Running Scared

Mike Dunn has really been on the case lately. He has a post noting this broadcast industry dismissal of podcasting but also notes the undertone of desperation in it. It’s full of neat quotes like:

The only ones who are showing excitement about podcasting, so far, are the folks who are hosting a program. They would love to have you listen. They also love journalists who are running out of other internet-related topics.

Since I got the Shuffle, my use of the radio broadcast airwaves has gone from little to none. I don’t even listen in the car anymore, which was the one place where broadcast still had me. If the broadcast community wants to believe that I’m unique because I’m a podcaster and no one else could possibly care, I say let them. Every sinking ship needs a band to play them down.

Shuffle Fun

So, my belief before playing with it was that the iPod Shuffle would be a good device for listening to podcasts despite the lack of display. I saw a lot of grumpy commentary to the opposite, but I never believed it. In fact, it seemed to me like it would be better for podcasts than music. I have yet to listen to any isolated music files (although I have listened to music podcasts) but my prediction was correct. This thing rocks for podcasts!

First, here’s how I have things set up. I have a collective smart playlist that collects together all the podcasts I want to go on the Shuffle. I then have a second smart playlist called “iPod Playlist” which uses the previous playlist as the source, has as a constraint “playcount = 0” and is limited to 450 Mb selected by most recently added. What this means is that I get the most recent podcasts added that I haven’t yet listened to. The beautiful thing about that smart playlist is that because of the playcount constraint when I plug in the Shuffle to resync, I can see everything I listened to disappear out of the list. Once the Shuffle tells my iTunes it’s been played, it’s not there anymore. That makes that list like a stack. I listen to the newest stuff in descending order and If for some reason I don’t feel like listening to a specific program, I skip it. It won’t be marked as listened and will remain in the playlist for the next time. I’m not finding the lack of a display to be any sort of problem at all. Everything in that list is by definition something I want to listen to. Skipping is not a problem at all, doesn’t screw up the playlist and thus far I haven’t had any problems with it at all. Even better, even with MP3s it seems to remember where I was when I come back to that file. If I get halfway through and then skip to the next track, I go back to the same position when I go back. This is not only on bookmarkable AAC files but on straight MP3s as well.

The Shuffle being so tiny has an interesting effect. Because it is so neglible in mass, I just spend all day with it around my neck and the earbuds in. When I get up from my desk or go check the mail or walk the dog, I continue to listen to my podcasts. There’s no preparation necessary, really, and very very simple to always have it with me. I’ve taken it to the gym, worn it around the house and through airports. My very long queue of podcasts to be listened to is shrinking rapidly, which is a good thing.

Yesterday I listened to Andy Hertzfeld talk about why he thinks the Shuffle is bad on IT Conversations. I listened to him say all this on the Shuffle as I was working and walking around the house. I’ve got to say he’s dead wrong. I don’t miss the display at all.

EGC Clambake Episode for Feb 3, 2005

Here is the Bittorrent link and direct MP3 download for the EGC clambake for February 3, 2005.

In this episode, I talk a little about the reaction to the God essay and Madge Weinstein; I play clips by the Gillmor Boys, first Steve and then Dan; we boogie to some Gentle Readers; I talk about Paul Melancon sending me his new album; Cowbell! I explain why I got Wiretap instead of other alternatives; I play another Gentle Readers song and then pretend to sweep the spotlight offstage.

This episode is sponsored in part by the fine folks at iPodderX!

Links mentioned in this episode:

Remembering Johnny

Mark Evanier preferred Leno’s tribute Letterman’s. This is the first time in a decade I’ve watched Leno and was probably the last time ever. I used to love his standup but now find him unwatchable. I think his Tonight Show is a sad shell of what Carson’s was.

Jay’s elegiac monologue was to go out and talk about Johnny, and Dave’s monologue was to do a bunch of jokes that Johnny had written for him in his last days. I can tell you which I found a better tribute. I also noticed that the Leno show was mostly about the outer surface Carson and Letterman’s was about the inner. I thought Peter Lasally was far better spoken and more interesting and a better honor than the Bob Newhart and Don Rickles combo (no disrepect to them.) Granted, Leno’s show only had one day to pull it all together while the vacation schecule meant that Letterman’s show had a week. Still, this reinforced what I’ve always thought, that Letterman rather than Leno is a better spiritual heir to Johnny’s mantle.

Fallout from God

I’m astonished and overwhelmed by the feedback to the God essay. Thank you all for the well reasoned input. I’ve had dozens of emails, a bunch of weblog comments, and it all is gratifying. I was a little surprised how many people seem to feel that I am at risk for some kind of repercussion or persecution because of it. I don’t believe that I am personally and I don’t believe I was particularly courageous. I’m just a guy who said what he truly believes.

Of all the kudos this podcast has ever recieved, the most gratifying (and least deserved) was this episode of Yeast Radio that has excerpts of my essay juxtaposed with Lenny Bruce. I didn’t have Lenny in mind in particular in that essay (more George Carlin if any comedian) but I’ve always loved Lenny’s work and how he put himself on the line with his art. Thank you Richard and Madge!

Good Call

I want to remain a little mysterious about why this thing happened because I don’t want to preannounce something upcoming. I will note that earlier today I received a phone call from Scott McCloud and had a nice talk with him. Wow! Sometimes life is really good. Over 20 years ago I bought Zot #1 when it was brand new. I’ve been a fan of his for over half my life, so getting a call from him was spectacular.

Shuffle Up and Deal

I’m on the way to bed after a long day of travel and a long week of working in the home office. I just want to mention that I am now the proud owner of an iPod Shuffle, and it does in fact work splendidly well for listening to podcasts. I’ll give more details later but my thought experiment of a week or two ago turned out very close to how it worked in practice. Yo ho ho! Doc and Adam, y’all was real real wrong on this.

Podcast Firsts

The short history of podcasting is littered with people who seem to be on fire to get credit for having done things first. Well, dammit I want a piece of that action too. People are getting all excited about On the Media and other radio shows getting into the podcast game. While that’s highly highly cool, let’s not forget that on August 27th, while the ink was still wet on the first iPodder Applescripts and knuckleheads such as myself were creating act-alike programs, I set up RSS podcast feeds for two programs on WREK. In fact, as I type this I’m listening to this week’s episode of Personality Crisis that was fetched for me by iPodderX. I’m not as big a credit hound as I could be, but I’d like the record to show that WREK had the first podcast of a radio airstream. That is, unless some other station did.

Alone, But Not Lonely

In a freakish turn, I have another holy grail empty row on my return flight from O’Hare to Charlotte. What is going on with United/US Airways? I’m not complaining at having the ability to stretch out, mind you, but this is pretty weird. Either this Charlotte/Chicago route isn’t very busy or I am one lucky bastard. These need not be mutually exclusive.

Update: also a row to myself on the Charlotte to Myrtle Beach flight. That makes it 3 for 4 on flight legs this trip. Wowza!

EGC Clambake Episode for Feb 1, 2005

Here is the Bittorrent link and direct MP3 download for the EGC clambake for February 1, 2005.

In this episode, I talk a little about getting screwed by Audacity; I play a song by Brad Sucks; I talk about the poor piece on podcasting on All Things Considered; I play a song by Camper Van Beethoven; I play a song by Jill Sobule and I play a song by Paul Melancon. Lots of music tonight, as I get my rocks on.

This episode is sponsored in part by the fine folks at iPodderX!

Links mentioned in this episode:

New Roman Times

I think I have mispoken every single time that I have mentioned the newest Camper Van Beethoven record. The album is named New Roman Times and yet I say “Times New Roman” consistently. Even when I am looking at it written down as I speak, something in my wiring reorders it. Can I possibly be that much of a dork that I can’t say those three words in any other order? Don’t answer that.

EGC Audio Essay for Jan 31, 2005 – “Why I Don’t Believe in God”

Here is the Bittorrent link and direct MP3 download for the EGC episode for January 31, 2005. This is the essay on “Why I Don’t Believe in God.” I believe that it isn’t as good as the one that was lost this morning, but that’s no different than I expected. It’s hard to keep that fire while doing something like this all over again. It also became very hard to remember what I’d said in this one vs the first one. So it goes.

Let me know what you think. Was this a downer buzzkill? Did it contain anything of value to anyone? What I really would like to hear is from the Godcasters – not so much a point by point refutation but feedback whether they can empathize with my beliefs and why I feel this way.