Making a not book review book review: Year Zero by Rob Reid

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This is not a book review in the traditional sense. Most folks expect a stuffy analysis of the story with either a condescending don't read or a flat toned recommend one should read it now, or even yesterday.
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[
Warning, Alert, Pay Attention to this note: The first audio is full of spoken URLs that have been mercifully moved to the end. A 2 second silence zone if you wish to stop audio before URL speak. There is one URL at the beginning and it is the book URL at the publishers site.
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[ The Review Audio ]

[ Preview of Year Zero from audio version. About 3.5 minutes from middle of book. I think it is a better taste than just the 1st chapter. ]

[ Text -- just plain text ]


Date: August 15, 2012 02:40 EDT [06:40Z]
Subject: Making a not book review book review
SnarkBug
Book: Year Zero
Author: Rob Reid
Publisher: Random House http://www.randomhouse.com/book/217834/year-zero-by-rob-reid

I like this book. I am listening to the audio version downloaded from Audible (an Amazon property now). I recommend the book to anyone who can laugh or at least be entertained by crazy aliens trying undo the mind blowing situation of music piracy.

This paragraph did have a bunch of spoilers. Having a second thought about that I zapped the spoilers and inserted the links to sample pages. I reckon that is more useful and even neighborly.

Excerpt From Rob Reid's Year Zero; Plus A Chance To Win The Book

Join Us Thursday For A Conversation With Rob Reid, Author Of Year Zero; Plus August's Book Of The Month

Live Video Chat With Rob Reid, Author Of 'Year Zero' About Aliens & Copyright

Publisher audio sample

Audible listing

Note on Audible price: The suggested retail price is $28 marked down to $19.60 which is 40 cents less than the $20 listed on publisher's site. Agency price you think?

I did not know the book existed until I watched the file copy video in this post. I took the time to look up the publisher. Based on the one audio clip the publisher made downloadable (mp3) I went to my Audible account and bought it. Got to give the publisher a thumbs up for making; hardbound , e-book & audiobook. Not commenting on the price point each has except that it is borderline too high on audio version.


[----- Reference Material -----]
Text of my comment in the post linked below.


August 14, 2012 23:14:00 EDT [August 15, 2012 03:14Z]

Live Video Chat With Rob Reid, Author Of 'Year Zero' About Aliens & Copyright [by Mike Masnick Aug 9th 2012 12:00pm]

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120809/01364119972/live-video-chat-with-rob-reid-author-year-zero-about-aliens-copyright.shtml

 I am biting on the AC's troll because I think -- even if one person is influenced to give the book a try then the time spent doing the live meet and the post processing needed to make the interview available to everyone, except for locations where government meddles and blocks it, is not a flop.

I did not know the book existed until I watched the file copy video in this post. I took the time to look up the publisher. Based on the one audio clip the publisher made downloadable (mp3) I went to my Audible account and bought it. Got to give the publisher a thumbs up for making; hardbound , e-book & audiobook. Not commenting on the price point each has except that it is borderline too high on audio version.

So, by my measurement system the video interview is successful.

-d
note: This comment will be included in my book review to be posted in my journal.


[end]

Things That Pis# Me Off: auto play audio/video on web sites

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Uploaded by 309nmblonde on Apr 3, 2011

The auto play of music, advertisements & video of any type is insane. Computers are powerful enough I can record audio and browse the internets. It is arrogant and impolite to blast browser audio all over a task with[out] user permission.

The solution, of course, is to buy a utility that shuts down all audio out from sources other than the one wanted.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• browser
• audio
• usa network'

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Video of test - Placed Wax Audio on DVD

Since Facebook gets on my last nerve I rather post here. But I post there.

[Tested DVD Structure :: Mashed in Plastic: The David Lynch Mash-Up Album

]Note: Find the structure error. Easy one.

Thanks, http://www.waxaudio.com.au And http://www.mashedinplastic.co.uk/

[Why this video? Sounds like where I am - at this moment.

]

[Now if I go on a Twin Peaks binge it is not my fault.

] Facebook knocks the quality down a notch. The proper HQ version is in my FB/video area. (f_in FB; only replay button allowed!).

Honestly I don't have time for watching TP. Really.

Edit: correct spelling on label (tag)

Oh-Dark-Thirty and bored: Instant Mobile Mischief

At Oh-Dark-Thirty I drive to store to resupply Dr Pepper and check quality of audio disk made in iT(unes). Nothing makes me more nervous than an AudioCD made from from MP3. It is an affront to nature and sets me off in a way I could power a Saturn V stage. The squished out frequencies & other damage can be "sorta" fixed using DVD2OneX Audio Remaster after converting MP3 to PCM (AIFF or WAV).

It is fortunate that I downloaded from:

https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/drywall

Smell that smoke? Feel that flame? Wall Of Voodoo singer Stan Ridgway's electro/experimental noise combo, Drywall - IS BACK. With fellow fire-chiefs Pietra Wexstun & Rick King, a sizzling slab of sonic sedition. 15 choice cuts. Burn baby burn.

Genre: Rock: Modern Rock

Release Date:2008 (Album description is CDbaby's)

So, this cat is supplied with all the necessary tools for mischief and it is -2C outside. What to do at such an early hour? Not freezing fingers off is a plus. Inventory: 1 - audio CD, 1 - G2 mobile (T-Mobile), 1 - automobile with audio system [heated] (Ford Taurus X) and munchies & Dr Pepper. It is obvious to me that I can test something while waiting up for the deer's morning stroll ... 2nd thought ... Screw taking photos of landscape eating rodents I'll broadcast something. Bambuser!

I made one of those SWAG test plans just like a real user; just turn on device and let it tell me how it wishes to setup the broadcast parameters. To summarize: 1) The wifi is off and the phone status told me I am connected HSDPA. 2) Executed Bambuser Android Application and all is fine except, the G2 being a smart phone it had to tell me its connection could handle a higher data rate. Told it to shut up I knew better. What you don't talk to your machines? Your car listens. Anyway before I derail, below are the broadcasts. Top one is the morning run that did not end well, LOS at 7:40 minutes. The bottom run did quite well and the T-Mobile connection bounced near yellow only once during the 1 hour 30 minutes I allocated for testing.

Broadcast at frame size 176x144 This player is scaled to 352x288

Broadcast at frame size 176x144 This player is scaled to 352x288

A little bit more stressful test -- Broadcast frame size 320x240.

G2 and T-Mobile HSDPA Check -Take 3 ( Comcast WiFi )

Player scaled to 640x480 for illustration, the broadcast was 320x240.

G2 and T-Mobile HSDPA Check -Take 3 (HSDPA)

Player scaled to 640x480 for illustration, the broadcast was 320x240.

Lastly, the quickly made gear and a photo of the process.

Conclusion:

T-Mobile HSDPA was better than WiFi at holding a consistent stream health when broadcasting. The fluctuation was +- a percentage point even when I made the field of view busier by taking some of the static area away. WiFi was a little ahead at holding a higher stream health even though it was +- 5 percentage points "bouncy". I would say in this test, this application, there are other limiting factors involved I have no control over that cause WiFi and HSDPA too be pretty much the same. No fear at using T-Mobile or Comcast to broadcast live from my G2. T-Mobile does, however, hold a better QOS bit rate. Partly because of the nature of WiFi; upstream has variable amounts of buffering.

That is all folks.

My Audio Did Not Seem Quite Right! Test Tool Time!

I have a chicken wire and patch cord audio system. Three different make, model and year speakers. Well, they seemed to have lost the edge they once had. Flat was, well too flat and the bass was rumble city.

The fix is simple use a calibrated source. THX

Tex2: Moo Can from THX Ltd. on Vimeo.

The image you see is deliberately posted because I think it is a silly thing for the source to require folks to do. Easier to just suck the video out of the net and park it on you private account in the Caymans.

[

THX Monster HDMI Trailer from THX Ltd. on Vimeo.

Sucks! You cannot trust compressed audio in a rinky-dink flash server. All the range is squished

out!

[-------------------------- The Right Stuff --------------------------]

Therefore use this from THX via HD

http://www.thx.com/consumer/movies/8286288

Test separation and low notes

http://www.thx.com/consumer/movies/8284166

]

But what the hell is one click to get audio that will tell you your speakers suck.

signed, 12th hour at the keyboard cat

P.S.

A song with the help of: http://www.brunching.com/ alanislyrics.html

"Why"

Sweaty, pushy, choking Why God, Why?

Pushy, steamy, crowds Why God, Why?

What have I done to deserve this red horror? 

Surrounded on all sides with the Hell of crowds Like a poe character, 

I'm wordy and alone Why God, Why?  

Smelly, sweaty, icky Why God, Why?

Crowds, icky, choking Why God, Why?  

What have I done to deserve this red disaster that is my life? 

Surrounded on all sides with the Hell of crowds Like a poe character, 

I'm wordy and alone Why God, Why?  

What have I done to deserve this red misery? 

Surrounded on all sides with the Hell of crowds Like a poe character, 

I'm wordy and alone Why God, Why?  

Why God, Why? 

Why God, Why? 

Why God, Why? 

Why God, Why?

And a second one to be sure I formatted text right.

"I Think"

I Think crashing are really a huge problem

I Think dying are too much on my mind

I Think bleeding have got a lot to do with why the world sucks

But what can you do?

Like a teal rain, beating down on me

Like a Bacon line, which won't let go of my brain

Like Nancy's ass, it is in my head

Blame it on traffic

Blame it on traffic

Blame it on traffic

I Think screaming are gonna drive us all crazy

And broken make me feel like a child

I Think shattered will eventually be the downfall of civilization

But what can you do? I said what can you do?

Like a teal rain, beating down on me

Like a Bacon line, which won't let go of my brain

Like Nancy's ass, it is in my head

Blame it on traffic

Blame it on traffic

Blame it on traffic

Like a teal rain, beating down on me

Like Nancy's smile, cruel and cold

Like Bacon's ass, it is in my head

Blame it on traffic

Blame it on traffic

Blame it on traffic