Topic: Digital Archives

A discussion on how the modern information control apparatus curates "consensus reality" by removing inconvenient facts. In the 1800s, local newspapers frequently reported on anomalous finds that were later quarantined or suppressed by organizations like the Smithsonian. Modern digital archives now allow researchers to reconstruct a "lost world" by searching these old, seemingly inconsequential reports for evidence of suppressed science and hidden history.

The guest explains his transition from physical library research using microfilm and light projectors to utilizing modern digital archives. This shift allowed him to maximize his research time while balancing family life, leading to the "Analog" moniker. His investigations cover a wide range of topics, including the early 20th-century transition from naturopathic to allopathic medicine funded by the Rockefellers.

Paul Shatzkin details his various websites, including ttbrown.com and fusor.net, and introduces the "Water Star Project," an initiative to fund experiments with the Farnsworth fuser. He issues a plea for a "digital historian" to help him recover thousands of emails and notes stored in obsolete formats like Eudora and old versions of Microsoft OneNote, which contain vital research for his books.

Technical challenges regarding the organization of the podcast archive led to a restructuring of how bonus content appears in the RSS feed. The host explains that maintaining separate feeds for free and Plus listeners caused synchronization issues and broken audio players on the website for non-subscribers. To resolve this, placeholder episodes now appear in the free feed to maintain alignment while reminding listeners of the additional hour of content available in the full version.

Technical challenges regarding archive alignment and RSS feed organization led to a change in how bonus content is distributed. To maintain a clean database and avoid broken audio players for non-subscribers on the website, a placeholder segment now occupies the Joint Session slot on the free feed. This strategy aims to remind listeners of the additional hour of content available in the Plus version while maintaining the show's integrity by avoiding mid-interview cliffhangers.

Technical challenges regarding the organization of the podcast archive led to a restructuring of how bonus content appears in the RSS feed. To maintain alignment between free and paid versions, a placeholder system was implemented to replace empty audio players on the website for non-subscribers. This change serves as a reminder of the additional hour of content available in the second half of interviews, which is designed to be seamless for free listeners but offers deeper conversational depth for Plus members.

Technical challenges regarding archive alignment and RSS feed organization led to the implementation of a new distribution strategy. To prevent broken audio players on the website and maintain a clean archive, a placeholder segment now appears in the free feed where the Joint Session would normally reside. This change aims to remind free listeners of the additional hour of content available in the second half of interviews while maintaining a non-intrusive listening experience.

A change in the podcast's backend organization addresses issues with archive alignment and broken audio players on the public website. To maintain a clean 1:1 ratio between free and Plus feeds, a placeholder segment now occupies the Joint Session slot in the free RSS feed. This strategy aims to remind free listeners of the additional hour of content they miss each week while ensuring the host's internal statistics and file structures remain organized.

Emmons encourages students to create physical backups of her online materials, expressing skepticism about the longevity of electronic formats like Amazon Kindle. She details where to find her newsletters and archives on Facebook, emphasizing the importance of "solid form" books for preserving alchemical history against potential digital erasure.

John Le Bon discusses how the Internet Archive and digital PDFs have revolutionized historical research, allowing him to trace sources from his home in Brisbane. He claims that by using these tools, he discovered that many "foundational" historians like Herodotus have no verifiable primary sources. He suggests that this level of scrutiny was impossible before the late 1990s.

Ron Patton discusses a legal battle with his magazine distributor that has delayed the print version of the Fall 2013 issue. He encourages listeners to purchase PDF versions of the magazine and announces that 57 back issues will be made available digitally for $3 each. The show concludes with Greg Carlwood praising the publication and a musical outro titled "Transmitter."