A quick fyi: As of this week, Fresh Air, the popÂuÂlar proÂgram hostÂed by TerÂry Gross, is now availÂable as a free podÂcast on iTunes or via feed. Along with Fresh Air, NPR has just issued many othÂer new podÂcast offerÂings, includÂing Xeni Tech, a daiÂly proÂgram feaÂturÂing BoingÂBoÂing blogÂger Xeni Jardin, who explores the interÂsecÂtion between techÂnolÂoÂgy and conÂtemÂpoÂrary culÂture (iTunes — Feed). For the comÂplete listÂing of NPR podÂcasts, see this web page or visÂit NPR’s main page on iTunes.
Okay, this probÂaÂbly won’t be our highÂest ratÂed post ever. We’ll conÂcede that. There’s nothÂing chic
and hip about C‑SPAN. But there’s some good subÂstance here, and subÂstance is what we’re about first and foreÂmost. So give us the benÂeÂfit of the doubt for a moment.
In many ways, C‑SPAN’s offerÂing is no difÂferÂent in qualÂiÂty or subÂstance from the video serÂvices offered by FORA.TV and PrinceÂton’s UniÂverÂsiÂty ChanÂnel — two othÂer high-qualÂiÂty serÂvices that we like and have preÂviewed here before. If you can set aside your genÂerÂal impresÂsion of C‑SPAN — your memÂoÂries of the uneditÂed, endÂless talks from the SenÂate floor that lead to nowhere — you’ll find enlightÂened video here that’s well worth your limÂitÂed time.
Here is a quick “lifeÂhack” for you. You can now learn forÂeign lanÂguages and stay curÂrent on polÂiÂtics all at once. How so? By takÂing advanÂtage of a smart podÂcast conÂcept being used by French and GerÂman broadÂcastÂers. Radio France InterÂnaÂtionale (RFI) issues a daiÂly podÂcast called Le JourÂnal en français facile (iTunes — feed — web site), which delivÂers the nightÂly interÂnaÂtionÂal news in slow and easy-to-underÂstand French. Along the same lines, the GerÂman media comÂpaÂny Deutsche Welle (which puts out many great lanÂguage and music podÂcasts) also has its own nightÂly news proÂgram — Langsam gesprochÂene NachrichtÂen (iTunes — feed — web site). It’s essenÂtialÂly the same conÂcept: inforÂmaÂtive news preÂsentÂed in very simÂple GerÂman, and, in this case, it’s spoÂken very slowÂly.
Now, what’s very nice about these proÂgrams is that they also proÂvide a writÂten tranÂscript of the spoÂken word. So you can read along as you lisÂten and make sure that you’re realÂly comÂpreÂhendÂing. (See tranÂscripts in French and GerÂman). Even coolÂer, with the GerÂman verÂsion, if you have a video iPod, you can read the tranÂscript on your litÂtle portable screen. (See direcÂtions).
FinalÂly, check out this offÂbeat sugÂgesÂtion sent our way by a readÂer: NunÂtii LatiÂni (mp3 — web site) is “a weekÂly review of world news in ClasÂsiÂcal Latin, the only interÂnaÂtionÂal broadÂcast of its kind in the world, proÂduced by YLE, the Finnish BroadÂcastÂing ComÂpaÂny.”
It was only a quesÂtion of when, not if. HarÂvard has finalÂly carved out a space, albeit a rather small one,
on iTunes. (See yesÂterÂday’s press release.) EstabÂlished by the HarÂvard ExtenÂsion School, the iTunes site curÂrentÂly feaÂtures one free, full-fledged course called UnderÂstandÂing ComÂputÂers and the InterÂnet, which had preÂviÂousÂly been issued in othÂer digÂiÂtal forÂmats. (See our preÂviÂous artiÂcle.) In addiÂtion, you can notably access outÂtakes from 30 comÂplete coursÂes that the school will offer online, for a fee, durÂing the spring acaÂdÂeÂmÂic term. These coursÂes fall into three neat catÂeÂgories: libÂerÂal arts, manÂageÂment and comÂputÂer sciÂence.
HarÂvard’s iTunes stratÂeÂgy is rather unique. While most major uniÂverÂsiÂties are simÂply givÂing away podcasts/information, HarÂvard ExtenÂsion is eviÂdentÂly using the Apple platÂform more for busiÂness purÂposÂes than for pubÂlic serÂvice. In a vacÂuÂum, it’s not a bad idea. In fact, seen in a cerÂtain light, it’s pretÂty savvy. Why not offer teasers to genÂerÂate more sales for sophisÂtiÂcatÂed online coursÂes? Why not give cusÂtomers a real sense of what they’re getÂting into? If there’s a probÂlem with these ideas, it’s simÂply that they risk clashÂing with existÂing expecÂtaÂtions — expecÂtaÂtions that uniÂverÂsiÂties offer podÂcasts for free and for the pubÂlic good. And there’s the risk that iTunes users will fail to make a critÂiÂcal disÂtincÂtion between your averÂage free podÂcast, and a podÂcast that’s realÂly meant to be part of a comÂplete, fee-based online course. One way or anothÂer, the busiÂness motive will likeÂly raise some eyeÂbrows. But, our guess is that HarÂvard will be able to clarÂiÂfy the reaÂson for the new modÂel, and they’ll find in iTunes, as othÂers will too, a new and potenÂtialÂly powÂerÂful way of givÂing visÂiÂbilÂiÂty to cerÂtain forms of online eduÂcaÂtionÂal conÂtent. CerÂtainÂly, venÂtures like the TeachÂing ComÂpaÂny should be givÂing this modÂel a seriÂous look.
Most of these books are issued in traÂdiÂtionÂal print ($$$) and free downÂload verÂsions, which raisÂes the obviÂous quesÂtion: does this make any busiÂness sense for pubÂlishÂers, let alone authors? Lawrence Lessig, who iniÂtiÂatÂed the conÂcept, asserts that it does, notÂing that more readÂers who access the free downÂload copy will ultiÂmateÂly buy the print verÂsion than those who don’t. Or, put more simÂply: the conÂverts will exceed canÂniÂbals, which results in a win-win-win-win sitÂuÂaÂtion. The readÂers win one way or anothÂer; the authors and pubÂlishÂers win; sociÂety wins; and so does the free flow of inforÂmaÂtion. What more can you want?
NorÂman MailÂer, now 84 years old, has just pubÂlished his first novÂel in a decade. And what becomes immeÂdiÂateÂly clear is that age has done litÂtle to stop MailÂer from takÂing his tradeÂmark litÂerÂary risks. Just as he felt free to inhabÂit the mind of Jesus in The Gospel AccordÂing to the Son (1997), he has now dared to get deep inside anothÂer world-hisÂtorÂiÂcal figÂure, the anti-Christ figÂure of the last cenÂtuÂry, Adolph Hitler. NarÂratÂed by a minÂion of Satan, who othÂerÂwise masquaÂrades as a forÂmer SS offiÂcer named Dieter, The CasÂtle in the ForÂest takes a FreudiÂan look at Hitler’s youth and his tanÂgled familÂial relaÂtionÂships. But how well MailÂer pulls it off is open to debate. Up front, it’s worth menÂtionÂing that you can freely access the first chapÂter of the new book and start judgÂing for yourÂself. And, for that matÂter, you can also get MailÂer’s own take on the book in this NPR interÂview. HowÂevÂer, if you want some guidÂance before decidÂing whether to plunge into this lengthy book (450+ pages), you can check out the reviews that have startÂed rolling out. So far, assessÂments are mixed: The audio podÂcast issued by The New York Times Book Review (which is itself based on a thoughtÂful review appearÂing in print) conÂsidÂers MailÂer’s latÂest to be among his best. But it’s an opinÂion that stands someÂwhat alone, at least so far. The reviews in The WashÂingÂton Post and the EngÂlish verÂsion of GerÂmany’s Spiegel Online take less glowÂing posiÂtions, and, as you’d expect, the critÂiÂcism is more striÂdent and politÂiÂcalÂly-charged over in Europe, GerÂmany in parÂticÂuÂlar.
FinalÂly, we leave you with this — MailÂer readÂing from his new work, describÂing the conÂcepÂtion of Hitler, as told from the devÂil’s perÂspecÂtive, in someÂwhat racy terms. (NOTE: the video qualÂiÂty is very Youtube-esque, but it gets the job done):
Is it someÂthing of an oddÂiÂty to see the words of famous philosoÂphers and hisÂtoÂriÂans getÂting digÂiÂtized
and downÂloaded to iPods everyÂwhere? Sure it is, and that’s why we genÂerÂalÂly like talkÂing about humanÂiÂties podÂcasts. But is it strange to think of AmerÂiÂca’s leadÂing busiÂness schools carvÂing out a space on iTunes and bringÂing their ideas to an interÂnaÂtionÂal audiÂence? HardÂly. For schools whose sucÂcess depends on being closeÂly tied to the pulse of AmerÂiÂcan and globÂal audiÂences, getÂting involved with podÂcastÂing is a no brainÂer.
Let’s take a brief tour of what AmerÂiÂca’s top b‑schools are up to these days, startÂing with The WharÂton School of The UniÂverÂsiÂty of PennÂsylÂvaÂnia. Launched about a year ago, this podÂcast colÂlecÂtion (iTunes — Feed — Web Site) is an offÂshoot of the school’s online busiÂness jourÂnal called “Knowledge@Wharton.” And what you get here are “audio artiÂcles” that feaÂture high-proÂfile execÂuÂtives and facÂulÂty, includÂing sevÂerÂal that highÂlight stock marÂket guru JereÂmy Siegel. Some of these podÂcasts focus on timeÂless b‑school issues (stratÂeÂgy, innoÂvaÂtion, mergÂers, alliances, etc.). OthÂers explore more timeÂly quesÂtions: New ModÂels for TV and InterÂnet, What Makes an Online ComÂmuÂniÂty Tick?, and Which New Tech ComÂpaÂnies Are InnoÂvatÂing Most?. Most are worth your time.
From PhiladelÂphia, we move to HarÂvard in CamÂbridge. This podÂcast colÂlecÂtion, known as HBR IdeaÂCast (iTunesFeed), is also closeÂly aligned with the school’s busiÂness jourÂnal, the famed HarÂvard BusiÂness Review. And, here again, you get well-proÂduced audio segÂments that offer insights on key issues in today’s busiÂness world, whether it’s how to do busiÂness in ChiÂna, how to be an effecÂtive and resilient leader, or how to adapt to very new trends in e‑commerce.
MovÂing south to the Research TriÂanÂgle, we visÂit Duke’s Fuqua School of BusiÂness (iTunes — Web Site), which has the beginÂnings of what promisÂes to be a strong audio colÂlecÂtion. While you’ll want to give the most time to the fairÂly robust DisÂtinÂguished SpeakÂer Series, you may want to peruse the MBA LeadÂerÂship and MarÂketÂing ExpeÂriÂence series as well. Also in the same genÂerÂal vicinÂiÂty is anothÂer colÂlecÂtion worth a good look. It’s from the DarÂdÂen School of BusiÂness at the UniÂverÂsiÂty of VirÂginia (iTunes — Feed — Web Site)
By now, you probÂaÂbly have a good sense of what you can genÂerÂalÂly expect to find in these colÂlecÂtions. So let’s briefly leave you with two last ones. First, the comÂpiÂlaÂtion assemÂbled by The UniÂverÂsiÂty of ChicaÂgo GradÂuÂate School of BusiÂness (iTunesFeedWeb Site). Among othÂers, you’ll encounter talks by Nobel Prize winÂner Gary BeckÂer and also Steven Levitt, the co-author of the recent bestÂseller FreakoÂnomÂics. LastÂly, we end at StanÂford and its series called “EntreÂpreÂneurÂial Thought LeadÂers,” which gives you access to what SilÂiÂcon ValÂley has in no short supÂply — entreÂpreÂneurs, includÂing ones from Google, GenenÂtech, and Juniper NetÂworks. Click. DownÂload. Sync. And you’ll be in busiÂness.
It’s old news that the SunÂdance Film FesÂtiÂval has gone corÂpoÂrate. Some still protest that fact.
OthÂers accept it, seeÂing it as an unavoidÂable realÂiÂty in an era when even our sports staÂdiÂums bear corÂpoÂrate names. And yet still othÂers choose to focus on the good that comes along with the bad. One upside to the corÂpoÂraÂtiÂzaÂtion of SunÂdance is the slick media that the fesÂtiÂval orgaÂnizÂers have made freely availÂable on iTunes this year. Since the fesÂtiÂval startÂed on JanÂuÂary 18th, SunÂdance has released a series of video podÂcasts on iTunes that feaÂture direcÂtors and screenÂwritÂers talkÂing canÂdidÂly about their newÂly released films. Most of these videos run 3–4 minÂutes in duraÂtion. HowÂevÂer there are a couÂple offerÂings that last a good hour. GenÂerÂalÂly speakÂing, you’ll want to have a nice broadÂband conÂnecÂtion to make these downÂloads fairÂly quick and painÂless, and, from there, you can either sync them to your iPod, or just watch them on your deskÂtop with iTunes (you can downÂload iTunes for free here).
SepÂaÂrateÂly, iTunes is also makÂing availÂable for a small fee ($1.99 each) a total of 32 short films that have been preÂsentÂed at this year’s fesÂtiÂval. But, let us offer you this small tip: these videos can be streamedat no cost from the SunÂdance web site.
FinalÂly, on to YouTube. The poster child of the Web 2.0 moveÂment, YouTube has creÂatÂed a chanÂnel dedÂiÂcatÂed to the SunÂdance fesÂtiÂval. And here visÂiÂtors can find daiÂly video covÂerÂage of the fesÂtiÂval, interÂviews with filmÂmakÂers, and video blogs that capÂture the fesÂtiÂval expeÂriÂence from the vanÂtage point of indeÂpenÂdent filmÂmakÂers. To give you a feel for what you’ll find in the YouTube chanÂnel, we’ve postÂed a samÂple video, which feaÂtures filmÂmakÂer Arin CrumÂley reviewÂing (with some salty lanÂguage, hence caveat empÂtor) the short films shown on Day 2 of the fesÂtiÂval:
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Is it someÂthing of an oddÂiÂty to see the words of famous philosoÂphers and hisÂtoÂriÂans getÂting digÂiÂtized
