Acts of Volition

I had a request from a journalist to give some thoughts on “podcasting”. As I mention below, I’m still a bit lamed-out by the actual term “podcasting”, but if it helps people learn about cool audio online, then I can live with it. It’s no worse than “blog” anyhow.  •  I figured my email response …

This, the 22nd session of Acts of Volition Radio, was recorded the the safe-harbour of my office on a Saturday night. Meanwhile, back at my house (from which I was temporarily banished), my bride-to-be and her friends celebrated the waning days of her life as a single woman. The songs don't really …

Just as I was feeling good about humanity, I visit the CBC Streaming Audio page only to see this message:  •  “  •  Due to rights issues around the Live 8 concert, CBC.ca will stop streaming all CBC Radio One signals at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 2. The streaming will resume sometime after 4 a.m …

Every once and a while I get an insight into just how extraordinary much of the technology we take for granted actually is.  •  This Saturday morning in my living room in a small city in the northeastern tip of North America, I was walking around with my little laptop. The speakers on the laptop …

We’re all familiar with the MP3 file format. As far as most people are concerned, the format implies free music. The software required to play MP3 files is usually free as well. That said, neither of these things necessarily follow from use of the MP3 format.  •  What most people don’t realize is …

Many of you have likely seen the many weblog posts entitled “A Musical Baton” over the last few weeks. The chain-letter-like post asks the author to share a bit about the music they are enjoying, and pass the duty on to five more people. Having been passed the “baton” myself (thanks Garrett), I’ll …

The 20th session of Acts of Volition Radio is a collection of hard rock and punk songs. This session runs a bit longer and rocks a bit harder than previous sessions. It may rock your ass off.  •  Acts of Volition Radio: Session Twenty (65MB MP3)  •  Music that rocks hard. Recorded Saturday, April …

The nineteenth session of Acts of Volition Radio includes some new songs I've discovered recently, and some older material that you might not have heard before. I had a cold when I was recording it, so pardon the nasal tone.  •  Acts of Volition Radio: Session Nineteen (41MB MP3)  •  Newly …

A few years ago, I started a small petition on this site for the release of the Northern Exposure television series on DVD. I am mocked to this days by my friends and co-workers, and justifiably so, for having undertaken a cause of such massive dorkitude.  •  Since then, completely unrelated to my …