Today I needed to convert a WMA file to MP3 format for use in Flash. I thought about downloading a converter, but then realized that trusty ole FFmpeg could do the trick. I’ve mainly worked with video files so wasn’t 100% certain how to work with audio only. I came to find out it’s pretty much the same and the command looks like:

ffmpeg -i input.wma -ab 32 output.mp3

As you can see you still specify an input file, bit rate (ie 32kb/s), and output file.  I’ve found 32 or 64kb to be of ample quality for streaming in Flash.   It’s obviously a trade-off between sound quality and file size.  Your results will vary and play around with it until you find something you like.

I’m amazed at how difficult it is to sell a car without going to a dealership or using a 3rd party service like CarMax. I’d rather not get taken to the cleaners using a “middle man”, but it definitely eliminates a good bit of hassle. The point of this post is that we’re putting our 2003 VW Passat Wagon up for sale. It’s in perfect condition and we’ve outgrown it due to another baby on the way. I could go into all the details, but please feel free to check out the Autotrader and Google listings. Here’s a photo of the mean machine in all of its beauty:

If you have any questions about this sweet ride then please feel free to contact me via email (dennisbaldwin at gmail dot com) or phone (214.738.3404).

If you’re really bored then feel free to check out my blip of a recent quail hunt in South Texas. It was an incredible time with family and friends! Oh yeah, and a reminder of what a rusty shot I am. I definitely need to spend more time at Elm Fork.

I also want to give a special thanks to Mitch Hurt and his great dogs.  If you ever need a hunting or fishing guide then Mitch is your man: www.wildbirdhunting.com.

Every now and then a great video comes along that I just have to tell my friends and family about. This Kodak video demonstrates that if you don’t adapt to the changing technology you’ll get left behind. This made me think for a moment what the heck has Kodak been up to? I remember receiving a Kodak digital camera for Christmas and being less than impressed with the image quality and resolution. If this video holds up then we can expect great things from Kodak. If nothing else, enjoy and it’s good for a couple laughs.

Our neighbor’s dogs are of the most annoying type, they never stop barking and bark at everything. There are times where I feel like grabbing my Red Ryder and letting loose. Just a single pump and maybe I can tag them on the tail. So Merry Christmas to Frank and Frannie, I will be purchasing the Bark Smart Deluxe in hopes of enjoying our afternoons again and letting our daughter sleep peacefully (since they bark right outside her window). The range of the BSD is about 50 feet so I can hide it nicely in my daugther’s playhouse. I realize the ultrasonic tone will affect our dogs as well, but they don’t bark nearly as much and it will be interesting to see how it affects dogs of all types and sizes. I’ll be sure to work on a before and after video for everyone’s viewing pleasure.

Most of my friends and family know that I don’t dance. It’s something I could probably work on, but I’ve never put much time and energy into it. OfficeMax has put together an incredibly viral marketing campaign that has me dancing all over the place. I love this type of creativity and once again it demonstrates the power of Flash. This dance is for you…and please be sure to link it up and post a comment if you create a nifty dance-o-gram.