Yet furÂther proof that ants are endÂlessÂly fasÂciÂnatÂing, and, on a relatÂed note, see our earÂliÂer piece: CenÂtral IntelÂliÂgence: From Ants to the Web.
Puppies for These Hard Times
In case you were wonÂderÂing what kind of media we would be most hunÂgry for in hard times (big budÂget action movies? escapist sit-coms), don’t forÂget that this is recesÂsion 3.0. IntroÂducÂing The pupÂpy cam, with 22,000 viewÂers and countÂing. The shibu pupÂpies are adorable, worÂry-free, and of course, non-union. Click here and tell us are you not enterÂtained? (Thanks SA for the tip.)
Vintage Nabokov
TakÂen from a French teleÂviÂsion proÂgram, this vinÂtage clip feaÂtures Vladimir Nabokov (1899–1977) readÂing from LoliÂta and revealÂing his list of the most imporÂtant novÂels of the 20th cenÂtuÂry, among othÂer things. Nabokov speaks in EngÂlish here. So don’t let the iniÂtial French throw you off. We’ve added this gem to our YouTube playlist.
LoliÂta, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue takÂing a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta.
Thomas Friedman on the Green Revolution
Thomas FriedÂman has a new book out, Hot, Flat, and CrowdÂed. And it gets into the whole quesÂtion of what a “green revÂoÂluÂtion” is realÂly all about. New books mean book tours, and here we have an outÂtake from a spirÂitÂed talk he recentÂly gave in NorthÂern CalÂiÂforÂnia. You can watch the full talk on Fora.tv here.
By the way, FriedÂman starts talkÂing at the outÂset about “ET,” and it hapÂpens to stand for “EnerÂgy TechÂnolÂoÂgy.”
Oxford Scholars Name Top Ten Irritating Phrases
What are some of the most annoyÂing phrasÂes in the EngÂlish lanÂguage? In a new forthÂcomÂing book, A Damp Squid: The EngÂlish LanÂguage Laid Bare, Oxford researchers list the comÂmon phrasÂes that we use incorÂrectÂly or just all too excesÂsiveÂly. Here’s the list (and if you have your own disÂliked expresÂsions, list them below in the comÂments).
1 — At the end of the day
2 — FairÂly unique
3 — I perÂsonÂalÂly
4 — At this moment in time
5 — With all due respect
6 — AbsoluteÂly
7 — It’s a nightÂmare
8 — ShouldÂn’t of
9 — 24/7
10 — It’s not rockÂet sciÂence
via The TeleÂgraph
Joss Whedon: The Death of Orson Welles, The History of Women and Beyond
One of my friends from way back, SheerÂly Avni, has just postÂed an interÂview with Joss WheÂdon, who has now domÂiÂnatÂed in four media catÂeÂgories: film (SerenÂiÂty), teleÂviÂsion (Buffy the VamÂpire SlayÂer), comics (RunÂaways, The AstonÂishÂing X‑Men) and finalÂly the interÂnet. (Dr. HorÂriÂble’s SinÂgaÂlong Blog). The interÂview was conÂductÂed for MothÂer Jones, so there’s a lot about polÂiÂtics, genÂder, the writÂers’ strike, and, yes, TV and film. It runs about 38 minÂutes. Have a lisÂten.
Woody Allen and the Reverend Billy Graham In Conversation
Here we have the odd couÂple. The agnosÂtic filmÂmakÂer and one of AmerÂiÂca’s most influÂenÂtial reliÂgious figÂures engaged in a liveÂly conÂverÂsaÂtion. It’s actuÂalÂly a rather genÂtleÂmanÂly exchange from the late 1960s, and it’s added to our video colÂlecÂtion of CulÂturÂal Icons. Part 1 appears below, and you can get Part 2 here.
You can find this video perÂmaÂnentÂly hostÂed in our colÂlecÂtion of 235 CulÂturÂal Icons.
Obama’s Victory: The View From Grant Park (Chicago)
Here’s the moment when ChicaÂgo, ObaÂma’s adoptÂed homeÂtown, learned about his vicÂtoÂry TuesÂday night. It has been a long time since we’ve seen this kind of civic engageÂment and exciteÂment. Catch the moment below and watch his vicÂtoÂry speech here.
This American Life: Another Frightening Show About the Economy
Back in May, This AmerÂiÂcan Life (iTunes — Feed — Web Site) aired an episode called The Giant Pool of MonÂey (stream here). The show, which demysÂtiÂfied the mortÂgage criÂsis in an unsuÂal way, became a major hit. Now, they have aired a sequel: AnothÂer FrightÂenÂing Show About the EconÂoÂmy (stream here), and it explains the ripÂple effects of the origÂiÂnal mortÂgage criÂsis that have pushed the AmerÂiÂcan finanÂcial sysÂtem to the brink. How did comÂmerÂcial paper freeze up, and why does this paper matÂter? What exactÂly are credÂit default swaps, why wasÂn’t this masÂsive marÂket regÂuÂlatÂed, and how does this poorÂly underÂstood marÂket threatÂen our ecoÂnomÂic well being? It’s all answered here. Give a lisÂten.
Volcano Eruption Captured By Satellite
A NASA satelÂlite caught Alaska’s Mount CleveÂland in the act. An amazÂing image. For more brilÂliant volÂcano action phoÂtos, have a look here.
The African-American Freedom Struggle & Barack Obama’s American Dream (Free Stanford Course)
I menÂtioned this free course back in July, but, givÂen the hisÂtoric nature of TuesÂday’s elecÂtion, it seems worth givÂing it anothÂer menÂtion.
On StanÂford’s YouTube channel, you’ll find a comÂplete series of lecÂtures from an underÂgradÂuÂate course called “African-AmerÂiÂcan HisÂtoÂry: ModÂern FreeÂdom StrugÂgle.” Taught by ClayÂborne CarÂson, a promiÂnent hisÂtoÂry proÂfesÂsor who has editÂed and pubÂlished the papers of MarÂtin Luther King, Jr., the course overviews the strugÂgle for libÂerÂty and comÂplete equalÂiÂty, movÂing from W.E.B. Du Bois (earÂly 20th cenÂtuÂry), to MLK and MalÂcolm X, down to Barack ObaÂma today. The lecÂture below, entiÂtled “Barack ObaÂma’s AmerÂiÂcan Dream,” sitÂuÂates ObaÂma withÂin the largÂer sweep of African-AmerÂiÂcan hisÂtoÂry. It’s rather conÂverÂsaÂtionÂal in style, and it does a good job of getÂting into ObaÂma’s perÂsonÂal biogÂraÂphy. The comÂplete lecÂtures can be watched in their entireÂty on YouTube here, or downÂloaded in video via iTunes. And be sure to see our largÂer colÂlecÂtion of 250 Free Online CoursÂes from LeadÂing UniÂverÂsiÂties, where you’ll also find this course.
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