Things have been quiet here, so here’s the random blog update. I’m working on a big review of the two speech amplifiers I’ve tried out but that’s gotten a little involved. After the long winter, there is one day every year in Montreal where everyone pours out onto sidewalks, wears too little clothing and sits …
Author Archives: Jonathan Sterne
Playing Asteroids with my Neck
Despite the levity in the title and whatever other cheap laughs I can elicit in the upcoming lines, this is a deadly serious post about making impossible choices. You will recall that my doctors put the choice regarding the second surgery in my hands, which was not a decision I particularly wanted to have to …
Speaker Voice Phenomenology, or “Just Another Asshole with a Bluetooth Headset”
One of the non-loaner headsets arrived last week. It is shockingly overpriced for what it is, and the amp has the hilarious name “Spokeman” which must be a mistranslation of either “Speakman” (as in “Walkman”) or “Spokesman.” You choose a headset to go with it and as I have a rather large head (hence outside …
Continue reading “Speaker Voice Phenomenology, or “Just Another Asshole with a Bluetooth Headset””
Confession
I posted the following note in our building’s basement garage this afternoon after sweeping up some plaster. Cher Neighbors: You may notice the new hole in the wall. If you happen to walk by our car on the street, you may notice the right side-view mirror hanging off the side of the car. Yes, there …
Hope and Cope Retraction
My public apologies to Hope & Cope. The intake forms were a little repetitive and I had to write in a few things as thyroid cancer isn’t really a category for them. But that’s as far as my criticism can go. My intake interview was done by a retired teacher named Gwen who volunteers there …
Music Nerd Interlude
For all you computer musicians out there reading this, I learned of this interesting free plugin. It’s based on very simple principles but offers some cool sound-bending effects. I also like how simple it is–way better than some “special effects” plugins with dozens of interacting parameters.
The Loaner
My recovery this week has descended into the “slow slog” part. The good news is that I’ve avoided (so far) any sign of the crushing depression that’s been promised me (oh, there’s still time) but the bad news is that my voice seems to have gotten a little worse. I was warned that this might …