I had an idea for the name of my podcast. How about the Navelcast? Why Navelcast, you might asked. Well, I’ve often felt a certain amount of self deprecating pointlessness toward my own thoughts, ideas, ramblings and writings. Somewhere along the line, I think in college, I was told that this was called contemplating one’s navel. While trying to think of what I would actually say in a podcast, I realized that aside from perhaps playing some cool music, it might only amount to contemplating the very lint in my navel and thus Navelcast.
The following is from the Wikipedia article about the Hesychasts, which was a sect of monks from the greek church.
“When thou art alone in thy cell shut thy door, and seat thyself in a corner; raise thy mind above all things vain and transitory; recline thy beard and chin on thy breast; turn thine eyes and thy thought towards the middle of thy belly, the region of the navel; and search the place of the heart, the seat of the soul. At first all will be dark and comfortless; but if thou persevere day and night, thou wilt feel an ineffable joy; and no sooner has the soul discovered the place of the heart than it is involved in a mystic and ethereal light.”
This quote is the source of the common phrase contemplating one’s navel, or more recently, navel gazing, which is used to indicate a supposed pointless form of activity.
podcasting
Podcasting even has it’s own theme song. “On A Podcast — The Squeaky Clean Remix” is a song by Cruisebox. It has quickly become the podcast anthem. The original has language to which some would object. Thanks, Cruisebox, for the clean version!
audio, podcasting
Since the launch of iTunes 4.9 I have really been getting into Podcasting. Time will tell if it will be a true medium of choice for discerning listeners, of if the hype will be more like the Doppler Effect of a passing train. I think this idea has staying power. I’ve even been considering producing my own podcast, but I’m trying to decide on a theme and name for it.
Here are some of my favorite podcasts:
5 Minutes with Witchita
Daily Source Code
Make Magazine
Digital Flotsam
Inside Mac Radio
Planet Japan
audio, podcasting
A friend of mine sent this to me yesterday. It’s a quote from The Trial by Franz Kafka:
“There can be no doubt?”said K., quite softly, for he was elated by the breathless attention of the meeting; in that stillness a subdued hum was audible which was more exciting than the wildest applause?”there can be no doubt that behind all the actions of this court of justice, that is to say in my case, behind my arrest and today’s interrogation, there is a great organization at work. An organization which not only employs corrupt warders, oafish Inspectors, and Examining Magistrates of whom the best that can be said is that they recognize their own limitations, but also has at its disposal a judicial hierarchy of high, indeed of the highest rank, with an indispensable and numerous retinue of servants, clerks, police, and other assistants, perhaps even hangmen, I do not shrink from that word. And the significance of this great organization, gentlemen? It consists in this, that innocent persons are accused of guilt, and senseless proceedings are put in motion against them…”
The Trial
Franz Kafka
nantoka
I was contacted yesterday by the personnel of a collection agency, telling me that because I activated a company American Express Card eight years ago, I am responsible for the balance on that company account. I have no recollection of that card, let alone recollection of using that card. I have not worked for that company for 6 years.
Vicky Williams from United Recovery Systems, called to inform me of my responsibility, and said that it would be going to the legal office at the end of the month. When I asked for a fax of my contract she belligerently said that they are not in the business of customer service, that the phone call was to inform me of my responsibility and not to provide proof. She said that proof would be provided by the lawyers at my expense.
The very act of them calling me at work on my personal cell phone has cost me and my employer time and money. Who is robbing whom? These tactics by unscrupulous people amount to nothing more than harassment.
…
Interestingly, I found this about United Recovery Systems while I was writing. They have obviously not changed their practices.
nantoka
Check out Google Earth for a cool free program that lets you look at the earth from space or zoom in surprising detail. My question is, if this is available to the common man, what else is available that we don’t know about.
cool links
