Odiogo Text-To-Speech

A new Utility program that allows you to "read aloud" RSS subscriptions and create your own "podcasts" of your blog is called Odiogo (alternately pronounced Oh-dee-oh-go and Odd-ee-oh-go). For a demonstration of the technology, check here: http://blog.odiogo.com/index.php/2008/07/07/how-to-demo-movie-deploying-odiogo-on-a-typepad-blog/.

I am actually quite impressed with the quality and realism of the read-back. The voice sounds very natural and the inflections, etc., are comfortable to listen to. Perhaps future incarnations of this program will allow you to assign male and female voices, upper and lower register adjustments and maybe a five band equalizer or such, to allow closer simulation of the voice of the person posting the blog, the RSS feed, etc. To assign these settings ahead of time wouldn't be that difficult and would certainly be the next logical step in the advancement of this technology. Besides, variety really is the spice of life, is it not?

The company's demo was having an issue or two when I was there, but this could have been because my browswer is having an issue or two. I never got to listen to the demo from their site, but having already heard it in a podcast I had downloaded, I was shocked to find that it was an RSS feed that was being read by a software program. I knew then and there that I had to investigate this further and share the information.
http://www.odiogo.com/demo.php

This is a great technology that I suspect is going to be gaining a lot of popularity as more people find out about it. And maybe a lot more competitors, as well, trying to make those advancements that I suggested above and more. This can only be good for us all, as competition usually leads to improvement.

On trying to install it on this blog, I was defeated for some reason, but that isn't going to keep me from determing the reason and trying again, as I know that some blog hosts are a bit more temperamental about changes to their templates and installation of "foreign" widgets, etc. Also, other things I may have installed--firewalls, anti-viral and anti-trojan-ware--could be at the root of the issue.

Should you want to sign up yourself, go to this link and have a go at it. I would be interested in your experience, so come back and post it, if you will. We all learn by sharing knowledge. Thanks.
http://www.odiogo.com/

Resources For Writers:

http://www.moderoom.com/writers-idea-bank/index.htm
At this link you will find some interesting tools that you can use on your igoogle page, if you use it. There are lots of reasons to be interested in the Writer's Idea Bank, a tool to unblock writer's block. When you get a cramp in the idea department, remove it with some timely suggestions.
Other links on this page may be of interest to you also. If nothing else, they may suggest things on a tangent that may help you in the writing process.

http://www.bubbleguru.com/home.php
Okay, now this one is very interesting and will definitely make your site unique. It will place a bubble in the screen with your animation or video welcome and instruction to your visitors.

http://www.inkygirl.com/freelance-writing-rates-how-much-should-i-charge/
As a freelance writer, here is an excellent resource to answer the question of “How much should I charge and by what method?” I think you will enjoy this one.

http://www.practiline.net/
Word and line count software for translators. Not saying this is the best, but it is a starting place. There may be freeware or shareware that is even better.

http://fabiosalsi.tripod.com/converter/salary_calculator_for_translators.htm
Here is a page that will allow you a user interface for doing the calculating yourself, without purchasing software.

Acrobat or Gymnast?

Anyone who has ever wanted to create PDF files (portable and platform independent) has likely run into the cost of the most useful programs to accomplish the task (Adobe Acrobat, for example). You may have been able to afford the cost by digging into your huge advance from your publisher, the ongoing royalties from past works, etc. (It's hard to laugh with your tongue in your cheek, by the way.)

The answer to those who may be financially-challenged is to go for something more affordable (read: free), Gymnast. You will still need the free Adobe Reader, but you can now create the PDF for no cost, with Gymnast. Enjoy.

TEST of WriteToMyBlog.com

This is just a test. Had this been an actual blog entry, you would have been instructed in some manner with information of value. This has been a test of the writetomyblog.com system.

Fetch! Good boy, BlogRovr.

I like new and useful gadgets and software--no Luddite here. When Blogger for Word was interrupted, my feelings were hurt, because I enjoyed and used it a lot. However, there may still be hope, if talented programmers like the following keep at work on their ideas.

BlogRovr is a new application out for bloggers, or anyone else, that is very interesting. I am just starting to experiment with it and so have yet to be able to sing its praises, but the technology is promising, at the least.

The general idea behind BlogRovr is that you can get related blog write-ups delivered straight to you at the desktop WHILE you are reading another article or page at that instant. Kind of a servant who says, "If you are enjoying this, might I also suggest....?" Rather a novel idea (no pun intended).

My thought was an immediate, "Hey! This could help me keep up more easily on what others are doing in almost ANY field, including authoring." The potential seems immense, does it not? I am anxious to see what happens with this and look forward to your responses, should you also try it out.

http://www.blogrovr.com/

Is There A Great Story Hiding In You Somewhere? Dealing With Writer's Block

(In putting together this new site, I am also closing down the old one and moving what I think may be of interest to readers. This one of those articles.)

Writers' Block. The dreaded authors' disease. Speechless Stupor.
Whatever you may call it, it is not the desired end for a writer. A writer wants the words to flow like a mountain stream, like an artesian well, like Angel Falls--from great and astounding heights to unfathomable depths. Unfortunately that is not always the result of our efforts. Of course, it is not so bad when the block is only temporary. The worst block of all may be the one we do not notice, however.

Is it possible there is a great story hiding in you and you are not even aware of it? "How can that be possible?", you ask. To clarify, it may be the story you have yet to discover. More worrisome is that you may never discover it at all. Is that possible?

Although I cannot remember all the details, I recall hearing the true tale of a woman from Europe who once wrote a famous author and praised his work, commenting that she wished she had such talents as he. His response was to ask what it was that she did each day. She wrote back that she was a washer-woman and she sat on the steps each day after she folded her clothing. He again wrote and asked her what she saw as she sat there. She responded that she sat on the tiles the steps were made from. Back and forth this exchange went. What kind of tiles? Italian hand-made tiles. Describe them to me, etc. She began to be fascinated by the process utilized to manufacture those tiles and she sent him an impressive essay on the subject. Again he asked what else she saw as she sat there each day. She told of the ants that she would watch as they went about their activities around her feet. Another essay took flight and she sent this to him as well. Before the saga was over, she was a recognized expert on the subject of ant colonies and had several articles accepted and published in scientific journals. Other subjects of interest followed and she was just as successful in their pursuit.

Now it is your turn. Ask yourself about the world around you. Who is your neighbor? Did he or she experience some great marvel or survive some great catastrophe? Is their hobby something unusual? Are they an inspiration you have until now been unaware of? Have you done something that few others ever do in their lives? Did you overcome some great trial or obstacle in your life? Is there a great story waiting in that microcosm you call your life?

The moral of this example is fairly plain to see. The great story that seems to elude us may in fact be right under our feet all the time, with us passing it each day, oblivious to its very existence. Perhaps we may need to look up or look down for a change. Or we may be required to look outside of ourselves and our daily world to discover the excitement that was there all along. Then again, we may even need to focus inside ourselves to discover a great story that we have until today taken for granted.

Organized Confusion

It has been far too long since I have posted to this blog. I have all the usual excuses, however, so I am well prepared. A lot has been going on in my life. Researching the best way to publish my trilogy in the SHINING ARMOR series. I am writing a few new books. AIMLESS WANDERINGS will be a humor-based book (which I am still adding a bit to), to be followed up by a sequel, ORGANIZED CONFUSION, also humor-based. AMNESIA is another novel I have in the works and have been unable to spend much time with of late. I am also compiling an electronic work entitled WHO"S FUELING WHOM? AN EXPOSE' OF THE GLOBAL ENERGY CONSPIRACY. This will have a unique approach to proving claims made within the booklet. It won't be a long work, but will be a powerful one nonetheless. Considering writing a book called FAT, LAZY AND STUPID--THE PROBLEMS WITH AMERICA. Don't get me wrong, I love America and what it STOOD for. Problem is, it no longer does.

In addition, I have been involved in the formation of, with two housemates (while stuck here in Arizona), a trio of corporations that will hopefully work in a synergistic manner and accomplish a lot of good for the under-privileged and suffering in the world. There is a lot of prep work involved in this and I am learning by the seat of my pants. Fortunately they know a lot more about it. I trust that God will provide for this work, as long as we continue in His spirit and purpose.

I must assume that your holidays went well. Mine were (are) like the proverbial headless chicken, but have indeed been interesting. Being half the nation away from my family for a time, I had the privilege to spend the holidays with others who took pity on me (or wanted to punish me for some unknown crime) and invited me to join their own families. I miss the family and have made some very pronounced changes. No longer do I have to wear the Bah! Humbug! T-shirt my wife got me some years ago. I now enjoy the season and wish the good cheer could carry over all year. (My wife wants to know who I am and what I have done with her real husband).

On Christmas Eve, I had the distinct and memorable experience of having dinner with Satan and his minions. Not really, but it could as easily have been the same experience if I had. There should be a sign above this family's door that says, 'Abandon Hope, All Who Enter Here'. The whole thing was a real culture shock for me. To lay some foundation for you, I worked with the man for a short time at one job and we seemed to recognize kindred spirits in one another--they say opposites attract and we could not be more opposite than this. I call him my 'evil twin' and he calls me his 'conscience'. We have a lot of the same interests, albeit different manners of applying the knowledge (if you gave me a hammer, I would see what I could build with it--he would try to determine how to conquer the world with it). Mind you, he is brilliant--just terribly twisted in his goals. After consideration, I have decided he may be a science experiment run amok.

Anyway, for one five minute period that seemed much, much longer, they did nothing but shout obscenities and tell one another to shut up. Even the kids talked as you would expect to hear in a bar or locker room. I was very uncomfortable and smilingly asked him not to invite me back next year, whereupon the kids protested and said, 'But you're nice! You have to come back!' Maybe I got through to somebody after all, but that is an experience I would only wish once a year. Next time, if there is one, I will go in fasting and prayer and prepare to cast out the demons from their home. I am not certain if anyone will be left alive if I do, however.

Christmas day I spent with a family that had the young kids enact the Nativity scene and I got to be the angel (my wife should have seen that). The experience was wonderful--no comparison to 'Beelzebub and family' necessary to improve it. I enjoyed the conversation and the influence of good people who love one another. I only wish the other family could have experienced that. Then again, the shock may have killed one or another of the families outright. *sigh*