podCALGARY

That’s simple, when it is Streaming Audio. Well, it’s simple for those of us swimming in the web 2.0 soup, but not for everyone. To put it simply, a podcast is a media file with a RSS feed (or is it an RSS feed, grammar isn’t my strong suit) pointing to it. The RSS feed is what tells the podcatcher or aggregator where the … Blah Blah Blah Blah ipod Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah CBC Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah

That’s how many people here the explanation. Okay enough with linking, what’s my point.
A couple of times this week while I was engaged in my real life, and while I working on some stuff for amuk.ca I encounter two listings for podcasts that interested me. Actually, they really excited me because they were both tied to my other passions. After searching for quite awhile for a feed link I contacted the groups producing these podcasts and one got back to me. After a very pleasant conversation (yes I used a phone) I realized that the RSS feed may not be as understood as I had assumed. In both of these cases I volunteered to help get the feed set up. (This was self serving because I really want to listen to this content on my mp3 player, not my computer but it also fits the mission of podCALGARY)
You can find examples throughout the tubes where people use the term “Podcast” when what they have is Streaming Audio. This can be a problem not just because we can’t subscribe like we like to, but also because it confuses people about what a podcast really is.

My question to you is, is this a real problem? Do we need to guard the term “Podcast” and work (gently) towards its correct use?

Daryl Cognito

Remember a couple of posts back when I was wishin’ for another Calgary music podcast? If not look down. I introduced you to the Giant Spheres Inside Calgary’s Music Scene. Which I have to say it is turning out to be a great show. This week podCALGARY was contacted by Chris of KMNR.ca. (note, this is at least the third Chris or Kris in the podCALGARY Directory.) Chris let us know that he has started the “Off the Dial” Podcast, a companion to the KMNR website.

Off the Dial is a monthly podcast in conjunction with kMNR…Music News Weekly (http://www.kmnr.ca) featuring the music of local/independent acts from Calgary, Canada and abroad. The genre ranges from rock to punk to experimental and all stops in between.

Chris has been writing a newsletter for over three years but only started the podcast a couple of months ago. He has a nice, relaxed and casual style behind the mic, it feels like he has been there for years. I listened to show number 2 while having a root canal and I can honestly say it made the experience a whole lot better. It helped when he played a great song by Wintersleep called Archaeologists which is one of my favorite tunes. He also contacted Henry Rollins and got permission to play a couple of tunes from him. I think it is fair to say that Chris knows his music and has pretty varied tastes.
Even though Off the Dial focuses on Canadian and Calgary music, according to Chris there is also enough music from abroad to keep anyone interested. However, Chris doesn’t let on who the broad is. You’ll have to listen to find out

Daryl Cognito

Whose podcasting in Calgary you ask? (yes you did, I heard you.) How about famed Audio Blogger and Author Chris Hvidsten. Chris has a second entry into the podCALGARY Directory with his Audio Book “Outcast”. And hey, Outcast is the first Audio Book in the directory. (I don’t think it is Calgary’s first podcast book but the other Author has been a bit resistant to being listed, or I keep forgetting to list her.)
Summary:

Dalan Kalamar, a young aristocrat, finds himself stripped of his title, name, and family.

Now an outcast from society, he is forced into a life of marginal living, manual labour, and avoiding the murderous intentions of people once considered his friends.
This explains why Kick in the Cast has been slow in coming out so we can forgive Chris. Plus he assures us the a new Kick in the Cast is coming in the new year.

Daryl Cognito

Thanx to DuGG for the heads up on this one…

TheQuickdraw Animation Society’s Youth Animation Project along with its partners The Creative Monkeys are jumping into the Web 2.0 soup making the original animations they are famous for available via podcasting.
From their release

…www.quickdrawshowcase.com a site that will feature animated films produced at Quickdraw Animation Society. Internet vodcasting (video podcasting) has granted the power of mass media, formerly controlled by major broadcasters, into the hands of the lowly indie animator/filmmaker. The purpose of the site is to promote indie animators creating interesting and thought provoking works. We are hoping that www.quickdrawshowcase.com will become a hub of animation fervor both locally, nationally, and internationally. Eventually many shows will be aired from the site the first of which is entitled ‘Frame by Frame’.

‘Frame by Frame’ is a new vodcast internet show launched by Quickdraw Animation society and the Youth Animation Project. Each episode will feature a new short animated film by a local Calgary based animator produced by the Youth Animation Project, a Service Canada Skills Link project (www.quickdrawshowcase.com/youth-animation-project ). Episodes will air twice a month on the 1st and the 15th. You can visit www.quickdrawshowcase.com to view new episode on its own or subscribe to the rss stream and new episode will be uploaded to your computer minutes after being posted on the site.

You will find the Feed here. I’ve subscribed and I will catch the episodes on my ipod touch. The only think I could suggest is that they add an itune “1click” to save me from cutting and pasting. (Maybe throw in a Zune 1click for fun)

Daryl Cognito