On Tue, 23 Nov 2004 15:38:52 GMT, m II
wrote:
bug wrote:
On 21 Nov 2004 17:57:40 -0800, (Jim) wrote:
Even when listening to songs, I prefer to shortwave to CD. Most of my friends
think I'm nuts when they hear me listening to Beethoven on BBC on 15.310 MHz
instead of tuning on 100 MHz stereo.
Any suggestions?
No, suggestions, but a curiosity.
Why do you prefer listening to songs on shortwave versus CD?
I can only speak for myself...
It's a hard to describe feeling. The bit of imperfection in the signal
adds to the appreciation that it's coming to you from a far away
place. You are much more aware of the process that brings you the signal.
CD is almost perfect, but may at times be mistaken for elevator music.
It's just there. No fuss, no muss but also sterile.
The searching aspect adds to the experience. With the radio, you have
to seek out content. It's an adventure of sort, as you don't know what
you'll find. It may be similar to cooking in a way.
A cd is like canned food. When you open a can, you know exactly what
the contents are. With short wave, the process is more like finding
what's in the pantry and fridge and then determining what you can or
can not make of it.
Sometimes the results are a pleasant surprise.
mike
Plus, I find, there's a feeling of connecting with history.
When the Queen had her "Queen's concert" in June of '02, I could have
watched on the tv, in fact, I looked in to see what they were wearing.
But as for the concert, I listened to it on the BBC (at15400) , and
found it breathtaking. And yes, there was some fading and noise, but
that part of the "experience", one that I will cherish the rest of my
life.
On Sept. 11, 2001, I listened to shortwave that evening, I listened to
"stories of our century" on R. Nederland.
with a story on Anne Frank, and the Netherlands.
followed by news at 0100 utc, with "the hunt for those responsible for
the terrorist attack in the United States"
Needless to say, that will stay in my memory as well.
And then, there's really cool stuff, like catching St Helena on it's
last broadcast.
Major Cool.
And then, there's the wonder and the excitement of finding stuff you
had no idea existed, like number stations.
All in all, cds hold a very dim candle to this stuff.