Older blog entries for aicra (starting at number 25)

Tonight, I converted a bunch of mp3s to ringtones on Debian. A lot of fun, even though I had to use something I believe is more than likely.. not free.

First, Take MP3 Open in audacity or wavesurfer. Splice (30-45 seconds). Convert to 16bit, 8KHz, mono.

save as a ...shudder - wav.

use pvconv - Purevoice by Qualcomm.

./pvconv Filename.wav

Enter and tada - qcp file.

Upload ringer - I use sprint so go to sprintusers.com/focus

and hah! ringtone.

Lots of fun! Thanks to Daniel G. for the app. and info.

Also, wireless mouse works fine on GNU/Linux. It rocks.

Started a study on Fan Fiction and Copyright/DMCA. Coming along quite well.

Soon will have an awesome camera to finish documentary.

NETDEV WATCHDOG: eth0: transmit timed out

Well, this bug finally caught up with me. I didn't know what it was. And, since I had no other machines set up, had to go out into the world and find a networked computer to find out!

So, first, I said, well, let's try a live CD. That was painful. Though my friend Daniel had several he was willing to burn and give me, they didn't really help. I thought I could at least get online and get the module I needed, right, thinking it was a via issue. But you know, went back to Debian, and after I played around a little, ran modprobe * and unplugged. The thing worked fine.

That was a lot of fun.

The computer tech at work wants to try GNU/Linux. Maybe someone will get some use of those live CDs after all.

Wow. Xvidcap rocks. Except with the external usb. Can't get ffmpeg to work with it either. However, changed the slot for the sb live internal card and xvidcap is working with sound now. I must know why it didn't with the external. I think it has something to do with OSS emulation. I tried for days. Literally. Recording worked in other apps. Sound worked. It was the first time I could not manage to get ffmpeg to work. Ever. I must know. If anyone reads this... and was able to get xvidcap sound to work with an external sound card, please let me know what you did.

Daniel's First GPL

Today, Daniel Garcia GPL'd his code. Technically, it was always GPL'd because he had used GPL'd code to write it and modified it for the modules he wrote. He was not aware that the derivative work was to be GPL'd as well. Once he realized what had happened, he exclaimed how happy he was.

Daniel: i'm so happy

Daniel: my code is GPL'd

Kaoru: Is this your first one?

Daniel: Well, technically, no ;). It's always been GPL'd

Kaoru: So tell me how you feel about this first GPL thing

Daniel: It's like Pam over at Groklaw said, "I feel like I'm home"

Daniel: "before it felt like I was a guest"

Daniel: "a well treated guest, but a guest nonetheless"

Daniel: now I feel "freer"

Daniel: it's hard to explain

Daniel: it's almost as if I had nasal congestion and all of a suddenly I could breath

Daniel: are there any good links to advantages and disadvantages of the GPL that I could show my friend?

Kaoru: Well, SURE!

Well, today was interesting.

Emmett Plant's song we posted on Amazon went up to #42 on the Indie Charts. This has been quite interesting as I only put it there to get more people on the mailing list for Third Grade Crush and I was only testing it. It's licensed under the Creative Commons. That was his choice... I really like the EFF's Open Audio License, but oh well.

He put on the mailing list: "I have no idea how this happened, mainly because I never, ever link people to an Amazon site. I usually link people directly to music, because if they get it directly from me, they don't have to 'sign in' to anything. If you're interested in seeing the Amazon site for 'Eight Bits,' copy and paste this link:

http://tinyurl.com/5m72o

So anyways, there's the link for anyone interested.

The song is called Eight Bits and it's about video games. All in all it's a pretty fun song, and the nahnah part is Tetris theme music. So, it's really fun.

Other than that, just bombarded with school, chasing down vindaloo sauce and cleaning.

That's it... I'm finishing my style guide. Just now on the conference call, noone knows which guide to use... conflict

Last contract, no style guide.

I can't stand it anymore. Either just choose a guide, let me format it in a consistent manner or let me create a style guide...ack

Can he do it?

Can Emmett answer the big question? He's gonna make an attempt, I give him that. He's the only one I know who is even attempting such a thing. And he has the talent and mind to do it.

Will Emmett Plant answer the big question? Well, I think he'll answer the big question, but what will that answer be?

Will it be yes... Yes, someone can start from zero and make it as in music or No, someone can start from zero and not make it in music.

Either way, Emmett and the rest of us will come out ahead.

Today I'm mulling over that whole Ashcroft situation. I saw him on cspan last night. It was disgusting. He called people who use p2p clubs and thieves etc etc etc. What I find interesting his the insistance that these items were stolen.

Well, ok...wait a second. First of all what about first sale doctrine. If I purchase a movie, I can give away... as long as it's on the disk.

second of all and most importantly... what about the AHRA. Time and time again, I see people ignoring this. Why! We need to expand the knowledge of this act. People, you need to know.

The Audio Home Recording Act is there to allow users to copy music for personal use. So, fine then, Ashcroft. Go after the movies but don't touch music. We are protected.

A computer is not a device specifically designed to copy movies. If it were, then the user could be fined or in violation of the AHRA.

If your computer is not specifically desinged for certain purposes, which most computers are not... then music sharing is perfectly legitimate. Ok... there are ethical things involved and there is the balance question, but really, we need to address those in an appropriate manner, not go after people with criminal or civil charges.

Today, I finally got faqlinux.com running. Still have to figure out the hosting issue. Here is not good... cox... but will work it out. Need writers. Not sure if I want to go with advertisers. Don't want anyone owning my content, so to speak.

Going to publish a magazine for writers and users. faqLinux Magazine. Now, a monthly journal.

Finishing my thesis. Went from Distance Learning and Copyright ownership in education to Perceptive Compliance of the TEACH Act. It works.

Trying to get into Yale for my PhD. It's a long shot, but I'll try. Maybe I should go to law school...but 3 years... that's awhile more of school