April « 2007 « gor[b]

2Apr/076

Eat me

A week ago my sister, a vegetarian, came over to spend the day with the kids. At lunch, she mentioned that she doesn't eat meat. The kids asked why not, and she said that she doesn't want to eat animals.

My wife and I have mentioned the origins of meat before, but haven't exactly dwelled on it. So I wasn't sure how the kids would react, but they didn't say much.

A few days later, the two of them are having hot dogs for lunch, and they bring meat up again. We brace ourselves for some awkward questions.

5-year-old: "Was this hot dog made out of animals?"

Mom: "Yes."

5-year-old: "I hope it wasn't made out of pigs."

Mom: "Hmm?"

5-year-old: "Pigs have mud on them."

Mom: "Ah."

3-year-old: "It's OK. Before they make them into hot dogs, they chop off their muddy little hooves."

5-year-old: "Oh, OK."

Both: (Munch munch munch.)

Hot Dog Piggies

Filed under: Kids 6 Comments

1Apr/070

I hear dead people

Something I've been working on for a long time now has finally come to fruition: The CBC Archives Podcast!

It's called Rewind, and each week we'll offer up one of the very best clips from the enormous CBC archives. You can find it on the CBC Podcasting page (#16 under News & Current Affairs.)

You can subscribe to it in iTunes too - just open iTunes, then click here. Or just download the first episode in MP3. The first episode is a wild and acrimonious interview between CBC host Barbara Frum and utterly insane Charles Manson follower Sandra Good. I've installed a new audio player plugin for this blog, so you can also listen to the file directly:

[audio:http://podcast.cbc.ca/mp3/rewind_20070323_1903.mp3]

I've been working on the CBC Digital Archives site for five years now, and listening to podcasts for almost as long. Marrying the two is something I've been keen on for ages.

For starters, it's the first archival podcast I've ever heard. And it's the first time the Archives site has been able to offer up something for download. When I pitched the idea a couple of years ago, there was lack of interest from CBC.ca (why waste bandwidth on this?) and fear from CBC Archives (which makes millions selling its clips - the idea of giving away the best stuff for free was a bit alarming.) Since then, both sides have recognized podcasts as a great way to reach a new audience, and it's full steam ahead.

CBC now has almost 40 podcasts, including CBC Radio: Rewind. (My favourite name suggestions were Selective Memories, Archival Revival [amen!] and I Hear Dead People.)

The podcast is being read by CBC's Radio icon Michael Enright, which is very cool. Well, only sort of cool - I voiced the pilot myself, and had a secret and silly desire to keep doing it. Still, no shame in being shunned for the premier radio announcer in the nation. He's still reading my words. You can hear my version here.

[audio:http://www.gorbould.com/audio/archives_podcast_pilot_PG.mp3]