Hello and welcome to the final edition of Mike's Manic Minute, for January 27th, 2007, today only entitled, Michael's Mellow Moment.  As always, brought to you by www.business-podcasting.com   One small step. . .   When I started podcasting in October of 2004 I, like my 11 other compatriots, had a dreamy vision of what podcasting would become.  Blogging was just starting to enter the mainstream culture beyond the world of technology and had a major impact on the politics of 2004.  Podcasting, although a natural outgrowth of the same urge to have an individual voice, was the purview of the ultra geeky few who had the necessary audio engineering skills, the technological prowess to manage to create a correctly formed RSS feed and the dedication to find something to say on a regular basis.  Audio blogging and video blogging had already existed yet the new concept of automatically downloading the content, organizing it automatically and pushing it to the ever increasing population of portable music players was moving from dream to desire and eventually necessity as we all struggled to cope with the flow of information and entertainment created by inspired and now communicationally empowered individuals.   Two and a half years later Google no longer asks if you were searching for broadcasting when you search for podcasting and there are, by various measures, more than 30,000 podcasters with more starting up daily.  No longer is there a need for a podcast that reports, filters and sometimes comments on the early adopters of this "new" phenomena.  After a while it became apparent to me that I was adding less and less value with each Manic Minute I created.  So I took a 6 month break and tried to think about what I really wanted to contribute.   As I have lived through those past 6 months I recently recalled that when I moved to Seattle two years ago I made a conscious decision to answer the perennial question, "Do you go by Mike or Michael" with "Michael" instead of the "Either way" answer I'd given all my life.  Interestingly, at least to me, I think this has had an impact on the way that I perceive my work, my interactions with others and even the relationship of lifelong friends .   Finally, technology has grown in its importance in and impact on the day-to-day lives of not only the technologically enamored but the broader mainstream of society.  In 1991, Geoffrey Moore wrote a book called "Crossing the Chasm" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossing_the_Chasm) in which he extrapolates from the Technology Adoption Lifecycle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology_Adoption_LifeCycle) originally developed at my alma mater, Iowa State University (http://www.iastate.edu/) which describes a process in which the first group of people to use a new product called innovators, are followed by early adopters, the early and late majority, and the finally the laggards.  Podcasting is, in my opinion, now in the early majority phase and thus needs less and less "evangelism" of the kind I had been doing "nearly daily".   So. . . as many sentences begin at the world's largest software company, I have decided to retire the Manic Minute and begin a new venture.   One Giant Leap. . .   After today, I am starting a new blog/podcast entitled "The New Way" which will be co-located here at www.softwareland.org and at www.the-new-way.net.  "The New Way" will be a weekly podcast commentary on not only how technology influences our lives but more importantly a critical conversation about whether or not technological gadgets, products and services all touted as "advances" are good, ethical and in concert with a healthy and happy life.  In addition to my own thoughts, "The New Way" will also feature comments from listeners, both audio and textual, and interviews with future gazers, guest bloggers and podcasters.   One Final Song. . .   For those, at least all two of you, who might have wondered what the theme song for the Manic Minute was really all about. . . Here's the "consensus reality" version of "Just Listen Please" which I used as the musical theme for the Manic Minute. . .   The Last Hurrah. . .   And so, for the last time. . .this is Michael Lehman saying...   that's your Manic Minute, well Mellow Moment, for January 27th, 2007, brought to you by www.business-podcasting.com . . .

Listen Now:

OurSS and InternetTubes. . . . You gotta love it when the software industry actually takes it self less seriouisly. Chris Pirillo of Gnomedex www.gnomedex.com and Lockergnome www.lockergnome.com fame has started a new site called bLaugh.com http://blaugh.com/ which serves up a daily cartoon of the blogosphere.   Today it's about Senator Ted Stevens and his internet tubes and previously there was a very funny one about Microsoft embracing and extending Atom and RSS together to create Our SS.  Which was, of course, opposed by groups with names like IMANASS, AtomsApple, PrinceSS, BetterSS, AnotherSS, CoolRSS, and RSS 3.11 (for Workgroups).   Podcast of the day. . . The Power Living Podcast   Once again my favorite thing, short, sweet and to-the-point information for healtier and happier living!   URL: http://powerliving.libsyn.com/ FEED: http://powerliving.libsyn.com/rss   Manic Minute Recommendation: I'm always on the lookout for ways to live better!   And that's your Manic Minute for July 17th, 2006, brought to you by www.business-podcasting.com . . .

Listen Now:

Okay To Play. . . A new site, Okay to Play, has launched that features "comparison charts to help podcasters make educated decisions regarding audio advertising sales companies, podsafe music, recording hardware, and more.   The site offers charts on podcast flash players, portable audio recorders, podcast advertising companies, and music providers.   The site plans to add listener submitted reviews, editorial, and additional resources to help podcasters navigate the ever expanding sea of choice. Okay to Play is a "side project" of Adam Varga, of Daily Sonic.     Podcast of the day. . . The Open Mike Café   A weekly show hosted by Michael Stephens of Wayne, Michigan featuring songs from A blend of independent original music submitted by artists struggling to be heard.   Most of the music is folk/acoustic, though he is starting to play more blues and jazz.   URL: http://www.gcast.com/u/openmike/openmikecafe?nr=1&&s=39136193 FEED: http://www.gcast.com/u/openmike/openmikecafe.xml   Manic Minute Recommendation: Sounds good to me!  Maybe I'll submit one of my own songs. . .   And that's your Manic Minute for July 14th, 2006, brought to you by www.business-podcasting.com . . .

Listen Now:

Just in time. . .The 21st century solution to carpal tunnel. . . A Paralyzed man using a new brain sensor has been able to move a computer cursor, open e-mail and control a robotic device simply by thinking about doing it. The BrainGate sensor, which involves implanting electrodes in the brain, could offer new hope to people paralyzed by injuries or illnesses.   "This is the first step in an ongoing clinical trial of a device that is encouraging for its potential to help people with paralysis," Dr Leigh Hochberg, of Massachusetts General Hospital, said in an interview.     From the "It's about time" department. . . Have you ever bought a Dell and tried to get your rebate? Well, finally, responding to customer complaints, Dell Inc. said Thursday it plans to gradually reduce its use of mail-in rebates and its often confusing array of other promotional offers.     Podcast of the day. . . Live from the 101 A podcast emanating from the infamous Highway 101 in Northern California brings you random thoughts and interesting discussion.   URL: http://livefromthe101.com/ FEED: http://feeds.feedburner.com/lft101   Manic Minute Recommendation: Interesting stuff and boy am I glad I don't have to drive the 101 everyday like I used to   And that's your Manic Minute for July 13th, 2006, brought to you by www.business-podcasting.com . . .

Listen Now:

Shareware Industry Conference. . . The 16th annual US Gathering of the MicroISV community known as the Shareware Industry Conference  (www.sic.org) starts today in Denver, Colorado.   I'm going to hob-knob with some of the most independent thinkers who create, on a daily basis, something from nothing.   I'll also be podcasting and presenting at the final session on Saturday afternoon.   If you're there, look me up!  I'll be the guy in the black sportcoat.   MS-DOS RIP. . . In the beginning was, of course CP/M®, and then came MS-DOS, a CP/M®-like operating system originally derived from something called 86DOS and then on top of MS-DOS came Windows..   Yesterday, Microsoft finally ended support for Windows 98, Windows 98SE and Windows ME.   Now, every version of Windows that currently supported is based on the Windows NT kernel.   Podcast of the day. . . The Positiveworks Podcast   Helen Whitten of Positiveworks is a coach and former Deputy-Chair of the Work-Life Balance Trust. She discussed issues relating to work-life balance to individuals, organisations and society.   URL: http://www.positiveworks.com/newsoffers/podcast.htm FEED: http://www.positiveworks.com/newsoffers/worklife-balance.xml   Manic Minute Recommendation: It's always a challenge to balance this stuff so we can all use all the help we can get.   And that's your Manic Minute for July 12th, 2006, brought to you by www.business-podcasting.com . . .

Listen Now: