My first attempt at a podcast

I tried my hand at podcasting today. It was very interesting. I spent some time searching the internet for software and other pointers to get me started. The idea behind my podcast is a specific music genreand so it wasn't too difficult to get content. Once I had a few pieces of software I started recording.

First I wrote a small script. Read it into the mic and played it back to hear what it sounded like. I hate hearing my self recorded; I don't think it sounds anything like me.

I started playing with music fade in, music fade out, imported a few mp3's, and then stitched everything together. After about 2 hours and 9 different records I made something that sounded pretty good.

My attempt at this is due in part to my desire to host a very well known podcast that has been without a regular host for quite some time. I really want to do this. I am pretty familiar with the genre, I have all the technology, and I think I will only get better when it comes to editing and content. What I lack is a comfortable voice. I seemed to be very nervous even though I was the only one who would ever hear this recording.

I did send an email to a friend asking for some feedback. He was kind, but had the same conclusion I did and that was my voice sounded scripted. So, I think next time instead of trying to read from a script, I'll jotdown some notes, take some time to think about what I want to say, and then just have a conversation. That's what I think will really make a difference, having a conversation with the listener. I am producing a music podcast so I should be having a conversation about the tracks and the artists.

I'll be making new categories for the podcasts and trying various things out while I get more comfortable. I would appreciate any feed back you could give.

Here is a list of sites and software I found to get me started, I'm sure it will change.

[1] Recording a Podcast
[2] Magnatune.com
[3] Audacity for Windows
[4] Podomatic

Del.icio.us : blog podcast

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Does AdSense help make your blog money?

I read a lot of blogs; probably too many. But I mainly read posts via an RSS reader and not on the site directly. Every so often I click through to the site to read more posts by an author or to see what other things they have to offer. I almost always notice AdSense ads all over the place. At the top of every page; in the post body; on the side bar; on the comments page; and some souls even try and put ads in their RSS feeds.

Do you actually click the AdSense links and purchase any of the offerings? I've heard old tales of people making thousands even hundredsof thousands of dollars with AdSens. I don't think any of it's true, or at least not close. So if the reality is no one is making money with AdSense, why do so many web sites host the ads?

Take for instance 43Folders. I love reading Merlin's content. I'm not a Mac fan but I love the way he writes and he always posts relevant content regardless of my operating systems. In fact, I probably read his site the most. A few months ago he caused an uproar on his site by telling his readers he was trying new layouts for ads to help offset his costs. It was somewhat humorous to see how people reacted. I didn't care myself since I almost always read 43Folders posts via RSS. So far I don't know if he's making any money, but for the effortI sure hope he is.

I have an AdSense account, and I have attempted in the past to use those ads on various pages of my website. I've made to date $0.00. Now, I sort of laugh as I'm typing this knowing that there is more to AdSense than just putting some code on a page and hope someone clicks through. But, if your intent is to make a few dollars to offset the cost of your site then why not just have a donation button linked to a PayPal account? I mean, I'd give Merlin $5 to help stay in business.

I think the amount of moneypeople make from AdSens is supposed to remain secret. So, unless someone is breaking the rules, no one should really know how much is made, but I really have a hard time thinking it's enough to make a living. I could be wrong though.

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100 million reasons to use Flickr

This is a great post on possible uses of Flickr. I think you can use a Flickr account to market Homes as well.

1. Each house you have for sale can be a set. There are so many possibilities here. Integrate them into your website, your blog or even in an email link. With the ability to show individuals, you can also provide a slide show.

2. Create a photo set of all the homes you may have shown a potential buyer. Then they can refer back to refresh their memory. You are taking your digital camera with you on each showing, right?

3. Create a set of potential homes for an out of state buyer.

4. Create a set of photos of the neighborhood and surrounding areas. This is rarely if ever done.

5. Reduce or eliminate the need to store photos on your own web server. I made the move to eliminate all the photos from my web server and host them in Flickr.

In any of these cases you will want to purchase a Professional account so you aren't limited in the amount of photos you upload and store.

Del.icio.us : flickr technology photos

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Tony Stewart, coulda, shoulda, woulda

Daytona 500, February 2006. I had great hopes, I really felt like Smoke should have been the man to contend with.

It all started off with Tony complaining several times prior to Sunday’s race that drivers were out of control and will probably kill someone.

Tony coulda won the race if he would have kept his ego in check.

Tony shoulda won the race had he kept his car out of Matt Kenseth's side panel.

Tony woulda won if he would have taken his own advice and backed off.

Maybe next year?

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It’s my type of poem

I tried writing a poem a while back. It was for a contest. I didn't win, but it was fun thinking I might.

I had a wonderful young woman critique this piece, and I will share with you later what she said. for now, here it is:

I'm always amazed at this time of year, nature, slowing down, sleeping

Color dictates the mood then falls to the wayside in an ever eternal cycle

Breath seems to take form and float away

The flowers are gone and the leaves fallen the birds are on a southern path

It's only a short time, a pause if you will before a soft winter coat slowly falls and covers the ground

There, now, this type of poem was supposed to be about free form thinking. It wasn't supposed to be a traditional rhyming poem. I like this type. It lets the writer express in words what they are thinking and not trying so hard to find similar words.

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I can see, really, it worked

I recently had Lasik eye surgery. I think they can call it surgery because an incision is made in the eye. No stiches, but they do make a cut and fold it back.

I've worn glasses pretty much my whole life. They get in the way of course. Well, now I don't have to wear them any more.

Amazing what the results have been. Within 24 hours I was seeing at 20/15.

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How do you PDA?

I've been trying to refine a process in which I can manage my personal life and my work life. Some time ago I purchased and read David Allen's book Getting Things Done, as I'm sure hundreds of thousands have. I don't follow it to the letter, because as with most things, I like to tinker, and well, nothing is one size fits all.

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