Archive for the ‘Nerdio’ Category
Wednesday, September 27th, 2006
Welcome to Nerd's Eye View. If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Want to know more about this site? See the Meet the Nerd page. And thanks for reading!
I’ve posted this story before, but I’m all hopped up on audio these days, so I’ve recorded it. You can listen to it here.
It’s a *.wma file, again, for size. You’ll need Windows Media Player to listen to it. If you want to look at pictures while you’re listening, go here.
Posted in Nerdio | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, September 26th, 2006
- I was lying on the balcony, listening to Morning Stories on my iPod. There were cowbells ringing in the background.The story - about a German woman who had Nazi parents and was really angry with them and all Germans - was sort of resonating with me.
- I went inside to look up the WGBH site to drop them a line to thank them for the story and to tell them about our recent conversation with the farmer who was a POW in Texas during WWII. I included a link to my story.
- I got email back almost immediately from Tony Kahn, the show’s producer. He said they loved my story and when could they call so I could read it for them.
- I mailed them back saying, “Oh, we’re off to the city and I will only have my cell phone and we’re running around and blah blah blah and, um, uh, gee, how about, um… does now work? Now would be okay. I guess.”
- The phone rang. It was Gary, the production guy. He said “I just have to get Tony in the studio. I’ll call you back in five minutes.” He did.
- We talked for maybe half an hour about things, Austria and history and podcasting and oh, stuff, and then, Tony asked me to read the story. I did.
It was really cool. And the production guy was sort of amused by the whole insta-technology-connectivity-ness of the thing - as was I. And Tony Kahn is funny and charming and if I were a cat, I’d have curled up on his lap and let him rub my belly.
I hope I didn’t say anything stupid because I’m going to be on WGBH Boston’s Morning Stories. I’ll post the link when it’s available, of course. It should be up in about two weeks.
Tell ten thousand of your closest friends, okay?
[tags]NPR, WGBH, Morning Stories, Tony Kahn[/tags]
Posted in Austria, Nerdio | 5 Comments »
Thursday, September 14th, 2006
So I got this iPod, right? I actually won it in a drawing. No kidding. I guess I can’t say “I never win anything!” for a good long time. It’s cool, it’s a 30G video iPod, the black one. It’s shiny and it sounds nice and I guess I dig having a little soundtrack with me wherever I go. I like to listen to music and my favorite radio station, KCRW, does a song of the day podcast, so that’s cool.
But wait, there’s more.
See, I loaded Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me on the iPod before I hopped the plane just over two weeks ago, and that was fun. But boy howdy, was that the tip of the iceberg. Because whoa nelly, there is a vast ocean of podcasty goodness to be had out there.
When we were young whippersnappers, the sibs and I would sit under the picnic table listening to Mystery Theater on a tinny little transistor radio. I don’t know why we sat where we did, but sometimes, when it was hot, we slept in the backyard in a tent and also listened to radio theater.
As a grown up person, I always liked to take a radio to bed with me - especially when camping alone, which I’ve done lots of. (Yeah, I know, it’s, um, unusual for a woman to enjoy solo camping, but the boys think it’s hot.) Anyway, I always loved lying in the tent listening to someone else reading. And I have a soft spot for radio theater.
Well, hallelujah for the In-Ter-Net and my iPod. Because lately, I’m lying in bed listening to the hokey science fiction of X Minus 1 or getting the answer to “Who knows what evil lurks in the heart of men?” (It’s the Shadow. Duh.) This afternoon I sprawled on the balcony in the sun and listened to the wholesome comedy of My Favorite Husband and I’m pretty sure that was Lucille Ball’s voice.
I love this stuff. I could listen to it all the time. And there’s loads of it out there. Just start with NPR’s podcasts, then google for OTR (that’s Old Time Radio for you newbies). You are set. It is summer in 1974 and you are under the picnic table listening to Radio Mystery Theater hosted by EG Marshall.
When I first got my iPod, people asked over and over, “Don’t you LOVE it?” And I thought, meh, I like it okay. I mean, I don’t need to take 30G of music with me everywhere.
But 30G of classic radio? Oh my.
And now the answer is yes. Yes. I LOVE my iPod. Love it, love it, love it.
Note: About has a bunch of good OTR links here.
[tags]old time radio, iPod, podcasting[/tags]
Posted in Nerdio | 7 Comments »
Sunday, August 6th, 2006
At the Seattle Ukulele Players Association picnic today, I played Death Cab for Cutie’s “I’ll Follow You Into the Dark.” And, now, due to the wonders of the internet and my incredible nerve, you can hear me play it right here.I made this while I was practicing for the event. I didn’t play it this well in the park, but I did have an amplified uke and a couple of guys messing around with wires and the microphone. That was fun. Props to the roadies. And, of course, the media were there, with cameras everywhere. (Thanks for the pic, Lori!) But I gotta work on my stage fright. I tell you what. I also played “Let’s Do It, Let’s Fall In Love.” That went a little better, I think I’d warmed up a bit.
You need Windows Media Player or something that plays *.wma files.
I’ve added a handful of pics to the SUPA set. Start here.
[tags]ukulele, Death Cab for Cutie[/tags]
Posted in Nerdio, Uketopia | 18 Comments »
Monday, May 22nd, 2006
You’re bummed because it’s crappy typical spring in Seattle weather. Or, you’re stressed out at your desk job on a sunny day and you can’t get outside. Never mind! Plug in your headphones, open a can of pineapple, and tune in to Nerdio’s Lunch Box Luau! It’s half an hour of Aloha from the surprising collection of vintage Hapa Haole on my hard drive. Where’d all this stuff come from? Who cares! We’re going to a Hukilau!
It takes time to load because it’s a big file. But, what’s the hurry? As soon as you’ve got it, you’re on island time! You’re down on the beach, AM radio propped up in the sand, Coppertone at the ready! Don’t skimp on the coconut oil, comrades, it’s Lunchbox Luau!
Enjoy, enjoy, Aloha Oe!
Notes: The file is a 6MB mp3. It runs for just under 1/2 hour. The file was made with a beta product I’m working on and some of the sound quality issues aren’t yet resolved. Let me know if you want a playlist. And if you’ve got the chords for “When I hear Hawaiian Music” send them my way, wouldja? I’m dying to learn how to play that on my uke.
Posted in Nerdio | No Comments »
Sunday, January 29th, 2006
Too lazy to read my last post? I’ll read it to you!
Listen to it here as a podcast. It’s an mp3 so it should play in anything. If you want to get real personal, wear headphones.
Production Notes: This is take two, I’ve swapped the mic - getting a little more echo, a lot less static - and rerecorded the voice tracks. I also compressed the file so it’s no longer nearly 2MG. Much friendlier.
Posted in Austria, Nerdio | No Comments »
