End of the year blog

RMC as it was
Originally uploaded by travishoffman.

Well it's almost over...2004 that is. I've recently discovered the magic and joy of Podcasting. It's a clever device using xml/rss type feeds, only audio. How it works is that you download a podcasting client which you can link to many different audio postcasts. Upon opening the client all your selected feeds are checked and then if new entries have been posted you are notified. Then you have the option to download the desired programming. my client software directly downloads to my iTunes which automatically updates onto my iPod when it is connected. This service is completely free and great. I used to be a TechTV junkie until the station was bought out and raped violently by the acquiring station. Regardless a icon of the Tech world and network Leo Laporte was unable to reach his large audience. Leo does however do a sat and sun radio show in L.A. which is webscast..however I rarely have the time to sit down and listen on the weekend. Now thanks to podcasting. I can get leo's radio show...all the commercials edited out whenever they are posted. I love it. I've also since began listening to "The Al Franken Show" who uses a similar podcasting method. I suggest exploring the world of podcasting to those fortunate enought to have an ipod. Podcasting is cross platform between PC's and Macs so everybody can take in the fun. I've even thought about creating my own podcast feed...however I fear that lack of interesting programming would restrict me quickly. Only time will tell. On other notes. NO big plans for the new year just taking it easy. That's alright with me. The enclosed picture seemed somewhat appropriate since a new year is about to begin. This was sent to me from the archivist of Robert Morris College. As I have alluded to several times in past blogs the campus which my father taught at for a year (i'm researching my fathers' life for a documentary i'm planning) is now an abandoned mess. This simple diagram shows how much things have changed since those days. Not to be depressing it's amazing what time can do. Time can seemingly pull the wool over the eyes of what is known and appreciated. Time can also heal wounds. I guess time is off the essence. So in closing enjoy the time you are given, reflect upon the past from time to time. And above all have a happy new year. Peace and good tidings

before the nothingness

before the nothingness
Originally uploaded by travishoffman.

A late merry christmas to all. and an early happy new year. 2004 is quickly comming to an end. The picture in this post is of the old Robert Morris College Campus in Carthage Illinois. My dad taught here for a year between graduating college and going to Vietnam. Today sadly The campus is in a run down state of nothingness. All the buildings still stand yet remain unoccupied. I was up in carthage a while back and was able to get some pics of the run down campus. Recently I was able to contact the archivists at the current RMC who was able to provide several photos from the era when the college was active. Its neat to see what it looked like occupied. It's really a ghosttown now. Anyways... April and I went up to Quincy for Christmas. It was a good time. Got to hang out briefly with Nathan and Dan. We all partook of some tallcakes at Ruby Tuesdays and caught up on old times. Unfortunately everyone's schedule and varried locations really make it difficult to hang out these days. I guess that's the real world rearing it's ugly head.
I'm at a temporary standstill on my dad's project. My next little project is getting photos of items associated with his past. I just need to get several grayish or neutral colored sheets or something to serve as a backdrop. I wasn't able to talk to my uncle from indiana over christmas...the fault being my own..chirstmas snuck up on me and I just simply wasn't prepared to do any interviewing...rather then try and rush it, I'm going to take a slower pace and do it right. Yesterday I was busy trying to streamline my office setup to facilitate getting work done. I'm still trying to find an adequate use for my G4 mac desktop. I have in set up on my desk with an older monitor...unfortunately I really haven't been able to use it to the best of my abilities. I might go ahead and use the spare monitor for an extra monitor on my G5. I think I might try and set up the G4 as a backup server or something. I don't want it to become a paper weight nor a dust collector, but we'll see what happens. I might head to compusa after work and try to get a VGA to ADC adapter so I can put the spare monitor to use. I also moved my PS2 into the office and I have my "printing station" back in use with an old drafting table and my paper cutter. We don't have many plans for New Years, but I guess there's some kind of holiday party one of April's coworker is having tommorow night. I want to get on the computer and start piddling with Final Cut to get some ideas about transitions and effects for my dad's project. My good friend Dan's Monopoly movie project has been put on hiatus until summer. I think it was a smart move. Perhaps I may be able to play a more active role in the production in the moview this summer, however I don't want to overcommit. Well I'm at work and there's litteraly nothing to do so i may blog rather regularly this week. We shall see. Later.

woodville cemetary

woodville cemetary
Originally uploaded by travishoffman.

Well...not much to report really. I have my car back finally. It's really muddy and dirty at the moment due to a trip to the country I took to get more photos of places associated with my father. I've moved on from the Vietnam era of my dad's life...and am now working on putting together his time as a teacher at Robert Morris College when they had a campus in Carthage, Illinois. I was albe to get some nice photos of the campus during the era my father taught there by the current archivist of Robert Morris College. I also tracked a councelor down that knew my father and often went with him and others out for lunch. I need to be writing up interview questions and getting in touch with an uncle to see about a potential interview over christmas weekend. I also have been in touch with the individual my father sold his tiling buisness to...a long time employee and friend of the family. He is eager to help. I look forward to interviewing him aa well as getting some video of the actual tiling process. Christmas is almost here, it really snuck up on me this year I must admint, I still have some christmas shopping to do, however I fear it will as usual be put off til the last possible moment. Oh well, at least i'm consistent. This photo is from the"historic woodville cemetary" located on a gravel road right off highway 172 between quincy and carthage, north of the adams county fair grounds. I'm not for sure why it is considered historic. I randomly decided to stop there and check it out, I didn't have a whole lot happening. It's a rather old cemetary with simple yet intricate grave stones dating back to the early to mid 1800's I took about a dozen random photos, none really grabbed my interest but I thought I'd share regardless. I suppose that's really about all there is to say at the moment. Oh yeah I love my girlfriend April Frago by the way. Just thought I'd throw that in there too. Chow.