Despite its obvious shortcomings, I have never questioned that Obama’s healthcare plan is a major step forward for the United States, since it takes a positive step toward moving American healthcare from a privilege to a right. This is exactly why I was horrified to see the new proposal by the Quebec government on provincial …
Author Archives: Jonathan Sterne
“The Day”
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 …
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.