For a long time I’ve wanted to try my hand at a podcast, but didn’t have the time to do it. I still don’t have the time, but I wanted to put together a video blog anyway. Out of this idea, The Magic Sock video blog was created. What I’ve learned from creating the first episode is that creating a video blog is a lot of work. It’s not easy to do and the technical aspects are all new to me. I do not have much experience in this field, but it was fun to muddle through it. If you were to judge my video blog on professionalism, it would fail miserably, but I wanted to make a point. Anyone who has a desire to put together a video blog can do so with a little elbow grease. Should everyone do it? Yes, I believe they should. I believe that even if the podcast or videocast is only for one other person, that creativity should not be stifled. Have fun with it and enjoy! Now with that said, I have to admit that a “damn, that’s cool” moment. After I created my first video blog, converted it to the iPod format, and then watch it on my iPod, I must confess that I was a bit giddy. It was really cool to create my own video content for others to watch, learn, and then carry with them. There’s something freeing in that. At this point, I’m in the rough stages of learning the ropes. Getting all the technical details down hasn’t been easy. There’s still a lot that I need to learn, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. You might wonder why I would embarrass myself by creating an amateurish video blog so I’ll tell you this: It was fun. (Honestly, some parts were a pain in the ass, but overall I did enjoy it!)
What will come of this video blog? Who knows, but I did have fun and at this point that’s all that mattes. I have some great ideas for future episodes, but lack the time. This video cast could be a great teaching tool. Forget for a moment that the video is about the Magic: The Gathering card game. Imagine if it were a 10 minute cooking show or “how to” video blog. Wouldn’t it be cool to do a search in Google Base and see tens of thousands of these types of videos that could help educate you? I’ve often googled “how to” questions: How do you refinish hardwood floors? Or cook a certain recipe? Or fix your computer? What if you could download the video that teaches you how to do this? I’m starting to see this sort of video on CNET.com and I’ll tell you that I don’t mind seeing a 30 second commercial before the content before the “how to” video. My small video blog is not even a drop in the bucket, but I’m looking at the bigger picture. Imagine what type of videos there could (will) be.
Interlude: This is me typing to make sure that my son can hear me in the next room. He’s had a difficult time going to sleep at night saying to me that he’s scared of the moon. I thought he meant that he was afraid of the clock in his room that’s shaped like a moon, but that’s not the case. He’s told me that he’s afraid of the “little moon” that’s up in the sky. How do you convince a two-year old that the moon isn’t going to come and get him and that the moon isn’t something to be scared of? Well, it wasn’t easy. He cried when I put him down (screamed is more like it—now he screams by name: “MOMMY! DADDY!!”). So I went back into his room and I sat down cross-legged and told him that the moon wasn’t anything to be scared of. That the moon was sort of like Earth’s sister and that the farmers really like the moon because during the harvest season it helps them to work later. I talked for a bit and then I just sat there and prayed and meditated. That’s what I do during those times. I sit there and say the twelve steps and I pray, thinking of my life and positive energy surrounding me. I got up, went to put my son’s clothes in the wash and all the way from the basement I could hear him crying. My wife asked if I needed a break and I said no. It’s my turn to put our son to bed. He’s not had problems in getting to sleep for a long while. But I think because he was off from daycare that he’s had problems. So… I came back upstairs, started to put my clothes away, and he called out: “DADDY!!!” I went into his room and there he was standing in his crib, holding onto it tightly. Then I had an idea. I told him: “Do you hear the squeaky floors in the hallway? That’s daddy walking around. I’m putting my clothes away.” He looked at me and asked, “Why?” (That’s his new favorite question.) I told him that I needed to do some work and put my clothes away. Then I went into the hall walked around and came back in saying: “Let’s me out there in the hall! Dad’s right next door to protect you.” Then I looked at him and said: “Listen to the clack clack sound of daddy typing on the computer. That’s me right next door.” I went into my office, typed away (loudly) and came back in. “Did you hear that?” My son nodded. “That was me making the noise writing!” He giggled and I could tell that he liked the fact that I was so close, working. It seemed to calm him that he knew that I was right in the next room. So I came out and started typing this. And guess what: My son isn’t crying. He’s relaxed and at peace. Hey, whatever it takes!
End of Interlude.
Back to my Video Blog story:
I’m looking forward to learning more tricks of the video trade. What I’d like to learn how to do is to easily record both ends of a Skype conversation. Being able to talk to someone via Skype and then exist in a virtual environment to show viewers how to do something would be a great tool. Imagine if you wanted to demo an online game and show people what you’re doing. Or imagine teaching people how to use a particular piece of software by bringing them through the program step-by-step. That would be a pretty powerful tool, wouldn’t it?
I’ve been playing around with video, sound, cameras, and computers since I was little. Now I have all the tools I need at my fingertips. Yes, I still need to figure Skype out (the recording aspect), but it’s only a matter of time. With experimentation, I’m liking the doors I’m seeing in front of me. No longer am I limited to watching the cold medium of TV. Now I can create my own show and share it with the masses.
On the user’s side, I like being able to have the choice to watch other content. I got a good chuck out of viewing the latest episode of Tiki Bar TV. What other content will be coming? Already I’m really enjoying my audio podcasts. I have an extremely varied listing of shows to check out. With my work commute being fairly long, I’m taking that time to listen and learn (or just be entertained). I never had that option before. If I turned on the radio, I’d hear the same old music, lots of commercials, or stupid morning shows. Now I can pick a hobby and listen to a podcast.
Imagine what will be coming for video blogs? Will there be other “TV” shows that are high quality video blogs? You bet! Podcasts have a name, but what will this video be called? Video blogs? IP TV? Videocasts? Who knows. All of this new media is in its earliest stages. But with RSS taking off and future browsers going to be able to act as an aggregator (reading RSS files), we’re on the verge of a new frontier. Kids growing up today must be really, really happy. They’re living at a time when the Internet is reaching its adolescence. So much to do and so little time. So take a moment to watching my first episode of The Magic Sock and laugh. Yeah, I know it needs to be improved. I’m working on that. But check this video blog map out: There’s a ton of video blogs out there. Have fun!
What will come of this video blog? Who knows, but I did have fun and at this point that’s all that mattes. I have some great ideas for future episodes, but lack the time. This video cast could be a great teaching tool. Forget for a moment that the video is about the Magic: The Gathering card game. Imagine if it were a 10 minute cooking show or “how to” video blog. Wouldn’t it be cool to do a search in Google Base and see tens of thousands of these types of videos that could help educate you? I’ve often googled “how to” questions: How do you refinish hardwood floors? Or cook a certain recipe? Or fix your computer? What if you could download the video that teaches you how to do this? I’m starting to see this sort of video on CNET.com and I’ll tell you that I don’t mind seeing a 30 second commercial before the content before the “how to” video. My small video blog is not even a drop in the bucket, but I’m looking at the bigger picture. Imagine what type of videos there could (will) be.
Interlude: This is me typing to make sure that my son can hear me in the next room. He’s had a difficult time going to sleep at night saying to me that he’s scared of the moon. I thought he meant that he was afraid of the clock in his room that’s shaped like a moon, but that’s not the case. He’s told me that he’s afraid of the “little moon” that’s up in the sky. How do you convince a two-year old that the moon isn’t going to come and get him and that the moon isn’t something to be scared of? Well, it wasn’t easy. He cried when I put him down (screamed is more like it—now he screams by name: “MOMMY! DADDY!!”). So I went back into his room and I sat down cross-legged and told him that the moon wasn’t anything to be scared of. That the moon was sort of like Earth’s sister and that the farmers really like the moon because during the harvest season it helps them to work later. I talked for a bit and then I just sat there and prayed and meditated. That’s what I do during those times. I sit there and say the twelve steps and I pray, thinking of my life and positive energy surrounding me. I got up, went to put my son’s clothes in the wash and all the way from the basement I could hear him crying. My wife asked if I needed a break and I said no. It’s my turn to put our son to bed. He’s not had problems in getting to sleep for a long while. But I think because he was off from daycare that he’s had problems. So… I came back upstairs, started to put my clothes away, and he called out: “DADDY!!!” I went into his room and there he was standing in his crib, holding onto it tightly. Then I had an idea. I told him: “Do you hear the squeaky floors in the hallway? That’s daddy walking around. I’m putting my clothes away.” He looked at me and asked, “Why?” (That’s his new favorite question.) I told him that I needed to do some work and put my clothes away. Then I went into the hall walked around and came back in saying: “Let’s me out there in the hall! Dad’s right next door to protect you.” Then I looked at him and said: “Listen to the clack clack sound of daddy typing on the computer. That’s me right next door.” I went into my office, typed away (loudly) and came back in. “Did you hear that?” My son nodded. “That was me making the noise writing!” He giggled and I could tell that he liked the fact that I was so close, working. It seemed to calm him that he knew that I was right in the next room. So I came out and started typing this. And guess what: My son isn’t crying. He’s relaxed and at peace. Hey, whatever it takes!
End of Interlude.
Back to my Video Blog story:
I’m looking forward to learning more tricks of the video trade. What I’d like to learn how to do is to easily record both ends of a Skype conversation. Being able to talk to someone via Skype and then exist in a virtual environment to show viewers how to do something would be a great tool. Imagine if you wanted to demo an online game and show people what you’re doing. Or imagine teaching people how to use a particular piece of software by bringing them through the program step-by-step. That would be a pretty powerful tool, wouldn’t it?
I’ve been playing around with video, sound, cameras, and computers since I was little. Now I have all the tools I need at my fingertips. Yes, I still need to figure Skype out (the recording aspect), but it’s only a matter of time. With experimentation, I’m liking the doors I’m seeing in front of me. No longer am I limited to watching the cold medium of TV. Now I can create my own show and share it with the masses.
On the user’s side, I like being able to have the choice to watch other content. I got a good chuck out of viewing the latest episode of Tiki Bar TV. What other content will be coming? Already I’m really enjoying my audio podcasts. I have an extremely varied listing of shows to check out. With my work commute being fairly long, I’m taking that time to listen and learn (or just be entertained). I never had that option before. If I turned on the radio, I’d hear the same old music, lots of commercials, or stupid morning shows. Now I can pick a hobby and listen to a podcast.
Imagine what will be coming for video blogs? Will there be other “TV” shows that are high quality video blogs? You bet! Podcasts have a name, but what will this video be called? Video blogs? IP TV? Videocasts? Who knows. All of this new media is in its earliest stages. But with RSS taking off and future browsers going to be able to act as an aggregator (reading RSS files), we’re on the verge of a new frontier. Kids growing up today must be really, really happy. They’re living at a time when the Internet is reaching its adolescence. So much to do and so little time. So take a moment to watching my first episode of The Magic Sock and laugh. Yeah, I know it needs to be improved. I’m working on that. But check this video blog map out: There’s a ton of video blogs out there. Have fun!
Skype
I received a rejection for my story 20,170 and 1 from Science Fiction & Fantasy Magazine. I think the story had been out with them for maybe a week. To put so much work into a story and then be rejected so quickly, you have to wonder if they even read the story. Maybe the first paragraph was read and then it was promptly rejected. Unfortunately, with the move fast approaching I don’t have time to get the story back out in the mail. I need to do some research and figure out where I want to send the story to next. It’s been rejected twice and was sent back unread by SCIFICTION.com going under. Not good news. Where else to send it? Well, that’s not going to happen now until late December or early next year. In the meantime, I have a lot of packing to do. Plus, I’d rather send the story out with a SASE with the new address—sure, I could send something out with the new address, but I want to play it safe.
I also spent some time researching Skype technology. Specifically, I’m trying to teach myself how to record a Skype conversation for my next video blog. Of course, I have a lot of work to do on this, but I should be able to get a simple test going with Virtual Audio Cable 3.10. I found some screenshots on the web that teaches you how to set your PC up to use the Virtual Audio Cable driver. From my understanding, the VAC driver is a virtual sound card, allowing you to take the source from two different audio sources and put them together. Again, being able to record a Skype call for the purpose of a video blog would be great. I know it’s been done by podcasters out there, but I’m hoping I can pull this off myself. We shall see. Without a lot of time and the move so close, I’m hoping I can run a simple experiment. Why the rush? I’m waiting for final confirmation that my video blog will be picked up on a Magic website. They’re hoping to run the first episode in the next week or two. With my move so close, I want to start working on episode 2. It was my goal to have a new episode out every few weeks. I have two ideas for the next two episodes, but haven’t worked out all the technical glitches. I also need to test the software and the equipment to ensure that the sound quality is good. Once I record the audio and the “video” (game board) of the show, I then need to convert the file into a watchable format (.avi DivX 5.1.1 codec 640 x 480 and .m4v Quicktime iPod 320x240). All of this takes time and doesn’t just happen at a click of a button. I’ve had my computer reboot on me in the middle of converting (many times), software shut down on me when I try to load too large of a file, and all sorts of bad conversion problems.
The good news is that I picked up a 200 GB hard drive last weekend at one of the Black Friday sales ($29.99 was really cheap) so that gives me plenty of space to start playing around with the video. I won’t have to junk up my current c: drive. I’m having fun in doing all of this work, but I am juggling moving, work, family, and trying to work on this video blog. I’ll be focusing more on the last minute packing this weekend and then the sad part happens: All the computers will get packed. I’ve wires to pull through the floor, cables to store, and systems to get ready for the move. I’ll be bringing all the PC equipment to our new place myself.
How long will we be down without Internet access (after we move)? Who knows! Hopefully, it’ll not be long. I expect that I’ll be making hardly any updates after we move. I’ll be too busy cleaning, unpacking, and working on the new house. And with the holiday season upon us, there isn’t much time to purchase and wrap gifts and get a Christmas tree up. I have to admit that I’m looking forward to being in the new home and having a Christmas tree up. I want to have the lights off and stand in the living room with my wife and son and see the lights on the tree. I’m really looking forward to that. It’s not that I want lots of gifts, but there’s something about seeing your family all happy and relaxed, enjoying the moment which is good.
I’m looking forward to that time. Well, I’m off. Take care and have a good day. Peace.
Posted at 06:40 PM in Commentaries | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Reblog (0) | | Digg This | |