The Professor's Notes

Thanks go to the folks at the applephoneshow.com for a great find! I have been asked if I know of a program that would convert text files, or better yet PDF files, to speech. Unfortunately, my answer was always “no.”

Until today.

While perusing the latest musings of the iPhone Fanboys/girls, I came across this post. It provided the link that I had been waiting for! At nextup.com you can download “TextAloud,” a windows program that will not only read text files to you, but can also save them as either wav files or mp3 files. Just think–you can now take your articles with you and listen to them while doing those other routine parts of life that take so much time away.

I have already downloaded the demo version, and tested it out. I find it to be a rather quick conversion (but not instantaneous–hey, this is tough work!) and there are several options that allow the user to configure the playback in a way that fits how they would want to listen. For instance, you can configure the time for the program to pause between sentences, and paragraphs. You can select from two voices (male and female) in the demo version, and once purchased, have the option for other (apparently “better”) voices.

So how do I envision using this?

* Listen to academic articles during my long drives

* Provide audio versions of my own articles for students, available as podcasts

* convert quotes from documents for reference during my podcasts so listeners don’t have to listen to my voice

So, dear readers, how do you think YOU might use this?

Did you want to know what we talked about before we recorded part two? Well here it is!

Quoted from my Brother’s site:

Two Bradys, Two Brothers, Two Doctorates, and at least Two Views.

We discuss our different set ups, Windows for Steve (XP) and Mac OSX for Chris. I followed the directions found here.

More topics covered:

* Honda Civic Hybrid – See Steve’s blog entry and why Steve is now a Conservative environmentalist. (And what that means.)

* Why some want higher taxes on gas.

* Steve’s del.icio.us tags. Including “Cats kill birds, not windmills.“

* Environmental issues in general.

* iPhone (again).

* Cole’s Blog (”Who the Hell is He?” wanting internet transparency) and Being a Digital Native

* Rathole: Dad’s idea that our brains process in binary.

And we reached the end of GarageBand’s recording capacity.

So there you have it. Enjoy.

Oh–if you are a listener, please, write or comment and let us know. Obviously we talk, but it’s nice to know if we make a sound. (you know… tree… .forest… fall…)

Well, we decided to record another phone conversation. This is actually the second half of our conversation, where we tackled the “after show” topics.

We start with my theory that by offering multiple operating systems (Ubuntu Linux, Windows XP and Vista) Dell is working to position themselves to sell Apple’s OS-X.

Other things we talk about:

* Does Apple have a quality problem with their Mac Books?

* The Zoom H2 Microphone/Recorder is about ready to be released. according to Inside Home Recording

* The Hitachi Projectors PJTX100 available from B&H Photo

* We love buying audio equipment from BSW — Ask for Justin!

* We do recommend clicking through Scott Bourne’s blog for an online BSW Audio discount.

* TWIT’s tip off to the The Google Toolbar and Webhistory “stalker”

* Linda Ronstadt: You know she dated Jerry Brown right?

* Dvorak.org/blog’s discussions…

* iPod cheating in school? But I have already written about this!

* Jet Engine Farts

* Bed Time…

Okay, so this is about as frivolous as they come. I was testing out the new technology that lets me record “real” phone conversations, and, well, here’s the result.

We talk about iPhone and various audio equipment “stuff.”

My brother has chosen to poke the hornet’s nest, by writing about Richard Dawkins, and his apparent attack on no lesser figure than God Himself. Prior to his posting, he and I had several conversations about this topic, and the broader view that there is a strong “anti-religion” movement amongst the scientific world as of late. His post has resulted in several comments, and conversations between him and a commenter, Tim.

I decided to weigh in with this podcast, since I had recently heard two interviews with Dr Dawkins. The first was on Science Friday on NPR. In that interview he asserts that science has all but proven that God does not exist. The other interview was on one of my other favorite podcasts, The New Scientist. His views are a bit more muted in that interview, but that whole episode was dedicated to the battle between science and religion.

I have several excerpts in this podcast from both of those shows, and share my thoughts on how assumptions shape and shade research and the conclusions that one reaches. I do recommend that you go listen to the full shows, and perhaps even subscribe to the podcasts. They are quite good!

I have decided to post this short little podcast, sharing the experiences of my family this election day. It’s not about the politics, it’s about the experience.

That said, let’s get my predictions out of the way.

Dems barely take the house with a shift of 15 seats. This will be touted as a mandate for change, but it should be remembered that in 1994 Clinton lost 54 seats in the house. This election won’t even come close to that.

I suspect that the Senate with remain in Republican hands, with a 51 to 49 split. I am encouraged by news from TN, MD and Ohio, but am afraid it may be all over for Santorum here in PA.

I hate to say it, but be sure to go check out the post election gloating over at PressingtheFlesh. I am curious though, if the Republicans pull this out, will he lose graciously, or will fleshy lead the charge that somehow the Republicans “stole” an election? (And if you listen to the podcast, keep in mind that my daughter, bless her heart, is a Republican…)

The Professor

It’s funny. I recorded this podcast nearly a week ago, and now I hear George Bush is saying the same thing — Democrats will raise your taxes. I hadn’t posted this file, because the quality wasn’t quite what I had hoped for, but the elections are just a few days away, so here it is.

First, let me say that apparently the Democrats weren’t too impressed either, because this plan doesn’t seem to have received much press-time. One would think that, if it was actually their plan for moving our nation forward, they would be advertising it a tad more.

In this podcast, I tackle the Democrats “plan for progress” which I find weak in it’s “planni-ness” (to steal from Colbert). It actually says that “We will protect Americans at home and lead the world by telling the truth to our troops, our

citizens and our allies.” Why do I single this one out here? Because it is the penultimate example of it not being a “plan” but rather rhetoric. Tell me… what steps follow the “truth telling” that will lead to a stable government in Iraq? What then will we do to bring the troops home, while ensuring that the US is no longer a target for terrorists? Will the radical islamists hear our “truth” and suddenly, in classis SNL style, say “Oh… never mind…” (Thanks Gilda–rest in peace!)

The bottom line conclusion that I reach is that it is all about the bottom line. When you read through what they have in their plan, they want to do many vague things, while at the same time “reducing the deficit.” Last time I checked, you can only increase spending, and decrease debt, by increasing revenue. And for the government, increasing revenue means raising your taxes, and raising them by more than they increase the spending.

Conclusion? Hang on to your wallets, you’re in for a bumpy ride.

Give a listen, and let me know what you think. Comment here, and perhaps we can even get some sort of debate going on. And be sure to give a read to ol’ Fleshy at the pressingtheflesh blog. It was his suggestion “Every time that someone states that Democrats “don’t have a plan,” mention these six points.” that had me actually checking out what sort of plan the Dems could come up with.

I decided to do another podcast, this time on football. Those of you that have made it over here from the “Father Son Chats” know that my son and I talk about football quite a bit, and by and large, it’s Penn State Football.  I had the opportunity to go the the PSU vs Illinois game, and had great seats.  Well I thought they were great, until I found out that not everyone that goes to a game, or has season tickets, is actually a “fan.”   Some are apparently there simply for bragging rights.  To say they were there, keeping true fans from getting seats.

So if you want to hear my thoughts about these fans, go ahead and listen.  And don’t forget–there is a special place for Usher #257.

Thanks to my brother for this comic posted to his blog.  If you haven’t already visited him, go check out his blog at targuman.org/blog.

Well, we finally did it. We sat down at my brother’s house, and recorded our first podcast. Perhaps Leo Laporte is right, and we are more likely “Blather-casting” but hey, we are talking. We talk about so many things, with the original motivation for the podcast being my creation of the word “Technigion.” Technigion is my word that captures the blending of technology and religion–otherwise known as being a “Mac User.” (you have to go 6 minutes and 35 seconds before we get there though.).

As you listen, you will realize my brother in on the left, and I am on the right. I sat a bit further back from the microphone, so I am a bit “fainter” which is a problem that perhaps could have been resolved through the use of a great program called “Levelator” which actually levels out audio between different microphones. Ahh well.

I hope you enjoy the podcast, and remember, you can always get this podcast through an iTunes subscription by going to The Podcast Link.

I would also recommend you visit some of the other site we talk about.

* twit.tv

* Revision3.com

* segway.com

* The Newton Source – The essential Newton Reference

* TUAW – The Unofficial Apple Weblog

* Steve Kemper, author of “Code Named Ginger”

Let us know what you think, and how far YOU made it through the podcast before you quit.

I decided to talk about podcasting as a tool. I talk about the ways “personal on-demand ‘casting” can be used to change the way we think about learning, not just in a class, but outside the classroom, and beyond structured learning.

I talk about a few of my favorite podcasts:

Several from http://twit.tv

* This week in Tech

* Inside the Net

And several others:

* The Diva Cast (http://thedivacast.com)

* NPR’s Science Friday

* New Scientist Podcast

I would recommend you explore the many podcasts available. Remember, you don’t have to have an iPod, or even iTunes, to listen to podcasts. You just need to have a computer or an MP3 player. go look at what is available at places like http://podcastalley.com, http://podshow.com or even in the iTunes store.