This seemed like a logÂiÂcal folÂlow up to our recent post “10 Signs of IntelÂliÂgent Life at YouTube,” which highÂlightÂed some of the enrichÂing video colÂlecÂtions on YouTube.
Here’s a playlist that cenÂtralÂizes the YouTube videos that we’ve recentÂly highÂlightÂed on our site. Think of it as the Open CulÂture YouTube ColÂlecÂtion, or anothÂer way of orgaÂnizÂing culÂturÂalÂly redeemable videos on YouTube.
You can access the video colÂlecÂtion here (feel free to subÂscribe to the colÂlecÂtion), or by playÂing around with the video playÂer added right below. A perÂmaÂnent link to the colÂlecÂtion will reside in the secÂtion called “EssenÂtials” on our webÂsite. We’ll add to it on an ongoÂing basis.
It’s been a conÂstant lament that YouTube offers its users scant litÂtle intelÂlecÂtuÂal conÂtent. And that conÂtent is itself hard to find. Just visÂit YouTube’s so-called EduÂcaÂtion SecÂtion, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find anyÂthing actuÂalÂly eduÂcaÂtionÂal. But the good news is that we’re seeÂing some recent signs of intelÂliÂgent life at YouTube. The video serÂvice hosts an increasÂing numÂber of intelÂlecÂtuÂalÂly redeemable video colÂlecÂtions. And so we figÂured why not do some heavy liftÂing and bring a few your way. If YouTube won’t make them easy to find, then we will. (Also see 10 Ways to Make Your iPod a BetÂter LearnÂing GadÂget.)
1.) UC BerkeÂley: We have menÂtioned this colÂlecÂtion before, but we might as well menÂtion it again. UC BerkeÂley launched in OctoÂber a YouTube chanÂnel that conÂtains over 300 hours of acaÂdÂeÂmÂic proÂgramÂming. And, most notably, you’ll find here a series of uniÂverÂsiÂty coursÂes that can be watched in their entireÂty (for free). It’s a deep colÂlecÂtion worth startÂing with.
2.) @GoogleTalks: Many big names end up speakÂing at Google. That includes politÂiÂcal figÂures and culÂturÂal figÂures such as Paul KrugÂman, Steven Pinker, Joseph Stieglitz, Jonathan Lethem and more. Since Google owns YouTube, it’s good to see that they’re makÂing an effort to record these talks and raise the intelÂlecÂtuÂal bar on GooTube just a bit. Have a look.
3.) The Nobel Prize: TheNoÂbelÂPrize chanÂnel presents curÂrent and past Nobel LauÂreÂates — courÂtesy of Nobelprize.org, the offiÂcial web site of the Nobel FounÂdaÂtion. The colÂlecÂtion feaÂtures offiÂcial Nobel Prize LecÂtures and also more casuÂal preÂsenÂtaÂtions. It looks like talks by the 2007 winÂners are being added slowÂly.
4.) TED Talks: Every year, a thouÂsand “thought-leadÂers, movers and shakÂers” get togethÂer at a four-day conÂferÂence called TED (which is short for TechÂnolÂoÂgy, EnterÂtainÂment and Design). In recent years, the list of speakÂers has ranged from Sergey Brin and LarÂry Page to Bill Gates, to HerÂbie HanÂcock and Peter Gabriel, to Frank Gehry, to Al Gore and Bill ClinÂton. In this colÂlecÂtion, you’ll find varÂiÂous talks preÂsentÂed at the conÂferÂence. They usuÂalÂly run about 20 minÂutes.
5.) FORA.tv: In case you don’t know about it, FORA.tv is a web serÂvice that hosts videos feaÂturÂing imporÂtant thinkers grapÂpling with conÂtemÂpoÂrary culÂturÂal, social and politÂiÂcal quesÂtions. It’s like YouTube, but always intelÂliÂgent. You can find extendÂed videos on FORA’s site, and a decent samÂpling of their conÂtent on YouTube.
7.) Pulitzer CenÂter on CriÂsis ReportÂing: This chanÂnel proÂmotes covÂerÂage of interÂnaÂtionÂal affairs, “focusÂing on topÂics that have been under-reportÂed, mis-reportÂed — or not reportÂed at all.” Most of these videos were feaÂtured on the pubÂlic teleÂviÂsion proÂgram “ForÂeign Exchange with Fareed Zakaria.”
8.) BBC WorldÂwide: The leadÂing British broadÂcastÂer is now live on YouTube, and there’s some good conÂtent in the mix, although it won’t leap off of the homeÂpage. The trick is to look at their playlist where you will find more eduÂcaÂtionÂal pieces of video: docÂuÂmenÂtaries, sciÂence, draÂma, travÂel, and more. The notable downÂside is that the videos typÂiÂcalÂly fall withÂin YouTube’s cusÂtomÂary 10 minute video limÂit. (Many othÂers citÂed here run longer.) Too bad more couldÂn’t have been done with this opporÂtuÂniÂty.
OthÂer smart media propÂerÂties that have optÂed for the soundÂbite stratÂeÂgy here include NationÂal GeoÂgraphÂic and PBS.
9.) UChanÂnel: ForÂmerÂly called the UniÂverÂsiÂty ChanÂnel, this video serÂvice presents talks on international/political affairs from acaÂdÂeÂmÂic instiÂtuÂtions all over the world. It’s spearÂheadÂed by PrinceÂton UniÂverÂsiÂty, and you can find an even more extenÂsive video colÂlecÂtion on their web site.
10.) OthÂer UniÂverÂsiÂty ChanÂnels on YouTube: UC BerkeÂley launched the biggest chanÂnel on YouTube, but there are some othÂers out there. UnforÂtuÂnateÂly, findÂing them is someÂthing of a crapÂshoot. We’ve manÂaged, howÂevÂer, to pull togethÂer a good list of ten. See 10 UniÂverÂsiÂty ColÂlecÂtions on YouTube
In putting togethÂer this list, one thing became clear: YouTube has enough qualÂiÂty conÂtent to keep you busy, and there’s clearÂly more that I don’t know about (again, because they don’t make it easy to find). If you want to add othÂer good YouTube colÂlecÂtions to our list, please list them in the comÂments and I can add them selecÂtiveÂly to the list.
The iPod can superÂcharge your learnÂing. But it’s often a matÂter of findÂing the right softÂware and conÂtent. Below, we’ve listÂed sevÂerÂal new pieces of softÂware that will let you suck more eduÂcaÂtionÂal media (DVDs, web videos, audio files, etc.) into your iPod. And we’ve also listÂed some imporÂtant pieces of conÂtent that will make your iPod a betÂter learnÂing gadÂget. So here it goes (and be sure to see our relatÂed piece 10 Signs of IntelÂliÂgent Life at YouTube):
1) Put Wikipedia on Your Ipod:EncyÂclopoÂdia is a free piece of softÂware that brings Wikipedia to the iPod. EncyÂclopoÂdia can be installed on iPod genÂerÂaÂtions 1 through 4, as well as iPod MinÂis. DefÂiÂniteÂly worth a try.
2) Watch DVDs on Your iPod: This free, open source softÂware works on MacOS X, LinÂux and WinÂdows, and makes it simÂple to load and watch DVDs on your video iPod. Here are some helpÂful instrucÂtions to get you startÂed.
4) Make OthÂer Video ForÂmats iPod-Ready: LifeÂhackÂer recentÂly menÂtioned three othÂer pieces of softÂware that will make a variÂety of othÂer video forÂmats iPod-ready. For WinÂdows, see VideÂoÂra; for Mac, see iSquint. Or more genÂerÂalÂly see Zamzar. In a nutÂshell, these items will turn a wide range of video forÂmats into the one video forÂmat (MPEG‑4) that your iPod likes.
5) ConÂvert MP3 files into One Big iPod AudioÂbook File: DownÂloadÂing free audioÂbooks can often require you to work with a series of sepÂaÂrate mp3 files, which can make things rather cumÂberÂsome. This softÂware does you a favor and mashÂes the files into one manÂageÂable file. And it has a feaÂture that will let your Ipod rememÂber where you stopped if you decide to take a break. (If this one appeals to you, be sure to see item # 10.)
6) CreÂate eBooks for the iPod:This bit of softÂware turns text files into ebooks that you can read on your iPod. After you load a text file, it will make the text readÂable through iPod Notes (which you can find under “Extra SettÂtings”). Then, voila, a portable text. Thanks to Pachecus.com for pointÂing this one out.
7) Record Web Audio and Move it To Your iPod: Designed for Macs, iRecordÂMuÂsic enables you to easÂiÂly record audio from web pages and InterÂnet radio streams. So if you’re surfÂing the web and find a good piece of streamed audio, it lets you record it and then transÂfer the media to your iPod. The only downÂside is that the softÂware isn’t free. It will run you $24.95, but it may well be worth it. You can downÂload a triÂal verÂsion here.
8) Get a Civic EduÂcaÂtion on Your Ipod:This site allows you to downÂload to your iPod ten imporÂtant docÂuÂments that any eduÂcatÂed AmerÂiÂcan should be familÂiar with. The texts include: The DecÂlaÂraÂtion of IndeÂpenÂdence, ConÂstiÂtuÂtion of the UnitÂed States, Bill of Rights, Louisiana PurÂchase Treaty, EmanÂciÂpaÂtion ProclaÂmaÂtion, GetÂtysÂburg Address, CivÂil Rights Act, and sevÂerÂal othÂers. (Note: You can also downÂload here an iPod verÂsion of MerÂriÂam-WebÂster’s PockÂet DicÂtioÂnary for $9.95.)
9) Load Maps onto Your iPod: If you travÂel to New York City, Paris, Berlin or Moscow, how will you find your way to the museÂums? iSubÂwayMaps is the answer. It lets you downÂload subÂway maps from 24 major cities across the globe. You’ll only need an iPod with phoÂto capaÂbilÂiÂty and you’ll be good to go. (By the way, if you want to load Google Maps to your iPod, here is a tutoÂrÂiÂal that will explain how.)
10) Study ForÂeign LanÂguages, Take UniÂverÂsiÂty CoursÂes, and LisÂten to AudioÂBooks on Your iPod — All for Free: Ok, so this is a cheap but worthÂwhile plug for some of our richÂest podÂcast colÂlecÂtions. Our ForÂeign LanÂguage PodÂcast ColÂlecÂtion lets your learn over 25 difÂferÂent forÂeign lanÂguages. Our AudioÂBook podÂcast colÂlecÂtion will give you portable access to 100+ clasÂsic works of litÂerÂaÂture and nonÂficÂtion. And this uniÂverÂsiÂty podÂcast colÂlecÂtion proÂvides access to over 85 coursÂes recordÂed at leadÂing AmerÂiÂcan uniÂverÂsiÂties. Not bad, if I say so myself. For our comÂplete podÂcast library, click here.
Know of more softÂware or conÂtent that will superÂcharge your iPod? Feel free to list them in our comÂments. And if they’re good, we’ll hapÂpiÂly add them to the list.
Again, no comÂmenÂtary needÂed. InforÂmaÂtive in many ways, BhutÂto’s talk was taped at the CounÂcil on ForÂeign RelaÂtions in August. More info here.
Quick fyi: The book critÂics of The New York Times have selectÂed their favorite books of 2007. These are the books that they menÂtion to friends, or recÂomÂmend that you take on vacaÂtion. You’ll find here 30 good reads in all.
Now how about your favorite book of ’07? Share them with othÂer Open CulÂture readÂers and list them in the comÂments below. (If we get enough of them, we’ll list them in a speÂcial blog post.)
Let me serve up a quick few bits of audio for the holÂiÂday.
Let’s start with a free podÂcast of Charles DickÂens’ A ChristÂmas CarÂol. WritÂten in 1843, Dicken’s tale remains one of the most popÂuÂlar ChristÂmas stoÂries of all time. It gave us the indeliÂble charÂacÂters of EbenezÂer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and the Ghosts of ChristÂmas Past, Present, and Future. And it inventÂed the notion of “christÂmas spirÂit.”
Also, over at BoingÂBoÂing today, Cory DocÂtorow has postÂed a recordÂing he made of Lewis CarÂrolÂl’s Alice in WonÂderÂland (etext here). You can downÂload it in mp3 or othÂer forÂmats. I’ve also added DocÂtorow’s readÂing to our AudioÂBook PodÂcast ColÂlecÂtion, where you can find an alterÂnaÂtive readÂing of CarÂrolÂl’s work, plus 100 othÂer clasÂsic works on free audio. (For our comÂplete colÂlecÂtion of enrichÂing podÂcasts, see our PodÂcast Library.)
DurÂing a week when uniÂverÂsiÂty podÂcasts received wideÂspread attenÂtion (thanks to a very popÂuÂlar artiÂcle in the NY Times), we’ve kept a close eye on the high-rankÂing podÂcasts on iTuneÂsU. Quite conÂsisÂtentÂly, one podÂcast — How Did HanÂniÂbal Cross the Alps? — has ranked at the top. It curÂrentÂly sits in the #2 posiÂtion, right behind What is ExisÂtenÂtialÂism?.
The HanÂniÂbal lecÂture was preÂsentÂed at StanÂford by Patrick Hunt, an archaeÂolÂoÂgist who recentÂly wrote Ten DisÂcovÂerÂies That Rewrote HisÂtoÂry (see relatÂed post) and whose long term project is to figÂure out how the great milÂiÂtary leader crossed the Alps in 218 BCE with his large army, which includÂed dozens of war eleÂphants. I had a chance to catch up with Patrick and ask him why, over 2,000 years latÂer, the advenÂtures of HanÂniÂbal still manÂage to capÂture our imagÂiÂnaÂtion. Here is what he had to say:
“Here are some reaÂsons I think the HanÂniÂbal topÂic is mesÂmerÂizÂing. First, the logisÂtics of movÂing a large army — at least 25,000 surÂvivÂing solÂdiers — over someÂtimes terÂriÂfyÂing mounÂtain barÂriÂers is very dauntÂing and immenseÂly chalÂlengÂing. SecÂond, this is expoÂnenÂtialÂly comÂpoundÂed by the fact that even with able scouts the increasÂingÂly steep terÂrain and bad weathÂer en route to the sumÂmit were threatÂenÂingÂly unfaÂmilÂiar to the vast majorÂiÂty of HanÂniÂbal’s army in this earÂly winÂter of 218 BCE. Even in sumÂmer, the weathÂer can be harsh and wildÂly unpreÂdictable. In winÂter, it can be that much worse. Third, there were Celtic tribes to conÂtend with, who would roll boulÂders down on troops and ambush them from (more…)
Fake Steve Jobs, a wildÂly popÂuÂlar blog writÂten by Daniel Lyons, an ediÂtor at Forbes, has been goofÂing on the real Steve Jobs all year. And now things have takÂen an odd turn. DurÂing the same week that Apple apparÂentÂly shut down ThinkSecret.com (an Apple rumor site) in exchange for cash, Apple may be applyÂing simÂiÂlar presÂsure to Fake Steve Jobs. Or maybe not.
If today’s blog post can be takÂen at face valÂue, Apple lawyers have folÂlowed up hard-assed threats with a cash offer (of $500,000) to make FSJ go away. The recent posts all sound conÂvincÂing. But then you note the refÂerÂences to Andy KaufÂman, the masÂter of walkÂing the line between comÂplete sinÂcerÂiÂty and absurÂdiÂty. First, there’s the picÂture of KaufÂman getÂting strong armed durÂing one of his famous wrestling matchÂes with women. Next, there’s the refÂerÂence to a “Tony Clifton,” which is the name givÂen to a strange bit charÂacÂter KaufÂman played durÂing the 1970s (see below).
FSJ is a satire site, and you shouldÂn’t get fooled. But you do. Just like the inevitable dupe does every April 1. Good stuff.
Here are a few facts to know about the advenÂturÂous Patrick Hunt. He’s a StanÂford archaeÂolÂoÂgist who has spent more than a decade tryÂing to unravÂel the mysÂtery of how HanÂniÂbal, the great ancient milÂiÂtary leader, crossed the Alps in 218 BCE with 25,000 men and 37 eleÂphants. (LisÂten on iTunes to the course he gave on this advenÂture, and get more info below). He has broÂken more than 20 bones while doing fieldÂwork, fought off kidÂnapÂpers, and twice surÂvived sunÂstroke-induced blindÂness. And now he has just pubÂlished an excitÂing new book called Ten DisÂcovÂerÂies That Rewrote HisÂtoÂry. It’s pubÂlished by Penguin/Plume and starts shipÂping tomorÂrow. I asked Patrick what makes these disÂcovÂerÂies — rangÂing from the RosetÂta Stone to the Dead Sea Scrolls to Machu PicÂchu— so imporÂtant. Below he gives us a brief glimpse into what makes each disÂcovÂery hisÂtorÂiÂcalÂly sigÂnifÂiÂcant and fasÂciÂnatÂing. Read on, and check out his capÂtiÂvatÂing new book for the fuller picÂture.
Patrick Hunt: “First I should say that not every archaeÂolÂoÂgist would agree that these are the ten most imporÂtant disÂcovÂerÂies of all time. On the othÂer hand, the ten stoÂries retold in this book are often regardÂed as among the most excitÂing archaeÂoÂlogÂiÂcal disÂcovÂerÂies of the modÂern era (since 1750). And no one would deny that these ten vital disÂcovÂerÂies have forÂevÂer changed the world of archaeÂolÂoÂgy, transÂformÂing how and what we know about ancient hisÂtoÂry. Let me tell you a litÂtle about them.
1) RosetÂta Stone: This excitÂing disÂcovÂery in 1799 was the key to deciÂpherÂing EgyptÂian hieroÂglyphs and unlockÂing the hisÂtoÂry of the ancient world texts. It proÂvides a winÂdow into the real hisÂtoÂry of Egypt rather than an imagÂiÂnary one; all othÂer deciÂpherÂings of ancient lanÂguages since the RosetÂta Stone’s iniÂtial decodÂing in 1822 are based on its preceÂdents. (See phoÂto here.)
2) Troy: Its disÂcovÂery and excaÂvaÂtion beginÂning in 1870 proved once and for all that Troy was not just a myth based on Homer; Troy was a hisÂtorÂiÂcal site where real peoÂple lived and fought. Its earÂliÂest excaÂvaÂtor, the oft-maligned and often-unethÂiÂcal HeinÂrich SchlieÂmann has been mostÂly credÂitÂed — right or wrong — as being the “Father of ArchaeÂolÂoÂgy” and his techÂniques became the founÂdaÂtion of archaeÂoÂlogÂiÂcal research, howÂevÂer greatÂly improved, afterÂward.
3) NinÂeveh and the RoyÂal AssyrÂiÂan Library: This rivÂetÂing find beginÂning in 1849 by Austen HenÂry Layard, a sleuth of antiqÂuiÂty, evenÂtuÂalÂly unearthed a whole lost library of cuneiform texts, includÂing ones not only from ancient AssyrÂia but also from far oldÂer Sumer, Akkad, BabyÂlon and othÂer great civÂiÂlizaÂtions. This had a very sigÂnifÂiÂcant impact on world litÂerÂaÂture, introÂducÂing such semÂiÂnal works as the Epic of GilÂgamesh.
4) King Tut’s Tomb: The draÂmatÂic openÂing of this royÂal tomb in 1922 — sought for years by a deterÂmined Howard Carter — was the first time in milÂlenÂnia a pharaoÂh’s tomb had actuÂalÂly been found intact; its treaÂsure gave the world a unique opporÂtuÂniÂty to actuÂalÂly account for stagÂgerÂing EgyptÂian royÂal wealth. [Dan’s note: NationÂal GeoÂgraphÂic has a nice web site on this archaeÂoÂlogÂiÂcal find.]
5) Machu PicÂchu: The remarkÂable high junÂgle mounÂtain disÂcovÂery in 1911 of the remote Lost City of the Inca by Hiram BingÂham made it posÂsiÂble for the world to finalÂly see an undisÂturbed Inca royÂal city mysÂteÂriÂousÂly abanÂdoned on a mounÂtainÂtop but neiÂther conÂquered nor changed by the coloÂnial world. (See phoÂto here.)
6) PomÂpeii: PreÂserved by the erupÂtion of VesuÂvius in AD 79 and not dug out for almost two milÂlenÂnia, PomÂpeii (probÂaÂbly acciÂdenÂtalÂly found by a farmer digÂging a well) is the sinÂgle most imporÂtant Roman site in the world; its artiÂfacts offer the largest and fullest record of life in a Roman city. PomÂpeiÂi’s misÂforÂtune is our great forÂtune. It preÂserves a city with thouÂsands of objects virÂtuÂalÂly unchanged. (See images here.)
Back in OctoÂber, RidÂley Scott released a final and definÂiÂtive direcÂtor’s cut of Blade RunÂner, preÂsentÂing to audiÂences the film that he would have made if stuÂdio execs hadÂn’t medÂdled with things. A short two months latÂer, the final cut is now out on DVD. It was released yesÂterÂday, bareÂly in time for the holÂiÂdays. For more on the makÂing and remakÂing of Blade RunÂner, you can lisÂten to this recent interÂview with RidÂley Scott.
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