Think About It: Pick Your Podcast
Here at Think About It Central, we pride ourselves on being up-to-the-minute on our discussion of technology, pop culture and world events. Reality television, boy bands, Dancing Judge Ito jokes... these are the sort of highly topical discussions that are our bread and butter. So that's why it's natural we're only about 18 months behind on the discussion of one of my new fascinations: the podcast.
For you luddites out there (a "luddite" is someone who doesn't trust technology, which means that in all likelihood they won't own a computer, which means they won't even be reading this column, which means this entire paragraph up to this point has been a complete waste of time), a "podcast" is a sort of new form of radio show broadcast over the Internet. Podcasters record their shows and then put them online, either available on their websites or in a syndication service. Then people who have subscribed to their syndicated feeds (this is usually free of charge) wait patiently as their computer automatically downloads the podcasts, which they can then listen to on their computer or on an MP3 player, if they're the sort who likes to listen "on the go."
"Well yes, Blake," you're saying, "that's all well and good, but why should I listen to such a thing?" Good grief, you're cynical. I don't even know why I put up with you. But anyway, there are a lot of good things about Podcasts and there are bad things about Podcasts, which I have -- for your reading edification -- split up into two intensive discussion sections entitled, respectively "Good Things About Podcasts" and "Bad Things About Podcasts."
Good Things About Podcasts:
Anyone can make one. You don't need a lot of training or schooling. All you need is a computer, a microphone and the right software.
Bad Things About Podcasts:
Anyone can make one. You don't need a lot of training or schooling. All you need is a computer, a microphone and the right software.
Good Things About Podcasts:
Podcasts offer an incredible amount of diversity. Science fiction, comic books, politics, literature, sports, movies, television, podcasts about how to make podcasts -- virtually any subject of conversation you can think of has podcasts available devoted to that very discussion.
Bad Things About Podcasts:
Before you find the three or four quality podcasts in any given category, you'll have to go through two dozen or so wastes of your precious ear power by bozos who consider the fact that they saw SportsCenter last week makes them an expert and that horns, whistles and bad Norwegian accents are substitutes for entertainment.
Good Things About Podcasts:
Podcasts have brought back the lost art of the radio drama. A great many podcasters have begun producing full-cast audio plays for download. Some are entirely original, others are based on popular television shows or movies like Star Trek, James Bond or Firefly.
Bad Things About Podcasts:
Then, of course, there are the ones that are pretty much just copies of Lord of the Rings with the same dork playing every part (making the love scenes downright creepy) and sound effects courtesy of a 20-year-old Casio synthesizer.
Good Things About Podcasts:
Because podcasts are so darn portable, you can listen to them during virtually any activity: driving, doing chores, working out, taking a walk. Previously tedious activities are made a bit more enjoyable if you can at least have something a bit more enjoyable to occupy your mind at the time.
Bad Things About Podcasts:
Your wife, girlfriend, mother and anybody else who's constantly on your case to get you to do things will take advantage of this knowledge. "Sugar-lumpkin?" she will say, and you'll know that she wants you to do something because that's the only time she calls you "Sugar-lumpkin." "Why don't you listen to a podcast while you're outside weeding the begonias?"
"But sweetheart," you'll say, "We don't even have begonias."
"Well why don't you listen to a podcast while you're planting the begonias?" she will say. Am I sounding sexist, ladies? Prove me wrong, I dare ya.
So like any technology, podcasts clearly have both their good points and their drawbacks. But when you get down to it, what in life doesn't? It's free entertainent that you can take virtually anywhere, and it gives you something to occupy your time. At least until they invent a single device that gives you television, music, movies and ice cream on demand. But if you look, you can probably find a podcast about the hunt to invent one.
Since you asked, Blake M. Petit's favorite podcast is The Signal. Contact him with comments, suggestions or to beg him to listen to your podcast at BlakePT@cox.net, visit him at Evertime Realms or view the Evertime LiveJournal,
blakemp.
For you luddites out there (a "luddite" is someone who doesn't trust technology, which means that in all likelihood they won't own a computer, which means they won't even be reading this column, which means this entire paragraph up to this point has been a complete waste of time), a "podcast" is a sort of new form of radio show broadcast over the Internet. Podcasters record their shows and then put them online, either available on their websites or in a syndication service. Then people who have subscribed to their syndicated feeds (this is usually free of charge) wait patiently as their computer automatically downloads the podcasts, which they can then listen to on their computer or on an MP3 player, if they're the sort who likes to listen "on the go."
"Well yes, Blake," you're saying, "that's all well and good, but why should I listen to such a thing?" Good grief, you're cynical. I don't even know why I put up with you. But anyway, there are a lot of good things about Podcasts and there are bad things about Podcasts, which I have -- for your reading edification -- split up into two intensive discussion sections entitled, respectively "Good Things About Podcasts" and "Bad Things About Podcasts."
Good Things About Podcasts:
Anyone can make one. You don't need a lot of training or schooling. All you need is a computer, a microphone and the right software.
Bad Things About Podcasts:
Anyone can make one. You don't need a lot of training or schooling. All you need is a computer, a microphone and the right software.
Good Things About Podcasts:
Podcasts offer an incredible amount of diversity. Science fiction, comic books, politics, literature, sports, movies, television, podcasts about how to make podcasts -- virtually any subject of conversation you can think of has podcasts available devoted to that very discussion.
Bad Things About Podcasts:
Before you find the three or four quality podcasts in any given category, you'll have to go through two dozen or so wastes of your precious ear power by bozos who consider the fact that they saw SportsCenter last week makes them an expert and that horns, whistles and bad Norwegian accents are substitutes for entertainment.
Good Things About Podcasts:
Podcasts have brought back the lost art of the radio drama. A great many podcasters have begun producing full-cast audio plays for download. Some are entirely original, others are based on popular television shows or movies like Star Trek, James Bond or Firefly.
Bad Things About Podcasts:
Then, of course, there are the ones that are pretty much just copies of Lord of the Rings with the same dork playing every part (making the love scenes downright creepy) and sound effects courtesy of a 20-year-old Casio synthesizer.
Good Things About Podcasts:
Because podcasts are so darn portable, you can listen to them during virtually any activity: driving, doing chores, working out, taking a walk. Previously tedious activities are made a bit more enjoyable if you can at least have something a bit more enjoyable to occupy your mind at the time.
Bad Things About Podcasts:
Your wife, girlfriend, mother and anybody else who's constantly on your case to get you to do things will take advantage of this knowledge. "Sugar-lumpkin?" she will say, and you'll know that she wants you to do something because that's the only time she calls you "Sugar-lumpkin." "Why don't you listen to a podcast while you're outside weeding the begonias?"
"But sweetheart," you'll say, "We don't even have begonias."
"Well why don't you listen to a podcast while you're planting the begonias?" she will say. Am I sounding sexist, ladies? Prove me wrong, I dare ya.
So like any technology, podcasts clearly have both their good points and their drawbacks. But when you get down to it, what in life doesn't? It's free entertainent that you can take virtually anywhere, and it gives you something to occupy your time. At least until they invent a single device that gives you television, music, movies and ice cream on demand. But if you look, you can probably find a podcast about the hunt to invent one.
Since you asked, Blake M. Petit's favorite podcast is The Signal. Contact him with comments, suggestions or to beg him to listen to your podcast at BlakePT@cox.net, visit him at Evertime Realms or view the Evertime LiveJournal,
blakemp.