Grover Ponders
Converting an audio CD to MP3's
I recently needed to convert a number of files in multiple directories from WAV format to MP3 format. I opted to do this with a script, seeing as most of the directories contained 99 files. Here is the bash script I came up with:
#!/bin/bash SRCDIR=`pwd` MP3DIR=$SRCDIR/mp3 for d in Disk*; do WORKDIR=$MP3DIR/"$d" mkdir -p "$WORKDIR" cd "$d" for f in *.wav do b=`basename "$f" .wav`.mp3 lame -V2 "$f" "$WORKDIR/$b" done cd $SRCDIR done
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AWK to the resuce!
I mentioned a few posts back that I had built myself a GPS logging tool. Since then, I tweaked it some by putting it into an enclosure (a plastic box), hooking up an external power connector (aka a barrel jack), wired in an OpenLog device and changing the code to log the GPS values to a CSV type file on the SD Card. It is in my truck, powered by a cigarette lighter power chord. Those changes were fun and educational but I hit another wall when I moved on to the "next step" with the project.
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Cloudy? With a hint of data loss?
There is a LOT of interest in Cloud Computing these days. I just finished skimming through an article on Ubuntu One (Ubuntu's cloud solution), and I'm noting a disturbing trend. Under the pros and cons, they only pay attention to the features the system offers, or doesn't offer. It totally misses the points that touch on the cloud computing idea itself.
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FaceBook playing games with privacy concerns
In the past few weeks FaceBook has been taking flak for privacy concerns with regards to their recent policy changes. These changes are wide and invasive, and set up a default condition for ALL users - new and current - of sharing your profile information with 3rd party sources without your knowledge. Unless you count telling you that the policies have changed, but not the impact of those changes, as letting you know about things.
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TV Execs Don't Get IT.
It has been known for a little while that the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) is a tad thick headed in terms of what government they choose to attack or build up. But it would appear that they do the same thing with picking sides in Technology. That's right, the government sponsored organization blatantly chooses to exclude a large swath of the population that ultimately pays their finances by refusing to allow Linux based workstations to play their videos.
Here's a tip: VIDEO IS JUST A FILE FORMAT. Linux plays ALL formats in one form or another.
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When Copyright Goes Bad
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New Bio Page
I've just finished updating my Bio page. It was getting a little outdated.
In this new version, I have included a short version of my bio, as well as a long version (for those who are morbidly curious). But in addition, I have also included a portfolio as well. The tech articles here are the best portfolio for me though, seeing as they show off the various issues and topics I encounter on a regular basis.
Enjoy!
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