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I have been a huge podcast listener since first discovering podcasting in October of 2004.  Those were some exciting times.  While I was never a creator, I enjoyed watching all the shows grow and become very popular.  People were making shows for the fun of it — to be part of a community.  I was tempted to create some kind of show, but I was spending too much time enjoying everybody else to have time to create anything myself.

Times have really changed.  A lot of podcasts are making money now, and people are doing it full time.  That’s great for the people involved, but sad when business comes before the shows.

This week three of the podcasts I listen to are no more.  CNET’s Gadgetts, TWiT’s Maxwell’s House, and Geek Brief are all no more.

I will miss Gadgetts, but I am sure I will still hear from everybody on other CNET podcasts that I listen to.  Cali Lews has had some personal and what sounds like business issues with Mevio, but it looks like she is moving over to Revision3 with a new show called Geek Beat, which looks to be very similar to Geek Brief, so I won’t be missing much there.

The one guy I am really going to miss is Ray Maxwell.  He is like the grandfather I never had.  He has so many great stories from his life.  I was a little disappointed when TWiT wanted him to focus his show to aviation only.  I enjoyed his many other topics better, but now that I look back, I think they were hoping that having a specific topic would draw advertisers.

He said he is going to appear on other TWiT shows from time to time, but you know how that goes.  Who really knows how often he will be on.  I am hoping Dr. Kiki has him on Dr. Kiki’s Science Hour from time to time.

While it’s sad to see good shows go, I am sure they will be replaced by equally good shows.  It has been quite amazing watching TWiT grow.  I have listened to damn near every show the network has produced, and almost always have one of my three monitors on the live stream.

Podcasting has brought me so much education, and entertainment these past six years.  It’s almost total replaced my TV viewing.  I bet I only watch 5 hours of TV a week nowadays, and 2.5 hrs of that is Jeopardy.  Thank you internet, and thank you podcast producers.

Our Hawaii vacation is getting closer and closer.  Flights, hotels, car, and excursions are all paid for.  I could add it all up, but I am kind of scared to know how much we spent.  We have a pretty booked schedule.  We wanted to see and do as much as possible while we are there.

I think we are going to have a pretty memorable 10 year anniversary.  That day we are taking a helicopter tour over Kilauea volcano, and that evening we are heading to the top of Mauna Kea to do some star gazing.  It should be a fun time.  On our honeymoon we went to the top of Pikes Peak, and Mauna Kea is at a similar elevation.  I’m not sure if there will be any snow up there this time of year, but I am kinda hoping I can throw a snowball in Hawaii.

Right now I am debating if I should just use the hotel’s wifi or rent a mifi for my internet access.  The hotels charge $12 a day, but I can rent a mifi for $8 a day.  I just wish I knew which one was faster.  I am leaning towards the mifi since it’s cheaper, and it will give me internet access on the go too, including the airports that don’t have free wifi.

It should be a great vacation.  I am really looking forward to learning a lot about Hawaii.  Neither the Wife or I really like to relax on vacations.  We like to get out and see and learn as much as possible.  That’s what we consider fun.  We can relax all we want on our couch when we get back.