On the last day of Podcamp, Ninja interviews Adam Silver and he shares his artistic and cultural passions with her as they walk to the Boston T (subway) stop. A former teacher and school principal, Adam retired and opened The Asian Cultural Center in Battleboro, Vermont which also is the home of the CX Silver Gallery.

Links:

GalleryXIV

Asian Cultural Center Vermont

CX Silver Gallery

           

Born in October 2007, released in alpha to the public only this summer, Seesmic is another social networking tool. It is unlike YouTube or podcasting in the sense that it interactive and considered by the creators and participants to be more intimate than any of twitter, facebook, or chat. With Seesmic, you can visually converse with your cyberfriends and colleagues. How is it different or the same from Webcam conversations or another new videoconferencing tool, OovOO? Well we'll have to see what it has to offer in the coming months. In the meantime, I spent about forty-five minutes with Tiil, an artist and Seesmic zealot during Podcamp Boston in July to get his enthusiastic testimonial about Seesmic.

Wiki page for Seesmic: http://wiki.seesmic.com/Main_Page

Tiil's website : http://www.tiil.us

Tiil's hair cut : http://www.tiil.us/seesmic/hair-cut

Seesmic blog : http://seesmic.typepad.com/en/

Seemic owner's blog : http://www.loiclemeur.com/

OOvOO : http://www.oovoo.org/ 

Famous Hollywood celebrities mentioned: Steven Speilberg, Harrison Ford. Famous New Media celebrities mentioned : Chris Brogan, Freida the retired art teacher who was involved in new media in the 80s. Other video messaging tools mentioned : OovOO. Famous Investors mentioned: Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis (who sold Skype to Ebay).

Join me for lunch with Michelle and Jeff during Podcamp Boston.  They talk about why they love Burning Man so much. By the time you hear this, they may be on their way in their Airstream to enjoy this August desert festival.

Links:

http://www.bigrigjig.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWGx0PhDGlU – Crude Awakening at Burning Man

http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2007/08/crude-awakening.html

http://www.burningman.com/

 

Faneuil Hall Boston

On the eve of Podcamp Boston, Kentie, Ninja and Special K have dinner and talk about almost everything.

Famous Restaurants Mentioned: Cheers.   Famous Bookstores Mentioned: Powells.  Politicians mentioned: Howard Dean, Mitt Romney, Hilary, Barak, Al Gore, John Kerry, George Bush.  Issues mentioned: Gun Control, Gay Marriage, Universal Health Care, The disadvantages of home schooling, Freedom.  Recreational Activities Mentioned: Opera.  Hysterical Non-fiction: American Facists by Chris Hedges.

Songs Played : Family Guy * The Spirit of Massachussetts (Courtesy Episode 126 Mondo Diablo)

Podcasts listened to by Kentie: 

·2 Guys, 1 Brain

·Bear Crawling

·Big Gay Sex Show

·Bored Beyond Belief

·Brini Maxwell

·Broadway Bullet

·Cuppa Tea with AJ

·Fagbeast of Scandiland

·For Whatever Reason podcast

·Hello Waffles

·Hot Fossils and Rebel Matters

·Leather Bound

·Mandrake Society Radio

·Manhandled in Montana

·Mikey Pod

·New Music Box

·NY Times Book Review Podcast

·Peterson Toscano

·Sha-Pink

·Sister Paula podcast

·Spanking Bea Arthur

·Strength Nation with Jason White

·Tastes Like Burning

·Tigger Cast

·Tranny Wreck Radio

·Unnatural Acts of Opera

·Vera Speaks

·Wanda Wisdom

·Yeast Radio

·       Zillacast with Zillafag

·       Eat This Hot Show

S-Curve by Anish Kapoor

There are lessons that Anish Kapoor's art have to teach us.  “His pieces force you to be really patient...”, said one visitor assistant at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston. You can't just breeze through his exhibit to get a taste of his work.  You have to wait for his work to affect its magic on you.  Optical and aural illusions surprise and delight the gallery visitors to this show.  Join Ninja and Special K as they try to  help you experience the pieces through their own descriptions and from the gallery volunteers and other visitors.  

Links: See the slideshow, The ICA, Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston Mass.
The Flatus Show

Wedgewood Relief c1780

Join Ninja and Special K on a whirlwind tour of exhibits at the Royal Ontario Museum, before the festivities of Father's Day begin. First stop: Shanghai, past, present and future.    Next stop: Wedgewood treasures and the Black Star Sapphire of Queensland.    Last stop: History of Disability and Typewriters.  Ninja talks about getting her malaria shots from a past classmate who is now a doctor.

Famous tyrants mentioned: Mao Tse Tung, Hitler. Novelties in a Museum: Man in a Dinosaur.  Ninja's rank in her typewriting course:  Second.

The Bruegel-Bosch Bus by Kim Adams (Art Gallery of Hamilton)

One night after work, Special K and Ninja brave rush hour to drive to Hamilton, Ontario to see the new exhibits at the Art Gallery of Hamilton.   They are not disappointed by the kimono of the famous Geisha Ichimaru, nor the contemporary art of Japan, the Bruegel-Bosch Bus, and the Monotheatrum.

The lesbian gardening show.  Ninja and Special K head out to Ontario's Sheridan Nurseries for a rainy adventure into the expensive world of luxury gardening equipment and shubbery shopping.

Canna Lilly

A balalaika

Special K and Ninja meet Charlie at the St. Lawrence Market again.  Ninja waits for the balalaika player to begin and it seems like it will never happen. Special K and Charlie entreat Ninja to spare you another visit but Ninja maintains that every moment can be a podcast moment.  They help Charlie choose hors d'oeurves for an evening soiree. Ninja concludes that the world is full of Eleanor Rigbys.

Eleanor Rigby by Mary Ann Farley

On a rainy, miserable weekend because they can do little outside work, Ninja  and Special K conduct a painting proof of concept that also includes the art of putting Muskoka chairs together.  They debate whether Adirondack, Muskoka and Cape Cod Chairs are all the same or not.   Ninja finds proof in Wikipedia that they might be, but Special K is certain they are all slightly different.  Ninja promises her partner that there will be no podcasting this weekend, but can't quite stick with it.

Part two of an Aids Committee of Toronto event in the Sexplorations series.Buck Angel, not that pregnant man, is the most famous female to male transsexual in the world.Buck has a fan base that spans many countries and demographics. As the only transman star in the sex film trade, his fans are men, women, gay, straight, and all combinations in between. This show features the question and answer period that Buck Angel was the focus of at the ACT event that evening.

For my interview with Buck , and Rui’s interview with Buck, you’ll have to listen to HotFRM #139.

Photo by Mark Berry

Last month, Buck Angel spent a week in Toronto.  He did two workshops for the sex shop, Toronto’s Come as You Are, a performance at the club Goodhandys and a question and answer talk for the Aids Committee of Toronto, ACT.  I was fortunate enough to be granted an interview with Sarah, one of the owner’s of Come as You Are, Sergio who took care of Buck during his week here, and Buck himself at the ACT event. 

Born a woman, Buck spent a great deal of his life before his transition unhappy and dissatisfied, one might say, desperately so.  All that changed when Buck transitioned.   He also became the first and most famous transman porn star.   Arguably, Buck Angel is the most famous female to male transsexual in the world.Buck has a fan base that spans many countries and demographics.  As the only Transman star in the sex film trade, his fans are men and women, gay, straight, and all combinations in between.

Buck Angel does not care a whit what you think of him.   He defies labels because he refuses to resolve any of the contradictions that anyone finds in him.   And this is one of the things that is so wonderful about him, making him an inspiration and poster boy for following your dream.    His life is a direct contradiction of how quick people are to put labels on things.If we don’t label things and put a cage of definition around ourselves and others, there is the fear that we might spiral out of control and that society would be reduced to anarchy.  If you are a queer of any awareness, you already have a solid foundation in the issues that transsexuals face in our society.But you may be critical of Buck’s life choices all the same.  If you are straight and have never given transsexuals more than the sensationalistic nod that the media gives transpeople,  you may be shocked by Buck’s choices and lifestyle.    I think we are shocked and critical because we are unable to see the shades of colour between black and white.  We crave easy simple answers where often complexity, contradictions and paradox are the only explanations.   It is for these reasons that you must listen to this show today. 

Today Ninja gives you part two of the Geek Gathering. We folks know how to live in the moment.  Katherine talks about the tedium of editing.  Scarborough Dude takes photos of us, continues to swear and Ninja is pretty sure she hears him talking about wife swapping at one point.  Talk turns to the meaning of religion and its sense of community celebration and sharing.   It occurs to the group that perhaps the flood described in biblical times may actually have happened.  We conclude that all religions are basically the same.   But first here’s a comment about the last show from Kentie of the flatus show.com and his co-host that venerable old man Jose, and a couple of notes from Rob commenting on and correcting some of my assertions.  Thanks Rob and Ken.

Links:

Zeitgeist the Movie

The Vatican

The Daily Breakfast

Cardinal Ambrozic

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)

Search Engine

Spark

Joan comes to a podcaster’s meetup and starts asking questions that everyone wants to answer yet digresses from.  Revealed: What is it about podcasting that makes us want to spend hours and hours editing?  Podcasting is about passion.  We discuss the intimacy of podcasting, lattes, beer, and subjectivity.   Sean admits he can listen to a knitting podcast and be thoroughly engaged.  And challenges us to listen to his podcast about songwriting at Ductape Guy.   

We learn that podcasters are communists, anarchists, members of knitting cults, hobbyists, navel gazers, former hippies, and most important of all: communitists – a new word coined by Joan.  (Later that evening Katherine comes up with the verb form:  communitize).   Scarborough Dude swears a lot and then Joan swears back.  So listen to this MetaCast with Sean, Katherine, Ken, Daniel, Rob, John, Valerie and others.  

Other Links: Green Planet Monitor, Wayne McPhail, Rabble Radio, Librivox, Voiceprint 

In the true spirit of tree hugging, Ninja and Special K head down to the park to celebrate Earth Hour 2008.   On the way they meet a star gazer, a cottager, and several screaming children.  Oh yes and Ninja notices a computer mouse attached to a shampoo bottle slung over an overhead wire.   Join this soundscape for a taste of the event Toronto style.

A herd of cows (well actually only four) are freed on a busy highway during the Toronto morning rush hour. Witnesses saw them in their backyards, munching on what little exposed vegetation could be found.  Three were rounded up, but a forth was unfortunately shot when it displayed aggressive behaviour.   Special K wonders why it couldn't just be tranqualized instead.   Special K and Ninja wonder whether it would do any good to boycott the 2008 Olympic games.  The human rights issues associated with Chinese internal politics haven't changed merely because Bejing is hosting the games.   They feel that a boycott may only punish the athletes and serve no other purpose.   Last year 2.2 million people turned off their lights for one hour in Australia.   If they had sustained that level of energy savings for a year it would be equivalent to taking thousands of cars of the roads for that year.

Official Olympics Site: http://www.olympic.org/uk/index_uk.asp
Bejing Olympics 2008 site: http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/beijing/index_uk.asp
Ninja's Earth Hour page:  http://www.earthhour.org/user/rS1j 
Earth Hour Main page: http://www.earthhour.org/

Ninja recounts her experience with an ear, nose and throat specialist who insists she does not need devices to enhance her hearing.   Strange sucking noises and what else sucks according to WIRED Magazine.

The rest of the world is.  This last weekend I interviewed my neighbour, whose political views are informed and well thought out. My neighbour is a Canadian Vietnam veteran. He served as a volunteer for the Americans some 40 years ago. For most of his life he has leaned to the right but recently and because of what he sees as the Republican party character and mistakes of the current and past administrations, leans more and more left of centre in recent years. In my interview, he looks critically at the Democratic presidential nomination race and what it would mean for America and the world if the Democrats win the presidential race in November. If you’re an American and haven’t made up your mind, then Mike’s thoughts will hopefully help you make that decision. It might motivate you to respond or do your own further research on the matter to make the best informed decision you can. Enjoy the interview and find out who Mike would be voting for in November if he were an American and why.

Some of the ambient hiss you’ll hear is his refrigerator and furnace and oh, yes: In the background you will hear enthusiastic shouts and laughter of his family and Special K playing with the Wii.

Ninja needs more time to deliver the next show to you.   What with podcamp toronto and my cold and Special K's cold and more snow and Ninja getting into the wordpress and twitter this week, she ran out of time.  Wait till Ninja gets into Machinima. Then of course there's spring cleaning, taxes, birthdays, not to mention the day job and the ninja crimefighting...

Ninja's Wordpress blog - NinjaRadio,  Ninja's twitterings

They're still in Japan.   Ninja and Special K take in a Kyoto light show.    They also wander into an open air taiko drumming performance in Osaka.

Another Breathtaking Sight - The Golden Pavillion

Despite getting a flu shot before the new year, I am sick and feeling very sorry for myself.  I suspect Joe G of somehow sending me his cold over the cyberwaves, but still direct you to his podcast which can be found at http://boredbeyondbelief.wordpress.com/.

This week we're back in Kyoto Japan again with some more soundscene audio from various spots in Kyoto.  Some public school children interrupt the sound of my own voice to conduct a cultural exchange with Special K and I.

Race or Gender?  Gender or Race?  Ninja gets the distinct impression that Special K would be voting for John McCain, a Republican, if she were to vote in the American election.  Nevertheless, Special K criticises the American presidential process.  Ninja plays an CBC interview with Maya Angelou where she discusses her support of Hilary. Afterall America needs another Clinton to clean up the second Bush's mess.

Without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently - Maya Angelou

Special Mattcha Chocolate Pastry

Ninja and Special K wanted to give you the highlights of their trip to Japan, but only got as far as the desserts in Omotesando Hills and the sukiyaki at Yoshinoya . All they could talk about was the food.  Ninja shares a soundscape from Omotesando shopping centres.

Special K's New Travel Bolt Cutters

Special K takes charge and gets industrial bolt cutters from the hotel in Kyoto to cut the lock off Ninja's suitcase. Everyone in the lobby claps.  Then they get real quiet and head off to major meditation spots in Kyoto to find satori.  Ninja is hypnotized by a Buddhist monk who reads translated Japanese public health pamphlets to her and is only released from his powerful mind grip when she agrees that his English is flawless.

Ninja and Special K are introduced to the next Canadian singing sensation.  Move over Celine.  Make way k.d. Stay on the golf course Anne.  Here comes Nikki.  Ninja shares some soundscene audio of their trip to Kamakura. They delight in the sights of Hasadera Temple and are rendered speechless by Daibutsu - the Great Buddha.

One of the taglines of the Takarazuka Revue Company is: "Who knows what a woman wants more than another woman."   That and the company's motto: "modesty, fairness, and grace" characterize the high quality triple threat of the all female theatre company.  Ninja and Special K discover the Takarazuka during their stay in Japan and discuss the impact on them and the irresistable androgeny of the otokoyaku ("women who play male roles").

Links: Wikipedia Entry  , Revue Home Site , YouTube Videos , Takarazuka segment from a TV interview , Love Me Tender video 

 
Tsukiji Octopus and Squid 

Amid water, ice, and seafood guts, Ninja and Special K get up at a freakishly early hour to catch the action at the largest fish market in the world. Tsukiji Market is found in the heart of Tokyo, Japan.  Special K pulls up her socks and rolls up her pants while dodging the seafood transport scooters to experience the most fun you can have at 5:30 in the morning.

 

 

The Penninsula Hotel Tokyo 

Ninja does a soundscape of her and Special K's first day in Japan.   Ninja feels like she has finally come home. Places in Tokyo mentioned: Hibya Park, The Imperial Palace, The Penninsula Hotel.

The Imperial Palace Gardens 

Ninja muses on the reasons why people have to travel.  Then she takes us to the middle of the Vancouver departure lounge during a three hour stopover en route to...well you'll have to tune in to the next shows to find out where in the world Ninja is going.

In September, Special K and Ninja flew southwest to Nevada. They spent some time in the Red Rock Canyon area and then a couple of days in Las Vegas.   Today’s show features sound scene audio of our visit to the Red Rock Canyon area.

The science of sound and the music of sound together for the first time. First Ninja shares Erica Keen's explorations of how the auditory system encodes sound and then Noah Vawter demonstrates how every sound can become music. 

Here is Erica's paper on it all.  And here is Noah's paper on it all. Other Links: Scipod, Seed Magazine 

[[image=GeoDomeFullMoon.jpg]]

An all night cultural event attracts the interest of Ninja, Special K and friends. They go dancing thru the streets in search of art in all its forms during Nuit Blanche : the "literal translation is 'white night', a term used to describe a natural phenomenon that occurs at high latitudes where the dusk meets the dawn...from sunset...to sunrise...Toronto bustled with activity as thousands experience a full night of contemporary art and culture. But where were the damn washrooms?

Links:

Nuit Blanche Toronto 2007

Adriana Kuiper - Artist and Teacher - Tornado ShelterExpert

Sketch - Providing artistic expression for street involved and homeless youth

Ninja and Special K drop in on KayTel and DragOn and ask them to tell the story of how they met.  Is this a typical lesbian love story or not?  Famous girl bands mentioned: The In