I've been overhauling my MySpace profile today due to a couple of words being bandied about - those being "digital footprint". It's a term that related to how much of yourself is out there in cyberspace and whether or not the worse stuff comes into contact with people you're about to start a relationship with; mostly in a business/employment sense, but I suppose the same is true of a romantic relationship.
Rather than outright delete my MySpace profile, I wanted to revise it. It may be the historian in me - that guy that hoardes everything about his past out of sheer fear of suffering some kind of tragic memory loss - but I don't want to just drop the MySpace profile and jump into bed with this Twitter thing, like so many I know have done. It's true that I use Facebook far more than MySpace, but I don’t want it to fall completely by the wayside – I’ve even got some photos up on there that I haven’t put up on Facebook!
So in the interest of improving my digital footprint.....I don't know how to finish this sentence. Some things are out of my control, certainly - although I doubt any Vanessa Hudgens-esque naked photos of me are ever going to be seen on t'internet for one reason or another - but I have taken the step of editing both this and my other blog down and either starting again, or starting from a VERY early point in my blogging past. In their place will be sounder stuff than what I was babbling on about in 2008 (The UK Tour aside, it wasn't a great year).
Right, I’m tired and my metaphors are starting to fail – time to sign off!!
Monday 31 August 2009
Wednesday 13 May 2009
For Your Ears Only
Huzzah! Blogging again, and once more it’s for a reason other than “it’s Monday, best write something.” Today is roughly the one year anniversary of For Your Ears Only, due to Episode #13 being released today. But what is FYEO, and why should you care?
The sting of giving up on the pursuit of a radio career was considerably eased by the fact that I was a contributor to the official podcast of Earth-2.net, as their Comic Book Movie correspondent. Not down to any specific vocal talent: I was a diversity hire as it’s an American-based site and I always got a good response by exaggerating my already plumy, absurd voice/accent. Michael Sims, the site’s owner & editor, got in contact with me soon after I’d started thinking up other career options in January last year, a bit before the UK Tour began. Whilst Earth-2 is in no way big enough to support anyone financially, Mike was looking for more podcasts to run and had approached me about turning my segment – Comic Reel-lief – into its own regular podcast. I was surprisingly hesitant about it as I didn’t think I had the stamina to seek out and review a film every fortnight or so, and was even less certain about doing it on my own. My radio show at Bailrigg FM was a whole different kettle of fish as that was largely music-based with me showing off my musical knowledge between songs.
Having done a lot of student radio, I had to think in those terms what would make a half-decent podcast. I needed a regular co-presenter, I needed someone who would actually embrace the idea of doing a podcast and I needed someone with whom I shared a mutual interest in something to base the podcast around. In short, I needed Adham Fisher.
Everyone has a crazy friend, and for most people I know in Leicester, Adham is that friend. In that I want to keep our working relationship sound, I’m not going list Adham’s MANY adventures here, but rest assured, Adham was the man for the job. The only thing was what to engage him with. I personally don’t give a damn about electronic music and he was hardly going to start a podcast with me if it was going to be about South Park. Whilst I was wondering how long I could feasibly stretch out a Blackadder podcast, it suddenly hit me what Adham was obsessed with when I first met him, and what I was quite a fan of myself: James Bond films. They’re not my favourite films ever, nor even my favourite British film series (the Carry Ons will always have a special place in my heart), but I like them for the brainless fun that they provide British men – big stunts, big explosions and beautiful women. We had our subject and once I conned Mike into thinking that it was sufficiently “geek culture” enough, we had our podcast.
It’s a pretty even split of the workload. I pitched the podcast, Adham came up with the name. Adham provides the recording equipment, I host the recording software. I spend hours editing the episodes together, Adham spends time getting to Fort Wilson once a month. He brings the background information, the singing and general misogyny, I play the moderator, narrator and get in the odd witticism myself. Aside from the fact we had to re-record the entire first episode after the sound quality was buggered, May 2008 saw the debut of For Your Ears Only, Earth-2.net’s monthly James Bond podcast, hosted by two genuine British people.
Since then, the podcast’s progression has been interesting. The shows have typically got longer, partially through deeper analysis and partially because we enjoy arsing about. And the strange thing is, people like listening to Adham and I talking as we would normally – the only difference being that it’s structured around a film discussion. We genuinely have listeners from mainland America, Alaska, France, Germany and Australia as well as in good ol’ Blighty, which is amazing. The show has also seen guest host appearances from my brother as well as an interview Adham did with Professor James Chapman of the University of Leicester, on the grounds that he wrote a book on the cultural impact of James Bond. Despite that, every single episode has been rated as “Explicit” and with good reason, as I wouldn’t let children, animals or certainly my parents listen to For Your Ears Only. It’s not just Adham who’s responsible for this, in fairness – the rest of the time it’s Pandy. Still, I’m not whiter than white, unless you count my performance 30 minutes into Episode #13, which was released today, because that could well be the definition of “white”.
It does have a shelf-life though. It will keep going whilst I’m at Newcastle through the magic of Skype, but the film series will inevitably run out. After Quantum of Solace gets the review treatment in February next year, and we look back at the official films the next month, the podcast will end when Adham and I get bored of reviewing unofficial films and similar films. The end of FYEO is unlikely to mean the end of me podcasting – heck, Adham and I might start a new one, Pandy and I might start one, or I could start one with someone else. I’m pretty bad at predicting the future so we’ll have to see how things go. In the meantime though, it’s a lot of fun and winning Earth-2’s Best New Podcast award earlier in the year indicates we’re doing something right.
By all means give FYEO a listen if you haven’t before. I work an office job that doesn’t require brain power so I can go through a 2 or 3 hour podcast pretty easily. If the same isn’t true for you, Episodes #3 & #4 are fairly short and not too bad despite being pretty early into the podcast’s lifespan. If you do have a bit more time on your hands, Episodes #6, #8 and #11 are particular recommendations - #6 was voted our best early episode, #8 features the debut of Pandy and #11 is where Adham and I lay waste to Moonraker. If it isn’t your thing, then fair enough, but it’s the closest thing I do to radio nowadays and as such, it makes me a very happy camper!
The sting of giving up on the pursuit of a radio career was considerably eased by the fact that I was a contributor to the official podcast of Earth-2.net, as their Comic Book Movie correspondent. Not down to any specific vocal talent: I was a diversity hire as it’s an American-based site and I always got a good response by exaggerating my already plumy, absurd voice/accent. Michael Sims, the site’s owner & editor, got in contact with me soon after I’d started thinking up other career options in January last year, a bit before the UK Tour began. Whilst Earth-2 is in no way big enough to support anyone financially, Mike was looking for more podcasts to run and had approached me about turning my segment – Comic Reel-lief – into its own regular podcast. I was surprisingly hesitant about it as I didn’t think I had the stamina to seek out and review a film every fortnight or so, and was even less certain about doing it on my own. My radio show at Bailrigg FM was a whole different kettle of fish as that was largely music-based with me showing off my musical knowledge between songs.
Having done a lot of student radio, I had to think in those terms what would make a half-decent podcast. I needed a regular co-presenter, I needed someone who would actually embrace the idea of doing a podcast and I needed someone with whom I shared a mutual interest in something to base the podcast around. In short, I needed Adham Fisher.
Everyone has a crazy friend, and for most people I know in Leicester, Adham is that friend. In that I want to keep our working relationship sound, I’m not going list Adham’s MANY adventures here, but rest assured, Adham was the man for the job. The only thing was what to engage him with. I personally don’t give a damn about electronic music and he was hardly going to start a podcast with me if it was going to be about South Park. Whilst I was wondering how long I could feasibly stretch out a Blackadder podcast, it suddenly hit me what Adham was obsessed with when I first met him, and what I was quite a fan of myself: James Bond films. They’re not my favourite films ever, nor even my favourite British film series (the Carry Ons will always have a special place in my heart), but I like them for the brainless fun that they provide British men – big stunts, big explosions and beautiful women. We had our subject and once I conned Mike into thinking that it was sufficiently “geek culture” enough, we had our podcast.
It’s a pretty even split of the workload. I pitched the podcast, Adham came up with the name. Adham provides the recording equipment, I host the recording software. I spend hours editing the episodes together, Adham spends time getting to Fort Wilson once a month. He brings the background information, the singing and general misogyny, I play the moderator, narrator and get in the odd witticism myself. Aside from the fact we had to re-record the entire first episode after the sound quality was buggered, May 2008 saw the debut of For Your Ears Only, Earth-2.net’s monthly James Bond podcast, hosted by two genuine British people.
Since then, the podcast’s progression has been interesting. The shows have typically got longer, partially through deeper analysis and partially because we enjoy arsing about. And the strange thing is, people like listening to Adham and I talking as we would normally – the only difference being that it’s structured around a film discussion. We genuinely have listeners from mainland America, Alaska, France, Germany and Australia as well as in good ol’ Blighty, which is amazing. The show has also seen guest host appearances from my brother as well as an interview Adham did with Professor James Chapman of the University of Leicester, on the grounds that he wrote a book on the cultural impact of James Bond. Despite that, every single episode has been rated as “Explicit” and with good reason, as I wouldn’t let children, animals or certainly my parents listen to For Your Ears Only. It’s not just Adham who’s responsible for this, in fairness – the rest of the time it’s Pandy. Still, I’m not whiter than white, unless you count my performance 30 minutes into Episode #13, which was released today, because that could well be the definition of “white”.
It does have a shelf-life though. It will keep going whilst I’m at Newcastle through the magic of Skype, but the film series will inevitably run out. After Quantum of Solace gets the review treatment in February next year, and we look back at the official films the next month, the podcast will end when Adham and I get bored of reviewing unofficial films and similar films. The end of FYEO is unlikely to mean the end of me podcasting – heck, Adham and I might start a new one, Pandy and I might start one, or I could start one with someone else. I’m pretty bad at predicting the future so we’ll have to see how things go. In the meantime though, it’s a lot of fun and winning Earth-2’s Best New Podcast award earlier in the year indicates we’re doing something right.
By all means give FYEO a listen if you haven’t before. I work an office job that doesn’t require brain power so I can go through a 2 or 3 hour podcast pretty easily. If the same isn’t true for you, Episodes #3 & #4 are fairly short and not too bad despite being pretty early into the podcast’s lifespan. If you do have a bit more time on your hands, Episodes #6, #8 and #11 are particular recommendations - #6 was voted our best early episode, #8 features the debut of Pandy and #11 is where Adham and I lay waste to Moonraker. If it isn’t your thing, then fair enough, but it’s the closest thing I do to radio nowadays and as such, it makes me a very happy camper!
Sunday 8 February 2009
Ian & the Scientologist
I had no idea when I’d be updating this again, as I’d taken on all the personal feedback I tend to get from people, the most recent being cousin Eve saying “you don’t half go on a bit!”, and accepted that that’s a pretty apt description of last year’s entries. However, I said I’d come back to this ‘ere blog when it took my fancy, and whilst I was in Birmingham this weekend, my fancy was well and truly taken, in a non-euphemistic sense.
The title gives away the subject. Whilst I was walking along New Street, up to Birmingham City Museum & Art Gallery – worth a look-in if you’re ever just milling about Brum with no intention to do any shopping – a fifty-something woman in front of me swerved into my path and asked for some moments of my time. I guessed that this was a religious person of some kind, as I had passed a Christian Mission preaching session 100 yards beforehand, but I had no idea that I had run into an actual Scientologist. Our conversation went roughly like this:
WOMAN: Excuse me, can I take up a few minutes of your time?
IAN: Er, yeah, I guess so.
WOMAN: Have you ever thought about your future?
IAN: Well yes, I’m going to a Masters course in museums in Newcastle?
WOMAN: (jovially) Oh really?!? What’s the name of your course?
IAN: It’s called-, well, it’s an MA in Heritage and Museum Studies.
WOMAN: Oh, so you’ve already done a degree.
IAN: Yes, I have a BA in History from Lancaster.
WOMAN: Excellent! So is there anything you’re looking for?”
IAN: Well, yes – that MA.
WOMAN: Alright, but is there anything you think is holding you back from that?
IAN: Not really, I have the place confirmed already and I’m currently working towards being able to fully afford the course, as well as coming to places like Birmingham to visit museums for background research.
WOMAN: Oh, where are you from?
IAN: Well, I’m *from* Leicester, but I live in Derby.
WOMAN: Ok, but is there anything you think is holding you back personally?
IAN: Erm.......I’m not sure what you mean.
WOMAN: Well, things like a lack of confidence or motivation....
IAN: Oh right. Well, er, I’m not lacking in motivation because I know what I want to do and I’m actively working towards that, so that’s alright. And confidence...has never really been a problem in most respects – it’s certainly better now than it used to be.
WOMAN: Alright, is there anything you don’t like about yourself?
IAN: ....well, I’m slightly overweight, but I joined a gym this last week, which should help me cut down on my drinking and get me fitter. That’s the hope!
WOMAN: Do you drink too much?
IAN: My mum would always say I drink too much! I do drink, but not half as much as I used to at university. And it’s not out of depression or anything – I’m just a creature of habit at this point, I'm afraid!!
WOMAN: I see. So what do you want in life?
IAN: Erm......a good quality of life.
WOMAN: And how do you want achieve that?
IAN: Err...............
WOMAN: Have you thought about doing a free personality test?
IAN: Sorry? Ohhhh, you’re a scientologist!!
WOMAN: Yes, that’s right!!
IAN: I didn’t know there was a church in Birmingham!
WOMAN: Well, we can go there now – it’ll only take 5 minutes.
IAN: Oh no, I don’t really have time, although I do remember passing a similar place in Manchester last year. You call them churches, yes?
WOMAN: Well yes, but we aren’t really a religion as such
IAN: You aren’t a religion?
WOMAN: No, we’re more of a centre of learning.
IAN: But surely your buildings are called churches, which implies a degree of faith, doesn’t it?
WOMAN: Well if you look at history, and you’d know this from your studies as a historian, that the word “church”, before Christians got involved with it, meant a place of learning. So you don’t need to have faith to be a member. You know, you could have a church devoted to plumbing if you wanted to.
IAN: That would be quite a church!
WOMAN: Wouldn’t it?!?! Just finding out how they do it?!
IAN: Yeah, I’ve often wondered.
WOMAN: So we can go there now...
IAN: Sorry, I’m just not that interested really.
WOMAN: You sounded interested.
IAN: Well, it is interesting from an outside perspective, but like plumbing, I’m not all that keen really.
WOMAN: No?
IAN: Nah, I need to be getting to the City Museum.
WOMAN: Oh, well, thank you for listening.
IAN: Not a problem. Bye.
Now, whilst I think Scientology is a cult, I can’t bring myself to be rude to people who have faith, even if it’s in something which doesn’t really involve faith at all. In fact, if she could have argued the church point better, I might have been tempted to go and see this place, if only to justify my suspicions. But I had museums to go to and didn’t want to risk offending the woman.
So that was my brush with a Scientologist, and it felt good to see that my answers reflected that Scientology has nothing to offer me. If anything, I’m tempted to set up my own religion, Ianology, espousing the virtues of long term goals and applying for tax exempt status!! All I need now is some flowing robes...
The title gives away the subject. Whilst I was walking along New Street, up to Birmingham City Museum & Art Gallery – worth a look-in if you’re ever just milling about Brum with no intention to do any shopping – a fifty-something woman in front of me swerved into my path and asked for some moments of my time. I guessed that this was a religious person of some kind, as I had passed a Christian Mission preaching session 100 yards beforehand, but I had no idea that I had run into an actual Scientologist. Our conversation went roughly like this:
WOMAN: Excuse me, can I take up a few minutes of your time?
IAN: Er, yeah, I guess so.
WOMAN: Have you ever thought about your future?
IAN: Well yes, I’m going to a Masters course in museums in Newcastle?
WOMAN: (jovially) Oh really?!? What’s the name of your course?
IAN: It’s called-, well, it’s an MA in Heritage and Museum Studies.
WOMAN: Oh, so you’ve already done a degree.
IAN: Yes, I have a BA in History from Lancaster.
WOMAN: Excellent! So is there anything you’re looking for?”
IAN: Well, yes – that MA.
WOMAN: Alright, but is there anything you think is holding you back from that?
IAN: Not really, I have the place confirmed already and I’m currently working towards being able to fully afford the course, as well as coming to places like Birmingham to visit museums for background research.
WOMAN: Oh, where are you from?
IAN: Well, I’m *from* Leicester, but I live in Derby.
WOMAN: Ok, but is there anything you think is holding you back personally?
IAN: Erm.......I’m not sure what you mean.
WOMAN: Well, things like a lack of confidence or motivation....
IAN: Oh right. Well, er, I’m not lacking in motivation because I know what I want to do and I’m actively working towards that, so that’s alright. And confidence...has never really been a problem in most respects – it’s certainly better now than it used to be.
WOMAN: Alright, is there anything you don’t like about yourself?
IAN: ....well, I’m slightly overweight, but I joined a gym this last week, which should help me cut down on my drinking and get me fitter. That’s the hope!
WOMAN: Do you drink too much?
IAN: My mum would always say I drink too much! I do drink, but not half as much as I used to at university. And it’s not out of depression or anything – I’m just a creature of habit at this point, I'm afraid!!
WOMAN: I see. So what do you want in life?
IAN: Erm......a good quality of life.
WOMAN: And how do you want achieve that?
IAN: Err...............
WOMAN: Have you thought about doing a free personality test?
IAN: Sorry? Ohhhh, you’re a scientologist!!
WOMAN: Yes, that’s right!!
IAN: I didn’t know there was a church in Birmingham!
WOMAN: Well, we can go there now – it’ll only take 5 minutes.
IAN: Oh no, I don’t really have time, although I do remember passing a similar place in Manchester last year. You call them churches, yes?
WOMAN: Well yes, but we aren’t really a religion as such
IAN: You aren’t a religion?
WOMAN: No, we’re more of a centre of learning.
IAN: But surely your buildings are called churches, which implies a degree of faith, doesn’t it?
WOMAN: Well if you look at history, and you’d know this from your studies as a historian, that the word “church”, before Christians got involved with it, meant a place of learning. So you don’t need to have faith to be a member. You know, you could have a church devoted to plumbing if you wanted to.
IAN: That would be quite a church!
WOMAN: Wouldn’t it?!?! Just finding out how they do it?!
IAN: Yeah, I’ve often wondered.
WOMAN: So we can go there now...
IAN: Sorry, I’m just not that interested really.
WOMAN: You sounded interested.
IAN: Well, it is interesting from an outside perspective, but like plumbing, I’m not all that keen really.
WOMAN: No?
IAN: Nah, I need to be getting to the City Museum.
WOMAN: Oh, well, thank you for listening.
IAN: Not a problem. Bye.
Now, whilst I think Scientology is a cult, I can’t bring myself to be rude to people who have faith, even if it’s in something which doesn’t really involve faith at all. In fact, if she could have argued the church point better, I might have been tempted to go and see this place, if only to justify my suspicions. But I had museums to go to and didn’t want to risk offending the woman.
So that was my brush with a Scientologist, and it felt good to see that my answers reflected that Scientology has nothing to offer me. If anything, I’m tempted to set up my own religion, Ianology, espousing the virtues of long term goals and applying for tax exempt status!! All I need now is some flowing robes...
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