Happy Halloween!

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The Wish Book - A Holiday Season Podcast Project

A while ago, I came across this site, http://www.wishbookweb.com/, which hosts scanned copies of historical Christmas Catalogs from the 1940s-1980s. As I was flipping through the site, it brought back some great memories of my childhood. As a child, on the cold Winter nights in Ohio, I would often sit for hours flipping through the Christmas catalogs, dreaming of the neat things I might receive (but probably wouldn't) for Christmas. For example, this is one toy I have remembered since my 2nd or 3rd Christmas in 66/67. Bizzy Buzz Buzz. The fact that I can remember the feeling of it in my hand after so many years proves the impact that childhood toys have upon us.

So, starting today, I am announcing

"The Wish Book - A Holiday Season Podcast Project"

to be released in November and December 2007.

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Here is how you can participate...

* Visit The Wish Book site
* Find a toy or other object that you remember from your childhood
* Tell us a story about the toy or object
* In the end, the stories don't have to be based on the catalogs. Tell us your favorite personal holiday story is fine, too

Try to include the following information in your recording:

* Your Name and Home Town Location i.e. Douglas E. Welch from New London, Ohio
* The catalog and page where you found you item (So that others can see a picture of it)
* Your story

Your story can be whatever you wish -- a real-time discussion with siblings, "hey do you remember that? Didn't you leave that out in the rain?" to amore structured "I remember this..." type of story. Let yourself go! Tell us what made this item so special to you.

If I receive enough submissions for The Wish Book, I will create a daily podcast running from Thanksgiving Day through until Christmas or New Years.

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How to send in your audio or video?
You can send in your audio or video in a number of ways:

* Call our Listener Line at 818-804-5049 and leave up to a 3 minute story
* Record your audio or video and email it to douglas.welch@gmail.com
* Mail me a CD or DVD with your story
* Email me a URL where I can download your audio or video

Please join me in this celebration of the Holiday Season by sharing your memories!

PDF Flyer: http://welchwrite.com/blog/pdf/wish-book-project.pdf

Technorati Tags: audio, christmas, hanukkah , holiday, holidays, podcast, podcasting, video

Audio: Event: Ghosts of the Internet - a LIVE reading - Oct. 27

Update: 10/28/07, 10:00pm PST: The audio from this reading is now available directly from Talkshoe.com. You can hear me reading Edgar Allen Poe's poem, Annabelle Lee near the 27:25 mark.

We had some great readers from around the country, along with our little repertory group here in Los Angeles. Grab a blanket, turn down the lights and enjoy these Halloween stories.

Listen: Ghosts of the Internet - October 27, 2007

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Date: Sat, October 27, 2007
Time: 02:45 PM EDT / 05:45 PM PDT

Talkcast ID: 59885

LIVE READING - Ghosts of the Internet

Ghost and Horror Stories for and by Kids and Adults as an intro to Halloween

Bring your stories {BYOS} - come read with us online!

Visit Talkshoe.com for more info

Douglas is speaking at PodCampAZ - November 3rd

I will speaking at PodCampAZ on November 3rd, 2007 in Phoenix, Arizona.

I posted a few possible topics, but this is the one that seemed to garner the most response from attendees..

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Developing ideas and content for a weekly show with Douglas E. Welch

Douglas, writer and host of Career Opportunities -- a weekly print column for ComputorEdge magazine in San Diego, and pioneer podcast -- presents this session on developing content to keep your show humming from week to week.

Topics covered will include:

* Knowing what your gettng into
* Collecting ideas, no matter where you are or what you're doing
* Using your own life experiences to drive your show
* Using series to provide on-going material
* Using co-hosts to share the load
* "The Beast Must Be Fed!" and other truisms from journalism
* It's like writing a novel....every year!

Douglas is now in his 12th year of publication with the print edition of Career Opportunities and recently celebrated the 3rd Anniversary (Est. September 24, 2004) of the Career Opportunities podcast.

Technorati Tags: podcast, podcasting, speak, speaking, arizona, podcamp, podcampaz

Halloween: Print Your Own Halloween Mask [Friday Fun]

More Halloween fun courtesy of LifeHacker.com...

Print Your Own Halloween Mask [Friday Fun]

Forget a store-bought mask for Halloween: Put that photo printer to good use and make a custom mask of your dog, your boss or your favorite celebrity. Microsoft offers instructions on how to print out a handheld mask glued to a piece of balsa wood (or tied around your head with ribbon) with the right photograph. We shameless nerds can download some Star Wars character mask templates for free in the, ahem, kids section of the site. (Totally printing out Chewbacca this weekend and cutting out the eye holes.)

Make your own Halloween mask [Microsoft Home]
Star Wars Character Printable Masks [via BuzzFeed]

(Via Lifehacker.)

Technorati Tags: craft, crafts, DIY, halloween, make

It's the Great Server, Chuck and Kreg! - A Friends in Tech Halloween Special

Slated for release on October 24th, it's the annual Technology-themed Halloween Special presented by Friends in Tech.

"It's the Great Server Chuck and Kreg!"

Convinced that the Great Server will be making its yearly appearance, Kreg refuses to go Trick-or-Treating with the rest of the FiT gang and instead pulls an all-nighter waiting for the Great Server to "...rise up out of the server farm and brings technology to all the good geeks around the world."

Written by Douglas E. Welch and the Members of Friends in Tech

Don't miss it!

You can also check out previous FiT Halloween Specials:
- The Server Room of Horrors
- The Server Room of Horrors 2006

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LIVE from the Library Internet Seminar - Tonight @ 630pm PST

Join us tonight Thursday, October 25, 2007 for our next Internet Seminar at the Sherman Oaks Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library. Can't join us in person? View the live video and join in the real-time chat below!







Technorati Tags: california, howto, how-to, podcast, podcasting, tutorial, events, losangeles, technology, learning, education, library

It's the Great Server, Chuck and Kreg! - A Friends in Tech Halloween Special

Slated for release on October 24th, it's the annual Technology-themed Halloween Special presented by Friends in Tech.

"It's the Great Server Chuck and Kreg!"

Convinced that the Great Server will be making its yearly appearance, Kreg refuses to go Trick-or-Treating with the rest of the FiT gang and instead pulls an all-nighter waiting for the Great Server to "...rise up out of the server farm and brings technology to all the good geeks around the world."

Written by Douglas E. Welch and the Members of Friends in Tech

Don't miss it!

You can also check out previous FiT Halloween Specials:
- The Server Room of Horrors
- The Server Room of Horrors 2006

California Wildfire Information Sites 2007

Looking back, I see that I have re-posted this entry almost every year since 2003.

Since the fires are burning again, though, I present you with these resources for information on the extent and location of the fires.



Geomac Wildland Fire Support Wildfire Viewer

California Wildfire Information - California Wildfire Alliance

MODIS Active Fire Mapping Program from Remote Sensing Applications Center.

Sampler: Autumn in the Garden and more! - October 6, 2007

This is a sampler from another in the WelchWrite Family of shows...

by Douglas E. Welch, agn@welchwrite.com
Reader/Listener Line - 818-804-5049



In this show, I talk about our long, dry summer, an early rain, Autumn beginning and a rat in the compost (Oh, my!)

What's happening in your garden? Let me know by calling the listener line at 818-804-5049 and leaving a message. I just might use it in the podcast.

A Gardener's Notebook Pictures on Flickr
A Gardener's Notebook Photo Sharing Group on Flickr

Listen to the Podcast



Theme Music: The One by The Woodshedders, aka the Hot Club of West Virginia, courtesy of the PodSafe Music Network

Support A Gardener's Notebook:

Join AGN Mailing List | iTunes Review | Digg.com | Podcast Alley | Call the Reader/Listener Line @ 818-804-5049

Technorati Tags: garden, gardening, hobby, california, grow, build, make, DIY, howto, how-to, outdoors, losangeles, 91411

This guy has way too much fun with pumpkins!

I came across Tom Nardone and his ExtremePumpkins.com while wandering the Internet for Halloween ideas. As I said in the title of this post, he has waaaaaay to much fun with pumpkins.

Stop by and check out his website for a few ways to get into the Halloween spirit this year.

Along with his pumpkin carving hints he shows you how to have your pumpkin belch fire, how to carve a pumpkin in one swing of a hammer and more. Nardone even as a book of the same name -- Extreme Pumpkins: Diabolical Do-It-Yourself Designs to Amuse Your Friends and Scare Your Neighbors.


Check out this video with the author!



Technorati Tags: garden, gardener, gardening

Sampler: When podcasting is your job - An interview with Kevin Devin

This is a sample podcast from Careers in Podcasting...

Listen to this show

In this interview, I talk with Kevin Devin, founder of Friends in Tech and former co-host of In The Trenches: The Podcast for Sys Admins.

When faced with the outsourcing of his traditional IT position, Kevin was able to use his podcasting skills to create a new position for himself in the company.

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Join me on these networks:

Douglas on MySpace | Douglas on Facebook | Douglas on LinkedIn

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Support Careers in Podcasting and New Media:

iTunes Review | Call the Reader/Listener Line @ 818-804-5049

Technorati Tags: audio, newmedia, podcast, podcasting, mp3

Buy Now: Blue LED Programmable Name Tag

I have a red LED name tag that I wear to events and it never ceases to attract attention. Since I always have people asking me where they can pick one up, I offer up these links to Amazon.com.

I see now that they both my original red LED name tag and a new BLUE LED name tag. It looks pretty cool and I just might have to pick one of those up for myself. (SMILE)

You can see my name tag, which I wear in a standard badge holder in this photo from Lunch 2.0 on Friday.

Cool Video: Great Reno Balloon Race 2007....time-lapse

Timelapse video is almost always cool and this video of hot air balloons is truly stunning.

Project: Music Driven Laser Pointer Lightshow

Another fun project from Instructables.com. I think I might make up one of these to add to the Halloween night displays here. This looks to be the easy, yet best working, method I have seen.

Music Driven Laser Pointer Lightshow

Unlike the mirror on the subwoofer trick, this DIY shows you how to create a very cheap, music driven lightshow that actually visualizes the sound!

Making the Visualizer Body

I used a plastic coffee can for the sounding tube by removing the lid and cutting a large hole in the bottom. The vacuum...

By: babblin5

(Via explore.)

Sampler: Career Opportunities: A sense of failure

Listen to this episode
Read the entire article

No matter how successful we might become, there will be times when an overwhelming sense of failure comes over us and leaves us wondering just where we are headed. This can be caused by a small failure of a project, new challenges in your personal life, or monetary troubles, but it is important to realize that feelings of failure don't necessary mean you have failed. It can simply mean that you are at a down period in your life and work -- one that will pass if you continue doing your best work and striving for something better.

Next Friday: October 19, 2007: Who do you trust?

Join me on these networks:

Douglas on MySpace | Douglas on Facebook | Douglas on LinkedIn

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Support Career Opportunities:

iTunes Review | Career-Op Forums | Digg.com | Podcast Alley | Reader/Listener Line @ 818-804-5049

Technorati Tags: career, job, jobs, work, workplace, podcast, podcasting, technology, high-tech, employment

Event: Lunch 2.0 at YellowBot

I had a great time hanging out with my fellow tech folks at today's Lunch 2.0 hosted by YellowBot in Burbank, California. It is always great getting to catch up with everyone and the neat projects they are working on.

Below is a short video made from the pictures I took today and a link to the same photos on Flickr.





Get these pictures from Flickr!

Technorati Tags: california, event, events, high-tech

Interesting Project: Cool Cloud Lamp!

Here is an interesting project you could probably even do with the kids. Create this cool looking "cloud lamp" and watch the pretty patterns form due to heat convection -- sort of like a Lava Lamp.

Cool Cloud Lamp! Make a very neat lava-like lamp for less than $10 in parts. Uses only soap and water. No chemicals, easy, fun, and the results are incredibly neat!





Supplies You'll Need



The main things you'll need are a 6" piece of THICK PVC pipe, a 15-25 watt bulb (you can go as high as 40, but the base can...


By: babblin5

(Via explore.)

Douglas' Calendar - What Am I Doing?

Audio: Friends in Tech at the Podcast and New Media Expo 2007

Click to Listen

Hear and see what my fellow Friends in Tech members had to say about podcasting at this year's Podcast and New Media Expo. What is there take on my recent article, "I am not a podcaster. I am a producer."

Technorati Tags: audio, event, events, podcast, podcasting, tech, technology

Event: Machine Project Workshops - Ghosts and Robots

These sound like really cool workshops, although they do cost a few dollars. I wish I had the time and money to go. -- Douglas

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We have two new workshops this month involving motors and mechanisms. The first is an Animatronic Ghost Workshop this Sunday. Based on a project featured in the upcoming Halloween special edition of MAKE Magazine, you’ll be building your very own pulley-and-motor-driven ghoul to scare your neighbors with. Sunday Oct 7th, 12-4pm, $150. Limit to seven people, registration now open.

http://machineproject.com/2007/10/03/pulleyghost/

The second is a hands on workshop about robotic art with Dorkbot founder Douglas Repetto. Please join us for an introduction to the wide world of motors and mechanical systems for use in kinetic and robotic artworks. We’ll cover basic motor and solenoid types, play with examples of each type of motor and talk about which ones are suitable where. We’ll look at some basic mechanical parts and systems like shaft collars, slip rings, gears, belts, and pulleys. We’ll also talk about sourcing components, creative reuse of found materials, material selection, and building for durability. Participants will build a variety of adorable mechanisms using discarded electro-mechanical devices (printer, scanner, fax machine, blender, anything that moves!) Sunday Oct 14th (12pm-4pm) and Saturday Oct 20th (11am to 6pm). $185. Limit to ten people, registration now open

http://machineproject.com/2007/10/03/robotorama/

Follow me, and my friends, on Twitter!

Video: Friends in Tech at the Podcast and New Media Expo 2007

Once again, I spent the weekend at the Podcast and Portable Media Expo, like I have the last 3 years. In this video, you can see and hear me, along with my fellow Friends in Tech Members discussing what podcasting can offer almost anyone. -- Douglas



Click to play video

Hear and see what my fellow Friends in Tech members had to say about podcasting at this year's Podcast and New Media Expo. What is there take on my recent article, "I am not a podcaster. I am a producer."

This video only captures part of the talk. You can hear the entire panel when I release the audio show, coming soon!

Grant is winnowing his life down to "600 Things" - Watch him do it!

Fellow LA-based podcaster, Grant Boccioco is winnowing his stuff down to 600 Things and you can watch him do it. You can even buy some of his stuff on eBay. Help Grant clear out his closets and his life. Watch 600 Things every day.

Two SoCal Apple stores closed for remodeling

I had a bit of a rude awakening today when I went to buy a new iMac for a customer. It seems that both the Sherman Oaks Apple Store and the Glendale Galleria Apple Store are closed for remodeling. In Glendale, they have set up a "mini-store" while this is going on, so you can still get your Apple fix, if not in a flashy Apple store.

The Glendale store is said to re-open about mid-November and, according to an Apple person I talked with, the Sherman Oaks stores should be re-opened by this weekend, as they only had to a small reconfiguration of the store.