Here’s a quick litÂtle find for the poetÂry lover: A slew of earÂly poems by WalÂlace Stevens, the great AmerÂiÂcan poet, can now be downÂloaded as podÂcasts (iTunes). They include many clasÂsics — AnecÂdote of the Jar, The EmperÂor of Ice Cream, Peter Quince at the Clavier, SunÂday MornÂing, ThirÂteen Ways of LookÂing at a BlackÂbird, and many othÂers. RecordÂed for LibÂriVox by Alan Drake, all poems are in the pubÂlic domain.
SpeakÂing of WalÂlace Stevens, you may want to give a lisÂten to a podÂcast that we highÂlightÂed here once before. It feaÂtures the great litÂerÂary critÂic Harold Bloom (see bio) teachÂing a semÂiÂnar at Yale on “The Art of ReadÂing a Poem” (iTunes — mp3). Here, Bloom takes his stuÂdents through a poem by WalÂlace Stevens, Parts of a World,and moves between interÂpreÂtaÂtion and intriguÂing perÂsonÂal anecÂdotes. If you want to hear a masÂter at work, give a good lisÂten.
If you like what we’re doing here, please help spread the word and let othÂers know what they can find on Open CulÂture.
E = mc2. It’s hands-down the most well known equaÂtion out there. But how many have the faintest idea what the equaÂtion realÂly means? Not too long ago, PBS’ NOVA put togethÂer a “docuÂdÂraÂma,” called EinÂstein’s Big Idea, which took a close look at how EinÂstein arrived at the equaÂtion and what it means. Along with the proÂgram, NOVA proÂduced some relatÂed media resources, among which you’ll find a series of podÂcasts (iTunes — Feed — mp3) feaÂturÂing 10 top physiÂcists (includÂing two Nobel Prize winÂners) who briefly explain the meanÂing and imporÂtance of E = mc2. In addiÂtion, and perÂhaps even betÂter, they’ve postÂed an audio clip of EinÂstein himÂself explainÂing what the equaÂtion is all about. You’ll find many good resources here, so have a good look around.
If physics intrigues you, you should also check out a new StanÂford course that’s being disÂtribÂuted for free via video podÂcast. The course, ModÂern TheÂoÂretÂiÂcal Physics: QuanÂtum EntanÂgleÂment, is preÂsentÂed by Leonard Susskind, whom many conÂsidÂer the father of string theÂoÂry, a conÂtroÂverÂsial innoÂvaÂtion in physics that squares quanÂtum theÂoÂry with relÂaÂtivÂiÂty and explains the nature of all matÂter and forces. Now, when Susskind disÂcussÂes quanÂtum entanÂgleÂment, he is sureÂly getÂting into some heady, cutÂting-edge stuff. But the good thing is that the very popÂuÂlar course was preÂsentÂed through StanÂford’s ConÂtinÂuÂing StudÂies ProÂgram (where I work, just to put my cards on the table), and was geared toward the genÂerÂal pubÂlic. The course is expectÂed to last a full year, and it should result in 30 free two-hour lecÂtures, which will all be gradÂuÂalÂly postÂed online. You can find a more detailed course descripÂtion here.
Open Source, an always insightÂful pubÂlic radio proÂgram, aired last week a show that took a broad look at the winÂners and losers of the Iraq war. TakÂing up a theme that was also recentÂly explored in an ediÂtion of ForÂeign PolÂiÂcy magÂaÂzine, the host, ChristoÂpher Lydon, spoke with a panÂel of experts from respectÂed think tanks, uniÂverÂsiÂties, and newsÂpaÂpers, and, togethÂer, they drew conÂcluÂsions about winÂners and losers, some of which aren’t so obviÂous. Here’s a quick recap, but we recÂomÂmend givÂing the show a lisÂten (iTunes — Feed — Mp3) and takÂing a look at its well-done blog.
WinÂners:
Iran & ShiÂism: With Iraq, its traÂdiÂtionÂal rival, in chaos, Iran is now free to project its powÂer across the MidÂdle East and tilt the balÂance of regionÂal powÂer in favor of ShiÂite Islam. It’s partÂly because Iran is makÂing such a strong showÂing that the hawks in WashÂingÂton may feel the strateÂgic need to evenÂtuÂalÂly use milÂiÂtary force against Iran. In this sense, the US is playÂing out a more extreme verÂsion of the stratÂeÂgy it used durÂing the Iran-Iraq War that dragged on through the 1980s. WeakÂen one powÂer, then the othÂer.
ChiÂna: No one is noticÂing it now, but down the road, we might be writÂing a hisÂtoÂry that talks about how the US advenÂture in Iraq gave ChiÂna the room to emerge rapidÂly as a new superÂpowÂer — a superÂpowÂer that could plauÂsiÂbly present itself to the interÂnaÂtionÂal comÂmuÂniÂty as more diploÂmatÂic and peaceÂful than the US alterÂnaÂtive.
al-QaeÂda: The Iraq war has helped al-Qaeda’s recruitÂment efforts, preÂciseÂly as many warned, and, if the US evenÂtuÂalÂly abanÂdons Iraq, they’ll feel emboldÂened no doubt.
Arab DicÂtaÂtors: The heat had been ratchÂeted up against many MidÂdle East dicÂtaÂtors, but with everyÂone disÂtractÂed by Iraq, they are able to perÂpetÂuÂate their corÂrupt rule for yet a while longer.
MulÂti-LatÂerÂalÂism, Old Europe & the UN: They were all disÂmissed by the Bush adminÂisÂtraÂtion in the run up to the war, but they’re all lookÂing betÂter and more worthÂwhile with each passÂing day.
Losers:
Iraq & The UnitÂed States: Two obviÂous picks.
UniÂlatÂerÂalÂism & The Neo-Cons: The neo-con approach has splenÂdidÂly disÂcredÂitÂed itself, but the rub is that neo-cons still sit in powÂer and they may uniÂlatÂerÂalÂly force their way into Iran before the peoÂple get to the balÂlot box again.
Tony Blair & the SpeÂcial RelaÂtionÂship between the US and EngÂland: Tony Blair is sayÂing his long goodÂbye. He’ll be gone before too long, and, with him, may go the only othÂer subÂstanÂtial memÂber of the “CoaliÂtion of the WillÂing.”
The Price of Oil: It’s a losÂer if you’re a conÂsumer … but not if you’re an execÂuÂtive at Exxon.
Here’s a difÂferÂent kind of podÂcast: You can now find on iTunes a new video podÂcast that feaÂtures aniÂmatÂed verÂsions of The New YorkÂer’s famous carÂtoons. A venÂture called RingÂTales has apparÂentÂly been givÂen an excluÂsive license to aniÂmate and disÂtribÂute The New YorkÂer’s library of over 70,000 carÂtoons. Each week, they’ll issue three new video aniÂmaÂtions, which you can access on iTunes as well as by rss feed. They’ll also be availÂable on The New YorkÂer webÂsite. For more details, see this press release.
new SciÂence PodÂcast ColÂlecÂtion), and, along the way, we dug up sevÂerÂal good free podÂcasts for clasÂsiÂcal music fans. Here’s a quick overview of what we found:
With last year being the 250th anniverÂsary of Mozart’s birth, there was no shortÂage of podÂcasts dedÂiÂcatÂed to Mozart’s masÂterÂpieces. First, Radio SweÂden (iTunesFeedWeb Site) reisÂsued a digÂiÂtal archive of Mozart recordÂings by the RoyÂal Swedish Opera from the 1940s and 1950s. And, along very simÂiÂlar lines, DanÂmarks Radio (FeedWeb Site) issued podÂcasts of nine Mozart symÂphonies recordÂed by the DanÂish Radio SymÂphoÂny
OrchesÂtra. (You’ll find here symÂphonies numÂbers 15, 17, 23, 34, 35, 36, 39, 40, and 41.) Since the web site is in DanÂish, we’d recÂomÂmend accessÂing
these high qualÂiÂty MP3’s through the rss feed listÂed above. LastÂly, we should menÂtion here that, as part of last year’s fesÂtivÂiÂties, The InterÂnaÂtionÂal Mozart FounÂdaÂtion pubÂlished online for the first time the entireÂty of of Mozart’s musiÂcal scores.
Along with Mozart, you can find plenÂty of Beethoven. We have highÂlightÂed here before, but it’s worth notÂing again, Deutsche Welle’s podÂcastcolÂlecÂtion called BeethovenÂfest (iTunesFeedWeb Site). You’ll want to give it a look, and also see the podÂcast colÂlecÂtion put togethÂer by the Boston SymÂphoÂny OrchesÂtra ConÂserÂvaÂtoÂry (iTunesFeedWeb Site). This eduÂcaÂtionÂal series offers an extenÂsive overview and recordÂings of Beethoven’s work, as well as that of Arnold SchoenÂberg. You can also catch more Beethoven (as well as a litÂtle Mozart and Bach) with the podÂcast series called The ConÂcert (iTunesFeedWeb Site), which feaÂtures recordÂings from the IsabelÂla StewÂart GardÂner MuseÂum in Boston.
SpeakÂing of Bach, you may want to give some time to these two podÂcasts: Bach FesÂtiÂval of PhiladelÂphia (FeedWeb Site) and Bach PodÂcast from Magnatune.comiTunesFeedWeb Site).
Let’s now leave you with a few othÂer good finds. WagÂnÂer Operas PodÂcast (iTunesFeedWeb Site) lets you lisÂten in on recordÂings from the annuÂal Bayreuth FesÂtiÂval, plus more. The GramoÂphone PodÂcast (FeedWeb Site) offers “a monthÂly winÂdow into the world’s most authorÂiÂtaÂtive clasÂsiÂcal
music magÂaÂzine, feaÂturÂing an overview of the best releasÂes, news,
excluÂsive interÂviews with leadÂing figÂures from the music world, and
lots of great music.” An IntiÂmate Tour Through the Music of Yo-Yo Ma (iTunesFeedWeb Site) offers essenÂtialÂly what the title says. FinalÂly, we’d recÂomÂmend ClasÂsiÂcal PerÂforÂmance (iTunesFeedWeb Site), which conÂsists of clasÂsiÂcal music perÂforÂmances from WGBÂH’s StuÂdio One in Boston. Hope this fills your weekÂend (and your iPod).
An AusÂtralian podÂcast that explores the menÂtal uniÂverse — neuÂroÂscience realÂly — and takes a clear look at everyÂthing from addicÂtion to artiÂfiÂcial intelÂliÂgence
CovÂers every aspect of sciÂence, from the quirks of the expandÂing uniÂverse to the quarks withÂin a sinÂgle atom…and everyÂthing in between.
ExplorÂing EnviÂronÂmenÂtal HisÂtoÂryFeedWeb Site
A podÂcast about human sociÂeties and the enviÂronÂment in the past. The periÂodÂic proÂgrammes feaÂture interÂviews with peoÂple workÂing in the field, reports on conÂferÂences and disÂcusÂsions about the use and methÂods of enviÂronÂmenÂtal hisÂtoÂry.
Dr. Charles Lee and Dr. Frank Ling take an in-depth look at recent events in the world of sciÂence and techÂnolÂoÂgy, and examÂine the effects of recent disÂcovÂerÂies on our daiÂly lives.
NPR SciÂence CorÂreÂsponÂdent Robert KrulÂwich demysÂtiÂfies what’s dense and difÂfiÂcult — even if you feel lost when it comes to sciÂence. CovÂerÂage that can be delightÂful, movÂing, funÂny, perÂhaps even upsetÂting.
Every week Jet StreamÂing brings an insidÂer’s look at the weathÂer and cliÂmaÂtolÂogy. It’s everyÂthing you wantÂed to know about the weathÂer, but were afraid to ask.
“See the natÂurÂal world like nevÂer before through the eyes of NationÂal GeoÂgraphÂic advenÂturÂers, sciÂenÂtists, researchers, and the extraÂorÂdiÂnary CritÂterÂcam.”
Nature, a highÂly respectÂed peer-reviewed sciÂence jourÂnal, offers well proÂduced podÂcasts that feaÂture sciÂenÂtists talkÂing about their cutÂting-edge research.
New SciÂenÂtist’s weekÂly podÂcast on all the latÂest sciÂence and techÂnolÂoÂgy news and feaÂtures, includÂing guests from the world of sciÂence.
A host of disÂtinÂguished thinkers speak about innoÂvaÂtions in sciÂence — nanÂotechÂnolÂoÂgy, space exploÂrations, life sciÂences and more.
SciÂence Talk: The PodÂcast of SciÂenÂtifÂic AmerÂiÂcaniTunesFeedWeb Site
The host, Steve Mirsky, explores the latÂest develÂopÂments in sciÂence and techÂnolÂoÂgy through interÂviews with leadÂing sciÂenÂtists and jourÂnalÂists.
Want to know more about black holes? Or progress in the cure for canÂcer? Learn about the latÂest news and trends in sciÂence, medÂiÂcine and the enviÂronÂment from the reporters and ediÂtors of the popÂuÂlar SciÂence Times secÂtion of The New York Times. David CorÂcoÂran is your host.
The stoÂry of techÂnoÂlogÂiÂcal progress is one of draÂma and intrigue, sudÂden insight and plain hard work. Explore techÂnolÂoÂgy’s specÂtacÂuÂlar failÂures and many magÂnifÂiÂcent sucÂcess stoÂries.
A weekÂly podÂcast that explores the world of the paraÂnorÂmal and fringe sciÂence. It’s hostÂed by Dr. Steven NovelÂla is an acaÂdÂeÂmÂic neuÂrolÂoÂgist on full-time facÂulÂty at Yale UniÂverÂsiÂty School of MedÂiÂcine.
Self describes as: “A weekÂly sciÂence and techÂnolÂoÂgy radio show preÂsentÂing a humorÂous and irrevÂerÂent look at the week in sciÂence and tech. Each week TWIS disÂcussÂes the latÂest in cutÂting edge sciÂence news on topÂics such as genetÂic engiÂneerÂing, cyberÂnetÂics, space exploÂration, neuÂro sciÂence, and a show favorite CountÂdown to World Robot DomÂiÂnaÂtion.”
A weekÂly podÂcast hostÂed by two ProÂfesÂsors from ColumÂbia UniÂverÂsiÂty. “We talk about virusÂes — the kind that make you sick. The podÂcast covÂers how virusÂes work, how they make you sick, and the latÂest in news about virusÂes.” You can find it at
From the US GeoÂlogÂiÂcal SurÂvey, CoreÂCast brings you straight sciÂence insight on natÂurÂal hazÂards; cliÂmate change; satelÂlite imagery and monÂiÂtorÂing; water qualÂiÂty; human health and wildlife disÂease; and much more. Tune into CoreÂCast. It’s natÂurÂal sciÂence from the inside out.
From SciÂenÂtifÂic AmerÂiÂcan, leadÂing sciÂence jourÂnalÂists offer a brief comÂmenÂtary on the latÂest develÂopÂments in the world of sciÂence. PreÂsentÂed by SciÂenÂtifÂic AmerÂiÂcan.
LeadÂing sciÂence jourÂnalÂists proÂvide a weekÂly one-minute comÂmenÂtary on the latÂest develÂopÂments in the sciÂence of brain and behavÂior. PreÂsentÂed by SciÂenÂtifÂic AmerÂiÂcan.
A HisÂtoÂry DepartÂment Bans CitÂing Wikipedia as a Research Source
“…the MidÂdleÂbury hisÂtoÂry departÂment notiÂfied its stuÂdents this month that Wikipedia could not be citÂed in papers or exams, and that stuÂdents could not “point to Wikipedia or any simÂiÂlar source that may appear in the future to escape the conÂseÂquences of errors.
With the move, MidÂdleÂbury, in VerÂmont, jumped into a growÂing debate withÂin jourÂnalÂism, the law and acadÂeÂmia over what respect, if any, to give Wikipedia artiÂcles, writÂten by hunÂdreds of volÂunÂteers and subÂject to misÂtakes and someÂtimes delibÂerÂate falseÂhoods.“ See full artiÂcle from The New York Times
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100s of culÂturÂal and eduÂcaÂtionÂal podÂcasts. 
We spent some time this weekÂend overÂhaulÂing our 
