[UPDATE 5 AUGUST 2015: Everyone who pledges $10 or more (Slight Less Basic Tip) is now eligible to play ONE OF THREE WORDS. Scroll down for the details.]

Listen up, MEDIA FREEDOM CITIZENS! You're buying me a new computer, because my old one is almost dead. In return, you'll get a special episode of The 9pm Edict podcast, with content made to your request. For a price.

It's just like a telethon. Except it's not on television. And it's not live. And yeah, it's not for a charity. But we're doing this anyway.



That's the dying computer, a much-abused late-2011 model MacBook Pro. We're talking severe and increasing hardware faults that have been thoroughly explored.

The keyboard is dying. The command key is cracked. One cursor key is gone. V doesn’t work. Sometimes U, I and O disappear as well. Only one of the USB ports works. Wi-Fi fails randomly. Just touching the machine can cause these and other random errors. You have to reboot it to get it working again. And the screen is cracked, with one crack running right across the front of the camera lens.

It's time for a new computer, but such lousy timing! I’ve only just turned around falling revenues. I’ve got to cover getting new glasses, dental work, sorting out my diet, other medical issues.



It's all too much. So how about I handle those personal matters, and you can sort out my primary work tool?

As a stretch goal, I've costed out some kit for recording panel discussions in the field. That'll make it possible to resurrect the Corrupted Nerds podcast, and explore some other projects I've got on the back burner.

Your special episode of The 9pm Edict

BONUS ADDITION: One of Three Words

The project funds will be spent on a new Apple MacBook Pro computer and backup hard drives, plus some portable audio gear — the exact details will depend on the targets met.

TARGET 1: $5000 — MID-RANGE MACBOOK PRO, BACKUP DRIVES, 3-PERSON PORTABLE TALK SHOW RIG

Computer: MacBook Pro 15-inch, 2.5GHz, 16GB SDRAM, 512GB SSD, plus AppleCare Protection Plan, plus 1 x Toshiba 2TB 2.5” USB3 hard drive (or equivalent) for a Time Machine backup, plus 2 x Toshiba 1TB 2.5” USB3 hard drives (or equivalent) to archive data off my old machine. Total cost $3645.

Audio: Zoom H5 Handy Recorder plus accessory kit plus EXH-6 XLR/TRS Expansion, 2 x desktop microphone stands, 2 x XLR mic cables 3 metres. Total cost $662. I already have two Sennheiser vocal microphones, and the H5 has its own mic. While the EXH-6 isn't necessary for this configuration, it'll be cheaper if I buy it at this time, ready for future expansion.

Luggage: 1 x The North Face Recon Backpack, plus delivery, plus a quality duffle bag for lugging the audio gear. Total cost $330.

Refreshments for the panel at the Public House Forum. Total cost $100.

TARGET 2: $7200 — TOP-END MACBOOK PRO, BACKUP DRIVES, 5-PERSON PORTABLE TALK SHOW RIG

Computer: MacBook Pro 15-inch, 2.8GHz, 16GB SDRAM, 1TB SSD, plus AppleCare Protection Plan, plus 1 x Seagate 4TB Backup Plus USB3 hard drive (or equivalent) for a Time Machine backup, plus 2 x Toshiba 1TB 2.5” USB3 hard drives (or equivalent) to archive data off my old machine. Total cost $4757.

Audio: Zoom H6 Handy Recorder plus accessory kit, 3 x Sennheiser e845 microphones or equivalent (I already have two earlier-model Sennheiser mics similar to the e845), 5 x desktop microphone stands, 5 x XLR mic cables 3 metres. Total cost $1438.

Luggage: 1 x The North Face Recon Backpack, plus delivery, plus a quality duffle bag for lugging the audio gear. Total cost $330.

Refreshments for the panels at two Public House Forums, because if we reach this target we're likely to have enough questions for two forum sessions. Total cost $200.

NOTES

Apple's prices incorporate 15% family-and-friends discount. All other computer-related prices are based on current pricelists at eStore and CX Computers. Audio equipment prices are based on current online prices advertised by Sound Devices.

Pozible's fees, bank fees and other administration costs take about 9% of the total funds raised. For the gory details, see the updated project budget (PDF). The project targets are set slightly lower than the costing spreadsheet indicates because I have already received some contributions through other channels, and I like round numbers.

If people make contributions beyond Target 1, but not enough to meet Target 2, then the extra funds will go first towards a subset of the audio equipment, adding per-person capability to the rig, then to accessories such as cables and adapters, then to my medical and dental costs. The exact purchase plan will depend on the quotes I receive from suppliers at the time. I'll be substituting brands if I can get a better deal.

My sincere thanks to Justin Clacherty for the loaner MacBook Pro I've been using for the past couple of weeks.

The 9pm Edict already exists as a podcast, and making media is what I do, so the challenges here relate to producing the specific content required by this project.

The riskiest content is the Public House Forum, because it involves herding actual people at a pub into some sort of coherent arrangement and recording it. I've done it before, though. The worst that can happen is that it's less interesting than we'd have hoped.

As an example, in the episode titled "The 9pm Shire", I managed to turn a chaotic conversation with some Monday afternoon drinkers at Cronulla into some interesting audio. Listen from the 40 minute 30 second mark.


Overall, the most likely problem, as in the past, is that the production of the special episode will be delayed by poor health or other circumstances, in which case it'll appear a week or two later than intended. While I plan to produce the special podcast episode(s) in August, I've set the estimated delivery date of the Rewards to September to cover this possibility.

If I die, you've done your money.