Podcast

The best thing that happened to me this month was when my son introduced me to "http://podcast.com". It all started when I had to download an audio book (borrowed from the library) so that I could listen whilst doing housework. To avoid all the hassle I can just download stuff from podcast instead.

I was indeed thrilled to find so much information and entertainment at the podcast website, ranging from religion, health, news & media to business, education and food, all of which can be downloaded for listening pleasure. Housework now is no more a drudgery.

Under religion alone, there are 12 sub-headings relating to different religions and spiritualities, each sub-heading again consists of perhaps another 10 sub sub-headings. One can now have an open mind and learn more about various religious teachings at a few clicks.

The news and media segment also carries articles from a long list of journals and magazines. Just when I was spoilt for choice, my son again introduced me to New Yorker under which there is a fiction section. In this section guest authors are invited to select a short story by another author, read and discuss it. Listening to these episodes reminds me I have read very little since I left school. It also reminds me that my sensitivity to literature has almost vanished. The review and discussions about the short stories help me appreciate them more, such that I would play back again. I hope this will inspire me to read more. Reading fiction provides insight into how life experiences evoke feelings and mould peoples' character and behaviour; which we can often relate to.

I tried to analyse why I have not read much whilst I was working. It could be because my mental energy (or for that matter my energy in general) is rather low. When weekend came at the end of a work week, I would prefer activities like shopping and watching TV which demanded less of me. I guess I found justification to rot after earning a week's bacon money.

My current situation is now quite different. I need to use my brains more to keep it active and alert. In addition I need to keep my language ability intact. Interacting with children often requires me to speak in a more simple manner. This does not help me improve my speaking and writing skills.

What a gem this website is for me!