Podcasting/My Mac Guys

Podcasting is a form of narrowcasting. That is (stop me if you've heard this before) a way to contact a group of people who share an interest. Your local radio station probably doesn't even have a tech guy on the air let alone these two Mac Guys.

Then, here comes the Ipod and the ability to subscribe to a regular audio download online.
There is software that allows you to download your favorite programs whenever they're published to the web. Then, when you synchronize your mp3 player (like an Ipod, like with Itunes) the content is copied on there for you to take off to the gym with you.

Lots of podcasts are selfserving (Paris Hilton has one, sheesh) or feature ugly language (the funny but often gross Dawn and Drew show) but podcasting at its best features usable information that edutains (sorry, I'm in full word composting mode.)

I just got my first Mac and I'm really enjoying it. As it turns out, there are a fair number of podcasters who want to talk about Macs. And, none of them are really bad either. But you need to choose how to spend your listening time, and so do I. If I had to choose one program to listen to on the subject, I'd select these guys. They're down to earth, admit it when they don't understand something (believe me, this is a critical trait in a tech support person) and always leave me with some useful information.

If you don't have an mp3 player, or don't want to get into a big hurrah before you see what all the fuss is about, go to their weblog and stream the latest program to on your compter, it is pretty easy (it will open up with Quicktime) and you'll feel good about your accomplishment and learn something along the way.

Rocketboom: The Real News

I used to call the daily show the real news.
now, i've decided that rocketboom is more relevant.
Click here
for a recent example.
at least stay with it through the dance segment.

Summer concert time

My bride Terrilee on the square in Decatur
--decaturcomp

Hype about Skype

http://www.skype.com/

is a free internet telephone.

You download a little software and you can talk to anyone else with
skype on their computer for free. (This takes a mic and speakers that
work.) Conference calling works too.

You can always see when your skype people are available to talk so you
don't have to not call if you're both up late at night or something
goofy like that.

Calling out to actual telephones costs under 2cents a minute but is
the same for local, long distance and even international calls.

If you give this a go, skype me at "decaturcomp".

Chantal and Travis' Fantastic Food Photos

My Daughter and Son-in-law are chefs who document some of their food creations on this photo blog:
http://www.fantasticfood.textamerica.com/

Congratulations to both of them on their graduation from culinary school. They completed their coursework yesterday Friday the 13th.

Audio post test-seems to work okay-now YOU try.

Son emerges from giant nostril

I think Matt and the other kids enjoyed this slide much more than if it
had not been a huge nose.

--decaturcomp

New features on Blogger/ Beginning Computing Class

As a geek, I'm pretty tickled about the improvements to this space. Blogger is already amazing, especially for a free service. Now, you can post a photo and text from a camera phone with e-mail capability.

There is also a new service to post voice notes from your telephone that I'll be trying soon.

Bloggers may not always have a lot of interesting things to say, but you can't say that they don't have choices in the way that they say it.

I encourage anyone to try this service.

By the way, I'll be teaching a class in beginning computing in the Month of July 2005 at the Decatur, GA Recreation center. If you want to know how to make the most of your computing time, check with the Rec to register at 404 377-0494 or call me for more info at 404 932-4348.