OTR - the secret of time travel revealed...

This time travel technique requires little or no money or training and works in some very interesting time periods. You need only a few things to make it work - a little quality time for yourself, a few gadgets, and a little imagination. If you relax and let the time machine work it will even improve your imagination ...

The Claim - follow these easy instructions and I guarantee that you will find yourself in a different time period. You will walk the streets of small town America in the 1950's. You will hear the Manhattan street sounds in 1949 (Broadway Is My Beat). You'll travel to Pine Ridge Arkansas and visit a real general store (the Jotem Down Store of Lum 'n Abner) that served its customers for over 30 years. You'll be invited into the homes of some interesting people who became famous for their conversation. You can travel with a very well known insurance investigator (Johnny Dollar) as he takes cases all over the world in the 1940's. This technique will also work for some other time periods - the American west at the turn from the 19th to the 20th century (consider Gunsmoke or Frontier Gentleman) - and there are, for the very adventurous, selected excursions to Mars and other planets (Dimension X).

Preparing for time travel - conditions have to be right for this technique to be effective. Do it at the wrong time, or leave ill equipped and you won't make it out of 2007. The instructions are simple and will reward you handsomely:

Setting - I recommend a comfortable chair. Lying down is only for the experienced time traveler as there is a tendency to drift into a dream state. Drinks are optional. Some people find them relaxing but there is that danger of drowsiness!

Time Transport Gadget - Almost any computer will do the job. Some people have had good experiences with CD and other players and headphones. Start simply. After you make the crossover to other time era's you may become addicted and will then want to own several gadgets so you can trip-out wherever you are. As my father used to say, "wherever you go, there you are". Some sources for these gadgets are given below.

Time Capsule - The time capsules are known as Old Time Radio, or OTR to those in on the secret. While there are several formats available, the most popular and commonly available is the mp3 file. A single mp3 time capsule will generally hold a 30-minute trip, which is known as an "episode". There are also many fine full hour trips or episodes. For the time travel aficionado there are also 5, 10 and 15-minute episodes.

Time Series - A single "episode" to a place like Pine Ridge Arkansas in 1941 can be confusing for the uninitiated. The language will of course be strange. The characters may be confusing because you don't know them well. Fortunately most episodes come in sets called "series". Thus you can follow the exploits of a detective over a period of time or cases (like The Adventures of Harry Nile). It is strongly recommended that you take several capsules (episodes) in a series. The time travel effect gets better with repeated exposure. You become more comfortable in this different setting. You learn to talk the talk and walk the walk of 1940 or 1950. After a few capsules, you'll feel like you are an invited guest in somebody else's home (say Fibber McGee & Molly) and more than welcome to sit a spell and listen to them live their daily lives.

Where to get the time capsules - You can spend years collecting them as myself and others have done. Transcribe them from other media, edit and adjust, research and properly time stamp them. Or you can click a link and tune in immediately! You will find links to sources of these time capsules so you can sample the time travel experience and begin to download and collect time capsules of your own. Be careful - collecting can be addicting and you may find yourself trapped in the 1940's along with me!