Episode 64 – 2011 Wrap Up, Part 1

This episode is part 1 of a car cast where we cover our highlights of 2011.

Apologies for the audio quality as we’re testing a new set of microphones and the road noise was louder than we anticipated. It gets particularly loud around the 30 minute mark, but that only lasts for six or seven minutes. Listening through, we’ve come up with some ways to greatly improve the audio from the car.

Stuff we mention:

Episode 61 – Live from Balticon! Take My Geek Card (I Dare You!)

From the Balticon 45 pocket program:

Into the Blender Live! Take My Geek Card (I Dare You!)

Sun, 9:00 PM, Chesapeake, Into The Blender: Live! (New Media)
Moderator: Chooch Schubert, Panelists: Marc “Grailwolf” Bailey, P. G. Holyfield, Chris Miller, and Vivid Muse.
The IntoTheBlender.com podcast is back for another live show. This time we’re taking on a touchy subject: There are countless
arenas of geek affection, but some seem near universal: movies, television, and books. Whether it be Star Wars or Firefly; Lord of the Rings, or Buffy; Gaiman or Pratchet – there are things you are SUPPOSED to love as a geek. Well, we don’t love them all and I bet you don’t either! Come compare your likes and dislikes with an assorted panel of lovers and haters of every genre.

Episode 60 – Big Fun, Small Business and Balticon

In a Balticon rush, so only adding that which I can remember needs linking. ~Viv

Our News:

Balticon

Schedules:

  • Chooch ~ Here is a list of the events I will be participating in. 
    • Sound Design & Extreme Audio Effects, Friday 10:00pm – 11:00pm in the Derby
      Our expert panel of professional sound designers and audio engineers will explore various topics and techniques surrounding sound design and the art and science of extreme audio effects. They will share insider tips and tricks to help you squeeze strange and unworldly tones and textures out of the equipment you already own, inspire you to build and record uncommon noise makers, and to turn ordinary sounds into sonic landscapes designed to enhance your next multi-media project. They will cover both basic and advanced recording, tweaking and extreme manipulation techniques to provide you with the take-away know-how to shake awake audiences and transport them to strange new worlds.
    • Master’s Session: Audio Excellence in Podcasting, Saturday 9:00am – Noon in the Derby
      Our panel of expert audio enthusiasts will discuss various topics surrounding audio engineering for spoken word, music, and everything in between. They will help you get the best sound out of the equipment you have, help you pick the next piece of important equipment within your budget, and help you avoid burnout by streamlining your workflow to shorten the time you spend editing audio. The audience is encouraged to bring questions and even samples of problems they are having with their own work.
    • Concert: Ditched by Kate, Saturday 7:00pm – 8:00pm in the Garden Room
      New Media participants Phil Rossi and Chooch Schubert bring us alternative rock with their band “Ditched by Kate“.
    • Unlikely Disasters to Plan For, Saturday 10:00pm – 11:00pm in the Chesapeake
      Because more things may uprise than just zombies and robots!
      So much attention is paid to how one might survive the zombie apocalypse or robot uprising. But aren’t there a whole lot of other things we should be planning for? How about mole men? Insect sentience? Or grey goo? Join our panel of possible-apocalypses scholars enumerate the conceivable threats. We might even have time to figure out how to survive one or two! Audience participation encouraged!
    • Into The Blender: Live! Sunday 9:00pm – 10:00pm in the Chesapeake
      Geek Media: One size does not fit all
      The IntoTheBlender.com podcast is back for another live show. This time we’re taking on a touchy subject: There are countless arenas of geek affection, but some seem near universal: movies, television, and books. Whether it be Star Wars or Firefly; Lord of the Rings, or Buffy; Gaiman or Pratchet – there are things you are SUPPOSED to love as a geek. Well, we don’t love them all and I bet you don’t either! Come compare your likes and dislikes with an assorted panel of lovers and haters of every genre. Take My Geek Card (I Dare You!)
    • Open Source Software for Everyday Use, Sunday 2:00pm – 3:00pm in the Derby
      What we use at home and at work to free us from software giants
      Do you feel that your creativity is held back because you can’t afford programs like Photoshop, Final Cut, or Microsoft Office? Our panel of experts have freed themselves from the bonds of expensive closed software ecosystems and you can too. Whether you’re just fed up, want to try new things, or can’t afford to pick up the software you want, there is an open source alternative available to you. Find out what packages our panelist use, how to find software that fits your need, and how to join the amazing communities that spring up around open source software. 

      Chances are you probably use some OSS, and you don’t even know it. Our panel of open source developers and evangelists discuss the facts and help you find the OSS packages that can free you from outrageously high costs, bizarre licensing practices, and poor interface design. Come and learn ways to save yourself money, improve your productivity, and secure your computer. You don’t have time or money to ignore OSS anymore. Set yourself free.

  • Vivid Muse ~ Note: ALL of my events are on Sunday!
     

    • Noon in the Chesapeake ~Paulette Jaxton’s book launch for The Empress Sword
      Recently published by Dragon Moon Press, I’ll be helping Paulette serve up tasty nomz inspired by the book and there will be a reading from the book by Nathan Lowell!
    • 6PM in the Chesapeake – Girls’ Rules Live! ~ Women in the Gaming World
      I’ll be joined by Laura Burns, Christiana Ellis, M.A. in PA, and Jett Micheyl. I’m also hoping for a special guest!
      It’s not just Felicia Day having fun in the diverse world of gaming, it’s women from all walks of life. Join this all-female panel discuss their experiences after years of gameplay. We’ll discuss all manner of gaming, as this panel reveals what it’s really like when boy discovers that “girl” doesn’t always mean Guy In Real Life.
    • 7 PM in the Chase (lower level) ~ Reading from my Mom’s short story, “Grandma.”
      This story is the inspiration and centerpiece for a (Breast) Cancer Anthology I’ll be publishing in time for her birthday in 2012. I’ll be requesting submissions for written works and artwork for the collection and will be paying for accepted works. All proceeds from the book will go to established cancer charities.
    • 9 PM in the Chesapeake – Into the Blender Live: Take My Geek Card (I Dare You!)
      Guests include: P.G. Holyfield, Marc Bailey and Rich Sigfrit
      This time we’re taking on a touchy subject: There are countless arenas of geek affection, but some seem near universal: movies, television, and books. Whether it be Star Wars or Firefly; Lord of the Rings, or Buffy; Gaiman or Pratchet – there are things you are SUPPOSED to love as a geek. Well, we don’t love them all and I bet you don’t either! Come compare your likes and dislikes with an assorted panel of lovers and haters of every genre.
    • 10 PM in the Chesapeake ~ Geek Parenting in New Media
      Our panel of geek parents chime in with their thoughts on raising young geeks. What is the right age to show the kids Star Wars? Do you show them all 6 or only the good ones. What websites are good and safe for kids at what age? How do you teach your kids about Internet privacy? How do you prepare them for “Greifers” on gaming systems? When is it OK for them to use their real name?
    • I’ll then be attending the remainder of the Time Traveler’s Ball, hosted by Christiana Ellis in the Garden Room!

Our new podcast!
The brainchild of P.G. Holyfield, the Beyond the Wall Podcast explores the HBO series “A Game of Thrones” with fellow podcasters, P.G., Christiana Ellis and Nuchtchas Nimlas. You can follow all things SpecFicMedia.com on Twitter by following @SpecFicMedia and specifically information for the Beyond the Wall Podcast by following @BTWPodcast.

VividMuseCreations.com is open for business!

  • Custom Buttons
  • Voice Work
  • Copy Editing
  • Audio Editing
  • Dog Walking
  • Graphic Design
  • Web Design
  • ALMOST anything will be considered.

Chooch updates on DitchedByKate.com adventures!

  • Jammin Java CD release party on Tuesday, May 31st. We’ll have tickets with us at Balticon at the pre-sell price of $10 each. There are 4 acts, and DBK is set to perform at 9 pm!
  • Our next show will be June 18th at IOTA in Arlington, Va with Juniper Lane. Yes – its a Saturday night!

Viv squees over Troy Hickman’s Twilight Guardian

Chooch appears on the Living Proof Brewcast, episodes 4/24/2011 and 5/7/2011!  We <3 Thomas and John!

Chooch, Viv and Naughty Bear participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Richmond and raised $520!

This Week’s Solid Nuggets:

  • VivGlympse
    It works on Android, iPhone, and Blackberry. It requires GPS, because it will allow you to share not only where you are, but your actual live travel data in a viewable map. Desktop or smartphone, you can see where you are in relation to the person thath Glympse’d you. It’s already become a regular part of my travels, and of friends’ travels, too. Go to Glympse.com or look for the app in your phone’s app store.
  • Chooch – Groupme
    It works on Android, iPhone, Blackberry or any phone with SMS. Kind of like Twitter for private groups. Includes location, pictures and free conference calling. You can view the text on a web browser, but can only send messages from your phone. You can turn of logging if you want to.. I really wish the web transcript had a search feature.

Episode 59 – Cheap Beach Second Honeymoon

*Recorded March 7, 2011*

News from Virginia Beach

  • Visit with M.A. in PA and Paulette Jaxton; chatting and knitting.
  • Super cheap beach vacation was expiring so we mad a mad dash towards the ocean.
  • Ditched By Kate News
  • Chooch received a CR-48 Chrome OS laptop and gets his geek on talking about it
  • Viv will be requesting submissions for a book of collected breast cancer stories, fiction or non-fiction as soon as details are worked out. Watch her blog for more information.

No nuggets or promos this time around. We catch ya on the next one!

Episode 58 – First Times

This episode is a continuation from Ep 57

In this episode we discuss:

  • Ladies’ Craft Day, Uterus Holding and Planning World peace
  • Manly Day of Brewing and Boy Talk and Games for the Monkeys (Heroscape)
  • Ethiopian Cuisine Adventures
  • Ditched By Kate performed their inaugural show with the new name at IOTA
  • Promo: Nutty Bites

Episode 57 – Friends, Family and Feedback

Our News

Finds

  • Viv
    Hat tip to John Taylor Williams for linking to this one in twitter – “What Made for a Successful D&D Birthday Party” from the blog “The Mule Abides” as he explains how he successfully shared Dungeons and Dragons with 8 and 9 year olds at his sons’ birthday party. He’s now started a company hosting these parties in the NYC area. You can email tavis@adventuringparties.com for information on hiring his service.

We have audio from Paulette Jaxton on her newly released novel, Empress Sword. Available for purchase from Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com.


Episode 56 – Don’t Call It A Comeback, We’ve Been Here For Years

Announcements

  • Phasing-in a new format
    • Sharing finds
    • New web site look
    • Perhaps new theme music
    • Considering a new segment for cross promotion – if you’re a friend of the show, meaning you’ve been on or had a promo played you are, standard dependent, welcome to join us or send audio to promote your new podcast, book, project or whatever. If you’ve not been featured on the show, send it along and we’ll review it for compatibility with our show!

News

  • Viv
    • Medication change after a terrible result from going medication free.
    • Taking the semester off and getting old projects completed and starting new ones.
    • Running and exercising again after a 2 month lapse due to sinus infection, Cipro concerns, ankle problems and icy conditions.
    • LT’s birthday, 14. Girls, drums, girls, friends, girls and girls.
  • Chooch
    • DbK album update (and new recordings)
    • Return to Facebook
    • Writing – Short story for Philippa Ballantine’s Geist, novel, secret project and …
    • Very Scary Art project by Helen Madden

Finds

  • Viv
    • Drunk History – Web series by Derek Waters. Probably NSFW or for young kids since the historians are visibly drunk and the language is not ‘G’ rated.

Episode 55 – Holiday Survival? Just Barely.

In this episode, we discuss:

Promo: Flying Island Press

Episode 53 – Holiday Update

We’re interrupting our presentation of multi-episode media review with P.G. Holyfield to give an end of the year update.

In this episode we discuss:

  • Thanksgiving Fun
  • Turkey Trot – 5k Race. Viv completes a 5k for the first time EVAR!
  • Dinner at the Thomas and Andrea Gideon’s.
  • Tweet-up for Gabrielle Harbowy and her husband Matt at DFH.
  • Lunch baby playtime with the Seidman’s at Sweetwater Tavern.
  • Con-Struction – An experimental dinner hosted by Tee Morris and Philippa Ballantine
  • Feedback from Richard, aka Danger Force.
  • Living Proof Brewcast, a new podcast by Thomas Gideon and John Taylor Williams.
  • Discussion of holiday traditions and survival tips on Viv’s Girls’ Rules Podcast
  • Promo: Nutty Bites
  • Episode 51 – Media Review with P.G. Holyfield, Pt 1

    We happily lured beloved friend P.G. Holyfield into the burrow for a media review (He’s also the brilliant author of Murder at Avedon Hill), and ended up talking for over four hours. We are breaking it into tasty pieces for your enjoyment and will alternate them with regular episodes in future weeks.

    In this episode we discuss:

    • Our fun the night before at the Geek Radio Daily Pub Crawl in Richmond, Virginia and the new ChocoCon PiCake (a twist on the cherpumple, using a pecan pie baked into a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting).
    • Our media review includes new favorite podcasts and podio/audio books, including:

    Podiobooks:
    Unkillable by Patrick E. McLean
    Dreamer’s Thread by Starla Hutchton (with mention of the super talented Cheyenne Wright)
    FETIDUS by James Durham
    Fables of the Flying City by Jared Axelrod

    Harvey by Phil Rossi

    Podcasts:
    Jay and Silent Bob Get Old

    Living Proof Brew Cast

    Promo: Geek Radio Daily