AOL Instant Messaging

Friday, June 22, 2007

You may have noticed that a few weeks ago, in addition to giving out the toll-free call-in number and the email address during the program, we began mentioning that listeners can also chat with us on AOL Instant Messenger. Now, mind you, I've never done such a thing myself, and I confused it with text messaging. This was an idea that was brought to us by one of Here on Earth's bright young student producers, Dan Rosinsky-Larrson, and frankly, I didn't hold out much hope for it.

And then, lo and behold, during yesterday's Poetry Circle of the Air, Barbara contributed a poem sent to us from Michigan by IM (- that's shorthand for Instant Messenger in case, like me, you didn't know that.) And today, during the Raw Milk Wars program, we received another IM from Andy. It's exciting! A whole new way to interact with the program. Joe tells me it's easier, more direct, and takes less time than email, and that appeals to folks who may be listening while they're at work. For the benefit of those of you who are new to this and might like to try it out, I've asked Joe to write up a brief explanation of what it is and how to use it. Look for it in my next posting.

And by the way, Sardinia was spectacular. Postcards and photos to follow.

Ciao

When Phil Corriveau

Off to Sardinia!

Friday, June 8, 2007

Just a quick note to let you know I'll be gone for a week - off to Sardinia with my husband to eat sardines and squishy squid ink pasta and hang out with reformed brigands who now operate B&B's. Sardinia has 7000 nuroghe- mysterious towers that are believed to have been built by Neanderthals. It's Bronze Age all over, with villages where all the men dress up in shaggy sheepskins and don wooden masks once a year to impersonate wooly mammoths that are driven out of town in a spring fertility rite. How could you not love a place like that? I'll be back with a report on June 18th, and an interview with Al Gore about his new book, Assault on Reason. Very cool guy.

Keep listening!

Exploding the Amish Myth

June 1, 2007

Well, guys, I really didn't expect that I would come away from The Branding of the Amish, today's food Friday program with food historian William Woys Weaver never being able to think about the Amish in the same way again. A post for their buggies outside Walmart? Feeding pizza to their wives and horses? Crisco and confectioner's sugar for icing? Where will I buy my chickens now?

Seriously, there must be some purity somewhere. Where?

Have a great weekend, and keep those cards and letters coming!

Jean