Allow me, if you will, to rant about the latest developments in podcasting. It seems major media types are jumping into the fray since Apple introduced podcasting into its latest version of iTunes a couple of weeks ago. Yes, I was one of the million or so people who started subscribing to what iTunes had to offer. It was free (good) and gave a forum to the everyman (even better).

But we all knew this was going to happen, didn’t we? “This” is advertising. Now, my daily ESPN radio podcast is sponsored by (Tough Actin’) Tinactin. And the very first episode of the new podcast by Slate, an online magazine I read regularly, was brought to me by Chrysler. I stopped listening immediately. Unsubscribing is my next step.

Between listening to my iPod, reading some fabulous MP3 blogs (look over to the right) and downloading podcasts — oh, and work and stuff — I’ve discovered time is a finite resource. It’s bad enough ESPN’s SportsCenter hammers me over the head with the “Budweiser Hot Seat” and my precious Cubs games include the Pepsi defensive lineups and the Aflac trivia questions. Now, not even my iPod is safe. Worse, my favorite podcasts, from NPR affiliate KCRW in Santa Monica, Calif., are going to be underwritten by Toyota for six months in exchange for 10-second spots on each episode.

(On a side note, there now will be ads in the ads I’m trying to fast-forward through on my TiVo. From AP story: “TiVo has announced plans to insert symbols that identify advertisers during commercial breaks, making them more visible even when a customer is fast forwarding through them.” TiVo is desperate for money — it hasn’t turned a profit since ’97 — so it must be OK to sell out the idea of commercial skipping, which made the device so ingenious to begin with.)

I’m not naive. I work for a major newspaper. Advertising dollars probably pay a bulk of my salary (thank you, Christie’s Cabaret and Hi-Liter Gentlemen’s Clubs). I get that. But as the aforementioned story hints, these major media companies are squashing the true spirit of podcasting: the democratization of information. People will subscribe to podcasts by companies they know: ABC, ESPN, Disney (gee, all owned by the same folks). Thus advertisers will flock to said companies and it’ll end up just like commercial radio — exactly what podcasting wasn’t supposed to be.

I suppose Apple’s involvement brought podcasting to the mainstream. But where does that leave the grass-roots programs? How long before they start charging?

Ah, just had to vent. Here’s some music (free of charge, but go buy it if you like it!)

Public Enemy — How to Kill a Radio Consultant
Jets to Brazil — Resistance is Futile

In trying to keep up with Chris at Gorilla vs. Bear, I’m not taking Sunday off (and for the record, a gorilla would win in a landslide).

I’m going to keep the hip-hop rolling here. Last night, we went out with our good friend Jay to a hip-hop night called The Shop. It had been awhile (too long) since we’d done the drinking/DJ thing. The deejays dropped some serious good-time tunes, including some Tribe, 3rd Bass and Black Moon. And so it’s my duty to pass along the old-school vibes.

Enjoy. (On a side note, I’m getting a root canal — ugh — this Thursday. The endodontist told me I could bring my iPod. Any soothing suggestions for a Root Canal Playlist?)

3rd Bass — Wordz of Wisdom
Black Moon — Who Got the Props?
The Bizzie Boyz — Droppin’ It

First off, much thanks go out to Chris at Gorilla vs. Bear and Dodge at My Old Kentucky Blog for lookin’ out for this rookie. I promise Chris — and anyone else interested — an NFL post with my vinyl-to-digital MP3 of the Super Bowl Shuffle when training camps open at the end of July. Be on the lookout, for it also includes the “Extended Vocal Mix.” For the DJs, there’s an instrumental cut, too. If that doesn’t keep you coming back, I don’t know what will. My new circle of cyberpals includes Peter at tmwsiy*, another suffering Cubs fan.

For your weekend shopping:

What I’m reading:
Freakonomics — by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner.

What I’ve recently finished reading:

Fahrenheit 451 — again. By Ray Bradbury. The best, and the inspiration for the name of this site.
Learning How to Die — by Greg Kot. All about Wilco.
Killing Bono — by Neil McCormick. Bono’s former schoolmate retells living in Bono’s considerable shadow.
Bringin’ Down the House — by Ben Mezrich. Card counters take Vegas for a ride.

What I’m TiVoing:
Twilight Zone — Rod Serling is the man.
King of the Hill — “That boy ain’t right.”
This Old Cub — TV premiere Saturday on WGN about ex-Cubs third baseman Ron Santo.

Random gems:

Catherine Wheel — Satellite
Black Sheep — The Choice is Yours (Revisited)
Low — California (on KEXP)

My very first post. How, um, historic. I’m a little self-conscious because this seems an exercise in egotism. But, ostensibly, this space will serve mostly as an area to force the will of my musical tastes upon my (few) visitors. Ideally, I will highlight bands and musicians (via MP3s, Q&A’s, etc.) from this fine state of Arizona, as the talent is plenty, if not a little underexposed; consider it my community service.

But I’ll no doubt foist upon you other musical gems. I suppose, this being the first post and all, I should start with a few of my all-time favorites: Run-DMC and A Tribe Called Quest. I know “Raising Hell” (for Run-DMC) and “Low End Theory” (for Tribe) were the watershed albums, but I wore my cassette player out on “Tougher than Leather” and “Midnight Marauders.” If faced with the ol’ desert-island disc conundrum, I’d prefer to be stranded with a copy of “Midnight Marauders.”

Run-DMC — Run’s House
Tribe — Lyrics to Go