wife. ^_^

I added PortableApps to my iPod and add some other programs (7-Zip, Miranda, and VLC) . I just think it’s so cool to be able to carry applications around just on one usb drive and be able to work from just about any computer, man life is so good. ^_~

Luis sent me two more websites to check out from StumbleUpon and these look pretty cool, one is a media player (I have too many on my system) and the other is an open source combo cd (another thing to have on a thumb drive)

Well that's it for now...Lata Gators

 

 

 

 

 

 

Listening to Leo The Tech Guy and Leo and Steve Gibson were chatting about a update that Microsoft should have passed on to us XP users but never did but thanks to Mr. Gibson he has shared it with us common folks. To really understand it please listen to Tech Guy episode #334 but it mainly has to do with XP and an update for closing a hole in reference to their wireless software for XP. Here is the link about this subject and  to download the software and get your system right.

 

 

 

 

You know your favorite geek is always listening to his podcast, surfing the web, trying to hook my Vox neighbors up with something. I was listening to my favorite geek(Leo) and he and Mike Lazzazzera(hopefully he will be coming with his own website or blog soon) were discussing free music from the South by Southwest conference..bka...SXSW and they have release 739 songs...yes 739 mp3s from the conference via torrent for free. Click on the link under SXSW 2007 Showcasing Bands MP3s and begin your downloading.

Now remember, 3gigs..so you may want to do this overnight or if you don't plan on using your computer for a while now, do it now.

Always lookin' at for ya. Thanx Leo and Mike...I have said it once and I'll say it again, man I love being a geek. ^_^

Enjoy

Note: You have to download BitTorrent first and according to how many people are using BitTorrent it may take a while. :-(

I am slowly getting back into the swing of blogging again. The 2 week break from posting has really been a blessing in hindsight. It makes me appreciate the art of words, using my imagination, sharing information, my thoughts with the world…whether it’s 5 people or 50,000 people. The time away has made me realize how much I miss the web, the people I have met, and the things I have and will continue to learn. So much I have to share>>>more

I wasn't going to post today but if I don't want to do that I shouldn't surf the web. This is going out to all the geeks and non-geeks alike. As you know CompUSA will be closing over a hundred stores do to reconstruction(they lost about 100million last year...ouch). Here is the listing of the store closings because you know it's going to be many mark downs.

At this time I wish I had extra cash laying around or just plain rich.

Getting tired of hearing ringtones by Brittany Spears, Lil' Jon and the other "stuff" out there....try ringtones with wolves, frogs, birds. Center for Biological Diversity have free ringtones from Orca whales, wolves, and other fun creatures. Me personally, I have gone back to the regular ringtones(you know, how a phone is suppose to sound) but I may download some of these ringtones.

I found this out a little while back(I know my lil sis Suni will be happy about this) but the anti-virus AVG still offers a free anti-virus. A while back they were saying they no longer offer the free anti-virus software but it's still available. here is the link....

http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/5390/lng/us/tpl/v5#avg-anti-virus-free

Of course they have a anti-virus that you pay for but to me, I would use NOD32 or AVG because these to are not BLOATWARE and it does what it suppose to do...keep your machine run good. Now, there is no anti-virus software that is 100% effect. I just found out (but no suprise) is that Microsoft Live OneCare anti-virus ranks the lowest when it comes stopping computer viruses. Listen to Tech Guy episode #331 for more details.

Even though these are free it's just best to pay the 30-40 bucks a year for these products(not McAfee and Norton) and have a piece of mind than having to reformat and re-install everything.

Recap of some tech news that caught my eye...

• Now you get porn on your phone...oye
• First Napster went legit...now Bit Torrent is following suit
• Should you sell or stick it out when people come a knockin' for a web business you have started?
• A company out of Texas are coming after Apple and Sandisk in regards to mp3 patent
• Apple delaying AppleTV release date
• Another warning about Vista from Symantec...another legit warning from them or is it sour grapes?
• Google going to the government to sell their goods
• Three new companies on the Web 2.0 radar that's causing a buzz
• A new Motorola Razr cell phone maybe coming in Gold...Eric Zeman says in so many words, "Who Cares? Make better handsets.
• Mobile TV launch March 1st via Verizon...too early to say but I hope this has cable companies quaking in their boots.
• On the fence about Blackberrys...InformationWeek gives 5 reasons why this device is still the king of the hill.
• Check out "The Woz" in this 1983 Datsun commercial
• Another software program to make ripping CD easy for the Mac.
• eWeek's top 10 Worst Tech Related bills written by Congress so far
• CompUSA plans to close 126 stores in reference to reconstruction of the stores
• iTunes player closing in on Real Player as a online media player of choice
• Music industry willing to make a deal with college students over illegal downloads
• CBS looking to do what the Doritos ad campaign did with the Super Bowl for March Madness
• Sirus head hancho pushing merger for the two radio satellite

Cool Web Tool:
Meebo(Thanx again Lauren)

Podcast To Check Out:
net@nite 14: Code Monkey Like Fritos
Friday Favecast: Baby Daddies, Potter Pimpin' & Music52

VideoPodcast To Check Out:
DL.TV episode #137 about how to search on Google more effective. :-) and episode #141(Firefox extensions)

...and a shout out to Suni
there is a write up about her in GeekySpeaky. She is being recognized for her blogging...This is too cool :-)

Music artist in this podcast:

• Jeff Kashiwa................................Stay With Me
• Steve Oliver...................................First View