Before Phones

My name is Dino and I grew up in an extinct geologic epoch known as Before Phones (BP). In short, it was a time of Great Phonelessness. | Before Phones Movement | Our supporters | Our adversaries | Main campfire

Intro - Era Before Phones

It was a Time of Great Phonelessness

By Campfire Park

Granted, it was a bizarre time.

People actually had to talk to each other face to face. And there were only three channels on the TV. As unpleasant as that sounds, somehow it worked (although I have my doubts).

Before Phones: Where the Dinosaurs Roam

But how exactly did people survive (even thrive) before phones? Our podcast explores the latest discoveries about the Pre-Phone era, including interviews with its survivors, the latest archeological finds and other innovative research techniques.

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Day the world shut down
Or was it just very boring?

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When I was a kid without a doubt …

Sunday was the boringest day.

The reason?

For one, everything closed down. Stores weren’t open and the television shows were bad. By bad I mean they weren’t Saturday morning cartoons. In sum, the world shut down on Sunday.

Compare that to today when Sunday is pretty much just another day. Or so it seems. Yes, you can’t reach any number of business or government entities over the phone — but more or less its not all that different than the other days. Not to mention that the screen viewing options are limitless every day of the week or any time of the day.

Thinking back …

I’m wondering now if Sunday’s were so boring because of this: church. Between the hour it took to get ready and get everyone in the car, plus add the frequent occasions where, not being able to do that (on time) we slipped from the 10 o’clock mass to the 11:30 (or even the 1 pm on very lethargic days), then factor in the plus one hour service followed by the drive home: not only was the service a real snoozer, by the time we arrived back home the day was pretty much done.

Moral of story: As much as I loathed going to church growing up, today I attribute it my high tolerance of boredom to my ability to think deep. Thank you boring Sundays, I’ll always have a fond spot for you in my heart.

Who knew: Sunday is the busiest day of the week for internet use.

The campfire is always crackling and visitors are always welcome at Campfire Park

— Cowboy at the Campfire

Era Before Phones (BP)
An in-depth geologic look

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Granted, it was a bizarre time.

People actually had to talk to each other face to face.

Introducing Dino the phone-eating dinosaur

And there were only three channels on the TV.

As unpleasant as that sounds, somehow it worked (although I have my doubts).

Dino is just trying to understand modern life

But how exactly did people survive (even thrive) before phones?

Here at Before Phones (BP) “Where the Dinosaurs Roam” we explore the latest discoveries about the Pre-Phone era. Our methodologies include interviews with other dinosaurs, the latest archeological finds and a range of other innovative research techniques.

Mysteries We Explore

Nothing to fear, Dino will not harm you (but he may eat your phone)

Here at Before Phones (BP), we are dedicate to trying to understand the cryptic pre-phone era.

Unresolved questions include:

  • How people drove without texting?
  • What is was like to have only 24 photos to a roll?
  • How people (dinosaurs) coped with the boredom?

Our Goal

Dino interviews other dinosaurs

The pre-phone era also had its charm (so they say).

Our goal is to understand how society worked without everyone staring at their phone all day (and night).

  • To inform, inspire and educate about the pre-phone era
  • Feature guests from the Before Phone (BP) era
  • Continuously improve our understanding of phonelessness

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Tidbit: The average smart phone user checks their phone 47 times per day.

Well howdy folks, and I’m completely freaked out. And you know why. The fringe middle. The silent majority. Why are they so quiet?

— Buck Buckner

Dear Shareholders
And steering committee

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Every year Berkshire and Hathaway …

Gather to talk about their oodles of money.

That’s great, and I don’t mean to condemn.  But where are those same stakeholders and steering committees convening when it comes to preservation of our natural resources? 

Try not to overthink a song. Go with what pops in your head, run with it, and don’t stop until you cross the finish line.

— Bobby Angel

What Weekend?
Not that I'm complaining

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Nobody sets out for their weekend to turn into an algorithm, nor do you expect to show up on Monday to discover that your flagship website isn’t working quite like it should.

P.S. Firelight Radio is available on Apple Podcasts and PodbeanAdd block

The positive news is that I went for two runs and three walks and had two eureka moments along the way. I’m not saying I have things completely figured out. But by the end of Monday, I turned the lemons of having to revert to a “backup(p)ed” version (I can’t seem to spell that word) of my website only to serve as inspiration to reformat the entire front page. After about two hours I finally got it to looking semi-right. In retrospect, I’m not convinced the breakdown wasn’t a blessing in disguise. It forced me to admit that the old formatting wasn’t quite working.

But my larger point: Really, the whole point about the Nature Folk Flyer is to connect myself and my audience to nature. Why is it then that I seem to be spending equal shares of my time working through the minutia and archania of the computer matrix? It didn’t help that the internet was down when I arrived home at the end of the day. Keep in mind by this time I had discovered that my website was seizing up, and entire pages weren’t appearing when clicked. After a quick inspect of a couple work-arounds, and a hesitancy to try to contact technical support which is always by chat, and not very good: I simply took the bull by the horns and reverted to a backup copy of my site. And as I said, that served as inspiration to reformat and reconsider my old structural design.

The result? I’d really like to delve deeply into the Nature Folk Movement (NFM), and maybe someday I’ll get this complex architecture of websites figured out. Until then, I’m just glad I’m enjoying the process. What more really can you ask for in life?

It’s a new dawn with Candidate Burt Silver, but only because he stayed up all night to see it

— Burt Silver

Dinosaur interviews himself
What a wonderful guest!

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What’s the secret …

To a good interview?

Rare interview with an even rarer dinosaur

Some would say ample research on the topic you’re trying to discuss.  Others would say having a good set of questions.  Still others would say inviting in a good guest.  But for me, the secret to a good interview starts with the host.  It isn’t so much the questions or the answers as it is the good conversation to be had.  And really, for that to occur: Is there really a need for anyone else?  Answer: I would say yes.  The caveat is you better be comfortable having a dialog with yourself first.  And that’s why in many ways this is a breakthrough interview. 

Among the topics we cover:  My new idea for a great app, new details on the Time of Great Phonelessness (i.e. Before Phones), how phones stole our memories, the difference between prescient and clairvoyant, why a ranger kept returning to the swamp and what made him stop, the difference between a tree and a large blade of grass, why cigarettes are healthier than cell phones, how banjos went viral, and more.

Remember the Rule of the Ninja: Never fear, never doubt, and never over think.

— Ranger Rudi

Triceratops Talk
Bob and Dom talk Before Phone (BP) era

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Welcome to Before Phones (BP),

“Where the Dinosaurs Roam.”

It was a Time of Great Phonelessness

In this episode, Bob the T-Rex interviews Dom the Triceratops.  Backstory:  I allow each guest to pick a dinosaur at the beginning of the interview, and I was almost positive Dom would pick Barney.  Then again, in retrospect the Triceratops makes sense since it’s the dinosaur version of a rhino which is his favorite animal, or one of them.  This wide ranging interview includes new insights into the Before Phone (BP) era and other tidbids.

I don’t know much, but I’m inclined to spill whatever I do out at the campfire

— Old Miner

A Stegosaurus Speaks
Exploring the Before Phone (BP) Era

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Welcome to Before Phones (BP) …

Where the Dinosaurs Roam.

Available on Apple Podcasts and Podbean

In this episode, Bob (the T-Rex) sits down around the campfire for a trenchant interview with Rudi, who more closely identifies (and resembles) a stegosaurus.  Side note: Did you know that the T-Rex is closer in time to humans than the Stegosaurus epoch.  Yes, the Era of the Dinosaurs was that long, and practically forgotten.  That’s where the Before Phones (BP) interviews step in and try to describe what the Geologic Age of Great Phonelessness was all about.  

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