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Ik woon nu 10 jaar in Israel en zal er waarschijnlijk ook wel blijven. Ik voel me er thuis, maar blijf toch ook een vreemde in een vreemd land.
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Anne (is a man) about podcasts
today, 20:03
I have saved the best until the last. Here is an amateur podcast I am going to follow bit by bit. It only started recently (last May) and the maker, a student of history, may run out of time continuing to make the podcast, but even after five episodes, I have learned so much more about the early middle ages than I have in other podcasts, this alone will keep me going.The podcaster, who operates under a pseudonym, shows a very wide knowledge and enthusiasm, for the the subject which seems to go, at least for the time being, much wider than German Culture. We have gone back in time way beyond the German unification, Luther, Frederick Barbarossa. We have started with Germanic peoples, before the Romans conquered Gaul. Only then, Tacitus can begin to write about Germans - that wide, almost nondescript range of tribes north of the Rhine, that, as they spread, will span from Iberia to the Black Sea, from Iceland to Sicily and continue to be multi-charactered and faceted (if you can say such a thing). Yet, our host doesn't fear that breadth and neither depth, so that we get to learn about the Gothic language and about Arian Christians - to name but a few subjects.
This is the kind of range I like, but there are some drawbacks to accept with the (Medieval) German Cultural History podcast (related blog, feed). The episodes are monologues of around thirty minutes that do not seem to be scripted and are entirely improvised. Hence, it is not always easy to see the structure and one may feel the host occasionally overlooks a remark he had wanted to make. Furthermore, the sound is of low quality. So this is no easy listening, but personally I take that unconditionally on account of the intellectual quality.
today, 13:27
The Pope Podcast is a typical example of an amateur podcast. Scott Bosse is excited about the history of the papacy and without having any scholarly knowledge, he embarks upon acquiring the information he he wants, feels he needs and on that basis he makes a podcast. (feed) On a pope per episode basis, he intends to chronologically work his way through the history. The episodes come out about twice a month (unless he needs more than one episode for one pope), take ten to twenty minutes and this promises a life span for year to come. And if my experience with amateur podcasts will apply here: episodes will become longer and deeper as Scott improves on his knowledge and podcasting skills.
In his introductory episode (charmingly the second, not the first), he show awareness of the magnitude of the task he has taken upon himself. But he seems not to be deterred, his personal life which involves a conversion to Roman Catholicism, brings in the inspiration and dedication.
So, here we have the kind of very promising, if not scholarly, history podcast. So far, from what I hear it is charmingly done and I trust there will be improvement allong the way. I may not listen to all of the popes, but pick up one of particular interest to along the way.
In his introductory episode (charmingly the second, not the first), he show awareness of the magnitude of the task he has taken upon himself. But he seems not to be deterred, his personal life which involves a conversion to Roman Catholicism, brings in the inspiration and dedication.So, here we have the kind of very promising, if not scholarly, history podcast. So far, from what I hear it is charmingly done and I trust there will be improvement allong the way. I may not listen to all of the popes, but pick up one of particular interest to along the way.
today, 07:53
Here is a funny history podcast that had me entertained, but also asking myself how long this can go on. And as if my suspicions were heard on some other plain - the podcast dropped out of cyberspace and has left us with one orphan episode and what episode.
Ancient History - Alternative Theories takes on the question how the ancient Egyptians were capable of building the big pyramids of Giza. The two hosts discuss the subject, summing up the accuracies and immense size of the great pyramid and seem to know really well what they are talking about. So, indeed, it is a great mystery how the old Egyptians, in the bronze age pulled this off. Gradually, the expose of the immense technical difficulties, begins to convey a subtext of fantasy.
The podcast dives into the approach that the Egyptians could not have built this alone. However, they are careful enough not to go straight for Erich von Daniken and extra-terrestrials or time travelers. And so I am still listening intently, waiting for some inventive rational explanation. So, the knowledge has gone lost, but the old Egyptians were quite the archivists, so their must have been records, if secret, of how to engage such gigantic buiulding plan.
And then you get it, what was hanging in the air comes into effect. While discussing a possible secret chamber of knowledge, for example hidden under the Sphinx, they present as a source for knowing this chamber is there 'the American prophet Edgar Cayce'. Bingo! History with the psychics. If you are in to that, or in for a good laugh, go and try. But with serious historiography this of course has nothing to do.
Ancient History - Alternative Theories takes on the question how the ancient Egyptians were capable of building the big pyramids of Giza. The two hosts discuss the subject, summing up the accuracies and immense size of the great pyramid and seem to know really well what they are talking about. So, indeed, it is a great mystery how the old Egyptians, in the bronze age pulled this off. Gradually, the expose of the immense technical difficulties, begins to convey a subtext of fantasy.
The podcast dives into the approach that the Egyptians could not have built this alone. However, they are careful enough not to go straight for Erich von Daniken and extra-terrestrials or time travelers. And so I am still listening intently, waiting for some inventive rational explanation. So, the knowledge has gone lost, but the old Egyptians were quite the archivists, so their must have been records, if secret, of how to engage such gigantic buiulding plan.
And then you get it, what was hanging in the air comes into effect. While discussing a possible secret chamber of knowledge, for example hidden under the Sphinx, they present as a source for knowing this chamber is there 'the American prophet Edgar Cayce'. Bingo! History with the psychics. If you are in to that, or in for a good laugh, go and try. But with serious historiography this of course has nothing to do.
today, 07:53
Backstory is a recorded radio program from VFH - Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. A panel of three historians meets in the studio to discuss the background story of an item in the news. For example, as in the episode I heard: family values.
They featured three recorded interviews with relevant specialists in the field. In this case, since there is some political debate on family values, they took one person from each side of the spectrum and a third who was a history researcher on the subject. This sounds a bit more organized than it worked out, but as a popular science program it worked rather well.
The commercial breaks are cut out of the podcast (here is another reason to hear the podcast and not the radio show), but what is kept in, is the phone in section. In this particular episode, the caller came with very good questions, worthy of an item themselves. So, even if the end result is a very entertaining and slightly informative show, many questions basically left unanswered. Well, you cannot expect that from a radio show; you'd have to have a podcast series to definitively dig into the history of our family values and the practical ways in which we lived in families.
They featured three recorded interviews with relevant specialists in the field. In this case, since there is some political debate on family values, they took one person from each side of the spectrum and a third who was a history researcher on the subject. This sounds a bit more organized than it worked out, but as a popular science program it worked rather well.
The commercial breaks are cut out of the podcast (here is another reason to hear the podcast and not the radio show), but what is kept in, is the phone in section. In this particular episode, the caller came with very good questions, worthy of an item themselves. So, even if the end result is a very entertaining and slightly informative show, many questions basically left unanswered. Well, you cannot expect that from a radio show; you'd have to have a podcast series to definitively dig into the history of our family values and the practical ways in which we lived in families.
today, 07:47
Here is a very charming history podcast. It is of the short monologue style, but it inserts audio fragments and by that makes optimal use of the podcast medium. Historicast. (feed)
With particular appreciation I listened to the episode about the Hindenburg disaster. The added value of the audio fragment is that it is authentic, in addition to it being very famous and dramatic. Here we see an amateur podcaster showing the way for podcasts to go, where mostly professionals still haven't gone. In my opinion, this is a podcast that is here to stay.
With particular appreciation I listened to the episode about the Hindenburg disaster. The added value of the audio fragment is that it is authentic, in addition to it being very famous and dramatic. Here we see an amateur podcaster showing the way for podcasts to go, where mostly professionals still haven't gone. In my opinion, this is a podcast that is here to stay.
today, 07:46
The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography is a website containing biographies of some fifty to sixty thousand people in British history, from 400 BC to today. In order to draw attention to its varied contents, the website has a podcast, Oxford Biographies, that delivers spoken biographies in seven to fifteen minutes. The apparent schedule is to put out one each fortnight.
This is a charming podcast to browse from. It is really of the pick and choose kind. Look your character up in the list and listen. If you really are into biographies, this could be a charming entry and have you look up unexpected figures.
It seems to me, so far, the podcast tries to deliver talks on lesser known people. We won't see the likes of Henry VIII or Winston Churchill, the way they have started. But who knows, this might change.
This is a charming podcast to browse from. It is really of the pick and choose kind. Look your character up in the list and listen. If you really are into biographies, this could be a charming entry and have you look up unexpected figures.
It seems to me, so far, the podcast tries to deliver talks on lesser known people. We won't see the likes of Henry VIII or Winston Churchill, the way they have started. But who knows, this might change.
yesterday, 07:47
Fact or Fiction is a promotional podcast of HowStuffWorks.com. It is a rather new production and that probably explains why it doesn't show up on the HowStuffWorks.com website, but the podcast can be found in iTunes.
Under the motto History stuff for the history buff the cast delivers short episodes of less than five minutes in which there is a scripted dialog between expert Candice and counterpart Joshua, who comes up with the question. The question involves invariably some tidbit of popular historical assumption, to which Candice must reply whether it is fact or fiction. The subject corresponds with an article on the main website. Was there a curse on the tomb of Tut ankh Amon? Were the American colonists drugged during the Salem witchcraft trial? And so on.
This podcast is short, anecdotal and entertaining - very light stuff, for the very light buff.
Under the motto History stuff for the history buff the cast delivers short episodes of less than five minutes in which there is a scripted dialog between expert Candice and counterpart Joshua, who comes up with the question. The question involves invariably some tidbit of popular historical assumption, to which Candice must reply whether it is fact or fiction. The subject corresponds with an article on the main website. Was there a curse on the tomb of Tut ankh Amon? Were the American colonists drugged during the Salem witchcraft trial? And so on.
This podcast is short, anecdotal and entertaining - very light stuff, for the very light buff.
yesterday, 07:48
In this short series, I'll start with the promotional podcasts. Here is the first.
History Compass Blog is a promotional podcast for an on line journal, History Compass. Writers are telling in short about what article they have written. It is an incentive to buy subscription, or pay a one time fee to read the article. I find the price for the full content rather high, although I have little to compare it with.
The articles seem very interesting and the podcast is long enough to get a real impression. I can imagine to pick up, may be not all episodes, but at least those that are of interest to me.
Buying a subscription or an article is something I can imagine one would do if one is professionally engaging in research.
History Compass Blog is a promotional podcast for an on line journal, History Compass. Writers are telling in short about what article they have written. It is an incentive to buy subscription, or pay a one time fee to read the article. I find the price for the full content rather high, although I have little to compare it with.
The articles seem very interesting and the podcast is long enough to get a real impression. I can imagine to pick up, may be not all episodes, but at least those that are of interest to me.
Buying a subscription or an article is something I can imagine one would do if one is professionally engaging in research.
Friday, 10:18
This weekend I am undertaking a quick screening of new history podcasts taken from the iTunes history listing. I will try to have them all reviewed by Sunday.
Fact or Fiction - promotional podcast from the history section at HowStuffWorks.com
History Compass - promotional podcast by History Compass, an on-line history magazine where the previews are free, but the full articles have to be paid for.
Historicast - history told with the help of audio fragments
German Cultural History - German culture through the ages, as told by a student of history
Oxford Biographies - promotional podcast from the Oxford biographies website. Short bios from relatively unknown people in history
The Pope podcast - the history of the popes as told by a born again Roman Catholic; taking one pope at a time (so there are still some 250 podcasts to go)
Backstory - Radio program digging up the history behind issues that reach headlines in contemporary news
Ancient history - alternative theories - a podcast engaging in unconventional conjectures about the faraway past.
One that, unfortunately, I am not going to be able to review is The antique history of Iran. It looked so accessible in iTunes' list and description and the titles of the episodes promised a real thorough run through Persian history. Until this point all was in English, but the audio is all in the Persian language. If anybody of my blog followers understand the language and listened to the podcast, let me know and I will happily invite you to write a guest post.
Subscribe in a reader
Paste the link
http://feeds.feedburner.com/Anne_Is_A_Man
into the RSS reader of your preference.
You can let your preferences (I'd love get new podcast recommendations) know by commenting on the blog or sending mail to The Man Called Anne at: Anne Frid de Vries (in one word) AT yahoo DOT co DOT uk
Fact or Fiction - promotional podcast from the history section at HowStuffWorks.comHistory Compass - promotional podcast by History Compass, an on-line history magazine where the previews are free, but the full articles have to be paid for.
Historicast - history told with the help of audio fragments
German Cultural History - German culture through the ages, as told by a student of history
Oxford Biographies - promotional podcast from the Oxford biographies website. Short bios from relatively unknown people in history
The Pope podcast - the history of the popes as told by a born again Roman Catholic; taking one pope at a time (so there are still some 250 podcasts to go)
Backstory - Radio program digging up the history behind issues that reach headlines in contemporary news
Ancient history - alternative theories - a podcast engaging in unconventional conjectures about the faraway past.
One that, unfortunately, I am not going to be able to review is The antique history of Iran. It looked so accessible in iTunes' list and description and the titles of the episodes promised a real thorough run through Persian history. Until this point all was in English, but the audio is all in the Persian language. If anybody of my blog followers understand the language and listened to the podcast, let me know and I will happily invite you to write a guest post.
Subscribe in a readerPaste the link
http://feeds.feedburner.com/Anne_Is_A_Man
into the RSS reader of your preference.
You can let your preferences (I'd love get new podcast recommendations) know by commenting on the blog or sending mail to The Man Called Anne at: Anne Frid de Vries (in one word) AT yahoo DOT co DOT uk
Thursday, 21:28
Philosophy Bites is a podcast that delivers concise weekly conversations on a philosophical topic. All this happens in a balance act between the levels of academic philosophy and the target of wrapping up the academic discourse in ten, fifteen minutes and have a product that is accessible to a relatively wide public. Generally the podcast succeeds in doing that and it makes it a treasure trove from which you can pick the subject that appeals to you and get boosted with insight, perspectives and level of your starting point.
I am very interested in controversies that pit our intuitions and rationality, our various values and principles against each other in real dilemmas. One such hot potato is the discussion around stem cell research and more general discussions on bio-technology and ethics. All this is about life and drags us into the position we have to weigh lives or consider how this can be done (if it can be done at all and if it is ethical to even engage in such questions). Hence, the last issue of Philosophy Bites drew my immediate attention: John Broome on weighing lives. (John Broome is a philosophy professor at Oxford, and wrote a book with on weighing lives.)
Broome handles the uncertainties involved in the issue with decision theory. And this allows for rationalizing and while not always people take their decisions this way. During the podcast I could forget my qualms about raising the question at all - intuitively I have a feeling the question of the weight of life is vicious to begin with. The examples are of practical nature, both individually as well as on the level of policy. Broome also adds to the decision theory; he introduces fairness and goodness. He also understand the horror I feel around this question, but by emphasizing that decisions must be made and any old tool that helps should be appreciated. It remains a balancing act with contradicting principles after all - also with what Broome contributes.
More Philosophy Bites:
David Hume,
Several issues of Philosophy Bites,
Free rider problem,
Humanism,
Is war innate?
I am very interested in controversies that pit our intuitions and rationality, our various values and principles against each other in real dilemmas. One such hot potato is the discussion around stem cell research and more general discussions on bio-technology and ethics. All this is about life and drags us into the position we have to weigh lives or consider how this can be done (if it can be done at all and if it is ethical to even engage in such questions). Hence, the last issue of Philosophy Bites drew my immediate attention: John Broome on weighing lives. (John Broome is a philosophy professor at Oxford, and wrote a book with on weighing lives.)Broome handles the uncertainties involved in the issue with decision theory. And this allows for rationalizing and while not always people take their decisions this way. During the podcast I could forget my qualms about raising the question at all - intuitively I have a feeling the question of the weight of life is vicious to begin with. The examples are of practical nature, both individually as well as on the level of policy. Broome also adds to the decision theory; he introduces fairness and goodness. He also understand the horror I feel around this question, but by emphasizing that decisions must be made and any old tool that helps should be appreciated. It remains a balancing act with contradicting principles after all - also with what Broome contributes.
More Philosophy Bites:
David Hume,
Several issues of Philosophy Bites,
Free rider problem,
Humanism,
Is war innate?
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