Chuck's Podcast

No more junk mail!

Charles Laux — 2008-12-02T09:25:21-05:00

To opt out of direct mailings and pre-approved credit card offers, check out this website. It may take a few letters or phone calls to various agencies, but will be well worth it! http://www.ftc.gov/privacy/protect.shtm

Cool Online Music Notation Site

Charles Laux — 2008-11-24T20:13:55-05:00

Noteflight.com

Bail out? Wake up America!

Charles Laux — 2008-09-25T06:26:30-04:00

Ok, I do not normally follow politics, however the proposed multi billion dollar "bail out" is really concerning. WHY should the average Joe help rich, greedy, investors who made poor financial decisions? I pay my bills on time, work hard for my income, and am an honest tax payer. It's not right for people like me to have to foot the bill for the idiots who got themselves into trouble. If I make a poor financial decision (and I have made plenty in the pas) I deal with it and take the consequences, if any. I also LEARN from my mistakes. Bush says that not pursuing the bail out will lead to a massive recession. Maybe this is what Americans need! The consequences of credit denial may teach people a lesson. Over the last decade too many people purchased homes and vehicles they could not really afford and it's coming back to bite them. Wake up America! If you CAN'T afford it, don't do it! Get it?

No iPhone 3G for me...

Charles Laux — 2008-07-09T07:40:38-04:00

Won’t be getting a new iPhone. I really can wait for the next round. I want a 32 GB (or even 64GB!) phone so that I can get rid of my 5G iPod. I also want built in video capabilities. I am really happy with my current iPhone and the $20/month data package. I don’t feel Apple is going to sell as many of the new phones (in the US) because the data package is so expensive. I’m probably wrong though. Knowing Apple, they’ll sell tons!!

MobileMe will be sweet

Charles Laux — 2008-07-09T07:35:12-04:00

I can’t wait for MobileMe. I should be here today. The iPhone 2.0 software will be excellent as well. Hopefully there will be some really cool apps coming out!

How to use software update

Charles Laux — 2008-06-27T17:15:55-04:00

Here’s a short video showing you how to do software updates on the Mac. It’s actually pretty simple.

the new iPhone G3

Charles Laux — 2008-06-10T05:39:46-04:00

Well, I am pretty excited about the new iPhone 3G, but am dissapointed about a few things. 1. I was expecting a 32GB model and was willing to pay for it. 2. Camera still doesn’t take video - I want mobile iChat! 3. Camera is still only 2 megapixels 4. Still looking for a better to-do list 5. The new price of the monthly data connection adds up. What the iPhone dropped in its retail price, its gaining in the increase in monthly data connection!! Here is the breakdown. This is what I paid -- People who adopted earlier or bough 16 GB iphones probably paid more. Original iPhone = $399 (8GB) plus wireless plan and $20/month for unlimited data iPhone 3G = $199/299 plus wireless plan and $30/month for unlimited data Over a year, you are paying $120 more for data than before. Over the two year contract, you are paying $240 more for data. Cost over two years... Original iPhone - $879 for 8GB model (plus cost of a wireless plan) 3G iPhone - $929 for the 8GB model or $1029 for the 16 GB model (plus cost of a wireless plan) The motto for the phone should be: “Twice the speed, but a little more expensive.” The initial price of the new iPhone will get many people to buy in and most of the real cost is hidden. Ok, enough of the negative. Here are my positives! 1. Push support for syncing addresses and calendar items. 2. MobileMe will be a step up and make me feel like my recent . Mac renewal was worth it. 3. 3G speed 4. GPS (anxious to see how well it works)

video iChat working with 10.5.3 upgrade

Charles Laux — 2008-05-28T22:05:33-04:00

Cool! My video iChat is now working again after upgrading to 10.5.3. For some odd reason I was getting communication errors with 10.5.2 and my video chats would not initiate. Hopefully the update will also fix my non-syncing of calendar items in . Mac. All is good again! yay! :-)

"Room for Cream"

Charles Laux — 2008-04-30T14:27:51-04:00

I think "room for cream" at the coffee shop is a total rip off!! Usually I ask for no room and there's still enough room for cream. One of my pet peeves. Also, why give your real name at the coffee shop? I always use a Beatles name. I get funny looks when I say "Ringo," so I don't use him very often. Maybe Richard would be better...

ATMI - what's that?

Charles Laux — 2008-03-17T20:26:03-04:00

ATMI is The Association for Technology in Music Instruction, a branch of The College Music Society. I am a new member of both organizations and am excited to learn more about what they have to offer me in terms of professional development and how I can contribute to the organization. I am excited to announce that I have been selected to present a session at the 51st CMS/ATMI conference in Atlanta this September. My session is entitled "Using Rapidweaver to build a beautiful website in minutes." I am excited to attend the conference!

Checking iPhone text messages

Charles Laux — 2008-03-02T16:49:21-05:00

Being that I was on the road recently, I used quite a bit of text messages. I began to get nervous about going over so here's how you check your SMS usage. Under the standard iPhone/AT&T package you get 200 text messages. To see what you have left, setup a new Contact entry like "Check Text Messages" and assign it the 'phone number' *3282#. I even made this a Favorite so I can get to it with fewer taps. When you dial that number, you'll get a FREE text message telling you how many text messages are left on your account for the month. You can use *646# to view your minutes usage.

Another great ASTA conference

Charles Laux — 2008-03-01T18:11:17-05:00

Wow! Another ASTA conference is over. This conference went so fast. This one was probably the best so far. So many great sessions, amazing concerts by Josh Bell (first row seats!) , and the National High School Honors Orchestra. Bell performed several sonatas with amazing pianist, Jeremy Denk. The NHSHO performed a "Romeo and Juliet" themed concert with works by Tchaikovsky, Bernstein, and Prokofiev. Very well done. Albuquerque was an odd city, reminding me of a not-so-cool Las Vegas. The Tex-Mex was fantastic, however. I'll need to stay away from fajitas and burritos for a while. Next year's conference is in Atlanta which should be a blast. To all of you string teachers who've never attended a national ASTA conference, you don't know what you're missing!

What we need from the cell phone industry!

Charles Laux — 2008-02-15T12:58:44-05:00

Walt Mossberg is right on with this commentary!

The iPhone: Will it Blend?

Charles Laux — 2008-02-14T12:09:37-05:00

I think I posted this a few months ago, but I came across it again and I think it's amazing. Watch...

My reactions after SEEING the Macbook Air

Charles Laux — 2008-02-14T10:49:43-05:00

The MacBook Air is a sweet machine. Surely the coolest laptop I've ever seen!! So thin and light, very elegant in your hands. I was able to see it over at the Wexner Center store yesterday. If you haven't seen one, it's MUCH different in person than it is on the commercials or website. You won't believe it actually! For me, however, the drawbacks (no optical drive, limited hard drive, no FireWire, no ethernet, and more) are not worth the expense. I'm happy with my MacBook Pro and will use it for a long time. I also like my 15" screen

Getting online at OSU with Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard

Charles Laux — 2008-02-14T10:39:09-05:00

I've had many troubles getting on OSU's "osuwireless" network with my Mac running 10.5 Leopard. Since upgrading, I've been shut out. I would be able to see the network, but authentication was a problem, and there would always be errors (Error 1 EN 1 or something). No wireless! Argh! Apparently there were problems between Leopard and OSU's method of authentication, 802.1X. Just a few days ago, Apple released Mac OS 10.5.2 updater which "improves 802.1X" connections." After updating, I still had no luck getting on the network. So I tried one more thing, changing my OSU wireless account password. This is different than the standard "lastname.xx" login credential, it has a "w" in the name. Anyway, after changing my password last night, I opened my MBP at school this morning and voila! -- my wireless works perfectly in Hughes!!! Now if they would just get the wireless to work on the 3rd floor, I'd be all set! Just a tip for all of you having trouble connecting to an 802.1X network with Leopard -- try changing your password to see if that does the trick. It did for me! (Weird, but I'll take it!!) If you need directions from the OSU Help Desk, they are here

I love my iPhone

Charles Laux — 2008-02-05T13:47:46-05:00

What's the deal with the flu?

Charles Laux — 2008-01-31T13:56:42-05:00

After all these year, the flu is still out there. Even though there are "flu shots" they really don't work. There must be some kind of conspiracy with the drug companies as to why they haven't cured it yet! Argh!

My reactions to Apple's MacBook Air

Charles Laux — 2008-01-16T07:51:15-05:00

Apple released the MacBook Air on Tuesday at the 2008 MacWorld Expo and I have to say that I am somewhat impressed. The form factor is simply amazing. It is a beautiful computer and leaves all other sub-notebooks in the dust. The MacBook Air is not for everyone though, and will probably have a small audience for several reasons: • No firewire = no fast external hard drives, no digital video editing • Small, slow hard drive (or fast, really expensive solid state memory) • Slower processor than competing Macs • Limited number of ports (only 1 USB port) • No graphics card • Non-replaceable battery • No way to upgrade anything ever • Very expensive • No optical drive For the executive with no room for a bulky laptop or not wanting a heavy machine to lug around, it may be a good choice. For the casual computer user or anyone wanting to get the most bang for their buck, it isn't the best option and may be better off with a MacBook. Overall, it's a great machine and I am once again impressed with Apple and their ingenuity.

Amazing beat box kid!

Charles Laux — 2007-10-30T20:50:56-04:00

This is pretty unreal!

So long Mini-Me...

Charles Laux — 2007-10-21T14:02:13-04:00

Just noticed today that Apogee discontinued their Mini-Me A/D converter and USB/FW audio interface. What a bummer for those that don't have one!! Mine is incredible and works without a hitch. The soft limit process saves me during those unexpected peaks and its converters are top notch!! The new "Duet" product doesn't come close in terms of features. Yes, it's different, but not better or a replacement for the Mini-Me. In fact, I'm not sure there IS a replacement. Something in the works, perhaps? Oh, well. I have mine and it's not going anywhere!!! :-)

Leopard!!!

Charles Laux — 2007-10-18T10:30:18-04:00

Excited for Leopard to come out in a few days. I'm hoping I can get campus pricing of $69!! So many cool new features. I can't wait!!

Suzuki Video

Charles Laux — 2007-10-18T10:29:48-04:00

An interesting video of a Suzuki program.

Impressed with the new iPod Nano

Charles Laux — 2007-09-27T10:07:40-04:00

Just got my new iPod Nano yesterday. No, I didn't buy it. Got it for free for signing up for a Key Bank checking account. I hate Key Bank, love the Nano. First, it's small. Really small. Tiny even. BUT... the screen is amazingly clear. Steve Jobs said it was a 223 ppi screen. Sweet. More to come later... Have some reading to do for school....

OSU rocks

Charles Laux — 2007-09-20T13:18:23-04:00

School is going well. Busy planning and reading. and more reading. this is gonna be fun... more later.

Starting up

Charles Laux — 2007-09-18T09:26:08-04:00

School FINALLY starts tomorrow. Pretty excited about the new opportunities. Should be busy, but fun.... Here goes!

The iPhone Blend

Charles Laux — 2007-08-28T15:49:05-04:00

Not sure how many of you have seen this, but on "www.willitblend.com" they actually blended an iPhone. Check the YouTube video below to see if it blends....

Great Cable Speed

Charles Laux — 2007-08-28T07:18:36-04:00

Check my results! I'm impressed!!

my iPhone!

Charles Laux — 2007-08-19T22:00:00-04:00

Ok, so I did it. I got the iPhone. What can I say??? I love it. Phone, PDA, iPod, internet device all in one! Who could ask for more?

Coolest YouTube Video

Charles Laux — 2007-07-01T14:00:04-04:00

Here is my latest favorite YouTube Video. This guy rocks on "Owner of a Lonely Heart" and "Smooth Criminal"!!

iPhone release!!

Charles Laux — 2007-06-27T14:03:54-04:00

The iPhone will be released this Friday, June 29 at 6 PM. Come check it out! I am sure there will be TONS of people there! I am so excited to see how this phone will change the industry, just like Apple has done with the personal computer and the iPod. Get ready! :-)

New work experience

Charles Laux — 2007-05-26T08:36:40-04:00

Almost forgot to mention my new position at the Apple Store in the Florida Mall. Loving it. Getting paid to work with Macs and show people all about them. Life is good. :-) Want to know when I'm working? Check out my schedule http://ical.mac.com/charleslaux/Apple%20Store

Relieved...

Charles Laux — 2007-05-26T08:31:53-04:00

I am so relieved that they found a wonderful teacher to take my position at Winter Park. I couldn't be more pleased! I know that the program will thrive and that the students will be taken care of. :-)

Been a while...

Charles Laux — 2007-05-19T21:25:38-04:00

It's been a while since I've last blogged. Wow, over a month. Well, since then a lot of things have happened. State MPA on April 24. Very proud of Park Phil on that one. Many said it couldn't be done, but they did it! We played Tragic Overture, The Texians, and Beethoven 5 Finale and they came across with straight superiors, even with some tough judges. They made me very proud that day. The Spring Concert was a week later on May 1. What an amazing experience! Dave Perkins did an amazing job with a quarter of a million dollar light set up. The kids played well and the movie clips were successful too -- we stayed in sync! Stressful, but fun. Then there was the awards banquet on May 5. I enjoy recognizing students for their work. It was a tough night emotionally, but we all made it through. The downside was the less-than-stellar projector I rented from the media center. The bulb was about to go and it kept flashing in an out. Kind of hindered the end of the year slide show, but that's how it goes sometimes. I want to publicly thank the orchestra for the gifts -- they were very thoughtful and of course I will never forget my time at WPHS and the wonderful students. I will miss them...

Midwest - again!!

Charles Laux — 2007-04-18T06:31:54-04:00

Whoa! I'm blown away. I am very honored to have been selected to present an educational session at the 61st annual Midwest Clinic. My topic, of course, will be about Podcasting. Chicago at that time of year is such a blast. It'll be great to mix business with pleasure. :-)

Weird rust?!

Charles Laux — 2007-04-17T15:20:15-04:00

Found some oxidation (even rust!) on one of my professional recording units' connections. Very strange! It's been in the same environment as every other piece of gear, yet this one has begun to corrode. It's not like I live by the ocean or anything. Thanks to the folks at Tascam for recommending Deoxit, manufactured by Caig. It's a great product -- removed most of the rust. The companion product, Deoxit Gold, puts a protective barrier on the connections which prevents further corrosion. You can get both of these at RadioShack for about $15.00. Worth every penny. I'm gonna use it on the rest of my gear too.

Taxes...

Charles Laux — 2007-04-08T18:08:53-04:00

Whew! Got those taxes done! What a pain. Amazing how much you've gotta pay. Oh well, I'm getting some back from Uncle Sam, so at least that's good news!! ;-)

Leaving Florida...

Charles Laux — 2007-03-31T09:55:49-04:00

Friends and Family, I have been offered an outstanding opportunity to pursue a Ph. D. in music education at The Ohio State University. I have been awarded a graduate teaching assistantship which will cover all of my tuition expenses. In addition, I will receive a monthly stipend in exchange for teaching courses and assisting the lead string music education professor, Dr. Robert Gillespie. Dr. Gillespie is an internationally-known string pedagogue, author, and orchestra clinician. He is a fantastic person, a wonderful role model, and a leader in the field of string music education. I am very honored to be able to have the opportunity work with him. Because of Dr. Gillespie's work, Ohio State has earned a reputation for being one of the top schools for string music education. Obtaining my Ph. D. will allow me to obtain a faculty position at the university level, which has been one of my long term goals. In addition to the professional reasons, the move to Ohio will also allow me to be closer to my entire family. I am very excited about this wonderful opportunity and wanted to let you know about it. I'll keep you posted on how things progress. It looks like I will move during the summer, possibly near the end of July. It will be great to be back in Ohio. See you there soon!

Spring Break

Charles Laux — 2007-03-17T14:47:27-04:00

Break has been fun. The ASTA conference was incredible. I was able to present two sessions and also take in so much from all of the other sessions. The concerts were amazing!! Midori, Lynn Harrell, and the Turtle Island String Quartet three nights in a row! After ASTA I was able to get away on a Caribbean cruise to Grand Cayman and Cozumel. Very relaxing!! It's back to school next week and back to reality. Looking forward to the last grading period -- lots to prepare, especially with State MPA, the Spring concert and the awards banquet. :-)

MPA this week!!

Charles Laux — 2007-02-20T11:55:52-05:00

A crazy week. Night rehearsal (on a Tuesday), Chamber & Concert go Thursday night, Park Phil performs Friday night. Will be ready to chill this weekend!! :-)

Back to normal...

Charles Laux — 2007-01-25T06:24:38-05:00

Seems like all is back to normal. Back in school with a somewhat regular schedule. Midwest and All-State are long gone. :-) Looking forward to working with E. Daniel Long as he will be spending the day with my students on the 29th. Recently recorded the All-County band concert. It was very enjoyable, especially the works of Frank Ticheli. Watching him work with the band was very inspiring. MPA is coming up quickly, so it's crunch time. Hope my students practice! Gotta run...

Wow!! Midwest was AWESOME!

Charles Laux — 2006-12-23T12:30:52-05:00

Got in late last night from Chicago. A bit tired, but fired up! My students performed magically in Chicago at the 60th Anniversary Midwest Clinic. I am so proud of them!! You can check out video clips from their performance on the Midwest website. The only downfall is that they are in RealPlayer. The student's behavior was fantastic, the chaperones were wonderful and everything went smoothly. I couldn't be happier. It was great to see some former colleagues, friends, and meet some new people as well. Conducting at Midwest is an experience I will never forget! :-)

Done yet?

Charles Laux — 2006-12-15T11:57:16-05:00

Am I done yet?? School ends here in a few minutes and I'm taking a break from doing grades. Valencia and CCSN are also due this week. Pre-Midwest concert tonight. Only a few more days until Midwest! Getting my haircut today

Gigs and more gigs...

Charles Laux — 2006-12-08T10:22:45-05:00

Got a gig for Lyric Strings tonight at Full Sail. The students at Full Sail are producing an entire show of just Lyric Strings! 5 cameras, full sound and lights. We will receive a DVD of the performance. Looks to be loads of fun. We'll even have the "smoke machines"!! Playing St. Lukes this weekend. What a great bunch of people. One more week (finals, etc.) and I'm off to Chicago!

Two weeks until Midwest!

Charles Laux — 2006-12-04T14:18:17-05:00

The big day is fast approaching. Now it's beginning to get exciting!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Charles Laux — 2006-11-25T15:36:58-05:00

Well, the holiday season is now underway! Hope all of you had a nice Thanksgiving. It's nice to relax a bit. The next few weeks will be really busy for me. Several holiday gigs, my Winter concert, ending the college semester, and final Midwest preparations will keep me busy. I am ready for it. Should be an interesting December!! Seasons greetings everyone.

Prism concert tonight

Charles Laux — 2006-11-21T16:42:54-05:00

Sitting here at school so I thought I'd blog. Should I be doing something?? :-) Lyric Strings is playing Purple Haze by Hendrix. Only worked on it a few days, but it does sound good. Phil is playing Wanda for the first time - a bit nervous, but we'll see. Concert and Chamber are combining to play Vanguard Overture. They are really ready! I'm out.

Right in the middle of it all!

Charles Laux — 2006-11-13T07:45:39-05:00

This is such a busy time, but all is well. Filling out student college recs., getting ready for the crazy time. All-County Orchestra went well last week. Now we're adding the winds this week. Should be a great concert.

Here comes the crazy time!!

Charles Laux — 2006-10-31T07:57:05-05:00

HAPPY HALOWEEN!! Hope you are all doing well out there!!! November looks to be extra crazy! It will probably fly by just like October did! This month I will be adjudicating Solo & Ensemble festivals in Hillsborough and Polk counties, I will be hosting All-County Orchestra at Winter Park on the 16th thru 18th, we have the performing arts department's "Prism" Concert on the 21st, and my Winter Concert will be on the 30th! I better be ready!!

Ahh, weekends...

Charles Laux — 2006-10-27T16:33:30-04:00

Yay! The weekend is here. Time to relax and get a few things done. Maybe I'll even practice my viola! :-0

Rude people stink...

Charles Laux — 2006-10-24T06:56:24-04:00

Have you ever dealt with someone who was totally rude? I came across a certain individual this morning and he was a real idiot. Arggh!! There, I feel better. :-) Also, I forgot my lunch today. :-( What a bummer!!!! Hopefully the rest of the day will go well. I feel better already. It will be a good day now. :-)

Homecoming week...

Charles Laux — 2006-10-23T07:37:04-04:00

Ah, homecoming week at WP. The loud, blaring music during period changes gets a bit annoying, but it's a fun week. Forgot my university wear today -- GO OHIO!!! We'll see about the rest of the week. I guess I could do the tropical wear tomorrow. :-) Should be a busy week overall.

Cardiac Arrest? No Problem!

Charles Laux — 2006-10-20T06:13:22-04:00

I am now officially certified in CPR. This should make you feel good because if you're with me and suddenly go into cardiac arrest, I might be able to save you. Really, it was a good idea considering I'll be responsible for 42 kids in Chicago in December! :-) Ready for this weekend to get rolling...

Getting ready for crunch time!

Charles Laux — 2006-10-17T07:59:52-04:00

Lots of stuff coming up! All-County Orchestra, Prism, Winter Concert, Pre-Midwest Concert, Midwest! Ready for January. Oh wait -- then there's All-State, Solo & Ensemble, MPA, ASTA, State MPA, Spring Concert, Banquet. Okay, I'm ready for June! :-)

No more listening...

Charles Laux — 2006-10-14T16:42:28-04:00

Whoa! In addition to taping 49 students for All-County Orchestra, I listened to 140 7th and 8th grade All-State violins play the same etude and then listened 60 11th and 12 grade cello tapes today. My brain is pretty fried. Need some time to chill. :-) Things are going well though. Got to see Sheryl this past Thursday night - she rocks! Covered Zepplin's "Rock and Roll" -- what an amazing ending!!

Deadlines met...

Charles Laux — 2006-10-10T15:44:29-04:00

Submitted my articles today for Teaching Music Through Performance in Orchestra Volume III. It was a crunch, but they are done and I feel good about them. I covered Anderson's "Christmas Festival" and Dackow's arrangement of Tchaikovksy's Symphony No. 2 Finale. Not sure when the book will be published but I was honored to be asked to write for them. Also had to submit my seating chart, a couple of forms, and sample name badge to Midwest. It's getting closer! Only a little over two months away. I'm starting to get excited. :-)

Tons o work!

Charles Laux — 2006-10-04T09:56:11-04:00

Keeping me on my toes.. CCSN, Valencia, Winter Park and Midwest. Not a lot of time to write. :-(

New domain name!

Charles Laux — 2006-10-02T19:53:49-04:00

As you can see, my website now is located at www. CharlesLaux.com. Lauxweb.com will still work, but will be a secondary domain. I am now using Blue Host at my hosting company. They offer a great product at a fair price and the domain name is included! Check them out at www.bluehost.com.

Concert coming up, trimming the waist, racquetball

Charles Laux — 2006-09-26T08:04:22-04:00

Today is going well. Getting some work done. Fall concert is this Thursday. I am hoping all of the groups will have excellent performances. It's all about their mental state -- relax and be confident. Have to pick up my tux today -- alterations for the good -- a few inches off the waist!! Played my band director in racquetball this past weekend -- he whipped me. Gotta work on mixing it up! Later all...

Overwhelmed

Charles Laux — 2006-09-06T09:21:37-04:00

Wow. Work is really tough. So much to think about... new students, fundraisers, purchase orders, Midwest. Arggh! Hopefully it will all be worth it. Started my college courses last week. CCSN is all the same, but Valencia is new. Creating lectures, quizzes, etc. takes lots of time. Will it ever slow down??

First day of school (no kids yet)

Charles Laux — 2006-07-31T22:21:28-04:00

First day of school (w/o kids) was good. I gave 4 presentations on podcasting to our staff. Tiresome, but fun. Had Park Phil rehearsale

Sleepy

Charles Laux — 2006-07-15T08:02:01-04:00

Sleepy today. Just working on catching up with e-mail. Facing the reality that school is going to be back in session. Lots to do this year!!! Should be a blast though!

Ok, now it's pimped out!

Charles Laux — 2006-07-13T22:13:25-04:00

Added the photo gallery too. Check the cheezeball pics of me. Ummm... ok. :-O

Working out the kinks...

Charles Laux — 2006-07-13T20:41:12-04:00

Getting used to this program is taking a while, but once I am done it will be easy to maintain. :-)

New look, same great taste

Charles Laux — 2006-07-11T23:45:02-04:00

Hope you like the new look of my website. I am using a program called Rapidweaver. Very simple to produce clean, fast loading websites. We'll see how it goes...