Here’s a litÂtle ear canÂdy for the fan of advenÂtureÂsome litÂerÂaÂture. Over the past week, EscapeÂpod (iTunes — Feed — Web Site) released anothÂer one of its popÂuÂlar short stoÂries, “Start The Clock.” You’ll also find in the feed (and preÂsumÂably soon on iTunes) an audio verÂsion of Isaac AsiÂmov’s “NightÂfall,” which was pubÂlished first in 1941, in AstoundÂing SciÂence FicÂtion. Great comÂbo here of new and old.
Next, PseudoÂpod (iTunes — Feed — Web Site), the world’s first audio horÂror magÂaÂzine, has issued two new stoÂries in recent weeks: Stephanie BurÂgis’ “StitchÂing Time” and Dave Thompson’s “Last Respects.” We think you’ll like them. (Thanks to BoingÂBoÂing for the heads up on these.)
FinalÂly, we wantÂed to highÂlight Stranger Things, (iTunes — Feed — Web Site). This series feaÂtures stoÂries of ordiÂnary peoÂple stumÂbling into strange worlds (a la The TwiÂlight Zone). This is not just your everyÂday podÂcast. The stoÂries are creÂative, and they’re told/acted out in very high qualÂiÂty video. This puts it on the cutÂting-edge of what’s being done with podÂcastÂing. DefÂiÂniteÂly have a look.
OthÂer free audio books withÂin these genÂres:
These days, Open CulÂture has been attractÂing an interÂnaÂtionÂal audiÂence. To give you a litÂtleÂsamÂple, 43% of our readÂers come from outÂside the US, and they come chiefly from TaiÂwan (lots from TaiÂwan lateÂly), GerÂmany, ChiÂna, Japan, France, Spain, India, MexÂiÂco and Brazil. But if you count them all up over the past week, we have had visÂiÂtors from 105 counÂtries overÂall. Very gratÂiÂfyÂing.
GivÂen this, it seems worth highÂlightÂing some podÂcasts that can help you improve your EngÂlish. (We’re assumÂing that you already know some EngÂlish, or you wouldÂn’t be here in the first place.)
The most obviÂous podÂcast to start with is the aptÂly titled EngÂlish as a SecÂond LanÂguage PodÂcast (iTunes — Feed — Web Site). Put togethÂer by two forÂmer proÂfesÂsors, this very rich and deep colÂlecÂtion teachÂes stuÂdents propÂer proÂnunÂciÂaÂtion, idioms and slang, and it genÂerÂalÂly gets high marks. These guys seem to have a good corÂner on the marÂket, and they’re worth your time.
Now, there are othÂer, more focused ways to learn EngÂlish. If you’re a native SpanÂish speakÂer, you may want to give some attenÂtion to EngÂlish for SpanÂish SpeakÂers, which is othÂerÂwise called, Por Fin Aprende Ingles (iTunes — Feed — Web Site).
Or if you’re mainÂly lookÂing to improve your EngÂlish for busiÂness purÂposÂes, you can check out BusiÂness EngÂlish Pod (iTunes — Feed — Web Site), which will teach you to funcÂtion effecÂtiveÂly in an AmerÂiÂcan busiÂness enviÂronÂment. AnothÂer option is ESL BusiÂness News (iTunes — Feed — Web Site), a weekÂly podÂcast that presents interÂnaÂtionÂal busiÂness news in clear, slowÂly spoÂken EngÂlish. As you lisÂten to the podÂcast, you can also read a tranÂscript at the same time.
FinalÂly, if you’re lookÂing for someÂthing less forÂmal and a litÂtle more quirky, you can also always spend a litÂtle time lisÂtenÂing to The Bob and Rob Show: WeekÂly EngÂlish Lessons from a YanÂkee and a Brit (iTunes — Feed — Web Site). This unconÂvenÂtionÂal show often uses humor to teach gramÂmar and idioms to interÂmeÂdiÂate-to-advanced stuÂdents, and you’ll get a feel for both AmerÂiÂcan and EngÂlish accents.
To learn more lanÂguages, click to see our colÂlecÂtion: How to Learn LanÂguages for Free: SpanÂish, EngÂlish, ChiÂnese & 37 OthÂer LanÂguages,
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Over the past year, we’ve seen tech-savvy book lovers start recordÂing and issuÂing their own homeÂgrown audio books and aggreÂgatÂing them on sites like LibÂrivox. The audio texts mostÂly come from the pubÂlic domain for obviÂous copyÂright reaÂsons (though you can find some excepÂtions), and, yes, they’re someÂtimes of uneven qualÂiÂty. Among the first releasÂes, you’d expect to find a lot of the great clasÂsiÂcal works – the major plays of ShakeÂspeare, the founÂdaÂtionÂal philoÂsophÂiÂcal works by PlaÂto, etc. – and you do get some of those. But what you find more often are texts by more modÂern writÂers workÂing in the thriller, advenÂture, and sci fi genÂres: WashÂingÂton IrvÂing, Robert Louis StevenÂson, Edgar Allen Poe, Arthur Conan Doyle, and H.G. Wells. (Find these podÂcasts here.) It seems entireÂly fitÂting (and, when you think about it, unsurÂprisÂing) that Wells, the father of sciÂence ficÂtion, would be among the first to find his writÂings digÂiÂtalÂly recordÂed and disÂtribÂuted. NowaÂdays, you can downÂload, sync and lisÂten to his major works – The New AccelÂerÂaÂtor (mp3), The InvisÂiÂble Man (iTunes — feed), The Time Machine (iTunes — feed), and The War of the Worlds (iTunes). But what’s even betÂter and coolÂer than all of this, at least in our minds, is that you can now also downÂload the verÂsion of The War of the Worlds that Orson Welles famousÂly adaptÂed and aired on nationÂal radio in OctoÂber 1938. PreÂsentÂed so that it soundÂed like an actuÂal news broadÂcast, the Orson Welles verÂsion was misÂtakÂen for truth by many lisÂtenÂers who caught the proÂgram midÂstream (more info here), and, soon enough, they found themÂselves cowÂerÂing in baseÂments or fleeÂing in cars with guns cocked and loaded, all in a desÂperÂate attempt to avoid an unfoldÂing MarÂtÂian invaÂsion. You can catch the mp3 verÂsion of the famous Welles’ recordÂing here. Or here is an alterÂnaÂtive in case the origÂiÂnal file gets overÂly trafÂficked. Enjoy. See our comÂplete Audio Book PodÂcast ColÂlecÂtion and othÂer podÂcast colÂlecÂtions. |
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at the Yale School of ManÂageÂment, which he titled “Can NewsÂpaÂper JourÂnalÂism SurÂvive Blogs, Fox News and Karl Rove?” (LisÂten here on iTunes.) SpeakÂing canÂdidÂly, WesÂsel readÂiÂly acknowlÂedged that the print newsÂpaÂper busiÂness is in trouÂble, and even hintÂed that some of our major newsÂpaÂpers, the JourÂnal perÂhaps includÂed, may not ultiÂmateÂly be long for the world. The probÂlem, as he describes it, is twofold: First, readÂers and adverÂtisÂers conÂtinÂue to move from print to the interÂnet, a mediÂum that old school papers can’t monÂeÂtize very well. SecÂond — and this is the crux of his arguÂment — he sees the major papers also sufÂferÂing because they face comÂpeÂtiÂtion from more overtÂly politiÂcized media playÂers, such as Fox, Drudge and varÂiÂous blogs that don’t adhere to traÂdiÂtionÂal stanÂdards of jourÂnalÂism. While The Wall Street JourÂnal strives to be “fair and balÂanced,” Fox News (rather ironÂiÂcalÂly) and many right and left-wing blogs readÂiÂly embrace bias and manÂage to capÂiÂtalÂize on it fairÂly well. This leaves the midÂdle of the road media in trouÂble. Now, there is sureÂly some merÂit to this arguÂment. But it realÂly doesÂn’t seem to get to the root of the probÂlem. WesÂsel paints the WSJ’s woes as being essenÂtialÂly politÂiÂcal when they realÂly are not. It’s more about busiÂness and culÂture than anyÂthing else. When the interÂnet took off in the late 90s, we heard about how it lowÂered barÂriÂers to entry and allowed playÂers with litÂtle capÂiÂtal to get online and comÂpete. Now, ten years latÂer, we’re seeÂing the results. EstabÂlished conÂtent playÂers have found themÂselves comÂpetÂing with an infiÂnite numÂber of speÂcialÂized conÂtent providers, some of which are damn good, and some not. (PerÂhaps we can lump the unabashedÂly politÂiÂcal blogs in the latÂter group.) Put simÂply, the inforÂmaÂtion world is being splinÂtered much like the teleÂviÂsion world was with the advent of cable, except even more so, and this leaves readÂers with many viable choicÂes. For betÂter or worse, the genÂerÂalÂist press seems almost doomed to give way to speÂcialÂized blogs and web sites that readÂers can aggreÂgate into an organÂic whole with the help of bookÂmarks and newÂfanÂgled “feed readÂers.” (See, for examÂple, Google ReadÂer, MyYaÂhoo, or BlogÂlines.) This probÂaÂbly includes The Wall Street JourÂnal. And would David WesÂsel be surÂprised to see AmerÂiÂca’s leadÂing finanÂcial paper evenÂtuÂalÂly supÂplantÂed by a changÂing conÂstelÂlaÂtion of alterÂnaÂtives? ProbÂaÂbly not. You can already hear the doubt in his voice … and very faintÂly the suckÂing sound in the halls of Dow Jones. |
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Stephen GreenÂblatt, a HarÂvard proÂfesÂsor, leadÂing ShakeÂspeare scholÂar, and author of the 2005 bestÂseller Will in the World, penned a piece in the latÂest New York Review of Books that surÂveys ShakeÂspeare’s polÂiÂtics — his take on the uses and abusÂes of politÂiÂcal powÂer. The piece starts in a wonÂderÂful way, so forÂgive us for quotÂing it a litÂtle at length:
The artiÂcle goes on to explore just this quesÂtion, and it’s well worth the read. (And, oh how do I miss ClinÂton in some ways.) The piece also sets the stage for a radio proÂgram that aired last week on one of our favorite shows, PRI’s Open Souce (Feed — Mp3). SpeakÂing with Stephen GreenÂblatt and two othÂer scholÂars — OlivÂer Arnold (PrinceÂton) and Jim FitzÂmorÂris (Tulane) — the host ChristoÂpher Lydon sorts through ShakeÂspeare’s outÂlook on powÂer and leadÂerÂship (withÂin both monarÂchies and republics), and then they cirÂcle back to view AmerÂiÂca’s politÂiÂcal landÂscape through the Bard’s eyes. ShakeÂspeare made his politÂiÂcal comÂmenÂtary often by lookÂing back over 1500 years to Ancient Rome. So is it too far fetched to project his thinkÂing forÂward 400 years, to AmerÂiÂca 2007? Have a lisÂten and you decide. See our comÂplete list of Arts & CulÂture PodÂcasts. |
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.)
See our comÂplete lists of Arts & CulÂture PodÂcasts, or our largÂer PodÂcast Library. Email a friend and let them know about Open CulÂture.
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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.
JerÂry Yang, and StanÂford PresÂiÂdent John HenÂnessy, among othÂers.
lecÂtures here from some of the world’s leadÂing thinkers.
If we’re missÂing anyÂthing great, please drop us a line.
EntreÂpreÂneurÂship and BusiÂness PlanÂning is a free course availÂable via podÂcast (iTunes Feed Mp3) 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 (iTunes Feed Web 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.
RelatÂed ConÂtent:
150 Free Online BusiÂness CoursÂes
Read More...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 the long-runÂning and very popÂuÂlar radio proÂgram (which is also availÂable as a podÂcast iTunes Feed Web 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.
See our comÂplete lists of Arts & CulÂture PodÂcasts, or our largÂer PodÂcast Library. Email a friend and let them know about Open CulÂture.
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Al Gore made a much pubÂliÂcized trip back to WashÂingÂton yesÂterÂday. As The New York Times describes it, “It was part sciÂence class, part polÂiÂcy wonk parÂadise, part polÂiÂtics and all theÂater as forÂmer Vice PresÂiÂdent Al Gore came to ConÂgress … to insist that globÂal warmÂing conÂstiÂtutes a “planÂeÂtary emerÂgency” requirÂing an aggresÂsive fedÂerÂal response.” You’ll probÂaÂbly agree that it’s betÂter to watch a speech itself than to read a report about it. So here it goes. Give yourÂself 37 minÂutes to watch: Email a friend and let them know about Open CulÂture. |