Freebies

If you are as cheap as I am then you are probably looking for good deals all the time.

To be even more similar to me you like to find free software on the Internet. Two very useful programs that I have found are 100% free to use forever, no strings attached. They are free of ads as well. I give my personal recommendation.

If you need an awesome free word processor nearly equal to Microsoft Word ® try Open Office. Download at  http://www.openoffice.org

If you like to tinker with digital audio then get the beta version of Audacity for multi-track recording and editing. I find it very reliable and easy to use, weather you're a beginner or an experienced pro. I have been using Audacity for about five years. There was a slight learning curve in the beginning. With the on-line users manual, all features are comprehensively explained. I am not a beginner; audio has been a serious hobby of mine for 30 years: in radio production for a dozen years and church sound since I was 14. Devices and fads have come and gone, but I can truly say that Audacity is the most useful tool ever. It does things impossible for even state-of-the-art analog production studios when I began in radio. The only criticism: there is no real time preview of plug-in effects. Hey, it is free after all. You may download at http://audacity.sourceforge.net

Stay tuned

©2010 The Peanut Whistle. All rights reserved.

Where's the Reset Button?

I've been a bit leisurely lately. This blog has not demanded the attention as it once did. That might be a good thing,

Over my 44 years I have seemed to go through many fads not staying with them long. As a youth I played sandlot football and became obsessed with the sport; parental oversight prohibited me from actually playing in high school. "You could get hurt," my mother would often warn. Compliant children such as I listened only to regret much later what NFL franchise would have beckoned. In reality, officially competing would have been too much work  for a clumsy nonathletic clod. I went through many phases: gym memberships, tennis, bicycling, on and on. Finally, I decided that "bodily exercise profiteth little" so after a few years the fitness craze languished. I realize today that taking scripture out of context can be counterproductive. 

With my pollen filled lungs I have decided to be more proactive with my health lately. It may be a phase; but a 40 year age gap with such young children it's apparent that we couch potatoes must abandon leisure and get with the program. Wish me luck. Summer, here we come!

Stay tuned.

©2010 The Peanut Whistle. All rights reserved.

Random Rant

Today’s post might not be popular,  I don’t care.

I was listening to the radio this morning; one of those typical man and woman hosted fluff shows. It does not matter which station. It proved why I elected years ago to listen exclusively to CD’s when in the car. The show was so sappy that I literally felt nauseous. Let me explain.

About 25 years ago a smart programmer in New York City took a struggling radio station, invented the Morning Zoo format and turned it into the number one Z-100 phenomenon popular to this day. FM radio was never again the same. In the place of a single DJ several hosts contributed to the morning show with well crafted wit and interesting banter. This format was cloned with varying success all over the country. Over the years many popular stations reduced the size of their morning shows down to typically one man and one woman; I think to increase their female listeners. In the age of political correctness these shows were biased to the female perspective. Male bashing has been en vogue for many years and these shows have reflected this upside down trend. As a result these male hosts have been emasculated ad nauseam.

The contrast between the sexes is what makes life interesting. Why then do I have to hear a man’s voice oozing  pseudo-sensitivity from my car speakers? We have gone too far. It’s time to man up! Radio programmers take note: women actually like real men.

Stay tuned 

©2010 The Peanut Whistle. All rights reserved.