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On the first episode of Spark:
- Donna Bell from Ryerson University’s Academic Integrity office on the ways students use technology to cheat
- Mark Federman on the changing culture of learning and creation
- Scott Moschella on cleaning your keyboard in the dishwasher.
- Ana Serrano on Late Fragment, a Canadian interactive film showing at the Toronto International Film Festival (Late Fragment on FaceBook)
- A call for your long-distance love stories.
- Thomas Kriese on Omlet, an urban chicken habitat.
This episode features Creative Commons music and sound effects:
- Wataridori 2 by Cornelius
- Oslodum 2004 by DJ Dolores
- The First Day of the Year by Herewave
- remix.of.narva9′s.don.quixote by detox3d
- Graphic Design Instrumental by apeskinny
- Zeus Jones Beat #006 103bpm by zeusjones
- TVonoff.aif
- hospital_tv_channel_change.wav
You can download this episode as an MP3, play it in a new window, or receive Spark automatically by subscribing to either of our totally free podcast feeds:
- Free weekly podcast (Subscribe in iTunes)
- Free weekly podcast + additional blog-only content (Subscribe in iTunes)
For more information (and instructions) visit cbc.ca/podcasting
Hey, cheers and welcome to the CBC family. But HOLY SMOKED GOUDA can you please lose those “zappy computery” sound effects that seem to run all through the show? It sounds like a Clueless Management Type’s idea to “jazz up” the idea of a show about technology. The actual show content seems fine, but those sound effects make me feel like i was just lobotomized; it vacuums ALL the credibility out of the show. It’s not aimed at children after all, is it?
I second the emotion, especially regarding the reduplicated and distorted samples of phrases just spoken. These spastic punctuations were both distracting and off-putting. I suppose they appeal to the people who find “The Blair Witch Project” more convincing than “The Nature of Things.”
If you feel you must punctuate the show with synthesised sound effects between your (often fascinating) segments, I suggest you choose effects which are both abstract and slow (or at least no faster than human speech and other normal sounds). Perhaps you could play familiar sounds or phrases backwards, and make a game of inviting listeners to identify them? But for aural punctuation between segments dominated by speech rhythms, the sounds should offer a change of pace, preferably a slower rhythm to encourage the mind to take a breath. The sudden bits of deformed speech which were spat into your program conveyed to me a subconscious message of abnormality and threat, though this would not be the case if the same samples were interspersed among the rapid rhythms of modern musical forms.
Enjoyed the premier podcast and looking forward to hearing more. I heard about this through Thomas’ Urban Chickens blog. I’m also a city-dweling, Omlet Eglu owner and have been following along as Sophia and Zsu Zsu are growing up.
Unlike Thomas, I started out with pullets that were shipped “point of lay,” meaning they were within a couple weeks of laying eggs. I just got my first egg today.
Hey all,
This is just to invite all you listeners out there to the Late Fragment public free screenings at the Camera Bar. Here’s some deets:
Late Fragment is North America’s first dramatic interactive feature film to be premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Produced by the Canadian Film Centre Media Lab (CFC MEDIA LAB) in co-production with the National Film Board, Late Fragment delivered via DVD-video and VJ’d theatrically, is the inaugural project of CFC Media Lab’s Interactive Narrative Feature Program (INFP).
Late Fragment’s multi-plot, non-linear and interactive narrative lets audiences discover the stories of three strangers. Faye (Krista Bridges), Kevin (Michael Healy) and Theo (Jeff Parrazo) are drawn together as participants in a restorative justice process, where victims and offenders share their stories. Emotionally broken from the violence they have experienced, they turn to the restorative justice process in hopes of finding wholeness, balance, forgiveness, redemption and a sense of safety. Three story lines interconnect, and this unique cinematic experience allows the viewer to “play” a creative and interactive role by weaving in and out of the film’s story lines – whenever they choose –by clicking the remote.
Come join us for our
Late Fragment Salons during TIFF
FREE performative cinema screenings
+ personal interactive viewing stations
+ booze (you buy)
September 10 & 12
7PM, 9PM, 11PM
at the Camera Bar
http://www.camerabar.ca/
I listened and re listened to your segment on student cheating and the follow up segment on the nature of individual work. I was especially dismayed by the comments of you second guest regarding the spread of digital maoism into the culture. In basing his argument in part on the website Wikpedia is a flawed initiative since even the poor quality of material avaliable there is still sourced. Rather then say its a new way of working and call a retreat to individual discovery, perhaps the focus should be placed more firmly on deterring rather then acceptance with real and severe penalties both academic and financial. I find it fairly trite that a professor would be advocating collective work. Pray, does he parcel out his writing and theories to colleges and students prior to submitting it for peer review? The greatest ideas have arose from individuals, committees have at best a spotty record of ineptitude. To blindly accept the assertions of the mandarins of the new web 2.0 message is ridicules and dangerous. Claiming ignorance is a poor excuse and attempting to excuse such behavior is a poor, though easy choice of pandering to the masses and mass ignorance.
Great show! I a few weeks late learning about the show, but that’s mostly because I listen to CBC via podcasts rather than tuning in on the radio.
Anyways, I am very interested to see hear about your impressions of the online DIY culture. I am an avid crafter who has learned a lot of skills due to the generosity of other online crafters. I find that it is always refreshing to hear a different perspective of your community. I’m sure I’ll learn alot from your program.
Keep up the good work!
Hmmm… I think that your listeners should know exactly what causes keyboards to break, after running them through the dishwasher. The heat and the water in the dishwasher are not likely to do any actual damage to the electronics of the board. What will damage it, is the electricity running through the circuitry, when there is still a drop of water dallying in the innards of the keyboard. For instance, water can often get trapped underneath the rubber membrane which usually rests between the keys and the electrical contacts. If you run the keyboard through the dishwasher and then let it sit a full week before plugging it back in, in most cases, the keyboard will be no worse for wear.
For comparison… here’s an audio article from npr.org about the same topic. The journalist there had a different experience.
Why not simply take the keyboard apart? I have many ergonomic keyboards that i simply disassemble and wash the keys (the dirtiest part) in the sink or for the fortunate in the dishwasher. I air-dry it them and then reassemble it. clean keyboard no problem.
I have just had an epiphany! My routine for Sundays has for about 15years years been to go for a run with "Fast Company Running Club" . The post run comprises a Timmies chat with kindred runners, followed by a dash home to be lulled into blissful semi consciousness in a hot tub listening to Stewart MacLean till 1:00. Jonathon Goldstein was my alarm clock to get myself out of the tub, reassure my wife that I had NOT drowned, fed and ready for the afternoon.
Today (Sun 4 Oct 09) post CIBC Run-for-the-Cure, my CBC sojourn was radically changed by pausing to listen more intently to Spark! what on earth was this program going to be about? An hour later and somewhat chilled (I refused to run more hot water into the tub for fear of the noise making me miss something!) I resumed my normal Sunday. Wife was away so no worries there!
Where have I been to miss all the previous editions? When did your program move to this time-slot? Anyway I think it is incredibly well structured and thought provoking. My problem now is how to capture the program at a time when I can give it the attention it richly deserves. I am old fashioned and hate computers but love what they provide in terms of accessibility. I dearly prefer to listen to the programs directly on radio.
Sincerely, Brian King,
Dartmouth Nova Scotia