Tom's Diary

Dear [Lynn],

Yes, if your MP3s are at 128 kbps, that would be about right. All my files are at 256 kbps (they take twice the space but the better sound is worth it). However, since [your daughter] is probably not an audiophile, 128 kbps figures would no doubt work well for her.

Hmmm, just think: If they had a portable CD player that could read DVD-Rs, she could get almost 100 hours of 128 kbps music PER DISC! But alas, I know of no portable yet that understands DVD-R.

Tom

Okay. That makes sense. I tried this with a portable radio. Got some volume but apparently, I need more drive to make these phones loud. I’m thinking of building a tube-type driver amp for them. We’ll see how it goes.

Thanks again,
Tom

Joe,

Here’s info on a software package that can turn you PC into an audio recorder with timer functions much as a VCR has. Check it out. It will probably do what you want to accomplish with that Rolling Stones concert. [It's called Cakewalk Pyro 2003. I forwarded him a message I received from Cakewalk, advertising the product.]

Tom

Dear   [Mentat],

Good evening, sir.

Well, Bush was in your area this past weekend, meeting with house democrats in an effort to foster bipartisanship. Looks like he realizes that the democrats are a very powerful minority in the current congress, and wants to get bipartisan support for his agenda. And he got it with the Ashcroft confirmation. 8 democrats also voted to confirm the new attorney general.

I’ve not yet ordered those Sony headphones. I really wish I could listen to them before forking over $300 for them. But I’ve had my last pair of Sony’s for 9 years now. Very happy with them. Those I paid $170 for in 1992. So this pair for $300 today is probably of similar quality to those old reliables.

To other tid-bits: Someone got hold of my ATM credit card number and charged several items, which totaled around $500. Fortunately, I’ll not have to pay for any of it. It’s been a pain though, because my ATM card I use very heavily here in Philly, and I’ve been without it for about a week now. The bank sent me a new card, but it went to my Mom’s house. So, when it arrives there, she’s going to send it here. In fact, going to call her tonight to see if it got there yet.

Anyway, just sipping some green tea with mint. A very appropriate beverage for these snowy winter times. We got about 3 inches of snow this afternoon outside my door here. And it’s supposed to freeze overnight. Hectic travel tomorrow for anyone driving to work. Glad that’s not me. *grin*

Okay, going to get out of here. Hope you’re doing well, and we’ll talk again soon.

Later.

Tom

Related Posts

• Caffeine Headaches

Looking backward from 2009-11-28.

1984-01

• Started college and experienced my first official computer class, CS-7, which taught the Pascal programming language on Digital Equipment’s VAX-11 mini computer, running the VAX VMS operating system.
• Met Paula Eide and we dated, mostly by phone, throughout this winter.
• Withdrew from my first college class, which was History 41.  I had, naively signed up for 15 credits in this term, and found the work load excessive.  This class was the first, but not the last casualty of my ignorance.
• Joined the Visually-Impaired Students Association (VISA) at the university.  Paula Eide was the present.
• Unemployment compensation ran out, and it took several months to start receiving disability payments.  So I was pretty poor this month.
• I resumed the rubbing of snuff after a 2-month hiatus. 

1984-02

• I wrote lots of papers for my  Basic Writing   class throughout this entire term, on a Smith Corona cartridge typewriter.
• [Z] visited me and spent the night.
• I actually enjoyed the math work for the Algebra and Trigonometry class.

1984-04

• Finished my first term of college.  I successfully completed introductions to Sociology, basic writing, computer programming, and college math.
• Started reading talking books on cassette tape for the first time as an adult, prompted by [First Love].
• Paula came for a date / visit, and I fixed us a spaghetti dinner.  I remember her commenting about me giving her such a bit bowl of lettuce: “What?” she said.  “Do you think I’m a rabbit?”
• [First Love] and I fought over the usual stuff — her, not giving me as much of her time (or body) as I desired.

1984-05

• Entered my first Calculus class.  At first, I signed up for the six-week version (in half the time).  But it moved too quickly for me to keep up with the assignments.  So I switched to the full-length version of the course, which covered the same material but took over twice as long. 
• Paula Eide and I stopped associating.  Our relationship had deteriorated into constant bickering and arguing, and her health was heading south as well.

1984-06

• Left Mellon St. for Moorhead.
• Bought the bed with the metal head and foot boards and an open-style spring board — not a box spring.

1984-08

• Successfully completed the introduction to Calculus course in college; I received an A.

1984-09

• Returned to college, full-time again, to finish out my freshman year.
• Entered my first FORTRAN computer language class.
• Ditto for the introduction to music listening / appreciation.
• I experienced dating a black woman for the first time.
• Received a job offer to return to work as the head electronics technician at The University of Pittsburgh.  But since I was already fully challenged by my college coursework, I declined.
• Purchased my first CD player and my first CD. 
• Withdrew from my second class this year, which was a Calculus-based introduction to physics.  I had problems applying the Calculus theory to real-world problems such as are found in physics. 

1984-11

• Enjoyed my first intimate experience with the African American woman I met in September.

1984-12

• Finished my freshman year in college.

Tom Hesley

Looking backward from 2010-03-25 to 1969-11-30.  One of my most enduring and changing lessons as a preadolescent, was learning why the vacuum tubes found in record players, amplifiers, radios, and televisions give off a deep and beautiful blue light when operating.  This curiosity stoked my already-bright burning interest in electronics and how things in general worked.  This quest also led me through some difficult life dilemmas and was a key variable in the way I grew up and many of the personality traits I developed as well as lost.  See that detailed story   here. 

Tom Hesley

Related Posts

• Dear Lynn: On Tube and Transistor Radios
• Learning Why Vacuum Tubes Glow Blue
• Today’s Business: 2010-03-25