Over the past two days, NPR’s Fresh Air has devotÂed two proÂgrams to interÂroÂgatÂing whether reliÂgion and sciÂence can co-exist. On WednesÂday, air time was first givÂen to Richard Dawkins, the famed Oxford UniÂverÂsiÂty scholÂar of evoÂluÂtion who, with his recent pubÂliÂcaÂtion of The God DeluÂsion, has launched a vigÂorÂous defense of atheÂism. As you could well imagÂine, Dawkins (iTunes — feed — stream) is hardÂly willÂing to make accomÂmoÂdaÂtions for reliÂgion, and he’s comÂfortÂable livÂing in a world where DarÂwinÂist thought solves probÂlems that reliÂgion itself usuÂalÂly tries to sort out — that is, the basic hows and whys of exisÂtence. It has been said that Dawkins comes off as being as zealÂous in his atheÂism as his reliÂgious counÂterÂparts are in their faith. But no matÂter how you look at him, you have to admire his abilÂiÂty to make an artÂful arguÂment .… and also his sense of humor. Yes, he claims half in jest to wear an “AtheÂists for Jesus” t‑shirt. (See a phoÂto here.)
Next, on ThursÂday, TerÂry Gross invitÂed FranÂcis Collins (iTunes — feed — stream) onto the show. Collins is a genetiÂcist, and not just any one. He is curÂrentÂly the direcÂtor of the NationÂal Human Genome Research Project, and he most notably led a team that cracked the human genome back in 2000. He is also an evanÂgelÂiÂcal ChrisÂtÂian, and, again, not just your averÂage one in that he accepts the validÂiÂty of evoÂluÂtion. HavÂing recentÂly pubÂlished a new work, The LanÂguage of God: A SciÂenÂtist Presents EviÂdence for Belief, Collins is subÂtly lookÂing to steer a midÂdle course, to find ways to let reliÂgion and sciÂence co-exist and not let the one underÂmine the integriÂty of the othÂer. How well the arguÂments hang togethÂer is an open quesÂtion. But it’s nonetheÂless genÂuineÂly interÂestÂing to hear how he’s thinkÂing things through. And cerÂtainÂly it’s worth lisÂtenÂing to Dawkins and Collins’ interÂviews side by side. This is NPR at its best, and, yes, I’d genÂtly chalÂlenge one of our readÂers to find anyÂthing on Fox News that’s on an equalÂly intelÂliÂgent plane. (See the user comÂments at the botÂtom of this page.)
EarÂliÂer this week, we disÂcussed the recent release of Apple TV, the new gadÂget that lets you wireÂlessÂly downÂload videos from iTunes to your cushy widescreen TV. For many conÂsumers, the logÂiÂcal quesÂtion to ask is whether there’s much to watch if they plunk down the $299 for the hardÂware. (Check it out in our AmaÂzon store.) And our readÂers might parÂticÂuÂlarÂly wonÂder whether there’s much in the way of culÂturÂal video. With these quesÂtions in mind, we’ve put togethÂer a samÂpling of worthÂwhile video podÂcasts (othÂerÂwise called “vodÂcasts”) that you can immeÂdiÂateÂly start conÂsumÂing with Apple TV. These videos can also be found in our podÂcast library.
“See the natÂurÂal world like nevÂer before through the eyes of NationÂal GeoÂgraphÂic advenÂturÂers, sciÂenÂtists, researchers, and the extraÂorÂdiÂnary CritÂterÂcam.”
TerÂryÂWhite teachÂes you how to unlock the powÂer of CreÂative Suite with visualexÂamÂples. EmphaÂsis gets placed on inDeÂsign and PhoÂtoÂshop.
FeaÂturÂingÂCali Lewis, this “fast, fun and flirÂty” vodÂcast explores newsÂabout tech toys and tools. GenÂerÂalÂly very well reviewed by users.
A weekÂly web culÂture podÂcast that focusÂes on the tops stoÂries on Digg.com, the popÂuÂlar social conÂtent web site. HostÂed by Kevin Rose and Alex Albrecht.
HostÂed by Ted KopÂpel, this panÂel disÂcusÂsion focusÂes on the globÂal chalÂlenges that we’re facÂing in this cenÂtuÂry. PanÂelists include: SupreÂmeÂCourt JusÂtice AnthoÂny Kennedy, forÂmer SecÂreÂtary of State GeorgeSchultz, forÂmer SecÂreÂtary of Defense William PerÂry, Yahoo co-Founder
JerÂry Yang, and StanÂford PresÂiÂdent John HenÂnessy, among othÂers.
PrinceÂtonÂhas assemÂbled a colÂlecÂtion of pubÂlic affairs lecÂtures, panÂels andeÂvents from acaÂdÂeÂmÂic instiÂtuÂtions all over the world. You can find
lecÂtures here from some of the world’s leadÂing thinkers.
When you think Wikipedia, you think encyÂcloÂpeÂdia. And when you think
encyÂcloÂpeÂdia, you think eduÂcaÂtion, self enrichÂment and all kinds of
good stuff.
Now here’s the slight rub. Wikicharts
purÂports to list the 100 most viewed pages on WikipediÂa’s EngÂlish
lanÂguage site, and very quickÂly the numÂbers sugÂgest that netiÂzens
aren’t always makÂing scholÂarÂly use of the web’s free encyÂcloÂpeÂdia.
Here’s how some of the numÂbers break down: In March 2007, 12 of the
100 most viewed pages on Wikipedia (includÂing 4 of the top 20) deal with sex, some of
which goes beyond explainÂing the simÂple birds and bees. (ConÂsult the list for more on that.) MeanÂwhile
anothÂer 30+ entries delve into pop culÂture — South Park, BritÂney
Spears, Anna Nicole Smith, you get the point.
So, how many touch on more squareÂly eduÂcaÂtionÂal topÂics? About 35.
And many of those include straightÂforÂward entries on counÂtries (France,
India, CanaÂda, etc.), or pieces that eluÂciÂdate the new blockÂbuster
film, The 300. And while it’s good to see peoÂple using Wikipedia to underÂstand the film, we all know that these more obscure hisÂtorÂiÂcal entries will fall off the top 100 list as quickÂly as movies come and go. That doesÂn’t leave too many entries that
are remÂiÂnisÂcent of an encyÂcloÂpeÂdia. In the top 100, you get a handÂful of clasÂsic topÂics — entries on EinÂstein, LeonarÂdo da VinÂci, and GlobÂal
WarmÂing — but that is about it.
All of this sugÂgests that there’s someÂthing of a disÂconÂnect between
how we perÂceive Wikipedia (or how Wikipedia porÂtrays itself) and how it
often gets used. Does this underÂmine the valÂue of the more subÂstanÂtive
pieces that you can find on the encyÂcloÂpeÂdic site? CerÂtainÂly not.
Wikipedia can be a great resource when it is at its best. But it does
sugÂgest that WikipediÂa’s enrichÂing conÂtent is not its most popÂuÂlar, and
conÂverseÂly that WikipediÂa’s highÂest trafÂfic is flowÂing to conÂtent that
probÂaÂbly won’t be showÂing up on WikipediÂa’s homeÂpage any time soon.
EntreÂpreÂneurÂship and BusiÂness PlanÂning is a free course availÂable via podÂcast (iTunesFeedMp3) that parÂalÂlels a classÂroom course being offered at Carnegie MelÂlon withÂin the MasÂters in InforÂmaÂtion SysÂtems ManÂageÂment (MISM) proÂgram. Taught by Mark Juliano, an adjunct proÂfesÂsor who othÂerÂwise works in the priÂvate secÂtor, the course covÂers the ins-and-outs of startÂing a new venÂture. FolÂlowÂing a very logÂiÂcal traÂjecÂtoÂry, it starts with the funÂdaÂmenÂtals — develÂopÂing ideas for new comÂpaÂnies, writÂing busiÂness plans, and creÂatÂing teams — and then moves through more advanced mateÂriÂals that you’d typÂiÂcalÂly find covÂered in b‑school: marÂketÂing, comÂpetÂiÂtive stratÂeÂgy, sales, pricÂing, fundÂing and finance. FinalÂly, when you dive into the podÂcasts, you’ll realÂize that Juliano has clearÂly takÂen pains to present an accesÂsiÂble course for lisÂtenÂers. Along with clearÂly preÂsentÂed lecÂtures, you get a host of supÂportÂing online mateÂriÂals, plus a course blog. A very nice touch.
Next, the busiÂness-mindÂed folks among us will also want to pore over the stelÂlar colÂlecÂtion of entreÂpreÂneurÂship eduÂcaÂtion resources assemÂbled by the StanÂford TechÂnolÂoÂgy VenÂtures ProÂgram. Their media conÂtent trove includes a solÂid colÂlecÂtion of podÂcasts feaÂturÂing talks with busiÂness thought leadÂers (iTunesFeedWeb Site), not to menÂtion a cache of videos highÂlightÂing preÂsenÂtaÂtions by the execÂuÂtives and VCs who make SilÂiÂcon ValÂley tick. Just genÂerÂalÂly, you’ll want to explore the many othÂer resources in the EduÂcaÂtors CorÂner.
When Steve Jobs announced Apple’s new lineÂup of gadÂgets at MacÂworld in JanÂuÂary (lisÂten on iTunes or stream it), all eyes were focused on the planned release of the iPhone. RelÂaÂtiveÂly lost in the comÂmoÂtion, howÂevÂer, was Apple TV, which startÂed shipÂping this week. (Check it out in our AmaÂzon store.) Despite the name, Apple TV doesÂn’t come with a TV. But, for $299, you do get a piece of hardÂware that lets you wireÂlessÂly sync your iTunes colÂlecÂtion to your widescreen TV. And, with that, you can watch downÂloaded movies, TV shows, and video podÂcasts in a much more suitÂable and pleaÂsurÂable enviÂronÂment. (EvenÂtuÂalÂly, you’ll be able to watch videos via Apple TV in high def.) If givÂen the choice between watchÂing your video downÂloads on a small iPod screen or a cushy plasÂma TV in your livÂing room, the deciÂsion becomes a no-brainÂer. The new gadÂget instantÂly makes Apple a credÂiÂble playÂer in the video disÂtriÂbÂuÂtion marÂket, and it clearÂly furÂthers along the comÂpaÂny’s transÂforÂmaÂtion into a more diverÂsiÂfied conÂsumer-elecÂtronÂics and media comÂpaÂny.
For Open CulÂture readÂers, Apple TV has some benÂeÂfits on the near horiÂzon. Over the past sevÂerÂal months, we’ve noticed more podÂcasts comÂing out in a video flaÂvor. (See our podÂcast library.) And that trend should only pick up over time. (Indeed, Robert X. CringÂley, the astute observÂer of tech trends, foreÂsees a video glut this year that could overÂwhelm the curÂrent capacÂiÂty of the Net.) Thanks to Apple TV, you might soon be able to use your teleÂviÂsion as much as your iPod to conÂsume high qualÂiÂty culÂturÂal conÂtent. And this may become all the more true if the rumors pan out that Apple and Google have been talkÂing about disÂtribÂutÂing Google Video through iTunes. Just think of the posÂsiÂbilÂiÂties that lie ahead.
For more inforÂmaÂtion on Apple TV, you can visÂit Apple’s site, check out the covÂerÂage on EngadÂget and CNET, or watch the WalÂter MossÂberg video below.
This is just a quick heads up. You can now watch online the first episode of This AmerÂiÂcan Life. ShowÂtime just startÂed airÂing a teleÂvised verÂsion of thelong-runÂning and very popÂuÂlar radio proÂgram (which is also availÂable as a podÂcast iTunesFeedWeb Site). If you’re wonÂderÂing how the show’s disÂtincÂtive feel comes off in video, here’s your chance to take a quick, easy and free look.
We're hoping to rely on loyal readers, rather than erratic ads. Please click the Donate button and support Open Culture. You can use Paypal, Venmo, Patreon, even Crypto! We thank you!
Open Culture scours the web for the best educational media. We find the free courses and audio books you need, the language lessons & educational videos you want, and plenty of enlightenment in between.