DefÂiÂniteÂly worth a menÂtion. CraveonÂline has pulled togethÂer some clasÂsic HitchÂcock films. The list includes The 39 Steps, The Secret Agent, The Man Who Knew Too Much (above), Young and InnoÂcent, and BlackÂmail. And from what I can tell, they’re all availÂable in full (surÂprisÂingÂly) and can be watched in full screen forÂmat. If you’re havÂing probÂlems viewÂing these films, you can find them in our colÂlecÂtion of Free Movies Online.
William S. Burroughs’ “Writings” on eBay
You can now find some new writÂings of the Beat author William S. BurÂroughs on eBay. What’s up for bid here is not a long lost novÂel, or an earÂly draft of Naked Lunch. Nope, it’s simÂply BurÂroughs’ shopÂping list, a litÂtle note remindÂing him to pick up some cans of Coke, cat food, vodÂka, Triscuits, and othÂer banal things. Buy it here for a cool $495. All credÂit on this one goes to BoingÂBoÂing, which, by the way, is also feaÂturÂing today a free downÂload of Sean Williams’ DarÂwinÂian reliÂgion novÂel Crooked LetÂter.
A quick PS: one of our readÂers claims this is a phoÂto of BurÂroughs shopÂping. This has not been verÂiÂfied, but if you’re curiÂous what it might have looked like to put the shopÂping list in action, here it goes. :)
Blogs & Podcasts for the Financial Crisis
There’s no doubt about it. We’re livÂing in interÂestÂing times, as the ChiÂnese curse goes, and they won’t be going away any time soon. Most of us can’t afford to ignore what’s hapÂpenÂing here. So, below, I have highÂlightÂed a numÂber of blogs and podÂcasts that help make intelÂliÂgent sense of this ecoÂnomÂic debaÂcle. Here they go…
- PlanÂet MonÂey: NPR is doing a great job of covÂerÂing the unwindÂing globÂal econÂoÂmy. The PlanÂet MonÂey blog is a good read, and it includes an essenÂtial readÂing list. But the accomÂpaÂnyÂing podÂcast is one that I folÂlow regÂuÂlarÂly. It’s a must. And it’s genÂerÂalÂly enterÂtainÂing. You can access it here: iTunes — Rss Feed — Web Site. (Note: the last episode is not the best examÂple of what it’s usuÂalÂly about.)
- EconoÂTalk: EconÂTalk was votÂed “Best PodÂcast” in the 2008 Weblog Awards. HostÂed by Russ Roberts (out of George Mason UniÂverÂsiÂty), the show “feaÂtures one-on-one disÂcusÂsions with an eclecÂtic mix of authors, proÂfesÂsors, Nobel LauÂreÂates, entreÂpreÂneurs, leadÂers of charÂiÂties and busiÂnessÂes, and peoÂple on the street.” You can access the show via the folÂlowÂing chanÂnels: iTunes — RSS Feed — Web Site.
- The BaseÂline SceÂnario: DedÂiÂcatÂed to “explainÂing some of the key issues in the globÂal econÂoÂmy and develÂopÂing conÂcrete polÂiÂcy proÂposÂals,” The BaseÂline SceÂnario is writÂten, among othÂers, by Simon JohnÂson, forÂmer chief econÂoÂmist of the InterÂnaÂtionÂal MonÂeÂtary Fund, who is now a proÂfesÂsor at the MIT Sloan School of ManÂageÂment. Although relÂaÂtiveÂly young, the blog has received a fair amount of acclaim as the finanÂcial criÂsis has unfoldÂed. You may want to parÂticÂuÂlarÂly check out their colÂlecÂtion of conÂtent called FinanÂcial CriÂsis for BeginÂners.
- RealÂtime EcoÂnomÂic Issues Watch: Here, senior felÂlows of the PeterÂson InstiÂtute for InterÂnaÂtionÂal EcoÂnomÂics (a think tank based in WashÂingÂton) “disÂcuss and debate their responsÂes to globÂal ecoÂnomÂic and finanÂcial develÂopÂments as they occur each day and offer insights that othÂers might overÂlook.” You will find some of the folks from the PeterÂson InstiÂtute also appearÂing on the podÂcasts and blogs menÂtioned elseÂwhere on this list. Find the RSS feed here.
- Paul KrugÂman: A PrinceÂton UniÂverÂsiÂty econÂoÂmist, a Nobel Prize WinÂner, a New York Times op-ed writer, Paul KrugÂman is blogÂging the globÂal finanÂcial and ecoÂnomÂic criÂsis daiÂly. It’s an opinÂion that you can’t afford to take lightÂly. You’ll also want to see his newÂly released book, The Return of DepresÂsion EcoÂnomÂics and the CriÂsis of 2008.
- EconÂoÂmists’ Forum: Run by the FinanÂcial Times (UK), this blog brings togethÂer a large numÂber of econÂoÂmists who offer a runÂning comÂmenÂtary on the state of the fragÂile econÂoÂmy. The Wall Street JourÂnal has its own real time blog here.
- FallÂout: AmerÂiÂca’s FinanÂcial CriÂsis: MarÂketÂplace, the nightÂly radio proÂgram on pubÂlic radio (iTunes — Feed), also hosts a blog that tracks the week’s top stoÂries on AmerÂiÂca’s finanÂcial criÂsis.
- NewÂsHour with Jim Lehrer: The PBS nightÂly news proÂgram almost always includes an inforÂmaÂtive segÂment dedÂiÂcatÂed to the finanÂcial news of the day. The covÂerÂage, which typÂiÂcalÂly includes interÂviews with experts, is excelÂlent. You can downÂload the podÂcast here: iTunes — Feed — Web Site
- The BeckÂer-PosÂner Blog: While not updatÂed as freÂquentÂly as Krugman’s blog, The BeckÂer-PosÂner blog is a great place to read the thoughts of two Nobel prize winÂning econÂoÂmists (Gary DeckÂer and Richard PosÂner) disÂcuss the curÂrent ecoÂnomÂic criÂsis. Thanks Bryce for the tip.
- This AmerÂiÂcan Life: One of NPR’s beloved proÂgrams has offered some excelÂlent covÂerÂage of the finanÂcial criÂsis. It startÂed with a show called The Giant Pool of MonÂey (May 2008), and it has since includÂed a proÂgram called AnothÂer FrightÂenÂing Show about the EconÂoÂmy (NovemÂber 2008). Now there is a new one called Bad Bank, which explains what’s realÂly hapÂpenÂing in the trainÂwrecks that are banks. These proÂgrams were put togethÂer partÂly by memÂbers of the PlanÂet MonÂey podÂcast menÂtioned above.
Are we missÂing someÂthing good? Please let us know in the comÂments below…
The New Kindle and the Audio Book Threat
It took until FebÂruÂary 26, but I finalÂly got my backÂoÂrdered x‑mas present — the KinÂdle 2 (check it out here). There’s a lot to like about it. It’s thin & light. The screen is very readÂable. It holds a ton of books (1500). It downÂloaded War & Peace in a matÂter of secÂonds. The batÂtery life is long. And as for the othÂer good stuff, you can read WalÂter MossÂberg’s review in The Wall Street JourÂnal.
But nothÂing is perÂfect, and I’m underÂwhelmed by the Kindle’s new text-to-audio funcÂtionÂalÂiÂty, which theÂoÂretÂiÂcalÂly turns any book into an instant audio book. The comÂputÂerÂized voice is rather painful to lisÂten to. The rhythms and intoÂnaÂtions are off. The subÂtleties of the human voice just aren’t there. I doubt that this funcÂtionÂalÂiÂty will get much use. But it is not stopÂping the Authors Guild from comÂplainÂing.
EarÂliÂer this week, Roy Blount Jr., the Guild’s presÂiÂdent, wrote an op-ed in the NYTimes (“The KinÂdle SwinÂdle”) quesÂtionÂing the legalÂiÂty of the new feaÂture, and comÂplainÂing that it deprives authors of revÂenue from audio book rights. PerÂhaps some day, when this techÂnolÂoÂgy draÂmatÂiÂcalÂly improves, Blount may have a point. But, for now, the KinÂdle doesÂn’t plauÂsiÂbly pose much threat to comÂmerÂcialÂly-sold audio books. Indeed, you only need to rememÂber that AmaÂzon bought AudiÂble, the largest provider of comÂmerÂcial audio books in the US, and has already inteÂgratÂed AudiÂble into the KinÂdle. (Thanks Gideon for pointÂing that out.) Is AmaÂzon going to let text-to-voice underÂmine its AudiÂble investÂment? Not a chance. In the meanÂtime, I should note that you can test out AudiÂble’s serÂvice and downÂload two free audio books along the way. Not a bad deal.
Allan Bloom on YouTube
Allan Bloom, perÂhaps best rememÂbered for his conÂtroÂverÂsial bestÂseller The ClosÂing of the AmerÂiÂcan Mind, spent his career studyÂing and lecÂturÂing on the great books, writÂing extenÂsiveÂly on PlaÂto, ShakeÂspeare, Rousseau, Hegel and othÂers. PerÂhaps not terÂriÂbly surÂprisÂingÂly, some of his lecÂtures have popped up on YouTube. (What doesÂn’t evenÂtuÂalÂly pop up there?) The lecÂtures are actuÂalÂly audio recordÂings with some phoÂtos mixed in, and above we’ve postÂed the first in a series of lecÂtures on PlaÂto’s ApolÂoÂgy. The rest of the PlaÂto lecÂtures can be found here. The genÂerÂal colÂlecÂtion is here. And rememÂber, you can get hunÂdreds of free uniÂverÂsiÂty course here.
Via The DaiÂly Dish
Public Radio on the iPhone
Here’s a quick fyi for iPhone users: The PubÂlic Radio Tuner, a free app availÂable on iTunes, gives you (free) access to hunÂdreds of pubÂlic radio streams from across the US. Released in late JanÂuÂary, the Tuner brings togethÂer feeds from NPR, AmerÂiÂcan PubÂlic Media, and PRI, among othÂers. This is a handy way to lisÂten wireÂlessÂly to local news and culÂturÂal proÂgramÂming, plus many well-known shows (All Things ConÂsidÂered, Fresh Air, Car Talk, etc.) So far, the app works like a charm. You can downÂload it here, or visÂit this web site to learn more about this new iniÂtiaÂtive.
LastÂly, if you don’t have an iPhone, then this page does a good job of aggreÂgatÂing pubÂlic radio feeds, and you can always lisÂten to them as podÂcasts on your comÂputÂer or mp3 playÂer. DefÂiÂniteÂly worth a look…
Newspaper Front Pages from Across the World
What’s the main news stoÂry of the day? It depends on where you live.
NewÂseÂum has a handy web page that let’s you visuÂalÂly scan the front page of over 700 newsÂpaÂpers across 80 counÂtries. Open this web page, click on a conÂtiÂnent, then click on a dot withÂin a parÂticÂuÂlar geoÂgraphÂic area, and you’ll see what an indiÂvidÂual paper thinks matÂters most today, tomorÂrow and the next day. It’s a pretÂty handy tool.
SadÂly, as I looked at these maps, I couldÂn’t help but wonÂder (givÂen the state of newsÂpaÂper busiÂness) how many of these dots will disÂapÂpear over time. Or, as my colÂleague put it, how long is it before the newsÂpaÂper, as we know it, becomes an actuÂal relÂic of a museÂum. “NewÂseÂum” may realÂly become a newÂseÂum.
If you want to track the grim demise of the print indusÂtry, you can folÂlow The Media is Dying on TwitÂter. On an hour-to-hour basis, it records the grim unwindÂing of varÂiÂous newsÂpaÂpers and magÂaÂzines. And, while you’re at it, you can folÂlow our TwitÂter feed here, too. It’s a hapÂpiÂer feed, I promise.
Thanks Denise for the heads up on this one. Got a cool piece of culÂturÂal media? Send it our way.
The American Future
Through his books and docÂuÂmenÂtaries, Simon Schama, a British born hisÂtoÂriÂan, has covÂered a lot of ferÂtile ground. The French RevÂoÂluÂtion, the slave trade, the powÂer of art, RemÂbrandt, earÂly modÂern Dutch culÂture, the hisÂtoÂry of Britain — Schama has covÂered it all. And now he has pulled a TocÂqueville on us. He spent the betÂter part of a year travÂelÂing across AmerÂiÂca, sizÂing it up, and proÂducÂing a lengthy TV docÂuÂmenÂtary (now availÂable on DVD) and a relatÂed book (not availÂable in the US yet) called The AmerÂiÂcan Future: A HisÂtoÂry. His analyÂsis of AmerÂiÂca, of its past and its future, takes into account sevÂerÂal major themes: reliÂgion, immiÂgraÂtion, land and resources, and war. In this recent conÂverÂsaÂtion with Bill MoyÂers, Schama talks at length about AmerÂiÂca and where it finds itself today. The first 15 minÂutes focus on ObaÂma and the chalÂlenges he faces. The remainÂing part gets into themes disÂcussed in The AmerÂiÂcan Future. You can access it here: iTunes — Feed — Web Site.
P.S. I am realÂly sorÂry about the frusÂtratÂing downÂtime this mornÂing. My hostÂing serÂvice — Dreamhost — had some “issues.” HopeÂfulÂly this was an excepÂtion.
If Life Were Only Like This …
SomeÂhow my mind turned back today to this clasÂsic scene from Annie Hall — Woody Allen’s 1977 AcadÂeÂmy AwardÂing-winÂning film. The scene feaÂtures Woody, Diane Keaton, and a cameo by MarÂshall McLuhan, who gave us media theÂoÂry and the expresÂsion “the mediÂum is the mesÂsage.” The bit is always good for a laugh.
Stanford Online Writing Courses — The Spring Lineup
A quick fyi: This mornÂing, StanÂford ConÂtinÂuÂing StudÂies opened up regÂisÂtraÂtion for its spring lineÂup of online writÂing coursÂes. Offered in partÂnerÂship with the StanÂford CreÂative WritÂing ProÂgram (one of the most disÂtinÂguished writÂing proÂgrams in the counÂtry), these online coursÂes give beginÂning and advanced writÂers, no matÂter where they live, the chance to refine their craft with giftÂed writÂing instrucÂtors.
As you will see, there are a couÂple of coursÂes offered in conÂjuncÂtion with The New York Times. The idea here is that you’ll learn writÂing from a StanÂford writÂing instrucÂtor and then get your work reviewed by a Times book critÂic. Quite a perk, I must say.
For more inforÂmaÂtion, click here, or sepÂaÂrateÂly check out the FAQ.
Caveat empÂtor: These classÂes are not free, and I helped set them up. So while I wholeÂheartÂedÂly believe in these coursÂes, you can take my views with a grain of salt.
- CreÂative NonÂficÂtion with The New York Times (one spot left)
- WritÂing FicÂtion with The New York Times
- FicÂtion I: BeginÂning Short StoÂry WritÂing
- FicÂtion II: VoicÂes That Live
- TravÂel WritÂing
- MagÂaÂzine WritÂing
- IntroÂducÂtion to CreÂative WritÂing
- Putting a Spin on SciÂence WritÂing
- NovÂel WritÂing III: A Plan for SucÂcess
- MemÂoir I: What I Saw, What I Wore, What I Ate, and More
The Unrepentant Terrorist? A Conversation with Bill Ayers
Bill Ayers, founder of the WeathÂer UnderÂground and favorite whipÂping boy of the failed McCain camÂpaign, gives a primer on the sumÂmer of ’68, disÂcussÂes his favorite tatÂtoo, and explains how the ChicaÂgo Police DepartÂment now loves him. The interÂview was conÂductÂed by a colÂleague of mine, Scott Hutchins, and you have to like the ironÂic way it begins:
…our interÂview [startÂed] with a bomb scare. We sat down on the couch in a busy hotel lobÂby and a worÂried secuÂriÂty guard approached. “Is that your bag?” she asked, pointÂing to a backÂpack and coat that were defÂiÂniteÂly not ours. “Nope,” we said. “Oh boy,” she said. She asked a few othÂer peoÂple. The ownÂer was not there. She radioed in. I conÂsidÂered the irony of being blown up while interÂviewÂing Bill Ayers. I figÂured it would at least get me a wikipedia entry.
Get the full interÂview over at The RumÂpus.
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