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The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2008 : Issue 241
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
ADMINISTRIVIA: Supporting the Digest [ listmaster@[removed] ]
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Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:35:28 -0400
From: listmaster@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: ADMINISTRIVIA: Supporting the Digest and Other
OTR Services
Folks;
I am "hijacking" this issue of the Internet OTR Digest; I promise the next
issue will contain the usual dose of Old-Time Radio-talk, but this is going
to be one of those blissfully-rare admin issues requesting support for the
OTR services provided here at the [removed] I wanted to get this
posted earlier, but getting ready for the upcoming Friends of Old-Time Radio
Convention as well as other projects put me behind (again) - those of you
planning to attend the convention, please find me and say "hello" - I'll be
the routund guy hanging around the coffee urn in the mornings, and spending a
little time behind the video camera when the handsome and charming Fred
Berney isn't there.
Links I mention throughout the article will be repeated at the bottom of
the issue hopefully in AOL-friendly versions.
Before I do anything else, I want to thank the folks who support the OTR
Digest and other lists, web services, etc., whether by financial support,
moral support, or simply posting questions and answers; it's because of all
of you that this little area of the Internet exists in the first place. I'd
also like to note that no payment is _ever_ required to receive the mailing
lists or visit the web [removed] now, not ever; or at least not as long as
I'm operating them, anyway. Yeah, I know I say this every time, but I want to
make sure no one ever thinks they _must_ pay for the stuff around here.
That said, there _is_ some need for support, and with the state of the
economy this year support has been considerably lower than usual. I can
proudly say that the OTR services have not collected bad mortgage loans, and
so we will not require a billion-dollar government bailout, unlike some banks
I could mention. Still, with support down due to the state of the economy,
I've needed to increase other efforts, and I realize that has caused a
hopefully temporary slowdown of Digest issues [removed]'t worry, no mail
is being lost, it's just being held-up by a combination of computer issues
and my needing to be absent from the systems.
Financial support is always appreciated (and generally needed) to pay for
the bandwidth requirements of the Digest and the "podcast" of Old-Time Radio
shows on the Nostalgic Rumblings blog at [removed] (which
have blissfully returned after a long absence - and don't miss the goofy
"jingle" we created for the blog!)...you can use the on-line player right on
the website and get to older shows just by scrolling down and clicking the
"Next" link, download to your MP3 player, or automatically receive the shows
by subscribing to the podcast! And I'm always looking for suggestions on what
programming you'd like to have "podcast" there (the cool thing about the
podcast is the ability to post shows while they're being discussed on the
Digest). And don't let the word "podcast" frighten [removed]'s an embedded
Flash player on the blog, so if you have a reasonably-current web browser,
you can listen to the shows with no more than a single click of the mouse,
even if you don't want to download them!
Don't forget the Forums at [removed] where you can chat
on the Web about specific OTR programs. And remember, I'm always open to
suggestions for additional services to support the Old-Time Radio hobby -
just drop me a note!
Anyway, if you are financially able and interested in supporting the lists
and web services with voluntary "subscription" fees ($35/year is the
suggested "subscription," with more _or_ less also gratefully accepted),
please consider visiting [removed] to learn
how. Subscription payments are accepted by check or by credit card via
PayPal. There's a small "subscribers-only" area on the web server, which has
little more right now than a form for requesting missed Digest issues.
If you prefer not to make a voluntary subscription, but would still like
to help, consider visiting the [removed] Store at
[removed] - there are a number of Fundraiser Discs there
containing samplings of OTR shows on MP3 along with video you can watch on
your computer or burn for playing in your DVD player (two new fundraiser
discs were just added, and for those coming to FOTR I'll have a few of the
new ones with me), DVDs with classic entertainment arranged as an, "Evening
at the Bijou" complete with cartoon, serial chapter, and feature film,
"full-series" MP3 discs put together with a bit more care than many of the
other discs for sale out on the Net, a few audio CDs of programming I needed
to restore and generate for various reasons (always high-quality), and even a
precious few VHS tapes and "new" (never opened since the late 1970's) OTR
records (kids, ask your grandparents what "records" are).
I've also added some silly yet useful electronic devices,
directly-imported by yours truly. The MP3 player is something I've been
carrying around with me everywhere, the little speaker cube is a lot more
useful than I would have thought, and the computer microphone is just plain
[removed] don't know if I'll continue to import electronics, but anything
available from the [removed] shop will have some use to the OTR
collector and listener, you bet'cha!
Not in the market for MP3s, DVDs, or electronic doo-dads? Next time you're
thinking about purchasing a book, DVD, or CD online, consider the
mini-bookstore at [removed] There
are a few OTR-related suggestions there, but pretty much any book/CD/DVD in
print can be ordered from Barnes and Nobel, and if you purchase by
clicking-through from that webpage, B&N pays a small commission to us on each
book purchased. Ok, it's _really_ small, about $25 per year so far, but every
little bit helps, and B&N doesn't send the constant stream of spam to
purchasers a certain other on-line bookstore does. (Off-topic note: any
book/CD/DVD mentioned on XM Satellite Radio's The Bob Edwards Show or PRI's
Bob Edwards Weekend has direct links on the discussion forum's "Previous
Guest" page; see [removed] the next time he interviews an
author you really want to read, and you can support the [removed] at
the same time.)
If you don't buy books, but still want to help, make sure you tell your
friends about the Internet OTR Digest - I am constantly amazed at the number
of people who do not know this list exists. We've been around since 1994, and
there are still collectors and fans not a part of our friendly little group.
Don't assume everyone knows about it; make sure you mention it to everyone
you know who enjoys Old-Time Radio! If you have a website, consider sticking
a link to the sign-up page on your site; see
[removed] for how you can add
button or text links that will pop-up a new window and not remove your
visitor from your site!
And, finally, you can support the list by participating! Ask a
[removed] answer one. Have a memory of Old-Time Radio when it was new? Or
too young to remember it the first time around yet love to listen to it now?
Post it to the Digest, and let the rest of us enjoy!
So there you have it; hopefully something for anyone interested in
supporting the OTR Digest, Kinescope, and other mailing lists on the server,
along with The Nostalgia Pages, Forums, Nostalgic Rumblings, and other
web-based services. If you know of any other way the [removed] can
help the Old-Time Radio collector and listener, please drop me a line - I'm
always open to adding new services!
Apologies for the long-winded intrusion; we now return to our
previously-scheduled digests, already in progress.
Charlie Summers
Links Mentioned:
<A HREF="[removed]">To Contribute</A>
<A HREF="[removed]">The Nostalgic Rumblings Blog with
Podcast</A>
<A HREF="[removed]">The [removed] Shop</A>
<A HREF="[removed]">The [removed] Forums</A>
<A HREF="[removed]">Barnes and
Nobel</A>
<A HREF="[removed]">The Bob Edwards Show/Bob Edwards
Weekend Discussion Forum</A>
<A HREF="[removed]">How to Link to
the OTR Digest Subscription Page</A>
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End of [removed] Digest V2008 Issue #241
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