some fiction is true

truth, however, is a matter of perspective

...



...

LEST I BE JUDGED FOR THIS
[disclaimer and message]

MINI POSTS
[brief and frequently-posted messages]

AUDIO AND VIDEO
[audio and video streams and downloads]

MOBILE POSTS
[content posted from a mobile phone]

PODCAST FEED
[for podcasts only -- no text]

RSS FEED
[for text and podcasts]

ARCHIVE
[past posts]

E-MAIL
[me]
 

mini updates:
    follow me on Twitter

    dear reader/listener/viewer/enjoyer/co-conspirator:
    lest i be judged for it, i inform you now that this project continues to be a scratch pad, a space for experimentation

    in other words, enjoy what you find here, and feel free to participate, but try not to take anything personal, and don't believe that this project presents an accurate view of me or my life

    this is a window, certainly, but one that hasn't been cleaned in quite some time

    your view may be foggy, obscure...you may see things that aren't really there...

    --harold

    want some background music?
    please consider downloading my most recent music podcast.

    and yes, i love my mom and my dad;
    they've always been good to me, no matter what impression you may have received here

    they never locked me in a cellar or anything
     
    archived stories, or something that happened in the past:

    December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 November 2007 February 2008 March 2008

    i am a member of the

    association of music podcasting

    musicpodcasting.org

    along with these fine music podcasters:

    all florida indies - bing futch
    audio gumshoe - rich palmer
    audio popcorn - krash coarse
    aural icebergs music cast - tiffany rapplean
    capital rock show - bucket aka jason
    darkhorse radio - alan carr
    ears to hear - jill lawton
    eclectic mix - george l smyth
    homegrown podcast - nic treadwell
    indiefeed - chris macdonald
    le jazz affair - sal calfa
    rubyfruit radio - heather smith
    sober cafe podcast - gracie hollombe
    sundown lounge - larry winfield
    tempo of the down - harold (that's me!)
    the darkcompass podcast - rowland cutler
    the fabrications podcast - matt macfarlane
    the phill(er) - phill ramey
    the radiozoom podcast - john bollwitt
    thepillarcast.com - jon tucker
    uc radio podshow - michael yusi
    zaldor's world - les zaldor

    this is...

    something that happened

    somethingthathappened.com
    		stories by harold j. johnson, in various formats - including text, audio, video, and podcasts
     
     
    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 10:59:00 AM (0) comments





     

    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:

    1. Standard phone line

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

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

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

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

    6. 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)

    7. 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:

    1. 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).

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

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

    4. 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 10:57:00 AM (0) comments





    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 01:10:00 AM (0) comments





    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 04:21:00 PM (0) comments





     

    "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 03:31:00 PM (0) comments





    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 11:00:00 PM (0) comments





    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 02:36:00 PM (0) comments





    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? 12/08/2004 07:10:00 PM (0) comments





    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. 12/03/2004 01:04:00 PM (0) comments





    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. 12/02/2004 11:24:00 AM (0) comments





     

    "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. 12/02/2004 10:58:00 AM (0) comments





    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.

    this is an audio post - click to play

    Send typed or audio comments to harold.johnson@gmail.com. Comments may be posted to this site. 12/01/2004 10:16:00 AM (1) comments





     

    "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.

    this is an audio post - click to play

    Send typed or audio comments to harold.johnson@gmail.com. Comments may be posted to this site. 12/01/2004 09:59:00 AM (0) comments





     
     

    powdered fresh and frequently by blogger.
    lance anderson tells really good stories, and seems like a nice guy, too.

    D-List Blogger