Calling all Dipsticks!

[WyethDigital]

This week Madeline shows us How To check our oil. It’s not as dirty or as difficult as you might think, and it’s one of the most important things anyone should know about their car!

"Calling all Dipsticks!" Get it? Because it's about checking oil? Wasn't that clever of me to get you in here with such an inflammatory sounding post? ;)

Madeline also digs into the virtual Mail Bag to read a question sent in by Ryli, who sent a very nice picture! You can find Madeline's email address at our website! (http://www.howtogirl.com)

Finally, Madeline shares a favorite podcast of ours, called the NOBODIES. (http://www.nobodies.libsyn.com) It contains explicit language and contains adult humor, so it may not be appropriate for young ears! You can subscribe to them from iTunes. (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=81243704)

Madeline and How To are on MySpace. (http://www.myspace.com/madithehowtogirl) Be sure to check her out and become a friend of the show!

Eric

[agile]

Is Madeline your daughter or your wife?

[WyethDigital]

Hey Tim,

Madeline is neither. We were working on a locally produced TV show in our city (it was on the local UPN channel), where she was a host and I was a... Well, I did just about everything except get to take credit for my work or get paid by the #@$! producers.

It was a difficult work environment, and Madeline and I discovered we liked working together -- she because I was respectful of her opinions and ideas, and I because she was willing to take suggestions, and she has real talent. And as long as we put together solid bits, it kept the aforementioned producer off our backs.

Anyway, when we both quit the show we stayed in touch, worked on a couple of things together as favors, and have become friends. Madeline has a really cool boyfriend, who you'll see coming up in a show in about 2 weeks (he was in Italy for school earlier in the year), and I have my lovely wife Judy (who may also show up in an episode in about 5 weeks).

:)

Eric

[evilproducer]

Is Madeline your daughter or your wife?

Back off horndog! :wink: Just kidding! I'm hoping if this topic gets enough posts it'll bump the Goyfire thread off the home page- Rascist pig!

Later,
Evil.

[evilproducer]

Weird! Now I'm getting the same message about corrupted files or wrong format from iTunes when I try and DL How-To, that I got while trying to DL ElNacho's 'cast. I am now convinced it is on my side of things. I shall have to investigate the cause...

In the meantime I'm DLing Juice as you suggested. It's a little larger DL than I expected. Oh well.

Later,
Evil.

[WyethDigital]

Weird! Now I'm getting the same message about corrupted files or wrong format from iTunes when I try and DL How-To that, I got while trying to DL ElNacho's 'cast. I am now convinced it is on my side of things. I shall have to investigate the cause...

In the meantime I'm DLing Juice as you suggested. It's a little DL than I expected. Oh well.

Later,
Evil.
It may just be your connection timing out.

Eric

[evilproducer]

It may just be your connection timing out.

Eric

I doubt it. It gets to a certain point and then stops DLing. One other thing, is that the progress bar seems to be progressing really fast. More so than it should on dial-up. I'm thinking it's having a hard time reading the data that indicates how large the file is and where the end-point of the file is. If that Makes sense...

Later,
Evil.

[WyethDigital]

It may just be your connection timing out.

Eric

I doubt it. It gets to a certain point and then stops DLing. One other thing, is that the progress bar seems to be progressing really fast. More so than it should on dial-up. I'm thinking it's having a hard time reading the data that indicates how large the file is and where the end-point of the file is. If that Makes sense...

Later,
Evil.
that could be it. If that's the case, it could be the way iTunes is parsing the feed data, or it could be a conflict in the feed itself. I know I have a small conflict between my feed and my server that hasn't caused any problems that I know of so far. Maybe since your connection is slower than most, it has more time to fudge things up.

The problem has something to do with the UT encoding not matching the encoding of the server... We're moving the show off Fatcow soon anyway, so we'll see if that changes anything!

Eric

[evilproducer]

The "opportunity" to reshoot the old Inter-City Auto commercial has presented itself in the form of seven cars in my yard. Three of them actually run! -Don't ask, but mark my words they will be gone soon!

So my question is, how many more episodes before the current car theme is over? Would you be interested in a clearly fake thirty second commercial? I'm interested in testing out a Redneck theme for a possible videeo podcast in the future. I wouldn't do anything dirty or crude.

Later,
Evil.

[WyethDigital]

So my question is, how many more episodes before the current car theme is over? Would you be interested in a clearly fake thirty second commercial? I'm interested in testing out a Redneck theme for a possible videeo podcast in the future. I wouldn't do anything dirty or crude.

This week's was technically the last week. Actually, this one was a bonus episode, as we only thought we had enough material for three weeks, but since we needed more time to prep the next series we combined some things like checking oil and viewer mail. Next week we're running a viewer question related to make-up, and repackaging the prom make-up episode to go along with that. Week after next, things get downright interesting!

Feel free to shoot something. I'll put it in somewhere! Maybe you could even make a version that could serve as promo for How To? ;)

Eric

[evilproducer]

Maybe Redneck makeup tips?

[WyethDigital]

Maybe Redneck makeup tips?
Ummmm.... I don't think we have enough spackle!

[evilproducer]

Maybe Redneck makeup tips?
Ummmm.... I don't think we have enough spackle!

Who said anything about ***-cracks?

[agile]

Eric:

I thought your show had very high production values. What program to edit do you use? I have only ever used Movie Maker 2. I especially liked the fire animation coming from the car engine. Nice work.

Regards,
Tim

[WyethDigital]

Eric:

I thought your show had very high production values. What program to edit do you use? I have only ever used Movie Maker 2. I especially liked the fire animation coming from the car engine. Nice work.

Regards,
Tim
Hey Tim,

Thanks! We use Final Cut Pro (a Mac only program), and used Live Type, which is part of the Final Cut Pro suite, for the fire effect.

Some of the car episode stuff isn't my best looking work -- I had to use my single CCD Sony handycam, vs the 3 CCD XL1 I usually use, so some of the sunnier shots are a little too bright. But I was across town when we decided we needed to shoot more footage and that's what I had in the trunk -- much more portable than the XL1. :)

Anyway, in about two weeks we're premiering some movie themed episodes that I think you'll like, with you being a film buff and all!

Speaking of movies, if "A Prairie Home Companion" ends up on your movie blog, and I miss it, give me a shout. Be curious to hear what you have to say about it!


Eric

[agile]

Speaking of movies, if "A Prairie Home Companion" ends up on your movie blog, and I miss it, give me a shout. Be curious to hear what you have to say about it!

I have heard good things about this movie. It has an ensemble cast and is made by the guy who did Gosford Park. I will probably see it but not sure whether that will be at the movies or on DVD.

Regards,
Tim

[evilproducer]

Eric:
I have only ever used Movie Maker 2. I especially liked the fire animation coming from the car engine. Nice work.

Regards,
Tim

Dude, I feel your pain. Having read reviews and witnessed it in action... Let's just say Dante has a special circle in hell waiting for the code-jockeys that came up with that piece of garbage. It isn't a Windows vs. Mac thing, it's a steaming pile of crap thing.

Eric, I may not be able to tape my redneck thing this weekend. :cry: Saturday, the weather was extremely windy, hot, humid and threatening rain. I did (along with Paul and Alex's help,) get the instrument cluster and stereo transferred from the "donor" Breeze and I finally was able to transfer the **** rear tires. I had to shear a lug bolt off on the donor to do it, but by God it is done! Now if nothing else goes wrong...

Time for bed,
Evil.

[evilproducer]

Hey Eric, have you had anybody else have problems DLing your show? I tried Juice and it seemed to DL okay, but Quicktime and iTunes won't open it. I just get the message that it can't be opened. When I check the file size I get something like 14 MBs. Is that the correct size? It seems small to me. The file naming convention seems different from your other episodes: 6-17-2006_howto16_cars04.mov

I'm not sure if it is entirely my system, while I was sleeping and DLing your file, French Maid TV came up with a new episode (How To Barter Online) which DLed fine and plays without a hitch. I was becoming convinced that it was my system (and it still could be) but I'm not completely sure. Juice did report a DNS error, but apparently doesn't support copy and paste so I'm not typing all that long crap.

Later,
Evil.

[WyethDigital]

Hey Eric, have you had anybody else have problems DLing your show? I tried Juice and it seemed to DL okay, but Quicktime and iTunes won't open it. I just get the message that it can't be opened. When I check the file size I get something like 14 MBs. Is that the correct size? It seems small to me. The file naming convention seems different from your other episodes: 6-17-2006_howto16_cars04.mov

Later,
Evil.
I haven't had any problems, or heard of any except for yours. I have been getting a huge number of hits from Microsoft Bits based software, and on a slower connection it may cause your computer to be shunted aside (MS Bits has been causing a number of podcast servers to show wiggy numbers and generate error codes, which in turn make MS Bits want to hit your file again... apparently, the **** software refuses to be timed out. It's gotten so bad that some people thought they were getting DoS attacks). When I have more time this week, I'll look into the web logs a little more. Got taping today.

The file size should be about twice what Juice has downloaded. The naming convention is different than what it has been for about a month, but when I first started out I was putting underscores in the titles. I stopped doing it because I thought it looked cleaner without them in itunes, but I started doing it again because without underscores, I can't seem to get VideoBomb.com to take my files (VideoBomb has been great exposure for our podcast).

I know you're on dial up, but have you tried a direct DL from the site? It's based off the same file, but isn't affected by the RSS feed.

Eric

[evilproducer]

I was actually going to try a direct download to see what happens. I'll set it up before I go to sleep.
Later,
Evil.

[evilproducer]

I actually was able to make the redneck video! It's about a minute and a half. I could probably shave it a bit if need be. I'll include it on the disk I send you with the still shots and video that I'm rendering for your movie theme.
Later,
Evil.

[evilproducer]

>Bump<
(seems as if it's the "in" thing. :wink: )

Well I was able to finally DL your latest episode. I ended up downloading through Padcast Alley because all the iWeb BS was stalling out on your page. Maybe try not to embed the file so people don't have to load up all the other graphics and crap, as well as the file.

Sorry, don't mean to be cranky, but I'm getting completely frustrated with my connection. The only effing broadband option I have is satellite. It's expensive and the latency is a big issue. :x

Back to the show, I noticed in the credits that Madeline has a music credit. Did she use Garageband or Soundtrack? That reminds me, how is the theme song contest going? Get many submissions?

Later,
Evil.

[WyethDigital]

Well I was able to finally DL your latest episode. I ended up downloading through Padcast Alley because all the iWeb BS was stalling out on your page. Maybe try not to embed the file so people don't have to load up all the other graphics and crap, as well as the file.
Sorry! That's the way iWeb works. Not real thrilled about it either! We'll eventually move onto something more grown up, but for now it does the trick!

Back to the show, I noticed in the credits that Madeline has a music credit. Did she use Garageband or Soundtrack? That reminds me, how is the theme song contest going? Get many submissions?
Last year when we were prepping the show for submission to the cable distributor we needed some "incidental" music. The guitar bit we play over "viewer mail" is something we came up with in SoundTrack together. Originally it played over cut-a-ways of Madeline shopping for supplies, so we call it Shopping Ditty.

The theme song contest is kind of a bust. We had your submission and a 10 year old submitted some lyrics, but that's about it. We'll try again some other time, but I think the box of steaks will probably be yours (I'm sending you some next week, anyway).

Eric

[Kell]

Hey Eric - What were you planning for your back to school show? If you need a little person I might know someone. :roll:
Oh course if you have someone, or you don't plan on using a little person that's cool. Just thought I would bring it up. :D

[WyethDigital]

That's a good question, Kelli. Honestly, Madeline handles all the research (except for the car stuff... I helped a little). We both handle the writing, but Madeline has this huge binder of projects and each one is tied to a series. I call it her How To Bible. I haven't seen the Back to School stuff yet! I'll ask about it, though, and put a bug in her ear :)

Eric

[Kell]

Coolio ;)

You two both seem pretty darn organized. Total opposite of us. :)

[WyethDigital]

Coolio ;)

You two both seem pretty darn organized. Total opposite of us. :)
Oh, I don't know about that! We're about two to three weeks behind (production wise) where we wanted to be according to our initial schedule.

I think we'll be able to hold the schedule throughout July, then we'll need a break! Whew!

Eric

[evilproducer]

Hey Eric - What were you planning for your back to school show? If you need a little person I might know someone. :roll:
Oh course if you have someone, or you don't plan on using a little person that's cool. Just thought I would bring it up. :D

Are youse in da' Cheese country?

[Lizard King]

Hey Eric - What were you planning for your back to school show? If you need a little person I might know someone. :roll:
Oh course if you have someone, or you don't plan on using a little person that's cool. Just thought I would bring it up. :D

Are youse in da' Cheese country?

Not far from it. We are like 3 hours west of Chicago. I think it would be fun to travel a bit, and I know someone that would just love watching a How to be recoded, and maybe even som pictures with Ms. Madeline. :D

**** this is me Kelli - I guess you could say Jason is in Drag right now, or am I in drag? How does that work with log in's? Am I a Transblogger? :shock:

[evilproducer]

Not far from it. We are like 3 hours west of Chicago. I think it would be fun to travel a bit, and I know someone that would just love watching a How to be recoded, and maybe even som pictures with Ms. Madeline. :D

d*mn this is me Kelli - I guess you could say Jason is in Drag right now, or am I in drag? How does that work with log in's? Am I a Transblogger? :shock:

Makes sense if you're a FIB! :P I can't stand all them **** Illanoyances coming up to the Wisconsin Dells and destroying the beautiful scenic Water Parks with all their commercialism. :wink:

Disclaimer: I was born in Illinois. Surprisingly so was Eric. :?

Later,
Evil.