Off Topic Talk

Signal and Noise #6

2008-06-09T11:11:00.003-05:00

Please visit the new website for show notes and a direct download link:

Signal and Noise.

Signal and Noise #4

2008-05-25T00:30:00.003-05:00

This is a short show folks so don't sneeze or you might miss it. ;>

Targeted Muscle Reinnervation.

No question in this show but I'll get back to them and some answers from listeners in upcoming shows.

The direct download.

Carry on!

I remember Joe Murphy

2008-04-03T02:15:00.004-05:00

On April 1st, 2007, the extraordinary podcaster Joe "Mason Rocket" Murphy left us and left the world a sadder place for his passing.

Odds are good that if you are listening to my show then you have probably listened to one of the many shows Joe was involved in.

Like all of Joe's fans I had come to know him through his podcasting ventures and had found in him a kindred spirit and one of those people who seems like the best friend you've never met. Fortunately I was given the opportunity to meet Joe last year in late March. I was traveling to Arizona and had made arrangements to stop by the Draco Vista studios and visit.
When I arrived I learned that just a few days prior Joe had entered hospice care.
Mike and Lorrie were generously invited me to go with them when they went to visit Joe that evening. Tired and worn as he was he still greeted me with a smile and handshake. We only had a few moments but I will remember them for a long time indeed.

I remember Joe.

Below is a link to the direct download of the memorial show just released at the Joe Murphy Memorial Fund website. Please visit the site and "tell everyone you know".

Joe Murphy Memorial show.

Signal and Noise #3

2008-01-10T03:30:00.001-05:00

Today's cool news items are about artificial skin and a bionic hand.
We have an advert for one of the coolest audio-books I have ever heard.
And of course we close things up with a new question.

Show 003 direct download.

Artificial skin: Link1 and Link2.

The iLimb, bionic hand.

Failed Cities podiobook.

We're still basing the feed out of blogspot because I haven't had a chance to fix teh feed setup in wordpress. Please drop by the website though and leave some comments.
Thanks,
carry on.

First two episodes of Signal and Noise

2007-12-20T03:54:00.000-05:00

Here they are folks, for direct download if that's your preference.

Signal and Noise 1

Signal and Noise 2

Show 1 notes:
Plas-steel
Chupacabra

Show 2 notes:
Regeneration advances
Powered exoskelton

I'm having some trouble getting wordpress to create an RSS feed that actually works so keep on using the original Off Topic Talk feed here at blogspot until I get it figured out.
I hope you enjoy the show and please feel free to leave feedback through SignalPodcast@gmail.com or over at Signal and Noise.

Carry on.

Let there be audio

2007-12-17T22:52:00.000-05:00

I set out to begin a new podcast and so I have done so.
There are a few shows in post production that I will release over the next few weeks.
In the meanwhile you should be getting the promo and transition notice in your aggregator very soon now.

I will be putting together a new RSS feed to go along with the new show and website so please check back and listen for announcements as to when the new feed will be available.
I will continue to release the show here as well for a while though so you shouldn't miss anything new.

Thanks for sticking around.
Enjoy the new show.

Carry on.

Signal and Noise website.

Signal and Noise transition announcement,

Signal and Noise promotion.

Where on earth have I been!!!

2007-11-14T01:09:00.000-05:00

Truth be told, in a classroom.
My deepest apologies for not updating sooner.
Despite my desire to keep things running around here I have had to put it aside. OTT is too time consuming for me to keep up, with and my new school obligations.

I have not forsaken podcasting (I have a new project in the works) but OTT has been put to rest.

If you're still out there I will use this feed to introduce the next project in Dec. of 2007. It will be a smaller easier to mange format that I can maintain within my current time resources. If you're interested leave this RSS in your aggregator and take a listen.

Thank you so much for listening and hanging in there when my production schedule was out of whack. I cannot thank everyone enough for tuning in.

I do want to give special thanks to a very dedicated group of listeners. Thanks to everyone. Safe journey.
Jarrak at Starsend
Chip from the Scotchcast
Chris at the Adult Space Child Free podcast
Russell from Come Let Me Whisper

OTT Farewell.

Time keeps on slipping, slipping, slipping into...

2007-08-03T22:30:00.001-05:00

...the void.
Just like my original post.
Sigh.
I tried to post a nice long well reasoned message and Blogger crashed, taking my carefully worded prose with it.

Long and short of it: I have too much on my plate. I will not be able to make Off Topic Talk a regular production, not that it has been for some time anyways. I will continue to produce shows as time permits. Thanks for hanging in there with me.

I cannot express enough gratitude to you, the listeners, for sticking with me in this wonderful experience. I hope you stick around and see what the future might bring us.

Carry on.

Microcast number 7, again, sort of....

2007-07-23T22:22:00.000-05:00

oops.
I thought I hadn't done a microcast number 7. Then I go to upload the show and find I have already done one.
So this really is a new episode, it's just got the same name as the old one.
The first microcast number 7 will be renamed in the direct download link and in the RSS feed.

So grab the show and learn a few ways to destroy the earth.

Direct download.

Show music is Voltage Clamp by Rubber Band Banjo

Sound effects:
Fx376.wav by FreqMan
End is nigh.aif by tigersound
slurp.wav by konamiuss
ToiletFlush.wav by tweeterdj

Singularity by Bill DeSmedt

Prioritize

2007-07-11T12:52:00.001-05:00

I thought I was busy back in the spring during my grad school application process.
Sadly things have not slowed down since then. Summer seems to be busier than winter despite the relative lack of activity at work.
So OTT is officially a monthly show at this point. Show 17 is in the works, mostly I'm trying to figure out when I can sit down to record and edit.

I'll probably have a Microcast out soon as well. I found a article about how to destroy the earth. It's a fun read.

Carry on.

It's about bloody time! Show # 16 is finally here!

2007-06-13T01:26:00.000-05:00

Yes good people I finally got past my technical issues, my time issues and all the other issues that were in the way.

Full show notes will be along later but in the meanwhile you can do a direct download of the show if it's not already in your aggregator.

Thanks for hanging in there!

Carry on.

Dragging slowly along

2007-06-04T11:24:00.001-05:00

My how time does fly.
Well folks I'm still here and I've still got shows in the works. My schedule has been busier than expected and I've been dealing with technical problems on the production end of things so I am still behind (way behind!) my production schedule.
I thank everyone who is still hanging on for your patience and I'll have show 16 out asap.

Carry on,
Matt

I have not faded

2007-04-29T03:19:00.000-05:00

Busy, busy, busy have I been.

The semester is (finally) over and I managed to get all my projects and studying done in time.
I'm having some technical difficulties with episode #016, however I have microcast #007 up and ready to fill in the (long) gap between shows.

Thanks for hanging in there!

Microcast 007 direct download.

Carry on.
M

Just in time for my holiday!

2007-03-14T04:46:00.000-05:00

Show number 15 is coming to an aggregator near you!

I've got feedback from several listeners, thanks all of you! (and listen to Russels podcast!)

Not directly show related but I was interviewed by Chris Fisher from the Adult Space Child Free podcast. It was a lot of fun! Our talk will probably by out in April(?)

I've been talking about trans-humanism for a while but I didn't realize if until fairly recently.
So I have discovered that Ray Kurzwiel is my new technology hero.

More information on trans-humanism.
Wired magazine.

Metalosis Maligna!!! Not for the squeamish!!! (Russel, this looks like something you might write!).

Giant rabbits abound and invade Korea!

Tom Smith, the Worlds Fastest Filker!
Some of Tom's music.

Listen to Awaretek!

Direct download.

Alright folks due to some traveling I'm doing, show number 16 probably wont be out until April.
However while we're waiting for that I'll try and get a Microcast or 2 out to tide you over.
Also, please listen to the Babylon podcast. I am probably going to be in the studio audience on the show recorded Wed March 21st. I might not say anything but I'll at least be there (if all the travel plans work out).

Carry on.

Technical error microcast #6

2007-03-01T17:15:00.000-05:00

Some kind of problem has come up in microcast #6. Apparently there's a gap of silence early on in the show. I"m not sure where it crept in but I'll get it fixed and re-deployed asap.
Thanks for the heads up Jarrak!

Carry on.
M

FIXED!
I have no idea why the file came out the way it did.
In any case the error has been corrected and the file can now be played without that mysterious gap of silence.
Thanks for your patience.
Carry on.

Microcast #6

2007-02-27T02:38:00.000-05:00

Science fiction moves closer to science fact. I love it when this happens!
We're not quite at Starship Trooper yet (the original Heinlein, not the sad remake film) but we're closer.
Even more important people with limited mobility due to muscle or nerve damage in the leg may be able to regain the ability to walk.

U of Michigan has built a prototype exoskeleton.

Direct download.

Episode 15 is coming down the pipe.
My grad school application is in now I just have to get caught up on some other homework. Then I'll be able to get 15 out the door.

Carry on.

Help TD-0013 fight MS

2007-02-13T06:05:00.000-05:00

In case it didn't stand out like a Bantha in the Imperial Palace please take note of the link in the upper right hand corner of this page.
TD-0013 is doing his part to help fight MS and he's doing it like a good Trooper: Walking the walk under the Arizona desert sun in full armor, pack, rifle and boots.

If there's any way you can please help him out with a contribution. Just click on the image and you'll be taken to a secure site where you can leave a donation. The walk happens on April 14th so donations are being accepted up to that point.

Carry on.

Brain Dump!

2007-02-13T04:01:00.000-05:00

Sorry I haven't been here much lately folks.
I think I've mentioned that I've got a lot going on in my non-podcasting life.
However in between recording and scripting upcoming regular episodes I had a fit of...
I hesitate to call it creativity, maybe it was a moment of mental anarchy more than anything else.
In any case the result was a short show, not using any particular format and with very little in the way of script or notes.
So here we have the Brain Dump episode. An almost random collection of thoughts, concepts and trivia for your entertainment.

Direct download.

There's a strange little verbal glitch near the end of the show. What I said was to check the blog here for attribution of the music I used in this show.

Blazj Lindner - Mindmixing - Intro
37Hz - Less Than Seven - Background
Canopy - Eclipse - Outre

So I kept the show version recorded with the new mic. However I didn't like the sound quality it produced so I'm back to the mic I've been using for a while now.
The new one had allowed too much back ground and line noise into the recording. It was a royal paon to get out as much as I did. The decision to use background music was as much esthetic as it was necesary to conceal some of the unpleasant buzz.
Now that I've listened to it a few times I think it sounds ok, I just didn't like the amount of work that went into making it work

Carry on.

Hot on the heels of...

2007-01-29T06:34:00.000-05:00

...episode 14 I have another Microcast.
So I bring it to you HERE before anywhere else!
Of course, there's no where else to put it so I guess that doesn't really matter.

Well, in any case, if you've ever wanted to be your own person, or your own country, I've got news for you.
Sealand is for sale!

Read about it some more at Wikipedia.

Direct download.

WHOOPS!
Wrong link!
It's corrected now. You should be getting Microcast # 005 from this now.
Sorry.

News, news, news!

2007-01-24T04:06:00.000-05:00

Some changes are going to be coming to Off Topic Talk in the near future.
I have my own ful fledged domain name and some web-space online.
Over the next couple of months I'll be migrating Off Topic Talk to a new home.
I expect that I will run into technical problems and unseen glitches during this process so make sure you check back here often for updates.
Also keep an eye on the RSS feed. I'll be implementing a new one, once I get everything sorted out, because I'll be storing the files in a different location. I'll keep this feed active for a while but eventually it will no longer get updated.

I will post updates to the podcast RSS feed as they come up.

In other news I'm actually getting ready to launch a new podcast.
This one is going to focus heavily on the gaming geek side of my nature.
I will post some notices here for those of you interested in checking it out, once it goes live.
So keep your ears open for news of the Adjusted Dexterity podcast.

Thanks for staying with the show.
Carry on.

Episode 14 is ready to roll

2007-01-24T03:54:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone. Thanks for your continued patience in this ongoing project.
Show # 14 is now up and ready to roll.
I've continued to focus in on the theme of improvements in medical technology and what they might mean in terms of human enhancements.

Worm bots.

Brain link to treat neurological disorders.

Giant centipedes!!!!

Human and machine interface articles: Here, another one here and a third one here.

7th Son and J.C. Hutchins.

Johnathon Coulton.

The Adulst Safe Child Free podcast.

Kick Ass Mystic Ninjas!

Direct download.

Updates and news

2007-01-10T06:47:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone and (rather belated) happy New Year!

I did sort out the problem with the holiday episode. Sorry for the mix-up.

Episode 14 has blown up on me. Despite some rather valiant if desperate attempts on my part the recording is gone and I'll have to re-record from scratch.

It will be out before the end of Jan.

Thanks for your patience.

Carry on!

Please stand by for techincal difficulties

2006-12-19T16:56:00.000-05:00

There's a problem in the RSS feed and the haloween show has been re-sent.
I'll have it fixed before the end of business hours today.
Sorry for the mixup.

Carry on.

Matt

I've had a prolific week

2006-12-19T00:51:00.000-05:00

Happy holidays everyone.
Here's my last episode of the year.
It's holiday themed but not being focused just on Christmas (ever hear of Agnostica?)

I've got some fun music in the episode so go download it here or through the RSS feed.

Music used in the show:
Winter Dreams
Ya, You Betcha Christmas
Christmas Here on Mars

Have a good holiday and I'll see you all next year.

Carry on.

Microcast # 004

2006-12-18T05:31:00.000-05:00

We're going back to the moon but this time we get to do more than just pay golf.

NASA is planning a permanent, international moon base to be online in 2024.
And it's only 25 years late.

Direct download.