Something that Happened

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Dear Reader/Listener:

Lest I be judged for it, I inform you now that this web space is a scratch pad, a space for experimentation. Have fun, enjoy, and read much of it, but try not to read too much into it!

--Harold

Want some background music? Please consider tuning in to my Internet radio station VoyagerRadio while you're reading this blog.

Want more blogging fun? You may also be interested in reading my other blog, Transmitting to Earth.

These blogs/sites are also happening:

Joe Frank
Web Feed Central
Anne...Straight from the Hip
Momentshowing
Theory of Everything
Slowmotionlandscape
Netizen News

Something that Happened to your ears (AKA Podcasts, or audio downloads):

"Goodwill Hunting"
"Sampled"
"The Fir Tree, by Hans Christian Andersen
"Sundae Silence"
"iRiver Test"
"Subscription Special"
"From Jay Dedman"
"The Big Sleep"
"Walking Man"
"Resolution"
"It's Gotten Out of Band (Part 3)"
"It's Gotten Out of Band (Part 2)"
"It's Gotten Out of Band (Part 1)"
"Create Your Own Podcast Station"
"Echo"
"Tinkering"
"Explanation/Send Me Audio"
"Neighbors"
"Percentages"
untitled audio post 11/05/04
"Post-Election Blues"
"Audio Commentary (with audio commentary)"
"Open Source Schizo"
"(Somewhat) Traditional Radio Program"
"Not Poor Enough"
"Junk Mail"
"Everybody Has Something to Say About Podcasting"
"Dream Job (Part 2)"
"Dream Job (Part 1)"
"Vent"

Something that Happened in the past (AKA Archive):

12/01/2002 - 12/31/2002 01/01/2003 - 01/31/2003 02/01/2003 - 02/28/2003 04/01/2003 - 04/30/2003 05/01/2003 - 05/31/2003 06/01/2003 - 06/30/2003 07/01/2003 - 07/31/2003 08/01/2003 - 08/31/2003 09/01/2003 - 09/30/2003 10/01/2003 - 10/31/2003 11/01/2003 - 11/30/2003 12/01/2003 - 12/31/2003 01/01/2004 - 01/31/2004 02/01/2004 - 02/29/2004 03/01/2004 - 03/31/2004 04/01/2004 - 04/30/2004 05/01/2004 - 05/31/2004 06/01/2004 - 06/30/2004 07/01/2004 - 07/31/2004 08/01/2004 - 08/31/2004 09/01/2004 - 09/30/2004 10/01/2004 - 10/31/2004 11/01/2004 - 11/30/2004 12/01/2004 - 12/31/2004 01/01/2005 - 01/31/2005

Need more blog? Read Transmitting to Earth, my other blog.

A narrative experiment by Harold J. Johnson, Master Architect of VoyagerRadio and Humble Operator of The Great Glass Elevator (currently out of commission).

Just remember, not everything you read or hear is true. Everything else is - or can be, depending on your perspective.

Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Today I want to tell you about Podcasts 24/7, a service which provides podcasts as a continous webstream. Wait-a-minute, you may be thinking, isn't that ass-backwards? Isn't podcasting the antithesis of streaming?

Well, yes and no. Certainly the term podcasting was birthed to describe the medium's method of delivery, which was antithetical to streaming. Yet from the onset, many podcasters still made their 'casts available as streams as well. In fact, many podcasters began as webcasters, streaming their recordings rather than making them available as portable downloads. Podcasts247.com allows podcasters to become webcasters as well.

So why become a webcaster? Well, some listeners may not wish to fill their hard drive with podcasts, so they'd prefer to listen to webcasts, which don't usually consume hard drive space. Also, some podcast listeners at work, school, or the library may not be allowed to download files (podcasts) to their computers due to restrictions, yet they still may be able to listen to streams (webcasts).

To see what I mean, try tuning in at podcasts247.com to listen to a variety of podcasts being streamed, one after another.
12/22/2004 10:59:31 AM

Fellow podcasters, webcasters, audiobloggers, here's an economical way to record phone interviews, useful if you have an old computer and are having difficulty recording Skype conversations. Remember to check the laws in your area regarding the recording of phone conversations! Here's what you need:

Standard phone line

Radio Shack Mini Recorder Control ($15; part no. Radio Shack 43-1237)

Swapmeet or yardsale-discovered cassette, microcassette recorder, or, ideally, MP3 or minidisc recorder (also check your storage closet for forgotten recording devices)

Computer (okay, we have to be reasonable here--we're not going to get much done on an Apple ][e or anything)

Soundcard; most modern computers (and all Macs) come with one of these

Audacity software (free, assuming your computer is up to the challenge, and available for Mac, Windows, or Linux; otherwise, Pro Tools FREE is available for most older Mac and Windows systems)

Cable to plug recording device into soundcard

Yes, this setup is a bit cheap and may not produce the most professional sound, but it will do quite nicely for those on a shoestring budget - and it's especially attractive if you already have some of the components listed. Here's how it works:

Plug the phone handset line into the only available input on the Mini Recorder Control, the "Handset" jack. The Mini Recorder Control itself is to be plugged into your phone's handset input. Be sure to set the Control to the "REC" setting (rather than the "PLAY" setting).

Plug the Mini Recorder Control into your recording device. (No cable required; the cable is built-in to the Control).

Place your phone call and record the interview by using the appropriate recording mechanism on your recording device.

When you are finished recording, plug your recording device into your soundcard using the appropriate cable. Digitize the recording by recording using Audacity (or Pro Tools FREE or whatever software app you prefer)

That's it! Remember, you're not necessarily going to get Broadcast-quality sound using this setup - your voice will probably sound about as good as your caller's. Still, I've heard many decent audio recordings using this setup!

12/22/2004 10:57:27 AM

Sunday, December 19, 2004
"Sundae Silence" (MP3 audio post; stream or 4.3MB download)

The sound and the silence of mom eating a sundae in a famous fast-food franchise. (Thanks to the Raging Liberal and the Internet Archive for hosting my podcast, and thanks also to ILK for making his torrent tracker available.)

Not to your liking? Please send typed or audio comments to harold.johnson@gmail.com. Fair warning: your comments may be posted to this site or used in the podcast--but that's what you want, isn't it?
12/19/2004 01:10:21 AM

Wednesday, December 15, 2004
If you've just wandered into this website you may find yourself perplexed. Podcast feed? Torrent feed? Streams and downloads? What is this stuff?

The easy explanation is that these are all methods of having Internet audio and music automatically (some say automagically) delivered directly to your listening ears. You subscribe to feeds to have these recordings, also called podcasts, delivered to your iPod by using an application called an iPodder. Even if you don't have an iPod, you can still use an iPodder to subscribe to podcasts and have them delivered automagically to your computer while your sleep. That way you can wake up in the morning and begin listening to your favorite podcasts right away--or transfer the recordings to your iRiver, iPod, or just about any other MP3 player to listen to them while you're out and about!

That's the easy explanation. I can provide you with many convoluted explanations as well, but why should I? If you're interested in finding out more about podcasts and iPodder and feeds and things like that, head over to iPodder.org and choose your own path toward knowledge. Or email me anytime you'd like and I'll be glad to fill you in some more.
12/15/2004 04:21:59 PM

"iRiver Test" (MP3 audio post; stream or 19.4MB download. Torrent also available.

This isn't a story, really; it's a test recording I made using an iRiver MP3 Player (Model iFP-890) the other day. Geek stuff, in other words, though I talk a little bit about my mom's disorder and how it may affect me someday. If you like stories, you may be more interested in hearing Amy Gahran's suggestions: "Walking Man" and "Percentages". (Thanks for the review, Amy!)

I probably won't be including this recording in my podcast feed since it's a lengthy recording and, due to its content, probably wouldn't make for much of a narrative; it's mainly my ramblings while shopping in the local supermarket.

That said, I've included the recording in my torrent feed, which I've been including my outtakes in (as well as my regular podcasts). So if you're using a BitTorrent-compatible iPodder application you should be receiving the podcast soon. I'm also making it available for download here.

(Thanks to ILK for torrenting my podcast and to the Raging Liberal and the Internet Archive for hosting my podcast.)

Please send me typed or audio comments; email them to harold.johnson@gmail.com. Any comments sent to me may end up being posted to this site or incorporated into my podcast!
12/15/2004 03:31:15 PM

Sunday, December 12, 2004
"Subscription Special" (MP3 audio post: stream or 8.5MB download. BitTorrent file also available now; had you been subscribed to the torrent feed you could have had the podcast delivered to you already.)

Ordering breakfast at my favorite diner Headlines , where I tell the cashiers about podcasting, mentioning the podcasts Useful Sounds and Really Learn Spanish; riding Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus to Goodwill.

(Thanks to ILK for torrenting my podcast and to the Raging Liberal and the Internet Archive for hosting my podcast.)

Please send me typed or audio comments; email them to harold.johnson@gmail.com. Any comments sent to me may end up being posted to this site or incorporated into my podcast!
12/12/2004 11:00:44 PM

Friday, December 10, 2004
"From Jay Dedman" (MP3 audio post: stream or 2.2MB download.)

I received these audio comments from Jay Dedman of Momentshowing on Nov. 26. Sorry it took so long to post; I was planning on doing something more creative with the audio, but for now I'm simply going to post Jay's audio.

Thanks, Jay! Anyone who would like to send me comments may send them to harold.johnson@gmail.com. Be forewarned; comments may be end up being posted to this site.
12/10/2004 02:36:37 PM

Wednesday, December 08, 2004
"The Big Sleep" (mp3 audio post; stream or 5.6MB download)

Why I awake every day. (Thanks to the Raging Liberal and the Internet Archive for hosting my podcast, and thanks also to ILK for its torrent.)

Got something to say? Please send typed or audio comments to harold.johnson@gmail.com. Fair warning: your comments may be posted to this site or used in the podcast--but that's what you want, isn't it?
12/8/2004 07:10:05 PM

Friday, December 03, 2004
"Walking Man" (mp3 audio post; stream or 6.7MB download)

My encounters with a walking man. (Thanks to the Raging Liberal and the Internet Archive for hosting my podcast!)

Send typed or audio comments to harold.johnson@gmail.com. Comments may be posted to this site.
12/3/2004 01:04:53 PM

Thursday, December 02, 2004
Now that I'm on my way to resolving my bandwidth woes (with a little help from the Raging Liberal and the Internet Archive), it's time I begin focusing on some serious storytelling. Stay tuned.
12/2/2004 11:24:54 AM

"Resolution" (mp3 audio post; stream or 1.5MB download)

My first step toward resolving my bandwidth woes. (Thanks to the Raging Liberal and the Internet Archive for hosting my podcast!)

Send typed or audio comments to harold.johnson@gmail.com. Comments may be posted to this site.
12/2/2004 10:58:14 AM

Wednesday, December 01, 2004
"It's Gotten Out of Band (Part 3)" (mp3 audio post; stream or .7MB download)

I continue relating my bandwidth woes in this Audioblogger phone post. People/sites/services mentioned: ILK; Jay Dedman of Momentshowing.net; Internet Archive; Creative Commons; TDavid of Webmaster Cookbook; Cyberwurx; Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

Send typed or audio comments to harold.johnson@gmail.com. Comments may be posted to this site.
12/1/2004 10:16:50 AM

"It's Gotten Out of Band (Part 2)" (mp3 audio post; stream or .7MB download)

I continue relating my bandwidth woes in this Audioblogger phone post. Sites/services mentioned: Podcasters discussion group; Momentshowing.net; Internet Archive; Creative Commons.

Send typed or audio comments to harold.johnson@gmail.com. Comments may be posted to this site.
12/1/2004 09:59:01 AM