Podcasting is shit.

I like listening to podcasts. It makes my work day go by faster and I feel like I can learn something while I update spreadsheets or whatever. I love things that can make me feel real emotion, be it anger or sadness, humor or compassion. I love to discover new music and books, and to hear people talk about my areas of interest.

I respect people who have the dedication, planning, and lack of other hobbies that allows them to create something that is like an hour long every week, and then spend the time to edit it. Or not, as the case may be.

But I really fucking hate podcasts with poor sound quality. I understand that not every podcaster can have radio quality sound and... actually no. I don't fucking understand, because they CAN. It is possible, and even affordable. There are a million tutorials and shit out there.


Knitting podcasts are often terrible. I just downloaded several new ones after a hiatus and didn't really find one I felt like I could commit to.

Podcast #1: ECHO Echo echo... some people use the echo function. I am not sure what it is supposed to accomplish, but it sounds like I am in an auditorium. Alone. Listening to one person talk for 15 minutes about their favorite snack food. WHERE IS THE FUCKING KNITTING. I don't mind asides, but seriously this person just rambled about snacks and diet aimlessly for a full third of their weekly podcast and the whole time ECHO ECHO ECHO.

Podcast #2 : Put out by a yarn retailer. This one waffles back and forth between someone who can't manage to not breathe into the mike constantly and some. who. speaks. like. she. is . reading. very. carefully. Extremely poor sound management during interviews, the breathing into the mike on one side and the hollow far-away sound of the interviewee, or the poor underwater quality skype/phone recording. Inconsistent and irritating.

Podcast #3 : A spinoff from another popular knitting podcast. I include this one because the first episode was actually fine, then it kind of went to crap,  and then a couple episodes later said "better audio", and it was actually true! So this is proof it can be done!

Podcast #4:  Another extremely hollow sounding podcast. Two host sound like they are sharing a mike. STOP IT. Get your own!! Even in the same room!!

Podcast #5: Besides having a trite theme song that I can't believe is podcast-safe (ie, not under copywrite), the sound is not too bad. But it is like digital photos... almost too clear and lets us hear all the mouth noises a person normally makes while talking, that are super amplified by the mic. In addition, a self-proclaimed SNL NPR ladies skit type of dialogue makes it difficult to listen to.

Podcast #6: Not great sound, the biggest problem is that it is very inconsistent one show it is fine, then echoy, then background noise, then muffled. It begins with the theme song, which is custom and clever but horrible sound quality. Generally poor enunciation also makes this a difficult listen. Interviews on terrible phone audio.


All of these podcast have many episodes. All but one over 50, a couple over 100. That is a long time to get this stuff figured out. (If you have a weekly podcast, 52 episodes is a whole year...long enough!!)

This doesn't address the actual content of the podcasts for the most part because it is really subjective. Some people are not bothered by hearing about someone's snacks, or by hearing about someone's summer plans at length, or hearing twee stories about bike rides in the evening with their beau as if it is a fucking musical.
That crap bugs the shit out of me, but I am cynical and abrasive.

I listen to podcasts through iTunes on my work laptop, and HP Elitebook, with some moderate quality Panasonic noise cancelling headphones.

Crappy weather and some other crap.

So today is a shitty day in Colorado. Julia and Stacey are on their way to Vegas, to the warm sun. I am watching their cats in the sad 45 degree rainy crap weather we are having. Don't get me wrong I love the cats.

Speaking of cats we got the ClayPaws from little Bob yesterday. And the call that her ashes are ready. Poor kitty. We miss her.

WoWing too much altogether but it helped the mean and depressed this weekend. I wish I was playing now so I could help the mean and depressed at work.

We tore up the carpet in the kitchen this weekend and attempted to wash the glue-covered wood floor beneath. I am still hacking up the dust. Too bad the wood is not in any condition to refinish, it would be nice to have wood throughout. As it is we are putting down vinyl tile. As soon as that is begun we will get the new stove and our kitchen will be quite a bit nicer! Then the cabinet refinishing and tada~ house we are not in hate with.

I was really on a roll this past week with buying yarn and knitting stuff. Labor Day was %50 off at the Goodwill and Savers so I got a few bags of yarn and some needles (Boye Alum. but for $0.25 a set, hey.) I also bought this creature call a knitting knobby. I am not really sure how to use it yet. It seems unnecessarily complicated, even more so than just knitting some damn iCord.
I got som tiny crochet hooks to go with the thread I got from the craigslist lot, and now just need to figure out what to make!

I bought my Therapi yarn at My Sister Knits for Hat Attack 2 -- I am not quite as excited as I was for the first one, but I am getting there. I opted for some nice colors instead of hideous ones, because I want death to hurt the ego, not the eyes. Plus with a nice yarn, why make something they will hate?

I wanted to buy more stuff but I didn't really have the money. I was especially looking at the books, but did not see any that really made me go 'wow'. I am also refusing to start anything new other than HA2 until I finish the 10 unfinished projects I have in the works.

Gloves went pretty well up to the actual fingers, and then I was thwarted by just trying to read the pattern. Baby blanket was going okay until I took it to the stupid 'parent education" classes at my kid's high school (that's another show) and now I look at it and think of desk chairs and transactional analysis. Toilet paper scarf just needs to be finished and go as a gift to someone. It is just boring and has ginger tea on it. Panties (Mon Petit Chou) are stopped at the beginning because I was distracted by all kinds of things like baby and whatnot. Jacob's red and yellow hammer and sickle scarf hurts my eyes and is going to be painfully boring when I am past the design. The two crochets creatures are there because I am guilty about working on them before the other things. Kelley's socks? I am ashamed deeply. I must finish those.

So that is the bleh blog. Carry on.

Knitter's Holiday Swap questionnaire

I am a non-smoker, no one smokes in my house.

I have dogs and cats. Cat hair will be kept to the lowest possible amount, but you must know how that goes.

I am willing to mail internationally.

I like sweet and salty treats, chocolate and pecans are two of my favorite things, alone or together. I also love trying new exotic foods/candies of any kind so bring on the salty licorice!

I can’t say I do knit socks as I have not yet completed a pair but I am up for it. I use all sizes of needles but prefer smaller than US10. I love yarns of all kinds, soft wool is my fave but I am game to try any new thing – jelly, crustacean, even synthetics!

I like black and burgundy reds, mostly earthy colors in a subdued palette, and grey blues. I do not like pinks for the most part, or ‘neon’ bright colors.

My swap partner should know I am brave, adventurous, curious, creative, and determined! So send things that you love and want to share, because I am always willing to try something different.

Mystery Theme Swap questionnaire

Questionnaire

1. Name: Bear
2. Mailing Address: Colorado (my swap partner will get the real deal)
3. Email: yeah...like I said...
4. Ravelry Id (if applicable): knottybear
5. Blog Address (if applicable): you're looking at it!
6. Do you knit or crochet? If both, what type of project would you prefer? both, prefer knit
7. What is your experience level? (i.e. are you a lace knitter extraordinaire, but a sock novice?) Advanced Beginner
8. Is there a particular type of pattern you would prefer? (sock, scarf, hat, etc.) Socks are an interest, but open to anything
9. Do you have any allergies that we need to be aware of? (animals, wool, chocolate, etc.) Nope!
10. Do you have pets? If so, what kind. Yes, Cats and dogs.
11. Do you smoke? Nope.
12. Do you have an online wish list you want to share with your partner? If so, what is the web address? no wish list -- Rav profile has a lot of info though
13. Are you willing to ship internationally? (Please keep in mind this will raise shipping costs) Yes.
14. Is this your first swap? Pretty much -- did hat attack but no actual swaps yet.
15. Are you willing to be a swap savior? Sure!
16. Theme suggestions (Please give at least 3) [examples: coffee, chocolate, bunnies, New York] Scotland, ocean, bears, bulls, pirates, fishing

17. In order for your partner to put together the best package they can, please give us a brief description of your likes and dislikes. [examples: favorite color, drink/goody preferences, fiber preferences]

I like both sweet and salty treats, chocolate and pecans are two of my favorite things, alone or together. I also love trying new exotic foods/candies of any kind so bring on the salty licorice!
I like black and burgundy reds, mostly earthy colors in a subdued palette, and grey blues. I do not like pinks for the most part, or 'neon' bright colors. I prefer natural fibers.
My swap partner should know I am brave, adventurous, curious, creative, and determined! So send things that you love and want to share, because I am always willing to try something different.

SWAPping goodness.

I have joined a swap! (Actually two swaps!)

Some of you may remember by HAT ATTACK! experience, which I greatly enjoyed. Well I have decided to carry on with sending surprise things to strangers across the planet.

The difference from HAT ATTACK! is that your package is meant to bring joy to the recipient, not assassination. I know, it does seem contrary to my nature but I am going to give it a try.

Swap one: Knitter's Holiday Swap (LINK for those on Ravelry!) Great ongoing swap based on holidays of all kinds -- not just the major ones. Currently taking sign-ups for the World Knit in Public day!

Swap two: Mystery Theme Swap (Rav link, blog link) You suggest some themes, your partner interprets one of them in yarn and goodies.

I am excited to see what I get, and what I get to buy my swap partner!

For thoroughness sake, I am posting my questionnaires for both here.

Knitting.

Well since there is not much FAC action, I am going to take this blog over for all my knitting information and other crafty whatsits. Maybe actually finish the kilt how-to thing. Because I miss making funny blogs -- I didn't know that I would.