In this issue: We're blowing the lid off Sean Cole's dirty secret. As if that weren't enough, we're also releasing exclusive audio of AIR members in a room together. Whoa! And there's more: AIR and Harvestworks are planning more "ear-expanding" intensives, Erin reveals her latest tech fetish, and … read on. Spotlight: Fear and Self-Loathing in Dubai Sean Cole I don't like to impose, don't like to disquiet people. Calling strangers on the phone makes me shake. Approaching them on the street is worse. I have a pathological desire to be on everybody's good side. Confrontation renders me weak and feeble-minded. My dirty secret is that I have every wrong instinct for my chosen profession. A few mornings into my two-week stay in Dubai, I woke up in my hotel room, alone, and said the following words out loud: "Oh God, I'm out of my depth." read more... » *Correction: Last month's Spotlight, "A.D. Ira: Is There Life After This American Life?" referred to Vocalo.org as a radio show. Vocalo.org is a live-stream Web community and secondary service of Chicago Public Radio, airing online at http://vocalo.org/ and at 89.5 FM WBEW. Cool Tools: Snapper by Audio Ease If you're a Mac user and find yourself sifting through audio files searching in vain for the right one, Snapper might be your answer. Snapper's cool desktop interface is what sets it apart: Select an audio file in the Mac Finder and Snapper immediately appears right beneath the current window, showing you the wave form. With a simple click and drag, you can playback, select, copy, move, convert, or e-mail your selected segments — you can even send selected audio files directly to your Pro Tools cursor. And if you don't want to commit to the $79 price tag, take advantage of the 100-day trial period to test it out. read more... » - Erin Mishkin Deadlines Fellowships: May 12th: The Association of Electronic Journalists (RTNDA) Minority Fellowships N.S. Bienstock Fellowship, Michele Clark Fellowship, Vada and Colonel Barney Oldfield National Security Reporting Fellowship, Jacque I. Minnotte Health Reporting Fellowship June 20th: USC Annenberg/California Endowment Health Journalism Fellowship Grants: May 15th: Paul Robeson Fund for Independent Media June 2nd: NEA - Challenge America: Reaching Every Community Fast-Track Review Grants April 28th: Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism June 9th: NEA - Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth Awards: May 1st: IAFF Fire Fighters Media Awards Contest June 11th: The Knight-Batten Awards for Innovations in Journalism Send your comments and questions to airblast@airmedia.org View the AIRblast archives SUBSCRIBE | UNSUBSCRIBE Funding for AIR comes from our members and the generous support of NYSCA, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), and the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art. Sue Schardt, Executive Director | Erin Mishkin, Membership Director | Sam Schongalla, Publication Manager | Deb George, Feature Editor | Stevie Beck, Copy Editor | Barry Rueger, Webmaster