Tuesday, May 23, 2006

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temptation...


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Sunday, May 21, 2006

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All in Place...

It took time, but the necessary files that needed to be moved from the old computer to the new one has been finally done!
Thanks largely to 2 re-writable cds and some patience waiting for the old computer to slowly do what it needed.
So finally, the show can go on... well, ok, it did... sort of... I had it all planned out and everything in place... so I decided to wake up not so perky. So, my dear darling fiancee took over the show while I drank coffee and felt sorry for myself.
That said... there won't be a show next week... because we'll be in Leicester, more specifically, headed for the National Space Centre for a concert, and we'll be staying the night there before being brought back home sometime on Sunday and probably too late to do anything as regards a broadcast of any sort.
But rest assured, things will return to normal the following Sunday.
And YES, before you ask, I will be taking as many pics as I can let myself get with my camera, so no having to guess if I have or not. If they're online, you'll know!!!

I'm also currently back to experimenting with audio and other sounds - now that I have the disk-space that I need (YEEHAAA!!!)
I've also got the Audigy card in my old PC too (A nice straight swap for the 5.1 soundblaster live methinks...) and strangely enough, it's working so much better there than it did when it arrived in the new computer. Not that I'm complaining of course as it makes a change being able to record and do stuff and have it all sound absolutely as it should be.
So, I'll be doing a lot of things over the coming weeks...
More than I can actually sit down and plan.
Whats worse is that I've started to understand the drum machine like it was my bestest ever friend on the whole planet - which of course may mean something or nothing depending on what happens. Instruction manual? nope.. dont have one and the one I do have in .pdf makes about as much sense as I do when I've not had enough coffee in the morning.

Squirrels. Bless our dear darling squirrel, for she showed up today in the rain all wet and soggy and still managed to look drop-dead gorgeous!
She stopped for some nuts on the kitchen windowsill, but I didn't have the heart to grab my camera and take a picture as it didn't seem neither right nor fair. I'll be getting some more nuts in the next couple of days and some batteries for the camera aswell as experimenting with some different camera angles.

All this and preparation for weekend - I'll be too busy to post anything else, unless of course it warrants it, of course.

Next Audio Coffee in a fortnight from today. If you're a new listener, don't be shy about letting me know about you!!! If you're an independant musician - I'd like to hear from you!

Well, thats all there is for now folks!
:-)

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

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When Ol' Furry Face is hungry........


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I can take a cute look at the door, I can handle that little face at the window... but THIS... it goes beyond anything I've ever filmed or photographed...
(she did get a good load of nuts for being such a little star..!)

Sunday, May 14, 2006

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There's a time and a place to be nervous....

... and this wasn't it...

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Further proof, me and storms dont mix too good...

Saturday, May 13, 2006

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Screaming Squirrels

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Here's to June already....

Why? well.. for one thing, I'll probably be able to do my regular Sunday shows without a break. New technology suddenly means 'ooooOOOOoooo we have the means and the POWAH!!!' and it also means that things do actually work...
Also, at some point in June, 'Pure Radio' starts full time operations from it's underground base in Stockport and with 'Brinnington Week' on the cards, stuff I did recently on a course with these guys will be aired and I'm hoping I can get to bring some of it to my internet audience.
We'll also be dropping our internet connection speed down too. We'll be going from 10Mb to 2Mb because thanks to our ISP, in June, 2Mb will become 4Mb.
That won't affect broadcasting in any way shape or form. It just means that while my ISP has a special offer on, we can save some money for once (mwahahaha!)
Which also means that now we have this lovely piece of machinery purring away, I get my old computer back - which I've now retired from broadcasting as it's too old and far too bloody slow.
But this weekend will be dedicated to moving files from that old computer (which I must admit, has done us proud this last few weeks or so) to the new one via one single re-writable cd and a flash memory card (48Mb).
Oh yes.. 16Gb on that computer needs moving and with only those two things.. imagine the fun I'm not having in moving everything across... s l o w l y . . .
But we'll get there... Half a Gigabyte at a time... thats.. Ooo.. roughly 14 burns from my pc to get everything as it should be and already, 2 burns are complete.
12 to go......... please.
So there we are, the news as it stands.
Right, I have a new computer to get fully acquainted with. More news during the week :-)

Thursday, May 11, 2006

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Squirrely morning....

Fun with Ol' Furry Face (x2)
She's the most adorable thing in the garden and a real pleasure to see and feed. She's worth her weight (and more) in nuts and treats. I hope that one day, she'll bring her kids into the garden... :-D


Get this video and more at MySpace.com


Get this video and more at MySpace.com
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Isn't Technology Just Brilliant?!?!?

I write this knowing that this time next week, my dear old computer will be at the start of its retirement from broadcasting my weeky radio show.
That said, it's done all I could ever ask of it, AND MORE.
But it will still be in regular daily use as it has been for the last 6 years for more mundane tasks.
We'll be getting a new system next week - to replace the computer that blew up on us. I look forward to this new 'cutting edge' technology with great enthusiasm.
I know for a fact, this computer is very very slow at booting up - thats purely down to its age and that alone. In fact, we've got that way that while it's either booting up or closing down, we'll do stuff while we're waiting for it to decide what it's going to do, usually things like, making a coffee/taking the cups out to the kitchen, opening/closing the curtains... weekly shopping and the likes!
I know we're so now set for when we boot this machine up... it'll be all too easy to want to do those things when the new machine is installed. Yet, I know that once we get off the chair after hitting the 'on' switch, it'll be ready to do stuff once we merely shift our respective backsides for just a moment and almost like a silent polite cough, the new machine will indicate that it's ready for us to use before we've so much as said boo to a goose.
Then will come the data shifting. Stuff that can be moved onto the new machine once we've dabbled with what it's capable of doing. It means that... by the time all the required stuff has been moved onto the new machine, I acquire a 20Gb hdd for stuff.
As it stands at the moment, my dear computer currently contains a lot of precious data. C J Wrays album 'The Time Bell' and all the Sound Commandos stuff - which in its current state, is rather heavy on diskspace.
Which is fine. The new machine has an 80Gb hdd. It doesn't excuse us from the fact that we do need an external hdd - and we've seen the one we want. A nice big 250Gb Seagate External jobby. Perfect for what we need.
Personally, I don't want to be the one in the future to have to shift stuff between two computers using a 48mb flash memory card. I know at some point we need a router, but that can definitely wait, the external hdd however, cannot.
It would be just ideal to be able to have somewhere off a computer to store all our precious media stuff without having to try and locate where that cd went that you thought you put somewhere and now can't find for love nor money!
I admit now that we're terrible for going through cdrs and the likes... an external hdd would cut all that nonsense down by LOADS!

Anyway... Audio Coffee on the new machine...
It could take some time to get everything shifted across - we can't say for sure, but I'll keep everyone posted on whats what. There might be a delay, there might not... depends!!

Watch This Space!!!


[edit: Saturday May the something or other.. I can't be doing with trying to find a calender...]
Yesterday, and really quite unexpected, our brand new PC turned up at about lunchtime(ish) and we had a very pleasant afternoon with the box and contents like a pair of five year olds on Christmas day.
The whole thing is up and running sweetly now - yahoooeeey!!!
The only downside is that I've had to cancel Sundays show because there's absolutely loads of data to transfer between the two machines that needs to be done.
Not to worry, if things don't go square-shaped, then Audio Coffee will return next Sunday (21st).
Speaking of shows, there won't be one on May 28th because I won't be within 50 miles of my beloved and stupendously efficient new computer. I know I'd like to be, but... it isn't going to happen!
But after this month is out, its hoped I can get through the whole of June without something going wrong somewhere.

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Links

squirrel_in_blossoms


squirrel_in_blossoms
Originally uploaded by _Abi_.
A stretch and a yawn after a good afternoon in among the blossoms.

Friday, May 05, 2006

Links

Carrot


Carrot
Originally uploaded by The Wisdom Cube.
if you don't at least smile while looking at this, Jack Bauer will come over to yours and you WILL laugh...

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

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Stockport Express page 20


Stockport Express page 20
Originally uploaded by _Abi_.
Like the newspaper did.. this is worth repeating (but in slightly better quality than the last one)


click pic for bigger image
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Most Used Acronyms

Why have I set this as a topic on my dear weblog? because there are people out there who can't understand the basic principle of 'brb', thats why. Either because they're new to the internet or just plain ignorant.

And here they are, in no particular order....

1. BRB = be right back
bath room break

2. BBL = be back later

3. TTYL = talk to you later

4. LOL = laughs out loud

5. STFU = shut the f**k up

6. FYI = for your information

7. FOFLAO = falls on floor laughing a$$ off

many more can be found by doing a GOOGLE SEARCH.

In mIRC and other programs, there is also the option of being set to 'AWAY' which usually implies that you're away from the computer and can't respond. I'm still amazed at the fact that some people don't understand this concept and continue to waffle on regardless.
If only people would just CHECK A PERSONS STATUS BEFORE COMMUNICATING - it saves someone looking dumb for not looking beforehand.
If a persons status is 'Away' - it's best policy (if it's absolutely necessary) to communicate by one short brief line of text. That way, when they're available, they can act on that message. DON'T write a single line of text out to them in private and then leave the chatroom - thats just pure ignorance.
Another thing - if you're not going to be able to keep up with the conversation going on in a chatroom, don't. If the topic being discussed is changed, change with it when everyone else does or you'll only look like you're lagging or not paying attention.
There are a lot of things you can save to read offline - it's a much better option when the need arises and the download time saves bandwidth in the longterm.
It's also sometimes better to stay quiet than to butt in with a difficult question when there's a lot going on in a chatroom.
Don't compete for length either... sometimes, the more you write, the less people are going to read it. Keep lines short if possible to avoid confusion.
People know what chatroom they're in too - there's no need to greet them like a personal greeter. Yes, people DO have the ability to know exactly where they're going and know how to get there - they don't need a reminder or a greeter.
And one last thing before I get off my soapbox... if you don't know anything about something.. it's better to stay quiet than to respond with something that could further confuse/confound the issue in question.

And for those confused about this entry in my weblog.. I strongly suggest you read through it all again until it makes sense.

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Links

you got me!


you got me!
Originally uploaded by _Abi_.
Any cuter and I could *seriously* overdose on cuteness...