I’ve heard this joke many times before on audio, but nevÂer seen it on video. Here it goes. The Moose Joke apparÂentÂly from 1965.
Stephen Colbert’s New Book Released Early as Audiobook
Here’s a quick heads up: Stephen ColÂbert’s new book — I Am AmerÂiÂca (And So Can You!) — will hit the streets on OctoÂber 9. HowÂevÂer, if you’re realÂly champÂing at the bit, you can downÂload the book earÂly, startÂing today, in audioÂbook forÂmat. The book is narÂratÂed by ColÂbert himÂself, which is a perk, and you can downÂload it from AudiÂble here.
To round things out, let us refer you to this video where ColÂbert, speakÂing at Book Expo AmerÂiÂca, pumps his new book, spars with Khaled HosÂseiÂni (author of The Kite RunÂner and A ThouÂsand SplenÂdid Suns), and trashÂes CorÂmac McCarthy. Have fun.
Animated New Yorker Cartoons: A Funny Twist on Einstein’s Relativity
The New YorkÂer has rolled out a series of aniÂmatÂed carÂtoons, which puts in motion its famous carÂtoons. They can be watched as video podÂcasts or as streamed videos. You should defÂiÂniteÂly head over to The New YorkÂer web site to view the largÂer colÂlecÂtion. But, if you want a litÂtle taste, take a look below:
YouTube Gets Smart: The Launch of New University Channels
UpdatÂed: See full colÂlecÂtion of UniÂverÂsiÂty Video ColÂlecÂtions on YouTube.
I heard rumors someÂthing like this was comÂing, and now it’s here. YouTube has struck deals with major uniÂverÂsiÂties, creÂatÂing dedÂiÂcatÂed chanÂnels from which schools can disÂtribÂute their media conÂtent. Not surÂprisÂingÂly UC BerkeÂley, always at the digÂiÂtal foreÂfront, has takÂen the lead and launched an ambiÂtious chanÂnel with over 300 hours of videoÂtaped coursÂes and events. You can check out their chanÂnel here. The othÂer major uniÂverÂsiÂty to sign on is USC (UniÂverÂsiÂty of SouthÂern CalÂiÂforÂnia).
Back in March, we lamentÂed the sheer dearth of culÂturÂal conÂtent on YouTube. (LisÂten to our radio interÂview here and also see our relatÂed blog post.) Since its incepÂtion, the now Google-owned video serÂvice has been awash with home-brewed videos of guiÂtar riffs, dormÂroom lip sync sesÂsions, and pet tricks. MeanÂwhile, videos of greater culÂturÂal subÂstance have been hardÂer to come by (and that’s why we’ve tried to flag the good ones for you. See here, here & here.) YouTube’s new uniÂverÂsiÂty iniÂtiaÂtive begins to remÂeÂdy that probÂlem. It shows a perÂhaps burÂgeonÂing comÂmitÂment to highÂer-mindÂed media. But let’s not get too carÂried away. When you go to YouTube, it’s not clear how users will find/navigate to these chanÂnels. If you look under CatÂeÂgories, “eduÂcaÂtion” is not an option (although I think it used to be). PerÂhaps YouTube has plans to tweak its navÂiÂgaÂtion. Or is this just a case of letÂting a tree fall in the woods? Let’s stay optiÂmistic and we’ll check back soon.
Please visÂit our colÂlecÂtion of 250 Free Online CoursÂes
Philip Roth’s Exit Ghost: Free Chapters, Podcasts & More
Philip Roth fans didÂn’t have to wait very long for anothÂer novÂel. A short year and a half after pubÂlishÂing EveryÂman, Roth has just put out Exit Ghost. It’s anothÂer book that takes a hard look at aging, and it also marks the ninth and posÂsiÂbly last time that the charÂacÂter Nathan ZuckÂerÂman will inhabÂit Roth’s litÂerÂary creÂations. (For more on the ZukÂerÂman series, see Salon’s oldÂer piece here.) We’ll evenÂtuÂalÂly have more to say about Exit Ghost. But, for now, we wantÂed to point you to some good relatÂed resources. For starters, if you can’t wait to get the book, you can read the first chapÂter online for free here. And you can also catch some very recent interÂviews with Roth. First, AmaÂzon Wired (iTunes — Feed — TranÂscript) feaÂtures him talkÂing about Exit Ghost and offerÂing a very short readÂing from it. Then there is this interÂview by TerÂry Gross on NPR’s Fresh Air. (iTunes — Feed — Stream). FinalÂly, here are the first reviews that have rolled out: New York MagÂaÂzine, The New York Sun, The New York Times, The LA Times, The WashÂingÂton Post, and Times Online (UK).
P.S. Here are a couÂple of othÂer Philip Roth goodÂies.
- Philip Roth on “EveryÂman” (Real PlayÂer — Audio)
- Philip Roth on “EveryÂman” and His Approach to WritÂing (mp3 stream)
SubÂscribe to Our Feed and check out our colÂlecÂtion of free audioÂbook podÂcasts.
The iPod Deathclock
How many days, weeks or months before your iPod goes kaput? This web site will give you an estiÂmate. PerÂhaps a handy tool for anyÂone who conÂsumes all of the podÂcasts that we throw your way.
Check out our colÂlecÂtion of Ideas & CulÂture PodÂcasts
Ahmadinejad Spoofed on Saturday Night Live
AhmadineÂjad’s recent appearÂance at ColumÂbia UniÂverÂsiÂty genÂerÂatÂed a lot of seriÂous press (watch his speech here), and, quite rightÂly, jourÂnalÂists and comÂmenÂtaÂtors seized on his more outÂlandish asserÂtions — that the HoloÂcaust is not a hisÂtorÂiÂcal givÂen, and that homoÂsexÂuÂals actuÂalÂly don’t exist in Iran. After all of the seriÂous reportÂing was done, SatÂurÂday Night Live got to work and aired this clip that conÂtinÂued its traÂdiÂtion of bitÂing politÂiÂcal satire. Here it goes:
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