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Thom Hartmann Show
We’ve created this page for listeners of the Thom Hartmann Show. Thanks for visiting!
Listen to Thom’s Show
Since your iPod can go with you everywhere, so can your digital audio files. These include music, audiobooks, podcasts, and other audio from the internet, such as the Thom Hartmann show. Here are some tips to get Thom’s show, and other great talk shows and podcasts onto your iPod.
A Podcast is a syndicated audio or video program that is distributed over the internet, usually for free. Podcasts are great because you can subscribe to them, and whenever a new program is released, it will automatically be downloaded directly to your computer. By far the easiest way to subscribe to a podcast, manage it, and load it on an iPod is by using Apple’s iTunes software. You can get the latest version of iTunes for FREE by clicking here. (iTunes also comes with every iPod.)
Subscribe to the Podcast via iTunes
1. Make sure you have iTunes 6.0 or higher installed
on your computer (get it by clicking here.)
2. Connect to the internet.
3. Click
here to launch iTunes to go directly
to Thom’s podcast.
4. Click Subscribe to download
the current show and get future shows.
To search for other Podcasts, launch iTunes, click on the link that brings you to the iTunes Store, and then click Podcasts. Or, if you have iTunes installed, click here to launch the Podcast Directory in iTunes.
Subscribe to the RSS Feed
Click here to get instant, free updates of Thom’s show.
Stream the Show via Your Web Browser
Live Shows
To learn more about live streaming, read about it on www.thomhartmann.com.
Click here to go directly to the live stream on Air America.
Archived Shows
There are two sets of archives of the Thom Hartmann Program available on the internet to stream through your web browser.
1) The last three years of the program, each one the entire three hours of the show, maintained by The White Rose Society.
2) The last two years of short clips from the show, organized by topic by Michael Toth. Access that archive by logging into the Thom Hartmann show message board by clicking here.
Back Up Your Mac!
We believe it’s imperative to keep your data safe, so here are some great tips and tools to facilitate a good backup method.
What is a Backup & Why Do I Need to Do It?
A “backup” simply refers to a safe duplicate of your files, which are copied to a removable disc (CD/DVD, etc.) or drive. If you use your computer constantly, it’s obviously very important to back it up (since, let’s face it, nothing’s perfect).
Imagine this: You spent numerous hours on an important project. You diligently saved your work. You go to quit your application and it crashes. You attempt to reboot but your computer will not start up. After making some calls to tech support, it is determined that your hard drive is toast (that’s a technical term). Without a proper backup, all of your work and all of the files stored on your Mac could be lost forever.
The scenario above can and does occur with all computers, Macs, Windows, etc. The only safe way to avoid disaster is to regularly back up your work.
What To Back Up?
It is not always necessary to back up every file on your Mac. Generally speaking, things like programs, fonts, and your operating system, are already on CDs. However, if you have downloaded any of these software packages, you should back these up seperately (preferrably to a CD or external hard drive) ASAP.
Typically, the files that need to be backed up are your own personal files, things like reports, letters, photos, etc. It may also be a good idea to back up your emails. If you use Outlook Express or Entourage, just back up the “Microsoft User Data” folder (use the “Find” feature to locate it). If you use Apple's OS X Mail, backup your “Mail” folder.
Follow this path from the root of your hard drive: Hard Drive/Users/YourName/Library/Mail folder
Backup Methods
Backing up your computer doesn’t need to be complicated. There are several easy, inexpensive ways to back up your data, depending on your type of data.
- External Hard Drives: These are a great option for several reasons: hard drives are dropping in price, and all they require are a “drag and drop.” Once you have plugged in your external drive, it will show up on your desktop as an icon (similar to your Macintosh HD icon), and you will be able to copy files and folders to it. It is a good idea to get at least as much hard drive space as your computer has (for example, if your Mac has a 160GB hard drive, you would want to get a 160GB drive or higher. That way, if you have to back up ALL files on your computer for some reason, there will be room). External hard drives generally use FireWire or USB ports, which current Macs have. Check your computer specs before hooking up your hard drive.
- CD/DVD: Chances are, your Mac has a CD or DVD burner. CDs and DVDs have a long shelf life (though not forever) if well taken care of (avoid direct sunlight and scratching if you can!). They can be perfect for backing up photos and other documents, because you can easily file them away and keep them labeled. There are CDs and DVDs that can be burned multiple times, so that may save having to constantly buy media for your backups. (However, if your data is changing constantly, you would want to consider an external hard drive as a more efficient option.)
- Flash Drives: Flash drives can be an effective backup for people on the go who don't have a lot of data to back up. Flash drives are really affordable now, and they come in all different capacities (most common: 512MB to 2GB). Plus, there are numerous cool devices that incorporate a flash drive iin with something else (like a Swiss army knife!).
Automated Backups
It’s not always easy to remember to back up, and that’s where automating the process comes in handy. In Leopard (Mac OS 10.5), there is a program called Time Machine, which does the work for you. Apple estimates that only about 4% of people who use computers regularly perform regular, automated backups. That’s definitely not a high percentage, and can lead to disasterous results.
Apple’s .Mac subcription-based service is also a great option. Among its many features, there is included backup software so that you may back up to their server (great for hard-to-find files, such as bookmarks, emails, and contacts), or use any other device mentioned above. You can automate your backups, and personalize your backup plan to meet your needs.
Learn More
- About Time Machine.
- About .Mac.
View Products
Additional Tips
- Have more than one backup. Though not absolutely necessary, it can be a good idea to back up your work to two places instead of just one.
- Make sure you are mindful of protecting your backup source. Unplug the external drive in the event of a storm, store your CD/DVD media away from sharp objects, and keep your flash drive out of the bathtub, etc.
- Consider an off-site backup, as mentioned above, in conjunction with your regular back up. Storing data on another server can be a lifesaver if your main option fails to come through.