Category: Radio

Better Than Bluetooth

Having found a workaround to make audio casting work between my Android phone and A/V receiver, I kept thinking about where it worked as it should — connecting to the Chromecast video adapter on the porch TV.

What about Google’s Chromecast Audio device? It was discontinued three years ago, but an outfit has some from Japan available on eBay for $50, including shipping. A reasonable price over the original $35. They’re supposed to be new in original boxes, so I ordered one.

Yep, new and sealed in its original Japanese language box. Chromecast Audio is now playing on the living room stereo, replacing a 6-year-old Bluetooth dongle, and working directly within the SiriusXM app, as it should.

Will Drew Carey have to take a break from his Friday Night Freak-Out on SiriusXM to go on the coast-to-coast tour for his day job?

Shouted-Outed

Thanks, Jim Dawson, for the humorous acknowledgement.

Jim has taken up the radio reins on Luxuria Music that he shared for many years with the late Ian Whitcomb.

Ian’s stroke caused a marked change in his voice, as heard in this clip from a few years ago, during a pledge drive. Go to 32:00 minutes to hear my request for my sister Liz, who was delighted to hear this recording.

Three Christmas Gifts in Five Parts

Last year at this time I pointed out a book I had read, Brian Sibley’s Joseph and the Three Gifts: An Angels Story.

Dickens’ Agnostic Christmas

This year the book has been adapted as a BBC Radio 4 play. I can’t embed it here, so it’s linked on this picture.

A young girl in trouble, needing a husband, and he marries her knowing the child is not his. That’s as human as it gets.

From the New Revised Standard Version:

The Birth of Jesus the Messiah
18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah[i] took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

23 “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,”

which means, “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25 but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son;[j] and he named him Jesus.

This American Radio Life

Freakonmoics Radio is one of those NPR series with a format patterned after the highly influential This American Life. Stephen J. Dubner’s narration is similar to Ira Glass, who consciously dropped his “radio voice” when starting This American Life. This is irrelevant to the high quality of the program content, but as a former radio announcer myself I find the style a smidgen twee.