VoIP Hacks, First Edition might have some stuff you need.
I was particularly interested in how to make your voice sound like Darth Vader (or a chipmunk).
You can download Audio Voice Cloak from GoldSoftware. You don't need to use it for VoIP...it could come in handy for regular phone calls or recording greetings on your voicemail.
The idea of personal privacy vs. anonymity is interesting to consider. Some people are surprised that you can type a phone number into Google and find a person's name and city.
I guess if you want anonymity it's best to stay off the "grid" - use cash and just say no to cards - library, credit or discount. Don't get online, send or receive email. It's probably best if you don't work since you generally have to provide your employer with your name and SS#. Stay out of jail, the military, and don't own or rent a home. Don't vote or go to school. Don't drive. Phones, cable TV, electricity - or any other service that requires a name and address are no no's.
Okay so anononymity is probably out, but I think we can all agree that privacy is in. There's an interesting dilemma with easier access to "public" information by anyone with a computer. It's bit scary to think about anyone with a computer and a search engine being able to find divorce proceedings, custody cases, court hearings or police reports for any average generally law-abiding private citizen. We all have "public" information that we would like to remain private or be disseminated to those who have a need to know. I wrote a little more on this topic at my Blogger blog <a href="http://cafejack.blogspot.com/2005/12/how-public-should-public-knowledge-be.html">Cafe Jack</a>.
Two features I'm starting to learn about that are useful in Movable Type are the ability to assign a "category" to a post and the ability to use the "extended entry" format.
The "extended entry" format is good for providing a teaser line or two, which allows the reader the opportunity to see if the topic interests them, without having to scroll through lengthy posts to see if anything further down the page might be of interest. To see how "extended entries" look click the "main" link above.
The second feature of MT that is useful is the ability to "categorize" posts eventually leading to a site map or thought map of a blog which could be a very useful feature, assuming you didn't want a potpourri of posts like I have at my Blogger blog Cafe Jack. For example I have written about cooking, philosophy, religion, buddhism, books, music, personal experiences, etc., on that blog. But it's all one mish-mash of stuff. You can use the search tool...but that assumes you already know there may be something in the tens of thousands of words, that could be of interest to you. That's a huge assumption. It's sort of like writing a book without a table of contents, index or even a dust cover to give you a general idea of what it's about.
So far the only category I'm using on this blog, besides the "Main" page, is the "My Other Sites" link. As the blog grows I will find ways to use that feature.
Not sure if Blogger has features which allow the author to assign a category or the extended entry feature that MT offers. If so I haven't seen it and I've been using Blogger for several years.
by Thich Nhat Hanh -
"Misunderstanding, fear, anger and hatred are the roots of terrorism. They cannot be located by the military. Bombs and missiles cannot reach them, let alone destroy them, for terrorism lises in the hearts of human beings. To uproot terror we need to begin by looking in our hearts."
On opposition to torture.... "When you torture a living being you die as a human being because their suffering is your suffering."
Yahoo! Site Explorer is a pretty cool tool for finding pages associated with a URL (a site map) and inlinks (pages that link to that URL).
I'm redoing this homepage using MovableType's publishing platform.
The old - "update the index file...add link pages...upload using FTP" method of keeping up a personal webpage is not working so well for me. It takes too much time, and I prefer the weblog format. I'm also interested in learning the pros and cons of MovableType vs. Blogger, and just playing with a new application.
His dad worked in a helium mine in Texas...
Or was it a hydrogen mine?
He forgot one day and lit up a smoke.
It was the latter and now it doesn't really
matter
Time Out New York / Discomfort zone sounds funny. People read notes they wrote in Junior High or High School in front of an audience. What at the time may have seemed poignant, lovely, wise, hilarious, edgy - may sound quite different after a few years have passed since the good old school daze. Sounds really embarassing which can always be good for a laugh provided the person being embarassed isn't a wuss. As the article says it can be cathatic.
I imagine it's probably most fun if you are doing it with a group of people who have some historical knowledge of who and what you were talking about...although I suppose there are generic notes that could be good for a laugh in a group of strangers.
I know I cringe when I read some things I wrote even today (or last week). Luckily I was too busy doing things in Junior High and High School to put much on paper, Thank God.
When asked the question, "Do you troll through the internet for ideas?" Richard Preston replies, "... No. I find the Internet virtually useless in that respect. The problem with the Internet is that you can read Web page after Web page and never get the sense that you are either hearing the straight story, or learning something new. So much of it seems incomplete, half-baked, or just repackaged information."
Interview with Richard Preston from page 298 The New New Journalism : Conversations with America's Best Nonfiction Writers on Their Craft - by Robert Boynton
Link to my Blogger Blog Cafe Jack
Link to the old home page for jackcrossen.com
