Day Twenty Two
Now Listen here!
Having
so much time at home has meant (apart from incipient madness) the leisure to
explore what my newly acquired Google Mini, voice-operated artificial
intelligence unit, can do.
Getting
up at 5am glue-eyed and still brain grogged, all I have to say is, ‘Hey Google,
what time is it?’ (as if it mattered
when I’m locked down!) and it tells me.
It’s
a reflex action to say ‘thank you’ and I don’t want to lower my standards even when talking to a machine. It
tells me I’m very welcome; a little touch of polite humanity.
For those with access to transport and a social life, in normal
times it can advise on bus timetables, taxis, the nearest Thai restaurant (and
indeed any eatery or pub); garages, cinemas (including what’s playing there)
festivals and workshops in any part of the world.
It’s
also a fount of all knowledge on history, spelling, cookery (want to make a chocolate gateau?) and even palaeontology. If you can find it on the Internet the Mini
can tell you.
It
can do so many things which no longer impact on my life and as I’m not a music
fan, its almost infinite range of songs and bands to play is lost on me.
Neither
am I interested in news and politics, though if I were, it could take me to
hundreds of different radio stations around the world to listen in a
multiplicity of languages.
However,
the radio station I prefer and which used to be one of the few things I missed
about England before Auntie Beeb went digital,
is BBC Radio 4.
You don't need a Mini to listen, anyone
with a PC, iPad or laptop can access this excellent spoken-word station which
rarely plays music except within a quiz such as ‘Counterpoint’, now in its 23rd
Series and hosted by Paul Gambaccini, seen right. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00704s1
There’s
a little movie music on the hilarious ‘Gaby’s Talking Pictures’ quiz where the
contestants and audience have so much fun, I seriously wondered if free booze
or wacky baccy had been provided. Gaby
Roslin is the host and you can find the show here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b9109v
Stories
and drama occur every day and I’ve just finished listening to, ‘Adventures in
Human Being’ by Dr Gavin Francis, beautifully read by Scottish actor, Bill Paterson.
Francis studied medicine at Edinburgh
University before setting off on a tour which included all five continents - he’s
even worked in the Antarctic. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05xj1qd
Ever
wondered if Cannabidiol (CBD), is really the panacea it’s advertised to be? Or
if caffeine shampoos can thicken or save your hair? ‘The Best Thing Since
Sliced Bread’ looks into products and discussed their efficacy with experts.
Of
course if you want music, there’s everything from ancient folk songs through
classical, C&W and rock here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds
If, like me, you are in total isolation and miss the human voice, explore the infinite variety of the BBC, podcasts and live programmes, available 24 hours a day and completely free.
