Ya gotta have faith, or so George Michael’s song would have us believe. One of the definitions of faith is "something that is believed especially with strong conviction." That covers a lot of area, including religious beliefs. It also characterizes the relationships we sometimes have with each other. A child’s innocent and unquestioning belief in its parents can be thought of as the purest form of faith.

Another common form of faith is that which people in intimate relationships place in each other. There is also the unspoken faith we each have in each other, the belief that we will treat each other with a certain level of respect, that we don’t violate each other’s "space," that we acknowledge the right for the other to exist and be. Without such faith, societies around the world would disintegrate.

Faith and its various forms is the subject of a new TV show on ABC called Eli Stone. Eli is a successful lawyer who suddenly starts hearing music, specifically, George Michael singing his signature song, "Faith." The show examines aspects of faith from Eli’s perspective. It’s kind of like the Oh God and the Almighty movies where God, in the guise of George Burns or Morgan Freeman, puts some poor schmoe in some weird Biblically related situation and we watch how the guy deals with it. Eli Stone is kind of like that except without the heavy religious references. There is some talk of God and religion, but there’s also an examination of the other types of faith, which, in my humble opinion, is just as important.

iTunes is offering a free download of a Eli Stone video featuring George Michael’s Faith. It’s entertaining and definitely worth a look-see.

Faith in news casts is another issue. Back when Walter Cronkite was delivering the news, Americans pretty much believed what was presented to them. Mr. Cronkite took his job seriously, believing that providing factual, influence-free news was a public trust. He concluded each broadcast by croaking in that memorable voice, "...and that’s the way it is..."

Natali Del Conte on CNet TV’s Loaded is a lot easier to look at than Mr. Cronkite, even in his early years, and her voice reminds me more of the singer Vanessa Daou while Mr. Cronkite’s voice brings to mind Master Yoda. Ms. Del Conte peppers her technology reports with opinionated comments, thus mixing news and commentary, something Walter Cronkite would have never allowed. But then, Loaded isn’t about presidential elections or hostage situations, it’s about technology.

Natali Del Conte: Loaded

Ms. Del Conte delivers her 3 to 5 minute podcasts with a consistently light touch. She’s easy to understand, and while her comments may reduce the validity of her reports most guys won’t care because she is just so much fun to watch.

CNet’s Loaded is a daily podcast, ideal for those looking to catch up on the latest technology news during their morning commute. Natali even ends each podcast with a signature, "You’ve been loaded."

Subscribe to Loaded at the iTunes Store.

I suppose that faith is my theme for this week and I was left wondering how to tie faith to the podcasts, Crackle: Shorts. I mean, Crackle sounds like the movies featured there would be funny, right? At least it did to me. Then I saw the short movie, Door Number 2, and realized that it wasn’t so hard after all.

Shirley and Kate in Crackle: Short’s Door Number 2

I’m sure others will have a different interpretation of Door Number 2, but I saw it as a vignette about the faith we have in ourselves, in the choices we make, and in other people, and how it affects us when that faith is betrayed.

In Door Number 2, Kate is seen unpacking in her new apartment, she is young, fresh from college, and just starting out in life. Shirley is in her Autumn years and she lives across the hall from Kate. It is obvious that her faith in humanity has been tested and the results have not always been in her favor, but she introduces herself to Kate and to us by announcing that she’s won a prize.

I won’t tell you more, but it is a great little movie and it makes me want to watch more of Crackle’s offerings. This is perfect for your new Apple TV. Subscribe to Crackle: Shorts at the iTunes Store.

That’s going to do it for this week. Fear not. Have faith that I’ll be back next week with more Free on iTunes.

Something of note for those of you who enjoy classic stories: iTunes is offering a list of audiobooks of classic titles that can be had, not free, but nearly so. The Man Who Could Work Miracles by H.G. Wells, The Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe, and The Speckled Band by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle are just a few of the many offerings. There’s nothing like a good, cheap audiobook. Check it out at the iTunes Store.

Other freebies at the iTunes Store (with direct links):

Vern Seward is a writer who currently lives in Orlando, FL. He’s been a Mac fan since Atari Computers folded, but has worked with computers of nearly every type for 20 years.