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January 29, 2007
tc_vlog_007
On my way home after seven-hours in a classroom at Teachers College, Tokyo in Suidobashi, I thought that there had been no reason to bring the camera with me today. My hope to get some video for a new entry seemed lost as the dusk began enveloping the sky as I made my way toward Kasuga station near Tokyo Dome to catch the subway home. And then I was struck by the lights.
I experimented with a couple of effects to spice things up and hopefully better accompany the music. An iMovie crash 90 minutes into the process of editing the clips (without a recent backup-save), left me close to tears at 3:30 in the morning. Luckily, the second time through wasn't so time consuming. It continues to be a steep yet exciting learning curve. Still, I worry that the "special affects" come across heavy-handedly.
The music that accompanies this entry was found on the PodShower website which features podsafe music from Japan. The funky hip-hop groove is performed by the Osaka based band In-Sist. A link to their own video of the song Peace is available on YouTube and is linked to from the PodShower link below.
Links:
- Music performed by: In-Sist
- Music source: PodShower: Podsafe Music from Japan
- Tokyo Dome City
I hope you enjoy it.
Posted by scott at 06:22 AM | Comments (6)
January 27, 2007
Tokyo Calling Episode 072
A recent food craze in Japan and an ego-maniacal response to a recent review comprise the bulk of this 17 minute happy-birthday-to-me-cast. I mis-spoke in talking about the episode of Tokyo Calling the reviewer dubbed an example of "all that is wrong about podcasting" as #70 instead of #71.
Relevant Links:
- Japantoday on the MegaMac
- Japan Probe with a link to the MegaMac commercial in Japan
- Kinnerrc's original Live Journal piece on podcasting
Running time: 17'35" ..:.. Filesize: 6.1 mb
Bit Rate: 48 Kbps (mono) ..:.. Sample Rate 22.050
Once again, thanks for listening! !
Posted by scott at 08:48 AM | Comments (16)
January 26, 2007
tc_vlog_006
As promised last week, here is the trip to the Tokyo Calling Tower. This vlog entry was inspired by the discovery of a website from Tokyo Metropolitan's Board of Tourism. The Best of Self-Guided Tours in Tokyo features more than two dozen day-long or half day sightseeing walks. I followed the first half of the Tokyo's Twinkle Town tour after teaching a class in Onarimon yesterday. I will use some of these tours in future podcasts and vlog entries.
I would invite any Tokyo-based or visiting vloggers to do your own treatment of any of the tours. I'd love to link to and accumulate a list such video or audio features.
This entry features two complete podsafe songs to spare the kind viewers from having to put up with my droning commentary. Please support the artists if you enjoy their music:
- The first song is called Samurai Story and is performed by shockshadow. It appears on the CC Mixter site and is offered under a creative commons Sampling Plus 1.0 license.
- The second song was found on Podshower: Podsafe Music from Japan website. The band is called Pascals and the song played for the Tokyo Calling Tower segment of the vlog entry is called Samba. Pascals' latest CD is available through CD Baby.
Thanks for checking out the Tokyo Calling Vlog. Your comments, criticisms, or suggestions are welcome and appreciated.
Posted by scott at 06:53 AM | Comments (5)
January 21, 2007
Tokyo Calling Episode 071
Talk about new subscription feed details and the vlog dominate this 22 minute just-before-bedtime-cast.
Running time: 22'06" ..:.. Filesize: 7.7 mb
Bit Rate: 48 Kbps (mono) ..:.. Sample Rate 22.050
Once again, thanks for listening! !
Posted by scott at 09:51 PM | Comments (10)
tc_vlog_005
Walking around the Ochanomizu Station area on Saturday, I happened upon St. Nikolai's Russian Orthodox Church. Camera's are not allowed inside the chapel, but I was able to capture a few glimpses of the outside of the building. Built in the late 19th century, the Tokyo Resurrection Cathedral was restored after devastating damage from the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923.
As I was leaving the grounds, I noticed a pair of men installing a cross made of sculpted ice in the courtyard. I wonder if it is connected with any particular religious observance.
Doing some research on St. Nikolai's through wikipedia, I came across a rich bit of history on the founding of the Orthodox Church in Japan. I hope to talk about it in the long overdue 71st episode of the Tokyo Calling podcast (early next week).
Thanks for watching and for all the kind responses to the Tokyo Calling Vlog so far.
Posted by scott at 07:13 AM | Comments (5)
January 19, 2007
tc_vlog_004
As mentioned in the introduction, I checked out Ryanne's tutorial on using the H.264 codec for iPod at FreeVlog.org in putting this 4th episode together. I'm please with the quality. Please let me know how you're watching this and how it looks.
The music is by Aleksander Nikov and is offered through a Creative Commons license courtesy of Camomille Music.
Some links related to the episode:
Posted by scott at 07:36 AM | Comments (5)
January 16, 2007
tc_vlog_003
Recompressed and replaced (021107)
Against better judgement, your host makes an appearance on camera in this Tuesday morning vlog entry from Onarimon in Tokyo. Today I began a new business English teaching gig and was delighted to see what looked like the Tokyo Calling icon as I emerged from below ground from the subway.
I'll be returning to the same place tomorrow. Weather permitting, I hope to do another vlog from high atop the "Tokyo Calling Tower".
Posted by scott at 12:39 PM | Comments (12)
January 15, 2007
tc_vlog_002
Recompressed and reposted (021107)
This 5 minute vlog entry follows my Friday lunchtime commute from Iidabashi to Yotsuya stations on the JR Sobu line.
Note: The subscription feed section of the blog has been updated. People who were previously subscribed to the video feed will no longer be able to download audio podcasts. Please subscribe the "Combined" feed if you want to get everything.
Thanks for all the positive feedback so far. The fun and excitement with this for me has exceeded my expectations.
Posted by scott at 08:10 AM | Comments (3)
January 13, 2007
tc_vlog_001
Recompressed and reposted - sorry for duplicate downloads.
The first installment of the Tokyo Calling vlog features a return to an area where I first spent a great deal of time when I came to Japan 8 years ago.
Posted by scott at 05:55 PM | Comments (4)
January 12, 2007
Tokyo Calling Episode 070
Happy New Year!!
Recorded at Yasukuni, this 28 minute program-note-cast features an extended response to a question about whisky from Fatso, a brief talk about work, and an explanation of the forthcoming Tokyo Calling Vlog.
I had hoped to release the first vlog episode prior this podcast. General mayhem on the home-front made this impossible. With luck, it will be put online later this evening.
Links mentioned:
Running time: 28'53" ..:.. Filesize: 10.0 mb
Bit Rate: 48 Kbps (mono) ..:.. Sample Rate 22.050
Once again, thanks for listening! !
Posted by scott at 06:28 AM | Comments (3)
Tokyo Calling 2005