Geeking Out

I've been home catching up on a few things the past week, and I've been playing around with some new technology. The first bit was something I've had for a while, an Olympus DM-1 digital audio recorder. I've been meaning to use it for the ATV club features for a while, and I tried it out on the Arkansas trip, and it worked great.

I taped most of the interviews with the ATV club, and it worked really slick for that. The unit is small and innocuous, which is good, and you turn it on with a simple record button. I left it resting on my Honda's tank bag (the interviews all took place by the bike) and it picked up the voices of anyone within about eight feet of it.

The built-in microphone works pretty well. I found a reference to an external microphone that is supposed to work better that I may try down the road. For now, this is fine.

The files go on to SmartMedia cards, and can be transferred to my computer. I downloaded the latest Olympus software, and I could play them on the computer. A foot-operated rocker switch would help to cue the audo to start and stop as I type, and I'd like to find some automatic transcription software, but those are niggles. Using tape is something I'll do from now on.

I found that meant I can take thinner notes, and just write the prime quotes down. I can also get a much richer quote by using the recorder. And the 128mb cards hold 20 hours of audio. I have three cards, so I'm set on that front.

I also hooked up my new Sunrocket phone so that I can record phone interviews, which will help out a ton with that process.

Speaking of which, internet phones (like Sunrocket) are cheap and very slick to use. You can set it up to have messages sent as audio files to your e-mail. This means I'll get phone messages even when I'm on the road. That has been a good addition.

My last bit of geeking out this week is setting up a wireless network at home. A friend of mine wanted to upgrade to the new Airport base station, so he sold me his old one cheap. I installed that in the office--which took all of about 20 minutes--and had a wireless office. Nice.

The range is pretty good, but I wasn't getting good coverage in my house, which is about 50 feet away from my garage. I would get a connection in the house, but not a strong or consistent one. So I added a small Airport Express unit, which Apple is clearing out for less than $100. Setting that up took some doing--I think because of how my security was set up on the base station--but I solved those problems tonight and now have solid wireless throughout the house and in the office.

I have internet access in the house, and can use my laptop to access the files on my main computer out in the garage. Plus, Airport Extreme hooks into your stereo, and allows you to play iTunes through the stereo. I can play music in the house with my laptop, and my CD collection can go into boxes and be put away!

Lastly, I've been doing a little home improvement on the weekends. I did a little painting, am having the living room hardwood floor refinished, and having been getting bids on having the driveway paved. I'm also putting some thought into the back patio, and have a rough plan for that and hope to start in the next few weeks.

And, yes, I did file a story, sell some photos for the Seasons on the Farm collection MBI is publishing, and make a contact with the managing editor at one of Buzz Kanter's magazines.

A fine geek week, all around.

Motorcycle Paradise

I just returned from a few days in the Ozarks, one of my favorite parts of the world. The country is gorgeous, the weather is great this time of the year, and the people are friendly. Plus the motorcycling is outstanding, with great twisty roads to ride on the street and tons of good off-road riding, as well.

I spent a day playing off-road at Brock Creek with my new (to me) 125SX. The KTM and I fared better than a year ago at the same spot, a day in which I spent most of the time picking the bike up off the ground. I rode with Darrick Anderson and his brother, Trevor.

I also spent a day doing a club profile for ATV Rider magazine. This month it was the Northwest Arkansas ATV Club, a good bunch who showed me around the Mill Creek Riding Area. My favorite quote from Tom Scates, a long-time ORV enthusiast, who said, “I don’t drink bourbon or coffee anymore . . . My vice is my Rhino.”



Sunday was spent doing a ride for Cruiser magazine with Billy Bell and his father, Gene. I met the two at a cafe in their hometown of Jasper, a great little town near the Arkansas Grand Canyon (yeah, I didn't know there was one, either). They were having breakfast with a group of cafe regulars, and I was treated to stories abou the town's origins. One of the local guys, John Hudson, told me his dad, who was a well-known doctor who did some innovative work with TB patients. John invited me to stop by his home, which is a much rennovated place built around an 1826 cabin. Gene, Billy, and I stopped in for a tour, and it was amazing. The guy has a complete museum in his house, with medical devices and lots of momentos from his dad's career.

So a good trip to Arkansas. Now I just have to convince Andy at Cruiser that my "favorite ride" is Arkansas, not Colorado! I'm working on an article for him in the next issue which features "Editor's Favorite Rides." Colorado works better for the issue geographically but I prefer Arkansas--it's motorcycle paradise.

Snow!

Governor Tim Pawlenty called in the national guard yesterday to help motorists stranded by the closings of Interstate 35 in the southern part of Minnesota. Schools are closed. Governments are shut down. This is a real snow storm!

My drive to work this morning? Twenty minutes with the snowblower and about 30 seconds walking to the office. Not bad.

The plow knocked off my mailbox (for the second time this week). Message to Mr. Plow driver: wake up and pay attention, wouldja?