Old dogs can learn new tricks. Well, maybe they can re-learn old ones.I was primarily going to discuss how I use Google Reader to collect daily podcasts. On the drive to BCIT, I feel naked if I've forgotten my mp3 player. The trips seems like a total waste of time, if I cannot learn something new a long the way. As I only have about 35-40 minutes of total commute time, I don't have many minutes for programming. Yet, there is a tremendously-wide selection of podcast materials out there. I suppose in a way, one is what one listens to. I find I focus mainly on the BBC's Global News, and a culled selection of science and technology programs.
One doesn't really need a functioning mp3 player if one's at a PC during much of the day. I find I seldom listen when online though. It'd be easy to do so, as I manage my RSS feed of podcast programs using Google Reader. Just downloading several shows before I head out the door takes very little time. Sharing the collection is easy and you can most probably hear what's recently been in my ear buds by clicking on the tiny image of the screen capture. These automatically show up on my facebook wall as well.
Why is this simply relearning old tricks? Although much different in nature and practice, I will never forget my cool, aluminum-cased Sony Walkman of the early 1980's. I may well have bought it when working in Kuwait. It allowed me to first listen alone to audio cassettes through stereo headphones.