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Crackling Audio in Premiere Pro CS3

August 30th, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Blabberbox | #

  This has been a problem for as long as I remember (even in Premiere 6.5), but it’s only beginning to bug me again after CS3.  Not sure if it’s because of the version or if I’m starting to use audio effects more often.  In any case, I’m finding that exporting video with even slight audio enhancements (highpass, pitch, etc) often causes crackling.  It doesn’t happen all the time; usually it occurs with more complicated timelines (nested sequences).

  Although it may help to lower volume or lessen the effects, an easier method I’ve found is to export the audio by itself first (Export > Audio).  You’ll end up with a wav file (uncompressed I believe) which you can re-import into your timeline and use.  You’ll notice your wav file has no crackling; this you can use to replace your video’s audio.

  It’s a bit of a hassle, but at least you don’t have to get rid of your effects or lower the volume of your video.  Bit strange that it exports audio just fine but messes up when…[More]

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Metical Revolution

August 30th, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Stuck in My Head | #
Metical Revolution by jayrayteam6
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Increase in Phishing Emails

August 29th, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Blabberbox | #

  Been noticing an increase in phishing/scam emails the past few days (5 in last 3 days..).  Thing that bothers me is they have my real email address, so not sure what that would signify.  It’s also coming from a lot of major sites, so that’s something to be aware of - including hotscripts.com, cnet, amazon, ebay.  Makes me worry if they have my real email - why they bother to send fake ones.

  Quick way to check is to see who it’s from - the name right before .com or .net or anything like that should be the actual site.  Many times, if it’s fake, it won’t be correct (though some go as far as to spoof that as well).

  Another way to tell it’s a scam email is to hover your mouse over the links (don’t click though).  Pretty darn obvious if the links don’t go back to the website (cnet, ebay, etc).  It’s also obvious when all the links are the same - which has happened on most scam emails I get.

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Silent Guardian

August 21st, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Stuck in My Head | #
Silent Guardian by NickPerrin
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Brave New World

August 15th, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Recently Read | #
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
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1984

August 11th, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Recently Read | #
1984 by George Orwell
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Delta Shield for Cell Phones

August 9th, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Blabberbox | #

  So I was reading about this Delta Shield in the news the other day.  Supposedly, cellphones emit harmful EMF radiation that can cause cancer and otherwise.  That I have heard often enough, but the article here claims that the Delta Shield, a small sticker placed on the back of the phone, can reduce harmful EMF by 93%.

  Makes me wonder what would have to be in that sticker to cause such an effect and whether or not it would mess with your cell phone connection (otherwise, most phones would already have this sticker attached no?).  I’ve tried looking this product up on several sites already.  Google doesn’t bring up any reviews or information other than the main site and some duplicate news articles.

  Has anyone actually tried this item before? Scam yes, no?…[More]

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Back to Canasta

June 13th, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Blabberbox | #

  I’m starting to play Canasta again lately.  For those who do not know, it is a card game - some say it’s similar to Rummy or Jin.  It’s one of the few card games out there that require skill and is still fun to play… I guess you could say it’s like a Real-Time-Strategy version of a card game.  Coincidentally, my test scores went up when I started playing again. :O

  I mainly play on Yahoo Games right now: 2 card draw and 2 canasta-out.  It’s funny how hard it is to start playing again.  Just loss 4 games in a row and pretty much crashed my rating (used to be above 1900).  I’ll get there eventually though. ^_^

  If anyone wants to play a match, let me know.  I always welcome a challenge.

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The Beanstalk

June 1st, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Stuck in My Head | #
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The Great Gatsby

May 16th, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Recently Read | #
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
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Ethan Frome

April 30th, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Recently Read | #
Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton
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Playing Piano

April 26th, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Blabberbox | #

  Yay, I’ve gone from game design, to programming, to video editing, and now finally playing a few things.  Nothing big yet, but it’s not bad.  Added a new Music section to the site gallery.  Let me know what you guys think and how I can improve.  I’m not doing any sound editing yet, just plain keyboard piano, but maybe later I’ll look into it.  Some guides would be nice if you guys have any. :)

pftq Music

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Wonder Wall Cover

April 26th, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Stuck in My Head | #
Wonder Wall Cover by Chronamut
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Life is Like a Mountain Climb

April 22nd, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Essays | #
     Life is like a mountain climb, a quest to reach the mountain peak.  Each stopping point represents the goal one sets for himself while each climb represents the journey to achieve it.  In the beginning, life may be long and difficult, but with each successful climb comes a fulfilling rest, the satisfaction of achievement, and of course, the grand view of the world below.  Aim too high and one may be in for a hectic climb, but aim too low and one may never reach the summit, the ultimate achievement which can only be as fruitful as the quest to attain it.

     In my climb towards the summit, my goals have often centered about fields of which I am familiar, with my satisfaction being the chance to prove myself and fully exercise my potential.  By focusing my goals and opportunities, I build on what I do best, expanding my base of skills and allowing each consecutive goal to lead to the success of the next.  While I may not always reach the...[More]
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Huckleberry Finn

April 1st, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Recently Read | #
Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
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The World At Hand

February 18th, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Essays | #
  Day after day, millions of Americans worry over the most miniscule of problems.  From children to fully-grown adults, the average citizen just fails to concern themselves with significant tasks, fails to put more time where time is needed, fails to see the meaning of life.  As toddlers, they worry over troubling matters such as loss of candy or the horrors of having to share with fellow peers.  As children, they fight over the ownership of poorly-crafted plastics and cheat each other over debts of up to a quarter.  As teenagers, they stress for days over the look of their hair, cause the biggest fuss over the color of their shirt, debate with all their might over the quality of their socks, which they promptly toss aside after a day's wear.

  Upon reaching adulthood, these same individuals only double their attitudes; their issues remain more or less of the same importance.  Ownership can no longer be resolved in small quarrels;...[More]
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eBay Spoof Emails

February 18th, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Blabberbox | #

Seems to be a lot going around lately.  Got another spoof email - this time pretending to be eBay.  Funny thing is it asked a question about something I was supposedly selling - but I never sell anything. :P

Subject:
Question from eBay member- eluxeauctions.

Hello,…[More]

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Passing of Times

February 17th, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Essays | #
  I remember ever so sharply the more distant moments of my past.  I can remember far back to my first years of consciousness, perhaps 3 or 4 years old.  I could not comprehend even what age was at the time, but I could remember the finest details of our somewhat old and rundown, yet ever so familiar home.  I could recall the dreamlike sharpness of the silver faucet in our kitchen sink, the brownish tinge of the soft carpet beneath my feet, and the flare of the bleeding-blue sky outside my window.  There was the greatest satisfaction in the simplest of things, from the mere planting of a cornstalk to the feeding of ducks and fishes.  I cared less for the future and more for the moment.  Each day held a new surprise.  Baby birds would occasionally fall from the tree in the front lawn.  Frogs and crickets could be found in the backyard if one searched hard enough.  The world was unbounded.  One day I found myself finally able to ride...[More]
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A Day's Lost

January 9th, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Stories | #
  "Son! You need to get your grades up!" my mother exclaimed loudly.  She paced across the room and glanced repeatedly back at me, anxious to see my reaction but disappointed at my blank stare.  "You will become a failure! Nobody will give you a job!"

  I did not understand; I had almost straight As - perhaps one B.  I opened my mouth to protest, but immediately she thrust her finger into my right eye.

  "Son! Why do you have a scar on your cheek? Wash it off!"

  I stared...[More]
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Five Fingers

December 31st, 2007 | Posted by pftq in Essays | #
  "How many fingers am I holding?" he asked peevishly. He waved his hand madly in the air as if doing so would make his hand more visible.

  In broad daylight, it was easy to see that he held up all five fingers; whether he held them intentionally or he simply waved his entire hand carelessly, it was not clear. It did not matter what answer was given or if any was given to him at all. If I suggested five, he would merely insist the thumb was not a finger; if I suggested four, he would say otherwise. If I did not answer or I answered wrong, I'd just be blind.

  Sometimes people forget that I was once able to see just as well as any of them. When much younger and not ruined by misadvice and overwork, not being able to see was unheard of; it was inconceivable. Warned as we were, told to be on the watch for any signs of blur or fatigue, none of us could imagine the seemingly distant notion actually becoming reality. Seeing was a divine right, an...[More]
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