MacDirectory 37
DEPARTMENT
Apple in Science
Not surprisingly, more
and more scientists
and doctors are
switching to Apple
computers each year
in order to perform
complex research and
mind-boggling calculations. This new video
podcast takes viewers behind the scenes
and shows off some amazing applications
of Apple in the scientific world. The first
episode provides an overview of how
surgeons are using a Mac Pro workstation
to perform minimally invasive surgery on a
patient suffering from early stage gastric
cancer. While some of the visuals are a tad
awkward, the technologically driven surgery
is fascinating. If you prefer not to peak
around the innards of an operating room,
you can learn about how Macs are being
used to monitor the progression of
Alzheimer's disease or how pharmaceutical
giant Pfizer has turned to Apple in its never
ending quest to develop the next
breakthrough medication. Thinking
different has never seemed so scientific.
Hooked on Phonics
The only thing I hated
more than math in
the first grade was
phonics. I didn't care
to learn the difference
between a hard C and
a soft C, vowels were
a bore and homework distracted me from
ruling my empire of G.I. Joes. So it was
with great reluctance that I opened up the
Hooked on Phonics podcast. I'll assume
that if you're reading this you probably
have a decent command of the English
language and you wouldn't benefit too
much from phonics lessons. However, if you
have kids, nieces and nephews or teach
elementary school, the Hooked on Phonics
podcast is a must. The cartoons are wildly
entertaining and the educational benefits
of the short episodes seem immense. It's
never too early to introduce youngsters to
reading and technology, and this podcast
allows you to do both. Who wouldn't want
to trade in their textbooks for an iPod?
Bones Over Metal
Even if careening
down mountains at
dangerous speeds on
a full suspension bike
isn't your cup of tea,
you'll still be
entertained by the
aptly named Bones Over Metal podcast.
Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of this
show is how it cuts through the snobbery
that often comes along with serious cyclists
and makes the sport seem accessible to
anyone. What's even more impressive is the
three-part video that the folks behind Bones
Over Metal have been teasing out on iTunes
for free. Filmed at beautiful locations mostly
in the Pacific Northwest, the mini-
documentary is a wonderful snapshot of the
downhill subculture. It captures the
camaraderie among the riders as well as
their competiveness and laces it with
astonishing footage of them flowing down
technical descents and soaring off massive
dirt jumps.
Walking Tours
Exploring a new city
is awesome, but
being a tourist
sucks. Thumbing
through an
outdated
guidebook looking
for the address of the some obscure
landmark while your girlfriend points out
your navigational shortcomings on a bus
map is similar to visiting a sadistic
proctologist. Fortunately, a slew of walking
tour podcasts has popped up in recent
years. Stroll through Central Park, take a
Chicago poetry tour or hike up a volcano in
one of Hawaii's national parks with the aid
of a friendly, digital guide. With these
podcasts there are no bulky books and
torturous tour groups, just you,
headphones and scenery.
KEXP song of the day
It's no secret that the
proliferation of iPods
and podcasting has
taken its toll on radio
stations. But this
podcast is a nice
example of how an
old industry is adapting to new technology.
The headquarters of Seattle's KEXP is
about 2,100 miles away from my
apartment in Chicago, but once a day I
tune into the distant station's podcast to
hear its pick for song of the day. I'm not
saying all of the songs are good, but most
of them are new and all of them are free.
HOTTEST PODCASTS
MACDIRECTORY PRESENTS ITS PERIODIC LOOK AT THE HOTTEST PODCASTS ON THE WEB. WHETHER IT'S SCIENCE, PHONICS,
EXPLORING NEW LOCALES OR SIMPLY FINDING A SONG TO MAKE YOUR DAY, WE HAVE IT COVERED.
WORDS BY CHRIS SWEENEY
