Bend in the Weather

Ever wondered why PulseAudio sucks so bad?

Sick of the multiple Audio stacks in Linux? (OSS/ALSA/PulseAudio).
Ever wanted to make sense of items like JACK,ESD,aRts and NAS or just confused with either GStreamer or xine?

Here is a clever overview of the sound systems that is Linux. (click the image for a larger view)/

Linux audio like it or not is a mess. Multiple layers providing the same functionality. It's a house of cards that often falls down.
Things have been hidden well in OSS/ALSA and it's not until demanding audio like HD codecs have started to make their way across that some of these issues are starting to be uncovered (the infamous 'popping' sounds).

PulseAudio has been poking and pushing ALSA in recent times, and as a result unearthed a number of issues.

I'm hopefully eventually we'll get to a single, simple but powerful audio stack. I'm not holding my breath though.

Often life runs at the speed of light.

The modern lifestyle is so fast these days, it seems you never get time actually see the roses, let alone stop to smell the roses.
At times one needs to hit the pause or even the slow-mo button just to catch a breath.

I've discovered one way that works extremely well for me. I hope you too can find a way to recharge the batteries quickly in an often busy world.
Obviously getting away is the ultimate 'recharge', and that's not always possible, so I have found at times you need a 'quick fix'.

For me, it's a relatively easy one:

• Jump in my car.
• Take a short drive around my neighbourhood (at 50km/hr max -- so it's not overly fast).
• Stick on a Frank Sinatra CD.
• Listen to a few tracks of ol' blue eyes.
• Return home in 10-20 minutes time feeling much better.

It's amazing, throwing on his CDs, life appears to slow down... The sun seems shinier, people appear more friendly and I could swear people I pass and even the car I'm driving seems to only work at half speed. Instant stress relief.

Whilst Frank Sinatra won't be the answer for everyone, find something that relaxes and soothes you. Having an 'instant relax' method is a life-saver in the crazy busy world we call 'life'.