Would anyone have problems if I switched the podcasts to AAC (.m4a) instead of MP3? AAC will make for smaller files, better performance and the ability to add visuals in enhanced podcasts. MP3 is of course more compatible, but is getting a little long in the tooth. For those who use iPods or stream the show from the site, you'd be fine. It is for those people with older computers or MP3 players that don't support AAC.
Please leave a comment and tell me if it will be a problem for you.
The next show is ready to go into production. Unfortunately for me, I am getting over a nasty cough, which doesn't sound too good on-mic. However, I should be able to record tomorrow at the rate things are improving.
I am researching music for the Xmas show. If you'd like to wish your brothers holiday greetings, there is still time to do it. Just call or ping me. The X-Oriente hotline is 847-380-1881, or ping me on AIM.
And that means I am gearing up for the X-Oriente Christmas Music special. If you'd like to send a holiday greeting on the show, please send me an audio file, around 30 seconds or less. Send greetings to the show, to me, to your brothers in Lodge, to the craft, to your Grandmaster, to your favorite appendant body--you get to pick. X-Oriente is a community of brothers and I'd like to hear YOUR voice on the show. Send in your holiday greeting today!
To all the brethren who have written, thanks. The show? It's almost there. I have to travel to Philadelphia tomorrow, then I'll be back in town with a little more free time, and you can expect a few shows in pretty quick succession. These past few months have been filled with business travel, work on a contract that has been very demanding and of course being Master of Oriental, which has kept my hands full. But in bits and pieces I have been taking notes for shows and recording bits here and there, and we'll be back on. Next show is my interview with MW Jerry Butler, PGM of the PHA Grand Lodge of Illinois and rhythm and blues pioneer. We'll have book reviews, my report from Washington and more interviews soon. We're also going to start a new series on esoteric thought, so if you are interested in contributing to that, drop me a line and let me know. Talk to you soon!
On Sunday, I will be installed as Master of my Lodge, Oriental Lodge No. 33. As the date approaches there is much to do, and our very next meeting we'll be conferring a third degree! Yikes! I'm excited and a little trepidatious. More than anything I want to be a good leader for these guys. They're my guys. My peeps. My tribe. My brothers. I want to do everything I can to give them a good Masonic year. I'm going into this thinking it ain't about me, it's about them.
So how can I improve? What makes a good Master? I need your advice. Share your wisdom with me. Were you Worshipful Master? What worked? What didn't work so well? What would you do over if you had the chance? What should I watch out for?
Call the SkypeIn line at 847-380-1881 and leave a message, or send me an audio file with your advice. I'll put them all together and ask some of my friends and we'll talk about it on the show. I'll share some of my plans, and maybe we'll do a group chat or something over Skype. Thanks!
It seems like forever, didn't it? Work has been crushing and I am just finishing up a project that has been consuming most of my time since I got back from DC back in February. My next item on the agenda has been to get some interviews. I have one on Thursday and hopefully the first of the next batch of shows will be ready by this weekend. I'm still around and X-Oriente is still alive. Lots of things are going on right now, but our hiatus will be over soon and we'll be back at it. Listenership has grown tremendously and that is thanks to you.
Now I need help...the last episode was one of the best we've done, and it was because I could travel to cover an event. So now I am looking for a sponsor to help the show grow a bit. I would like to be able to travel around the country to so we can do more shows like the last one. I'd also like to create a traveling audio kit so others can contribute too. If you have something you'd like to contribute drop me a line and let me know. this show is a conversation and conversations should go both ways. I am exploring ways to raise funds, but you can help by making a donation in the tip jar. When I find a sponsor I'd like it to be be Masonic or Masonically related. I am putting together an ad kit now, and I may do some Google text ads in the future. You can help by supporting the advertisers once they are there. Every little bit helps, and all of it goes back into the show. This is NOT a money-making venture for me, and if I am ever in a spot where I have more money than i need to do the show, rest assured that any leftovers go right back into the Fraternity. We all win. When you support the show, you are making an investment in your Masonic Podcast and helping to make the Craft better.
Thanks for your patience. Please understand that this is a one-man show and that sometimes life gets in the way of the show, but I am committed to carrying on. Bear with me just a little longer.
It's been a very hectic month what with all the travel I've been doing, but I finally got to sit down for a few minutes and record part 2 of "It's About Time!" I will edit it on Sunday after Father's day Festivities and hopefully it will be on your 'pod by Monday morning!
It's coming, it's coming! Episode 008 will be part one of a 2 part interview of W. Bro. Michael Toth who has released on DVD his film The Freemasons: The Mystery Myth and Truth. I'm editing it now, and it is a little more editing than normal what with all the clips from the film, and commentary and the like. One more evening ought to do it!
The new RSS feed is: http://feeds.feedburner.com/xoriente you can paste this in your Podcast aggregator, or use the link in the right hand column.
I've submitted a new listing to iTunes and will be taking the old one down as soon as it is active. All new shows will be posted to the new feed. Look for 005 in the next day or so.
Still a few bugs to work out of the new system but we're definitely at the tail end of the migration.
Welcome to the new blog. The design is a little cleaner, but it has much more capability. For one thing there is a link to my AIM status so you can instant messenger me if I am around. Also, we have the capability to do more lists, photos, the archives are better...it should be a better experience all around. It will certainly be easier to update and that means more content more often. Tell me if you agree!
Now I am working on getting the new RSS feed in place. Because the bandwidth is a bit of a hog, it's a little complicated but I should have the details ironed out over the next day or so. More soon!
Change is good
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