A Pilgrims Way

For those of you (like me) that enjoy listening to audio books on your Ipod.  I came across this link today that may be helpful.

“MP3 to iPod Audio Book Converter enables you to combine and convert a series of MP3 files into a single iPod audio book file (.m4b). Unlike audio books in .MP3 format, the resulting .m4b file supports iPods audio book features, remembers the last listening position and allows you to adjust the reading speed. A simple but very useful tool for those who rip audio books from CDs, or purchase them in mp3 format.”

Importing Audio Book CD’s into itunes is sometimes a pain.  Not the actual importing…but how the files are  named/labeled or not named/labeled (WHICH DRIVES ME NUTS), the fact that there are so many different discs.  Not to mention the problems you have listening to them.  Like losing your place.  I sometimes forget to take my Ipod off shuffle when listening to an Audio book and I skip entire chapters.  This tool seems like it would make it easier.  I’ll have to give it a try with my next book.  If you’ve tried it out or try it out before me let me know what you think.

Rich

I went and checked out Godtube tonight and while most of the stuff isn’t interesting.  I did find some videos that I thought were well done.  Here’s one of my favorites.  Go check it out.

I just decided to change my email address to gmail. I was using Thunderbird at home to get my emails at home (Which worked fine - Once I figured out how to reply to messages from the top instead of the bottom - sorry for any confusion) but checking my emails through comcast at work feels very clunky and tedious. So I’ll give Gmail a try. I’ve set up an auto-reply through Comcast, which doesn’t seem to be working….but my email address is rich0107@gmail.com.

Thanks Jesse for pointing out the great post The Beatitudes for Ecologists/Environmentalists.

Well worth the read.

Today I was reading John 19 where Jesus gets handed over to Pilate.  The part of the story that stood out to me today was when Pilate led Jesus out in front of the crowd of people and said, “Here is your King…what do you want me to do with him?”  To which the people responded, “We have no King but Caesar…crucify him”.

Right then and there they denied the Kingship of Jesus.  I was thinking about the times I’ve denied Jesus his rightful place as King.  In all sincerity I asked his forgiveness for the times I’ve given way to the lesser Kings and Caesar’s of my own life and I asked him to help me to keep him on the throne of my heart as King moving forward.  I was feeling quite proud of myself having this meaningful devotion and all (Which doesn’t always happen) and I was about ready to close the book and move on with my day perfectly content…when I honestly felt like God asked me a question.

What about the Past and Present?  I felt like he said.  Whoa, what do you mean I thought?  Do you accept my Kingship over your past and present?  I felt like he said.

I honestly never thought about it like that before.  I kinda just thought that the past was forgiven, the present is what it was and we have the future to look forward to.   I honestly haven’t fully processed it yet.  King of my past and present…What does all that mean?  God was OK with me not understanding it all…but I didn’t feel like I had all the time in the world to figure it out before I needed to respond…God wanted an answer…so I said yes.

I’m still processing it…but so far it’s pretty cool…it makes sense really.  I made the right decision.

What do you think?  Does God want to be King of your past, present and future?  If so what does it mean?

Several months ago we bought an older Mac laptop from a friend for my wife to use at school.  I play with it every now and then and there’s a couple little things that stood out about using that I liked.  I liked the dock for all your apps on the bottom of the screen as well as the Expose function which spreads out all your open windows on the screen so you can see them, from which then you choose the window you want to actively work in.

Maybe I’m just bored with the quick launch task bar and alt-tab functionality of Windows or maybe I just need to get Vista, but I found some programs that allow windows users the same functionality that Mac users have enjoyed for a while now.

For the dock there are several options including:  object dock, YZ Dock, RK Launcher - But the one that seems to work the best for me is Rocketdock.  Rocketdock is free, easy to install, it is very responsive and doesn’t seem to lag as much as the other programs.

For an Expose like feel - The app I’m currently using is called Admiral.   There are several other alternatives, but you have to purchase them.  Admiral is a free, open source app, that seems to be working well for me so far.

If you know of any other similar apps or apps you like to use on your desktop please let me know.

Is there anything else happening in technology other then the Iphone!  I can’t take it any longer.  Shut up about it!  Wait till it comes out!  Only seven more days…will it never end?

Has anyone seen the list of AFI’s 100 Greatest Movies?

Who picks these things?  How old are they?  Of the 100 movies listed, I’ve seen only 32 of them.  Only 29 of them have been released since I was born (1975).  Thirty years from now the list is going to look completely different or is it?

Which ones should be on the list?  Which ones on the list do you want to see?

I can’t believe The Matrix was not included on this list.  The technical break throughs alone in the first movie changed the motion picture industry forever, not to mention the great story.

Ones I’ll probably add to my Queue:  Citizen Cane, The Grapes of Wrath, Blade Runner

Any other suggestions?

Rich

I’ve been listening to Linkin Park’s new CD - Minutes to Midnight and wanted to lay down some thoughts on it. Overall I like the album. I can’t say I’ve always been a huge LP fan, but they’re one of those change of pace groups for me. When I wanted to get fired up, vent some anger or frustration or just scream my lungs out I throw in one of their CD’s.  (When I get a headache I pull it out).

I think this album does have a little different feel then their previous releases. Less Heavy Metal Rap, heavily laced with loops and such - Less produced maybe, or I should say the production is there it just doesn’t dominate the music like it has in the past.  Anyway…I’m no music critic.

What I liked…

My favorite thing about LP has always been and still is Charlie’s vocals. I love his almost whiny, meloncholic, melodic tones - Except when he screams. Though I must say how he can scream so high and in key it’s amazing. I like the content of their songs - lyrically. A lot of inward struggle, dealing with pain, disappoint, etc… I did enjoy the music of this album as well. I thought there was a good mixture of the rap/spoken word stuff (that I usually don’t care for).

What I didn’t like…

The screaming. Maybe too much political stuff. But hey it’s dominating our cultural landscape so it makes since it seeps into our music. And I can’t say I disagree with some of the stuff they say.

My favorite tracks…

1. Leave out all the rest (I’ll try to upload it to the blog later if I can figure it out)

2. The little things give you away

3. Hands held high (Great anti-war type anthem)

4. What I’ve done

5. Shadow of the day

6. Valentines Day

Rich

I am working on a collage project for a digital imaging course.

This is an image that I put together using 7 pictures.

For the project to be complete I need to incorporate text.

Any ideas?

It could be a word or a quote…anything that is relevant to the image.

Good luck and thanks!

Mark