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November 16, 2006
It's Not Easy Being Techie
But, with due deference to Kermit, it's probably harder being green.
Happy Thursday, Chicklets! As the in-house techie LC, I have to share with you my latest discovery. Of course, this particular thing has been around for a while, and many of you probably already know about it, but it's new to me so I'm gonna pull a Columbus (sans the widespread genocide, simply can't fit that into my schedule) and say I discovered it.
Are you ready?
Podcasts. A very strange word for what is basically amateur radio via internet, but there it is.
Podcasts. It's kinda fun to say, if you block out all the bad sci-fi/horror movie associations. Which takes a while, but I have faith in you. You can do it.
Anyway, I've known about podcasts for at least a year and a half, because I was interviewed for Mom Writer's Talk Radio in the summer of 2005, and again last summer. (My episode is still on there, somewhere.) But one day I was putzing around in iTunes and I saw that they'd devoted an entire section to podcasts and I went in and... it was amazing.
You know how there are blogs on every possible topic imaginable? And even some you'd rather not imagine? Welcome to podcasts, my friend. Any yahoo with an internet connection and a computer able to record audio can put together a podcast... and let me tell you, that's a lot of yahoos. There's one out there, called Keith and The Girl, which I haven't listened to yet because the description at podcast.net is "Keith and his girlfriend talk shit," which sounds realllllllly annoying. The crazy thing? They're one of the most popular podcasts around. I'm resisting listening, because if I wanted to listen to a couple argue I could just record an afternoon with me and Fish, but I have to say... I'm intrigued.
But wait! There's good stuff out there! Like Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Grammar Tips. I've listened to all of them and I've received definite illumination. I think every writer of anything should listen. Another favorite podcast is The One Minute How-To, which is basically what the title indicates - one minute segments on how to do something. Anything. Anyone with any expertise in any area can call this guy and get on the air. Included in my list of downloaded material are: How to Stop Severe Bleeding; How to Personalize A Squash; and How To Get Rid of Raccoons.
The secret to that last one, by the way? Coyote urine. That's gonna be stuck in my head for the rest of my life. Listen at your own risk.
Anyway, I've tested all the aggregators (software that goes out and gets the podcasts for you) and while I started with iTunes, it only works with iPods (freakin' Mac and their freakin' proprietary crap) I have to say, my favorite is Happy Fish because it's got a nice interface, and you can easily transfer the podcasts to whatever .mp3 device you choose (although not to my Pocket PC, but whatever.) It's very cool stuff, so I thought I'd share! Let me know if you find any cool podcasts!
Posted by Lani at 7:09 AM | Comments (8)
Comments
I must admit, Lani, you surprise me. You can master the computer things that make my head spin. But you can't figure out the cooking basics such as boiling water.
Life has a funny way of making us all fit in somehow. VBG
:) Sara
Posted by: sal ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.literarychicks.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at November 16, 2006 9:20 AM
LOL - seems odd, Sara, I know, but since my computer doesn't burst into flames regularly on me, I'm more willing to putz around. But I am determined to get Thanksgiving down, come hell or high water.
Or, most likely, McDonald's.
Posted by: Lani at November 16, 2006 2:09 PM
Ooh, Lani! That one minute how to thing is addictive!
LC Eileen
Posted by: Eileen at November 16, 2006 2:21 PM
I have a friend over in Norway that swears by podcasts. She's been listening to them for years. She gets a lot of knitting and craft podcasts, which I always thought was funny. She also gets a lot of BBC stuff, which has gotta be really cool. Of course, she lives in Norway and her name is Yvonne, so her cool number is already in the stratosphere.
As crazy as it sounds, maybe I'll give a listen to Keith and his girlfriend. If nothing else, it's got to be some good fodder for boring dialogue scenes, right? Besides, listening to someone else argue is always more fun than living through your own.
Posted by: dee at November 16, 2006 3:28 PM
I've been techie, and I've been green. Neither one is easy.
I've heard of podcasts, but never cared to check them out. Maybe I should. Hmmmmm
Posted by: Charity at November 17, 2006 7:51 AM
LOL, Lani! You're our technology guru!
Michelle, who understands more about cooking turkeys than about technological computer stuff.
Posted by: Michelle C at November 17, 2006 9:28 AM
Lani, I'm not sure if you still see comments days after a post, but I wanted to give you this link. On my homepage today there was a headline "Girls Gone Wired" Gadgets for tech savvy women. Thought of you. Thought I'd share!
http://tech.yahoo.com/hw/gift-ideas-for-girls-gone-wired/198120
Posted by: Charity at November 19, 2006 9:13 AM
(freakin' Mac and their freakin' proprietary crap) HEY! I resemble that remark! :p I love my mac and my iPod. My husband is into podcasts, but I've never checked them out... I am GOING to check out Dirty Grammar though! That sounds right up my alley. I'm terrible with grammar, even though I love writing.
Posted by: Lisa at November 20, 2006 10:41 PM
