The following audio files were selected from a larger group of 247 for the last week. The link to each podcast is at the highlighted topic and reached by double-clicking or ctrl-clicking the topic. All 58 podcasts converted to 1.5x speed can also be downloaded as a single 303 MB zip file here for four months (vs 1195 MB, below). Accumulations of these are discussed at the end of this episode. (Some links in old episode may be dead due to updating; try a current episode.)
Africa Insights – 18 mins “Nigerian writer Wole Soyinka tells NPR’s Tell Me More host Michel Martin that being the first black African to win the Nobel Prize in literature in 1986 was extremely lucky, especially for his pocket. The $290,000 in prize money gave him a life he had never dreamed of before. But that fame came with a cost…It did not stop Soyinka from writing, though. His latest work, Of Africa, is a study of the continent. “It’s an issue which has preoccupied me all my existence. I mean, naturally, Africa is my major constituency, and the spirituality [and political problems] of that continent have always preoccupied me.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” to get the audio file.
African Computer 29 mins “Africa’s answer to the iPad. The use of tablet computers is growing in Africa, especially among youth. A young Nigerian named Saheed Adepoju has created the first tablet meant for the African market. It is called Inye, which means the one. In this edition of Africa in Progress, the mastermind behind Inye reflects on the challenges of creating a new brand in a competitive sector already dominated by big players like Apple and Samsung. Adepoju’s aim, he says, is to preserve African cultures by building applications that are relevant to Africa. One of his innovations is an electronic version of Ayo, the traditional African board game.” At the link locate the title, “Africa in Progress Thursday, December 13, 2012,” right-click “Media files en africainprogres 20121213_44_1kHz 20121213_154438.mp3” and select “Save Link As” to download the file.
Agricultural Impact 18 mins – “A skyrocketing demand for food means that agriculture has become the largest driver of climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental destruction. At TEDxTC Jonathan Foley shows why we desperately need to begin “terraculture” — farming for the whole planet. (Filmed at TEDxTC.) Jonathan Foley studies complex environmental systems and their affects on society. His computer models have shown the deep impact agriculture is having on our planet.” At the link click on “Download” then right-click “Download to MP3” and select “Save Link As”.
Anzac 50 mins – “For 95 years, the Anzac Legend has been at the heart of Australia’s national identity. Through a government-sponsored programme of commemoration and education, Australians are taught that part of their identity was forged on the battlefields of Europe, the Gallipoli peninsula and in South-East Asia throughout the twentieth century. Sharon Mascal asks what Anzac means today.” At the link locate the title, “Anzac,” and right-click “Download 23MB” and select “Save Link As”.
Apprenticeships 9 mins – “Tired of seeing young people unemployed or underemployed? Young people currently suffer from one of the highest jobless rates in the nation. Host Michel Martin speaks with Robert Lerman of the Urban Institute about solving youth unemployment through apprenticeships.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” to get the audio file.
Arduino Makers 16 mins – “Massimo Banzi helped invent the Arduino, a tiny, easy-to-use open-source microcontroller that’s inspired thousands of people around the world to make the coolest things they can imagine — from toys to satellite gear. Because, as he says, “You don’t need anyone’s permission to make something great.” Massimo Banzi co-founded Arduino, which makes affordable open-source microcontrollers for interactive projects, from art installations to an automatic plant waterer.” At the link click on “Download” then right-click “Download to MP3” and select “Save Link As”.
Argentina’s Inflation 23 mins – “The IMF is threatening to throw Argentina out of the Fund if it doesn’t start reporting credible figures for inflation.” At the link locate the title, “Docs: Argentina’s Numbers Game Dec 2012,” right-click “Download 11MB” and select “Save Link As”.
Birth Control 25 mins “Contraception. The topic has become controversial in recent years. But should it be? Melinda Gates believes that many of the world’s social change issues depend on ensuring that women are able to control their rate of having kids. In this significant talk, she makes the case for the world to re-examine an issue she intends to lend her voice to for the next decade.” At the link only the video can be downloaded, by clicking the download button, right-clicking “Download” and selecting “Save Link As”. The audio form is included in the zipped collect at the top of this edition.
Cuban Investment 82 mins – “Today’s ailing Cuban economy is marked by high labor costs, low wages and small inflows of foreign investment. In 2011, under President Raúl Castro’s leadership, the government started instituting reforms to open the economy. Positive developments in international tourism, nickel and cobalt mining, and high value-added agriculture serve as foundations for future growth. But progress made to date has yet to take full advantage of the plethora of competing sources of capital offered by today’s more diversified global economy. In order to remain competitive and preserve quality social services, Cuba could learn from its own experiences with joint ventures and free trade zones, and from the experiences of other developing countries, to harness foreign capital as a vital tool of national development. Will President Barack Obama, in his second term, take advantage of Cuba’s economic opening to forge a new path for relations with Havana?” At the link click the “Audio” tab, right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As”.
Dangerous Prototypes 83 mins – “Ian from Dangerous Prototypes stops in to chat with Chris and Dave about open hardware, manufacturing in China, distributed R&D and building a large community of electronics enthusiasts.” At the link right-click “Download” right at the top of the page and select “Save Link As” to download the file. All the hardware and resources mentioned, plus three video segments, such as Seeed Studios, are also at that link.
Disaster Equipment 68 mins – Gear and tech you’ll need for the Apocalypse, flexiblesolar panels, Nokia 920, and more from This Week in Enterprise Technology. Of particular note was an inexpensive and compact wireless travel router, and a Xirrus wireless array which could provide telephone coverage for multiple telephones over a three-mile area at a minimum cost of $4,000. The video version of the program shows the equipment but video and audio downloads can be downloaded at the link by right-clicking the appropriate file type and selecting “Save Link As”. An earlier episode, TWET 2, includes a seven minute segment about the Xirrus system starting at the four minute point. The video display is more useful, can’t be downloaded, but the audio part of the segment is included in the zipped collection noted at the top of this episode.
Disaster Housing 8 mins – “Michael McDaniel designed housing for disaster relief zones — inexpensive, easy to transport, even beautiful – but found that no one was willing to build it. Persistent and obsessed, he decided to go it alone. At TEDxAustin, McDaniel show us his Exo Reaction Housing Solution and shares how he’s dedicating his free time to working with suppliers and manufacturers to prepare for the next natural disaster. (Filmed atTEDxAustin.) Michael McDaniel is a graphic designer using his skills to help people in meaningful ways.” At the link click on “Download” then right-click “Download to MP3” and select “Save Link As”.
DNR Talk 36 mins – “DNR is code for ‘Do Not Resuscitate’, a signed order on your hospital chart not to start CPR if your heart stops or put you on a ventilator if you stop breathing. This week Dr. Brian Goldman looks at how family members respond when doctors ask for a Do Not Resuscitate order on a loved one — and the perspective of doctors and nurses on getting the DNR.” At the link locate the title, Do Not Resuscitate,” right-click “Media files whitecoat 20121208_33825.mp3” and select “SaveLink As”.
Energy Evaluation 18 mins – “How much land mass would renewables need to power a nation like the UK? An entire country’s worth. In this pragmatic talk, David MacKay tours the basic mathematics that show worrying limitations on our sustainable energy options and explains why we should pursue them anyway. (Filmed atTEDxWarwick.) As an information theorist and computer scientist, David MacKay uses hard math to assess our renewable energy options.” At the link click on “Download” then right-click “Download to MP3” and select “Save Link As”.
Energy Management 27 mins – “In this intimate talk filmed at TED’s offices, energy innovator Amory Lovins shows how to get the US off oil and coal by 2050, $5 trillion cheaper, with no Act of Congress, led by business for profit. The key is integrating all four energy-using sectors—and four kinds of innovation. In his new book, “Reinventing Fire,” Amory Lovins shares ingenious ideas for the next era of energy.” At the link click on “Download” then right-click “Download to MP3” and select “Save Link As”.
Ernesto Quiñonez 13 mins – ” An adolescent money-making scheme is hatched in 1970s Spanish Harlem…Ernesto Quiñonez’s debut novel Bodega Dreams was chosen by The New York Times as a “New Immigrant Classic” and by the New York Public Library as one of “25 Books to Remember.” He is currently an assistant professor at Cornell University.” You can only listen or watch him at the link, but the audio file is included in the zipped collection noted at the top of this episode.
Fiber or Wireless 24 mins – “Dewayne Hendricks has returned for his second appearance on the Community Broadband Bits Podcast, continuing our discussion about the potential for wireless technologies to improve how we access the Internet. We recommend listening to his first appearance in episode 18 before this one. Here, we take up the old wired vs. wireless debate, but quickly determine that such a framing is useless. Wires and radios are actually complementary, not substitutes. In fact, Dewayne explains how he and other entrepreneurs cannot build the great wireless networks they want to because most communities lack the robust wired infrastructure necessary to support a strong wireless network.” Makes reference to an article, “The Myth of Interference,” and a book, “Tubes,” to expand listener knowledge. At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” to get the audio file.
Filibustering 21 mins – “On our show today, we tell you everything you need to know about the filibuster, including:What Schoolhouse Rock didn’t tell us. Why Aaron Burr and Jimmy Stewart are the two great villains in filibuster history. How Senators can now filibuster bills without having to talk for hours on end.” At the link locate the title, “#422: Schoolhouse Rock Is A Lie” right-click “Media files npr_167015283.mp3” and select “Save Link As” to download the file.
Food Ingredients 14 mins “As part of CHF’s [Chemical Heritage Foundation] Thanks to Chemistry project, we present the three-part series A Day in the Life. These shows spotlight the common chemistry of morning, noon, and night. Today’s episode centers on our midday eating habits. When the clock strikes noon, taking a lunch break is a must. But too often we unpack a meal only to wonder: “What is in this stuff?” Enter biochemist Joe Rucker, who returns to our studio to help Distillations‘ executive producer Jennifer Dionisio parse through the mysterious ingredients in breads, deli meats, and dressings. Then producer Gretchen Kuda Croen reveals why fructose–the main component of corn-syrup and healthy sweeteners alike–is making us fatter and sicker than we’ve ever been before.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” to download the file.
Football Tragedy – 18 mins “Funeral services were held for Kansas City Chiefs football player Jovan Belcher and his girlfriend Kasandra Perkins this week. Belcher fatally shot Perkins before killing himself in front of his coach. The Barbershop guys weigh in on the tragedy and whether it says something larger about the culture of professional sports.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” to get the audio file.
Fracking 11 mins – “Some places have banned fracking, a controversial type of natural gas drilling. Critics say the process contaminates groundwater. But proponents say it creates jobs and energy independence. Host Michel Martin is joined by NPR’s Jeff Brady and reporter Scott Detrow from NPR’s StateImpact project in Pennsylvania. They discuss the boom and bust of fracking.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” to get the audio file.
Ghana Election 6 mins – “President John Dramani Mahama won Ghana’s election, despite complaints from the country’s main opposition leaders. Host Michel Martin speaks with journalist Kojo Oppong Nkrumah about the election and how democracy is working in the West African country.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” to get the audio file.
Haiti Lessons 93 mins – “As disasters continue to displace large and diverse populations around the globe, tracking the movements and assessing the needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs) is crucial to protecting and assisting them. This was particularly evident after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti where thousands were displaced and the capital city was virtually flattened. Tracking and housing the 1.5 million people displaced by the earthquake and its aftershocks required new tools from the humanitarian community. One key development from this was the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), a monitoring tool designed to track the movements of IDPs and provide up-to-date information on basic demographics and conditions in IDP camps throughout the cycle of displacement. On December 13, the Brookings-LSE Project on Internal Displacement and the International Organization for Migration hosted a discussion of some of the innovations used in responding to Haiti’s IDPs, with a particular focus on the DTM as a humanitarian community tool and on innovative housing solutions developed to respond to a complex situation.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” to get the file.
Justice Defined 24 mins – “In an engaging and personal talk — with cameo appearances from his grandmother and Rosa Parks — human rights lawyer Bryan Stevenson shares some hard truths about America’s justice system, starting with a massive imbalance along racial lines: a third of the country’s black male population has been incarcerated at some point in their lives. These issues, which are wrapped up in America’s unexamined history, are rarely talked about with this level of candor, insight and persuasiveness. Bryan Stevenson is the founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, fighting poverty and challenging racial discrimination in the criminal justice system.” At the link click on “Download” then right-click “Download to MP3” and select “Save Link As”.
Killam Symposium 54 mins – “How do we find things out? Four of Canada’s top research scholars come together to discuss the idea of discovery. Is it an art or a science? Can anyone do it? And who owns what’s discovered? Paul Kennedy moderates the 2012 Killam Prize Symposium from Rideau Hall, featuring this year’s Canada Council’s Killam Prize winners.” At the link locate the title, “Killam Prize Symposium,” right-click “Download Killam Prize Symposium” and select “Save File As”.
Lawrence Guyot Dies 8 mins – “Lawrence Guyot spent his life fighting for civil rights – but often at great personal cost. He was jailed and beaten regularly by police in the Deep South while helping black people get involved in politics. Host Michel Martin speaks with Washington, D.C. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, who worked alongside Guyot, about his life and activism.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” to get the audio file.
Maker Movement 64 mins – “Chris Anderson, author of Makers: The New Industrial Revolution, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his new book–the story of how technology is transforming the manufacturing business. Anderson argues that the plummeting prices of 3D printers and other tabletop design and manufacturing tools allows for individuals to enter manufacturing and for manufacturing to become customized in a way that was unimaginable until recently. Anderson explores how social networking interacts with this technology to create a new world of crowd-sourced design and production.” At the link locate the title, “Chris Anderson on Makers and Manufacturing,” right-click “Media files Andersonmanufacturing.mp3” and select “Save Link As” to download the file.
Mammograms 51 mins- “It’s been generally accepted that early breast cancer detection and treatment can improve a patient’s prognosis. For decades women have been advised to get an annual mammogram starting at age 40, and now there’s 3-D mammography which can improve chances of spotting something suspicious. 3-D mammography can also reduce the number of women who need to be called call-back for a follow up test, but some say widespread routine screening is leading to unnecessary treatment: Please join us to discuss the benefits and consequences of regular mammograms.” Three guest speakers. You can listen online and view a transcript, but not download the program; however, it’s included with the zipped collection at the top of this edition.
Media Gender Bias 10 mins – “How do you tell women’s stories? Ask women to tell them. At TEDxABQ, Megan Kamerick shows how the news media underrepresents women as reporters and news sources, and because of that tells an incomplete story. (Filmed at TEDxABQ.) Reporter Megan Kamerick fights for well-balanced storytelling in media.” At the link click on “Download” then right-click “Download to MP3” and select “Save Link As”.
Media Monopoly 23 mins – “In 1983, 50 corporations controlled a majority of American media. Now that number is six. And Big Media may get even bigger, thanks to the FCC’s consideration of ending a rule preventing companies from owning a newspaper and radio and TV stations in the same city. Such a move — which they’ve tried in 2003 and 2007 as well –would give these massive media companies free rein to devour more of the competition, control the public message, and also limit diversity across the media landscape. Bernie Sanders, one of several Senators who have written FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski asking him to suspend the plan, discusses with Bill [Moyers] why Big Media is a threat to democracy, and what citizens can do to fight back.” At the link locate the title, “Full Show: Big Media’s Power Play,” right-click “Play Now” and select “Save Link As”.
Medical Commons 16 mins- “When you’re getting medical treatment, or taking part in medical testing, privacy is important; strict laws limit what researchers can see and know about you. But what if your medical data could be used — anonymously — by anyone seeking to test a hypothesis? John Wilbanks wonders if the desire to protect our privacy is slowing research, and if opening up medical data could lead to a wave of health care innovation. Imagine the discoveries that could result from a giant pool of freely available health and genomic data. John Wilbanks is working to build it.” At the link click on “Download” then right-click “Download to MP3” and select “Save Link As”.
Medical Hotspots 36 mins – “What is a medical hot spot? This week on White Coat, Black Art, Dr. Goldman talks to the American doctor who dug through the data and pinpointed places where people use the health care system far more than anywhere else. Then, Brian visits one of Canada’s hot spots – the west side of Saskatoon — and sees how the community is trying to cool things down — and get people healthy.” At the link locate the title, “Medical hot spots,” right-click “Media files whitecoat 20121201_92546.mp” and select “Save File As” to download the audio file.
Middle East Nuclear Arms 68 mins – “With the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Turkey continuing to pursue civil nuclear energy programs, the Middle East is likely to play host to the first new civil nuclear energy states of the 21st century. After a long hiatus, the likely entry of several new states into the global nuclear power sector presents a number of unprecedented challenges, including the development of the institutional and human capacity to run their programs competently and sustainably. On December 12, the Energy Security Initiative at Brookings hosted a discussion of its latest research paper, “Human Resource Development in New Nuclear Energy States: Case Studies from the Middle East.” Based on case studies from three countries in the Middle East, the paper offers a series of recommendations on human resource related risks for emerging market nations looking to enter the civil nuclear sector. Following the presentation of the report’s findings and recommendations, Senior Fellow Charles Ebinger, director of the Energy Security Initiative, moderated a discussion with its authors.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” to get the file.
Muslim Comic Zayid – 9 mins “Maysoon Zayid is a Palestinian Muslim with cerebral palsy. She’s turned that identity into a tool for laughter, performing stand-up around the world. She says she doesn’t apologize to anyone for her very political and personal jokes. Host Michel Martin talks to Zayid about her comedy and a program she runs in the West Bank.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” to get the audio file.
Newspaper Columnists 52 mins – “John Avlon is passionate about newspaper columns. He should be: he’s a columnist himself. But with newspapers on the wane, Avlon was worried that the best examples of his craft could be forgotten. So he and some friends have collected the best reported columns from America’s newspapers in a series of books. Deadline Artists showcases short stories that actually happened, written with the urgency of news and the precision of poetry. Avlon joins us…to explore the art of great newspaper writing and where it might be headed.” At the link right-click “Listen” and select “Save Link As” to download the file.
Nigerian Finance Minister 10 mins – “A manhunt has been launched to find the mother of Nigeria’s Finance Minister who was kidnapped on Sunday. Crimes like kidnapping, online scams, and corruption are lucrative enterprises in Nigeria. Host Michel Martin spoke with Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala days before the kidnapping, about the challenges involved in reforming Nigeria.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” to get the audio file.
Nuclear Power Control 60 mins – A serious lecture by Prof Henry Sokolski, Executive Director of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center, about how the world can control nuclear weapons. At the link right-click “hinckley 12112012_sokolski 4.mp3” and select “Save Link As” to download the file.
Openness Defined 18 mins – “The recent generations have been bathed in connecting technology from birth, says futurist Don Tapscott, and as a result the world is transforming into one that is far more open and transparent. In this inspiring talk, he lists the four core principles that show how this open world can be a far better place. Don Tapscott can see the future coming … and works to identify the new concepts we need to understand in a world transformed by the Internet.” At the link click on “Download” then right-click “Download to MP3” and select “Save Link As”.
Organophosphate Hazards and Chagas 18 mins – The first two segments of this three-part episode deal with low level organophosphate effects and the increase of Chagas infections in Mexico. At the link locate the title, “HC: Organophosphates, Chagas, W Harvey 12 Dec 12Wednesday, December 12, 2012,”right-click “Media files healthc_20121212-2000a.mp3” and select “Save Link As”to download the file.
Prison Debt 23 mins – ” Many ex-offenders in the US leave prison indebted to the courts. Why do one in five people in Philadelphia owe around $1.5 billion in criminal court debt?” At the link locate the title, “The Cost of Doing Time 11 Dec 2012,” right-click “Download 11MB” and select “Save Link As”.
Psychosis Insider 15 mins – “”Is it okay if I totally trash your office?” It’s a question Elyn Saks once asked her doctor, and it wasn’t a joke. A legal scholar, in 2007 Saks came forward with her own story of schizophrenia, controlled by drugs and therapy but ever-present. In this powerful talk, she asks us to see people with mental illness clearly, honestly and compassionately. Elyn Saks asks bold questions about how society treats people with mental illness.” At the link click on “Download” then right-click “Download to MP3” and select “Save Link As”.
Pullman Porters – 18 mins “Today, people board jets or hybrid minivans to travel cross-country. But from the late 19th to mid-20th century, people traveled by train. And that’s where they met the legendary Pullman porters. The Pullman porters were primarily African-American men who collected luggage, served drinks, made beds, polished shoes, tended to the sick, comforted crying babies and even entertained guests. It was viewed as a prestigious job — a far cry from working the fields — but it was also grueling work. Despite being on their feet for hours on end, Pullman porters were required to keep a smile on their face and show pride in their work.Playwright Cheryl West brings their story back to life in a new play, Pullman Porter Blues, running at Washington, D.C.’s Arena Stage through Jan. 6.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” to get the audio file.
Sensor Evolution 22 mins “Peter G Hartwell predicts that HP’s CeNSE will form the next layer on the internet and revolutionize human interaction with the earth as profoundly as the internet has revolutionized personal and business interactions… These would let us detect rain forest poaching in real-time instead of days, or bridges in need of immediate repair. However moving the concept forward requires progress in several areas. One obstacle is the availability of wireless networks. These are growing and in time will be global… Sensitivity is one obstacle that is being overcome. An accelerometer about 1000 times more sensitive than those used in smart phones is now available. Attached to your chest it can sense heart rate, breathing, and speech vibrations. Put it on a water pipe in a house and it senses water flow. Types of flow can tell when a toilet is flushed or dishwasher is run. A bio sensor of this type in a refrigerator could detect food that has changed to a harmful state…” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As”.
Somalia History 54 mins P 1 and 2 – “The East African nation of Somalia is the definition of a failed state. It has been without a central government since 1991, when the country’s dictator Mohamed Siad Barre was overthrown. What followed were two decades of civil war, anarchy, failed Western intervention, Islamic fundamentalism and famine. Somali-born IDEAS contributor Hassan Ghedi Santur returns to his home-land to explore, “Things We Lost in the War.” At the link locate the title, “Things We Lost In The War, Part 1,” and “…Part 2,” right-click “Download Things We Lost In The War, Part 2” and select “Save Link As” to download the audio files.
State Health Programs 51 mins – “In the shadow of negotiations over the so-called fiscal cliff, another deadline looms in Washington. States have until December fourteenth to decide whether they intend to create state-based health insurance markets. If states choose not to build their own or partner with others, then the federal government will step in. As states rush to create exchanges by 2014, they’re considering how best to develop health care comparison tools. Individuals and small businesses need ways to plan for unexpected expenses, find out which plans include their provider, and compare service quality. Diane and her [5] guests talk about building customer-friendly health insurance exchanges.”You can listen online and view a transcript, but not download the program; however, it’s included with the zipped collection at the top of this edition.
Tissue Engineering 6 mins – “Each of our bodies is utterly unique, which is a lovely thought until it comes to treating an illness — when every body reacts differently, often unpredictably, to standard treatment. Tissue engineer Nina Tandon talks about a possible solution: Using pluripotent stem cells to make personalized models of organs on which to test new drugs and treatments, and storing them on computer chips. (Call it extremely personalized medicine.) Nina Tandon studies ways to use electrical signals to grow artificial tissues for transplants and other therapies.” At the link click on “Download” then right-click “Download to MP3” and select “Save Link As”.
Utility Assets Management 9 mins – “Kurt Towler, GIS coordinator with Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative, discusses the use of ArcGIS in electric utility asset management.” At the link locate the title, “Managing Utility Assets with ArcGIS,” right-click “Media files user_towler.mp3” andselect “Save Link As” to download the file.
Video Game Impact 18 mins – “How do fast-paced video games affect the brain? Step into the lab with cognitive researcher Daphne Bavelier to hear surprising news about how video games, even action-packed shooter games, can help us learn, focus and, fascinatingly, multitask. (Filmed at TEDxCHUV.) Daphne Bavelier studies how the brain adapts to changes in experience, either by nature or by training.” At the link click on “Download” then right-click “Download to MP3” and select “Save Link As”.
Violence Against Women 13 mins – “Besides the congressional budget, lawmakers are also at an impasse when it comes to the Violence Against Women Act. Host Michel Martin talks with the beauty shop ladies about whether the bill should expand protections for gay people, immigrants and Native Americans.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” to get the audio file.
Vulture Value 7 mins – “As natural garbage collectors, vultures are vital to our ecosystem — so why all the bad press? Why are so many in danger of extinction? Raptor biologist Munir Virani says we need to pay more attention to these unique and misunderstood creatures, to change our perception and save the vultures. Munir Virani is a raptor biologist and wildlife photographer, and Director of the Peregrine Fund Africa Program, devoted to conserving birds of prey.” At the link click on “Download” then right-click “Download to MP3” and select “Save Link As”.
Web Marketing 39 mins – “As an entrepreneur for over four decades, Charles Pascal has had numerous experiences with different business and ventures with different roles — as CEO of his own startup, as joint venture partner, as independent contractor, as well as partner for other entrepreneur firms.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As”.
Wildlife Protection 51 mins – “International wildlife trafficking has long been considered a critical conservation issue. Now the U.S. State Department has made it a foreign policy priority as well. Wildlife trafficking increasingly threatens the security, national health and economies of many countries. Poaching operations have become more large scale, sophisticated and organized. The black market in wildlife is second only to trade in drugs and arms. It’s a likely source of funding for transnational criminal networks, possibly even terrorist groups. Meanwhile demand has grown for furs, tusks, bones, horns and other illegal animal goods. Robert Hormats, Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment, updates us on new efforts to raise awareness about conservation and stop illegal wildlife trafficking.” You can listen online and view a transcript, but not download the program; however, it’s included with the zipped collection at the top of this edition.
Whooping Cough Returns 13 mins – “Many parents and even doctors think whooping cough is a disease of the past. But nearly every state saw an increase in cases last year. To find out what parents should know about the disease, host Michel Martin talks with pediatrician Leslie Walker. They’re joined by Mariah Bianchi, whose son died from whooping cough.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” to get the audio file.
Women Revolutionaries 54 mins x 2 – “Women have been increasingly identified by economists, social scientists, politicians and pundits as key to moving forward on issues like poverty, violence and conflict. Award-winning journalist Sally Armstrong takes us around the globe, to places where localized acts of female emancipation are literally improving the prospects for humankind at large. It’s a spontaneous, grass-roots revolution that will inevitably change the world.” At the link locate the titles “The New Revolutionaries, Part 1 (Encore October 3, 2011)” and Part 2, right-click “Download The New Revolutionaries, Part 1 (Encore October 3, 2011)” or “Download The New Revolutionaries, Part 1 (Encore October 3, 2011)” and select “Save File As”.
Working Longer 79 mins, 88 mins, 79 mins – Three parts with nine participants: “The Baby Boomer generation is reaching retirement age. The long-term outlook for the federal budget is bleak, with much of the federal budget devoted to the elderly and people with disabilities through Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. As more Americans leave the workforce, the cost of these programs will soar. The budget outlook would improve if American workers delayed their retirement. Longer work lives would reduce the near-term cost of Social Security and Medicare benefits and boost the income and payroll taxes that older Americans pay. How much would later retirement contribute to solving the federal deficit problem?… How would later retirement affect government outlays, particularly on programs targeted on the aged, and how would it affect income and payroll taxes? What kinds of Americans are most likely to delay their retirements? Will workers delay their departure from career jobs or will they take bridge jobs that have less responsibility, lower hours, or worse pay than their previous jobs? How would longer work lives affect younger workers and the distribution of income? What kinds of policies can boost employment of the elderly and disabled while preserving the crucial functions of the social safety net?” At the link click “Part 1…” and then right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As”; repeat for parts 2 and 3.
Over 130 feeds used to prepare this weekly blog are harvested with Feedreader3. The feeds are available in this opm file. A PDF of feeds is also available. Free Commander is used each week to compare old with new downloads and remove any duplicates. MP3SpeedChanger is applied to podcast batches to change playback speed to 1.5x. A speed listening background article is here. Sixty-four podcasts for 2010 and earlier at 1.5x are listed alphabetically in this PDF and can be downloaded in two sections as zip files, Part 1 and Part 2, each holding about 350 MB. For 2011 an alphabetical PDF list of 184 podcasts at 1.5x is available, and can be downloaded in five segments. A similar list and downloads for 362 podcasts for Jan-Jun 2012 is here. Podcasts are grouped into zipped files for easier downloading and segmented due to a 300MB limit on file uploads. A similar group for the last half of 2012 will be available in Jan 2013. A comm-enter recommended this $1.99 iPhone/iPad app for mobile devices; leave a comment if you try it. Please comment on any problems with the links and downloads.
Thanks for visiting.
Media Mining Digest 