From the Old Podcast Days

I came across some old work from high school, the underground ASD, my first real go at this whole internet media revolution. I, along with 2 friends, founded and hosted this podcast for our high school as our senior directed project.

Even though our website was hosted on the school's web server, the actual episodes were hosted with ourmedia.org, in case the show took off and overloaded the school web servers. We built it up from scratch, bought our own equipment and learned everything we needed to know from scratch. I guess the kids weren't into the whole podcast thing in my school yet, but we had a decent group of regulars, and we got 10 good episodes out. More then anything, I learned a crap load about recording and broadcasting, and I got an A. You can really see the difference in technique and quality as we do more episodes (Checkout Episode 8 its my favorite). So here they are:

All the episodes are hosted by and can be found on ourmedia.org.

Episode 1: the underground ASD


Episode 2: Red & White


Episode 3: Good Intentions


Episode 4: Unnamed


Episode 5: Mettle


Episode 6: Thomas Dissolves


Episode 7: 21 Questions


Episode 8: The Mentor (The Banned Episode)


Episode 9: Dib with one b


Episode 10: Senioritis

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Back from Hybernation

As I said in my first post (Take #6). The biggest problem I have is keeping up the momentum. The majority of blogs out there, like mine, seeem to fade into a the static background noise of the internet. The challenge is to be fresh, to attract an audience, and to have an opinion that others would be interested in. You got to have something to offer.

I took a course this last semester in University called 'Philosophy of Media Ethics'. Specifically, one of the course readings really inspired me. The Ethical Philosopher Andrew Belsey (full citation at the end) wrote about how journalist rights and freedoms/the freedom of speech guaranteed in the Bill of Rights allows for a more ethical and effective journalistic environment. He compares the media industry of the U.S. to that of the U.K. to support his claim. His claim being that the U.K. impedes journalistic efforts through countless journalistic hurdles that distract them from their duties as journalists by keeping them constantly having to look over their shoulders to see who's coming after them.

Choosing to write an essay critiquing his claim, I argued that government interference or the lack their of doesn't and shouldn't be used as an excuse for issues of ethical journalism. The internet is a prime example, no regulation and no one stopping you from sharing your opinion. The result: a few well developed websites and blogs vs. thousands of websites and blogs full of crap. And yes I say crap, because thats what it is. The internet is full of useless junk and crap.

My personal challenge and my challenge to every blogger, poster, commentor, reader, and just internet nut:

The world's changing, and the internet is the best friend of anyone who has an opinion and has the guts to share it. Our opinions matter, our thoughts need to be shared, and open dialogue is the best way we can find solutions and attain the support to make a difference. But if we are going to share an opinion we should do it right. Do your research, know what you are talking about, use those skills you learned in school about writing an argumentative essay. Develop your posts based on research, objectivity, and know your facts. Even if it means writing less often, thats better then making your readers read through biased, factually inaccurate junk.

A lot has happened since I last posted: Barack Obama in the White House, Pakistan over run by the taliban, the economic recession in the U.S., Dubai, and the rest of the world, and of course Swine Flu just to name a few. Expect many new posts in the next few weeks.

/t

Citation: Belsey, Andrew 'Ethics, Law, and the Quality of the Media' in Introducing Applied Ethics Brenda Almond ed. Blackwell, Cambridge 1995. 89-103.

President Musharraf Resigns!

If you're not so keen on keeping up on world politics you can read the story here:

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2008/August/subcontinent_August647.xml&section=subcontinent

Every Pakistani has his own opinion. People love him and they hate him. If you've watched this story on the news you'll see footage of Pakistanis dancing and parading on the street in joy and celebration. But did he deserve this? He was accused of violating the constitution and of economic damages to the nation. He says that they can't prove any of their allegations against him.

I believe him. As far as I can remember there have really been only two leaders of Pakistan, Bhutta and Nawaz Sharif, switching back and forth. And what about the countries progress? Almost at a stand still, Pakistan seemed frozen in time with a slowly deteriating foundation and infrastructure, the country felt like it could collapse at whims in. And then came the military coup led by General Pervez Musharraf, and for 8 years Pakistan had seen development and progress. But now that things aren't going so well, people have forgotten everything that's happened in the last 8 years. This man who brought real change, fulfilled real promises, and who truely seemed to love his country, he has been deemed unfit to lead this country.

I've read a lot of opinions today about this, and one thing kept coming up from the supporters of Musharraf's impeachment. That he was a dictator and we needed to restore our democracy. My response is what good is a democracy when our people suffer, when they can't afford shelter and food, when our streets have mountains of filth stacked on then, and when the poor have to sell their organs to feed their children. Don't get me wrong, I am a huge advocate of democracy, it is the best we've got right now, but what's so bad about a dictator who's doing good?

Living in Dubai, U.A.E. we live under a government that's a Federalist Monarchy, we have a leader, not elected by the people, but appointed because of his lineage, and nobody can argue all the amazing things that he's done for this country. If somebody is able to do good, who can bring positive change, and is up for the job, then why not support him, why challenge him?

Pakistan should be a democracy and it is, but why not use the skills and talents of a man who has proven himself able? Why not let him help us?

It's a sad day in Pakistan's history.


Picture Courtesy of Khaleej Times (http://www.khaleejtimes.com/images/M1_18082008.jpg)

Take #6

This isn’t the first time I’ve started a blog. Probably close to my 6th attempt. It never lasts very long, I think I have an opinion to share, a reason to share my opinion but then I quickly realize I don’t have that much to say or at least not bothered enough to say it. But this time I’ve got new inspiration. Mostly inspired by a close personal friend, who started his own blog not too long ago, and also from my recent travels to South East Asia. While I was traveling with my family and specifically with my father following him around on his business trip I realize something. I realized that a blog for what I had to say wouldn’t last too long, because I would run out of stuff to say in a couple of weeks mostly, and unless I was to repeat the same story over and over (as my friends would know I do sometimes) I’d make a very few number of posts before I got bored of my own stories and give this whole blog business a rest.

But what I realized on this trip was that it doesn’t have to be just my thoughts or my words, in fact it shouldn’t be because I don’t have that many smart things to say. I have, however, been fortunate to be surrounded by and have had opportunities to meet some very wise and smart people. People like my father, who has been running his own business for the last 40 years and who has seen and done some remarkable things in his life. And there are others, people I have met maybe just briefly or people that surround me everyday who have either something wise to say or have illuminated me to have a wise thought.

And then after all of that I might actually have the odd smart thought of my own. So this blog isn’t about just me, but the people around me, the people who make up the thoughts that I have. And based on my experiences and the influences in my life this blog is about a commentary, an opinion of things that I find to be important and things that I think others might find important as well. Whether it be about Events, Dubai, The World, Life, or Politics.

-t

(p.s. plus if I think something is just plain cool, I’m going to share that too.)