How Long Will We Be Remembered?

I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts, Hello Internet, and they were talking about how long people are remembered.  It was a fascinating discussion of how long it takes for famous people to no longer be remembered by at least 100 people.  This was an intriguing discussion, because I am feeling an obligation to capture memories from my childhood so that future generations in my family know what life was like during those times.  This started me thinking about how technology has impacted the memories of people today.

As I mentioned, one of the goals I have is to capture memories for my children and grandchildren.  With the changes in technology, there are several different projects that are part of this goal.  One is to digitize all of the photographs from our parents and us.  Another is to delve into our ancestry.  I'm also in the process of changing VHS to digital format and writing about my memories of childhood.  These are major undertakings but could have a lasting impact on my family's history.

My parents had a few photographs of their family but not many.  In fact, I don't have a picture of my maternal grandmother.  Now we take pictures and videos with our phones every day.  Just think how this will change the memories of our children and grandchildren!  I feel lucky to have an audio recording of my grandfather.  Now I am searching for the best ways to save it digitally so I can share it with my siblings and children.

I use Ancestry to keep track of our family trees.  If you have used this, it's like a rabbit hole with an overwhelming amount of information. Add to this the new DNA reporting from Ancestry and 23andMe: we have so much data and information at our fingertips.  It HAS to change how people are remembered although it MAY devalue this information and these memories because they are so readily accessed.

The question is really: will all of this media and technology impact the lasting memories of generations?  I would think that it will for those people who are interested in learning about their family trees.  I also think that technology is allowing us to get closer to having memories of what people were really like.  Instead of a still photograph, we can now hear their voices, see how they moved, and better understand their personalities.  I find these changes fascinating and believe that memories will be improved and longer lasting if care is taken to preserve them.  It's a task I have chosen to take on for my family.  While it's overwhelming at times, I find a lot of joy in it.  Do you have someone in your family who is taking on the role of historian?

Have you found your tech joy today?

#Blaugust2019

Cortex Podcast

One podcast that I thoroughly enjoy is Cortex. I’ve always enjoyed CGP Grey on Hello Internet (it’s very popular with cohost Brady Haran), and his YouTube videos are intelligent, informative, and entertaining.  My son knew this and recommended Cortex to me. I was hooked.

On Cortex, Grey is joined by Myke Hurley. Both are exceptional hosts!  What I love about this podcast is how they talk about how they work. It’s fascinating. They discuss everything from the tools they use to how they set up these tools. A common topic is what’s on the screen of their iPads or iPhones. They discuss work space and ideal locations for optimal output. The benefits and downfalls of work apps for organization and calendars are explored.  They also talk about division of labor and delegating to team members.  I know I’m an organizational, effective work space aficionado, but I would highly recommend this podcast for anyone interested in different work styles.

There are currently 72 episodes. I suggest starting at the very beginning so you can appreciate how they have evolved in developing their work. This is one podcast that always makes me smile. I hope you’ll give it a try. I’m sure you’ll enjoy listening to Myke and Grey as they navigate the complex world of work.

Have you found your tech joy today?

#BlaugustReborn

How Do You News?

Today was a big news day! Don’t worry!  I’m not going to write about the content-we’ve all probably had our fill of it today. No, I want to discuss how we get our news in the digital age and if there’s a difference by age.

My phone was lit up today with news alerts! That’s how I often get breaking news. The other way I get news is through Facebook when our local channel streams news reports.  I am of the generation that likes news so this is usually the beginning for me. If I’m interested in the story, I might look for longer news articles online to get more details. I also checked Twitter to see what tweets were showing up. I wanted to see how the world was reacting. I also checked to see if FiveThirtyEight Politics had an emergency podcast. They did! It was interesting as it always is.   I’m probably unusual for my age group because digital news is my preferred method.

I definitely am like my age group because I also watched national news on TV.  I sometimes also check out CNN on TV. I still like TV news to get video and to hear experts and pundits to get a variety of views.  I don’t watch it every night as my parents used to do. I watch if there’s something in particular I’m interested in seeing.

There is another common way that younger generations look for news. Many like to check out Reddit (or The Reddit if you’re in the UK). I’ve tried it but it seems like such a rabbit hole. I get lost, and it takes too much effort to find what really interests me. So, I rarely check out Reddit.

I think it’s good to be informed no matter which method you choose. Let me know what your preferred news delivery method is. I’d also be interested in your opinion about preferences by age group.

Have you found your tech joy today?

#BlaugustReborn

Everything Is Alive

In a previous post, I discussed that there are so many different kinds of podcasts available that everyone should be able to find one they enjoy.  In that post I mentioned a new podcast I had discovered: Everything Is Alive.  After listening to the first 3 episodes, I think it's worth discussing this podcast again.

Here's the description:

• Everything Is Alive is an unscripted interview show in which all the subjects are inanimate objects.  In each episode, a different thing tells us its life story-and everything it says is true.

I love that this is unscripted!  I'm sure that the host and actor impersonating the object have had a conversation highlighting the points they want to cover.  However, the improvisation during the interview is exceptional.  The tone is serious and thoughtful.  Sometimes it is sad; at other times it is whimsical.  It is always interesting.

So far there have been 3 different inanimate objects who have been interviewed:  

1. The first one was Louis, a can of cola.  "Louis is a can of generic cola.  He's been on the shelf a long while, so he's had some time to think." This one was very philosophical in tone and quite sad.  
2. The second was Maeve, a lamppost.  "Maeve is a lamppost.  She sees all of us, but does anybody see her?"  It was really interesting to explore her view of the world and how the host asks questions to help her expand her beliefs.  
3. The third, and most recent, was Dennis, a pillow.  "While we are sleeping, Dennis has dreams too."  A pillow's point of view is really intriguing.

One thing that I also like is that the host interjects some new learning about the subject in the interview.  I never realized that there are different categories of feathers until hearing from an expert in the latest podcast.  

This is definitely a quirky podcast, but I am really enjoying it!  It's fun to examine our world from a new point of view and to learn something new.  I highly recommend that you try this podcast.  It will be fun to listen as it evolves.  Let me know what you think!

Have you found your tech joy today?

#BlaugustReborn

Podcasts for the Older Listener

Those of us who are older probably remember when the West Wing was on TV.  I was a big fan.  I thought it was very intelligent writing and fast-paced dialog.  I used to record it and play it back since I knew I had missed some of it especially during some of the walk-and-talks.  It's really odd to think about the days when I would record shows on VHS tapes to play back later.  There are now so many ways to stream TV programs and watch on your timetable.

For older people who want to try out podcasts, The West Wing Weekly may be the one to start with.  I have been re-watching the series on Netflix every week and then listening to the corresponding episode of The West Wing Weekly.  The hosts, Joshua Malina who played Will Bailey and Hrishikesh Hirway, discuss the plot points, characters, writing, etc. of each episode.  They often have guests on the show-writers/contributors to the series, West Wing actors, or experts on the subject of the episode.  If you are a fan of West Wing, I think you'd enjoy this podcast.

Another podcast I'd recommend is the one by Mike Rowe who you may have seen on Dirty Jobs.  His podcast, The Way I Heard It With Mike Rowe, is made up of short stories with a twist.  Mike Rowe is a phenomenal storyteller.  He has a great voice and delivery.  These podcasts are usually around 10 minutes long so they are quick and easy.  I'd encourage you to try it out.  It's a feel-good experience.

Have you found your Tech Joy today?

#BlaugustReborn

Geek to Geek Podcast

The Geek to Geek Podcast is the podcast that started it all for me!  I decided to try it out, and it continues to be on my weekly must-listen list.  The content is about games, movies, and books.  The hosts, Beej and Void, are really good together.  They are very knowledgeable about the subject matter and often make me laugh. They usually start with their week's topic followed by their weekly geekery.  This is how I first learned about BlaugustReborn.  They always have something new to share.  I love the format of getting to the topic right away and then geeking out about what they've been up to for the week.

I have discovered books to read by listening to them.  The most recent was Dark Matter by Blake Crouch.  It's a science fiction thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat.  Once I got into it, I couldn't put it down.

I also learn about gaming systems, upcoming games, and current games by listening to the podcast.  While I'm not someone who plays games, I am always interested in hearing about new games and game play.  That should come as no surprise since I've spent the last 25 years watching my sons play video games.  In fact, I really enjoy watching game play, but I'm not quick enough to actually enjoy playing myself.  This podcast keeps me up to date with gaming news.

Once in a while, one of the hosts isn't available so they have their wives or kids join them to talk about their interests.  Void's kids did a review of video games and gave their recommendations.  His wife has been on a couple of times: once talking about her passion of knitting (really interesting!) and the other time reviewing Jurassic World which Void hadn't seen yet.  Beej's wife is a skilled woodworker and shared her passion for her craft during a podcast.  She also organizes fan events and shared strategies for successfully planning these events.  While the dynamic changes when the hosts change, the podcasts with the substitute hosts are lots of fun!

The Geek to Geek Podcast is part of the Geek to Geek Podcast Network.  You may want to try some other podcasts on the network. 

• Geektitude has lots of reviews about movies.  Joe Hogan is the host and most recently talks about Comic-Con International 2018.
• Tea Time with Katie & Chelsea gives a female point of view.  This week they're talking about the book Crazy Rich Asians which has been made into a movie.  Last week was especially interesting when they had a guest and discussed LGBTQIA+ Media.
• RunningShoes.tv is Beej's reworking of his blog and The GeekFitness Podcast.  His passion for fitness, health, and wellness is always a great motivator.

I hope you try out this podcast as well as the others on the Geek to Geek Network.  I'm sure you'll find something that interests you and that will make you laugh!

Have you found your Tech Joy today?

#BlaugustReborn

A Podcast for Everyone

I have become a podcast aficionado.  It started because a family member has a podcast, and I wanted to support him by listening.  I was hooked!  This led to listening to others on his podcast network and enjoying the experience.

People listen to podcasts in lots of different ways.  Sometimes I listen while playing games or while I'm in the car, but my favorite thing is to listen while I'm doing things around the house.  I also love some of the features on Overcast that enhance listening.  There are 2 functions I use all of the time: one shortens the silences and the other allows you to play the podcast at an increased speed.  Most of the time I play podcasts at normal speed, but there are times when I play them at 1.5 or 2 times normal speed.  It all depends on the podcaster and what I'm listening for in the podcast.

I don't think there are as many older people listening to podcasts, but I think they would really enjoy them.  There is such a variety of topics available.  There are great ones that discuss news, politics, history, storytelling, gaming, media, technology, and so much more.  I have 14 different podcasts I listen to, and 2 are new.  Clear+Vivid with Alan Alda is one of the new ones.  Alan Alda is interviewing people about communication and it's really interesting.  The other new one is Everything is Alive.  It's a very quirky podcast that is very new.  The podcast host interviews inanimate objects played by actors who don't know the questions beforehand. So far, there have been interviews with a can of cola and a lamppost.  You might want to try it out!

Do you listen to Podcasts?  If so, what would you recommend?

Have you found your Tech Joy today?

#BlaugustReborn