Audio Books – The Easy Way

I’m a big fan of books but my reading speed due to lack of time and having to move my mouth when I read has led me to a novel solution which I’m going to share with you now.

Pseudo Audio Books

I first came across he idea almost by accident when I was using a Kindle. The old kindle 3 used to have audio and it came with a Text to Speech function which was rudimentary but after a bit of getting used to worked fine. I hooked my kindle into my car speakers via a cassette/MP3 on a long journey and listened to my book. worked a treat. Kindle have since removed the feature to reduce production costs but you can do it yourself if you have a smart phone. Here’s what I recommend

iPhone.
I recommend using Voice Dream.
http://www.voicedream.com/

it’s around €4 for the app on the itunes store and you can buy extra voices for it (I listened to a the windup girl which is set in Thailand with an indian voice, added a lot to it)

if you have an android device I recommend IVONA text to speech

Both are excellent, the voice is probably a tiny bit better on the Ivona but both are excellent.

Listening in your car

I’m assuming if you’re smart enough to get this far you can figure out how to play the audio in your car via a converter. I recommend doing it via Bluetooth if you can for the best quality

and that’s it.

My reading has increased several fold after going this route. contact me if you have any questions

Huzzah!

May 8, 2013 0

Spot Hidden Thur : Being a Drax Report

Well after a thorough read of the rules we were all set for Mansions of Madness. After a full half hour of talking rubbish, drinking coffee and talking more shite, ohhing and ahhing the models, looking at all the extensive cards we agreed it looked like a fantastic game, so we put it away and took out Spartacus with a promise of revisiting MoM real soon. Maybe even next thur.

So it was we had at it with Spartacus once again.

I Totally confused Borys a couple of times during the game, once by being nice to Newton and the second time by flipping a coin to decide something (I hand’t actually said heads or harps I just flipped a coin and said, NO, can’t do it but thanks for them money). The way to go in this game is definitely be the host. a couple of unexpected wins by some underdogs and somehow I convinced people that Borys was Bad and I was good and I cruised home to a handy victory. It was only at the end they copped what I was up to by selling everything i owned and having and unassailable bid for host pushing me over the line. Great game but I think we’ll let it sit now until the expansion arrives

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/134466/spartacus-the-serpents-and-the-wolf-expansion-set

With a tired bunch we decided against K2 but that’s going to be a definite for another night so it was

Kingdoms
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/119/kingdoms

This is a game that can go terribly right for you or terribly wrong. It’s a wee bit too random for me, but then again I have never won a game of it so I would be critical.

a very early lead by Brian couldn’t be stopped despite our best efforts so some embarrassingly low scores crept in at third and fourth positions.

SO, next week DEFINITELY it’s Mansions of Madness

Huzzah!

May 3, 2013 2

Summing up gaming in one word : Schadenfreude

“Malicious enjoyment derived from observing someone else’s misfortune.”

May 2, 2013 1

Spot Hidden. Games Tonight 8:30

Games tonight 8:30
My House

May 2, 2013 0

Bit of this Thur night I reckon

May 1, 2013 0

Bcon a Huge Success

Well it’s offical. Bcon was a massive success. We had a total of 21 on the day, which was not bad for the first time a con was run, even with a good chunk of people missing due to misadventure and other commitments.

We came, we saw, we gamed, we talked an inordinate amount of shite and we drank some good coffee.

The whole thing wrapped up around 1am ish. Thanks to all those who were involved in the organising and those who helped on the day.

There were so many good moments in the day. Deccies daughter SHRIEKING “IT’s HIM! IT’S HIM! He’s the WEREWOLF, I KNOW IT!” (turns out he WAS the werewolf too). Getting to play a STACK of games. On the day I got to play, Dalmuti, Skull and Roses, Spartacus, Small World, Blood Royale (I liked that a lot), the Walking Dead, Werewolf. The laid back atmosphere, the whole ambiance of the day, the unexpected guests who took part, all, all good stuff

If I say so myself I think we nailed it

a one day event
arrive when you want
play what you want
game as much or as little as you like
leave when it suits

the location was A1 with everything a gamer needs within spitting distance (gamers can spit over a quarter of a mile)

This will DEFINITELY run again, but next time to make it possible to put a sign outside were going to change the name to KNAVECON

We already have plans afoot for it, expect news before the end of the summer

a big hearty HUZZAH! to all those who made it

and see you on thur!

HUZZAH!

April 29, 2013 3