The following audio files come from a larger group of 260 for this week. Double or ctrl-click individual highlighted links, below, to get single podcasts. A zip file of all 37 podcasts converted to 1.5x speed will download here for four months. Older groups of podcasts are discussed at the end of this episode.
Alzheimer’s Defined 9 mins – “This week marked the 150th birthday of Alois Alzheimer – the man who first described the disease he gave his name to over 100 years ago in 1906. The condition is one of a number of disorders that we collectively call dementia. These are progressive diseases that gradually rob sufferers of their mental faculties. They also become more common as we age. In countries like the UK, 1 in 6 people over the age of 80 are affected to some degree. But it also has a very profound effect on the people who care for victims of Alzheimer’s….” At the link right-click “Download as MP3…” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu. This is part of the show, “Untangling Alzheimers’ Disease.”
Arab Spring Women 27 mins – “Mona Eltahawey visits her home country of Egypt where women, who stood side-by-side with men during the protests, now fear to walk the streets without being assaulted. Mona hears from the women who are taking matters into their own hands, standing up to sexual harassers and saying ‘enough is enough’. ” At the link find the title, “DocArchive: The Women of the Arab Spring: Part Two,” right-click “Media files docarchive 20140617-0332a.mp3” and select “Save Link As.” Also look at the web site, “Girl Rising.”
Assaults on the Blind 20 mins – “Siobhan Meade fights back against hate crime with her own Respect campaign and The Amber Trust celebrates almost 20 years of funding visually-impaired musicians, including Anna Foo.” At the link find the title, “Campaigning against hate crime; The Amber Trust,” for the next couple weeks, right-click (there or here) “Download 9MB” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Bank Behavior 12 mins – “One of the biggest banks in the world, BNP Paribas, is about to be punished. The financial cops are in the middle of deciding what they are going to do. They’re trying to figure out how to punish a bank in a way that actually makes it change. There are some standard ways to punish a bad bank. Fines are the first thing every regulator and judge tries. There’s also getting the bank to admit guilt. Now they might try something never done before. Today on the show: how to punish a bank.” At the link right-click “Listen” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
California Education 79 mins – “This Migration Policy Institute (MPI) webinar explores the findings of the new report, Critical Choices in Post-Recession California: Investing in the Educational and Career Success of Immigrant Youth. The authors of the report, MPI Director Margie McHugh, CEO and Director of Studies Michael Fix, and Policy Analyst Sarah Hooker discuss the implications of California’s public education system reforms for the state’s 3.3 million first- and second-generation immigrant young adults and their families. By virtue of sheer demographics, the outcomes of these youth—who include more than one-third of the country’s English Language Learner (ELL) students—will drive the success of national high school and college completion efforts and shape the record of the country’s success or failure in integrating today’s immigrants into the mainstream of society.” At the link click “Download,” then right-click the next “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Child Immigrant Dispositions 12 mins – “With thousands of unaccompanied children crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, immigration judges are faced with deciding who stays and who goes. Host Michel Martin examines the court process.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Citrus Tree Parasite 7 mins – “An invasive pest called the Asian Citrus Psyllid is turning up in lemon, orange and lime groves. The bug sometimes carries a disease known as Citrus Greening, which can wipe out acres of crops. As the name implies, the psyllid comes from Asia, though it has since spread to the Middle East and Africa. It showed up in the US over a decade ago. But scientists may have found an answer in the form of a Pakistani wasp that lives to attack the psyllid. Its scientific name is Tamarixia radiata, says David Morgan with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, who is part of a $1.4 million state project to breed and release the Tamarixia wasps into the wild.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow at the right end of the sound bar and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Dental Care 51 mins – “It has been seven years since a 12-year-old Maryland boy died from a tooth infection because his mother could not afford to take him to the dentist. Lawmakers across the country vowed to do something to ensure nothing like that could happen again. But today, nearly 200 million Americans have no dental insurance. And even many who do put off visiting the dentist because their insurer reimburses too little – or none – of the cost. That’s one reason more than a third of Americans did not see a dentist last year. And the number of ER visits for dental problems has skyrocketed. A discussion of America’s dental health crisis – and some ideas for solving it.” (3 guests) At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy of the podcast is in the blog archive.
Diabetes 47 mins – “If diabetes were an infectious disease, the media would be going crazy over it. Twenty-nine million American adults affected. The numbers surging, up another nine percent since 2010. Terrible risks: stroke, blindness, kidney failure, amputation. Cost to the US economy – nearly $250 billion a year. But diabetes isn’t infectious. Type 1, just five percent of cases, comes on in childhood. Type 2 – the big numbers – is practically a lifestyle disease. Poor diet, obesity, lack of exercise – and millions are at risk. This hour On Point: America’s diabetes boom, and what to do about it.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Eavesdrop Project 16 mins – “Planet Money’s Steve Henn wanted to know how much someone could learn about him by just sitting back and watching his internet traffic flow by. So he invited a couple computer guys to bug his internet connection for a week. On today’s show: What they discovered, and what that tells us about security, smartphones and free WiFi.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Elder Advice 54 mins – “Scientist, broadcaster and author David Suzuki looks at the role humans have played in shaping the planet. We must look to biology to find a strategy for survival, according to Suzuki in the 2014 Milton K. Wong Lecture.” At the link find the title, “The Global Eco-Crisis: Diversity, Resilience and Adaptability,” right-click (there or here) “Download The Global Eco-Crisis: Diversity, Resilience and Adaptability” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Everest 27 mins – “In April [2014] 16 Sherpas lost their lives in an avalanche whilst working for expedition teams climbing Mount Everest. Navin Khadka reports.” At the link find the title, “Docs: Has Everest Lost Its Soul – 19 June 2014,” right-click “Media files docarchive 20140619-0330b.mp3” and select “Save Link as” from the pop-up menu.
Gay American 20 mins – “Writer Andrew Solomon has spent his career telling stories of the hardships of others. Now he turns inward, bringing us into a childhood of adversity, while also spinning tales of the courageous people he’s met in the years since. In a moving, heartfelt and at times downright funny talk, Solomon gives a powerful call to action to forge meaning from our biggest struggles.” At the link click “Download” then right-click “Download Audio” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Global Family Reunion 10 mins – “You may not know it yet, but AJ Jacobs is probably your cousin (many, many times removed). Using genealogy websites, he’s been following the unexpected links that make us all, however distantly, related. His goal: to throw the world’s largest family reunion. [at GlobalFamilyReunion.com] See you there? ” At the link click “Download” then right-click “Download Audio” and select “Save Link as from the pop-up menu.
High Heel Shoes 16 mins – “As a fashion object and symbol, the high heel shoe is weighted with meaning. It’s also weighted with the wearer’s entire body weight. The stiletto might be one of the only designs that is physically painful but has somehow has persisted for centuries. At their origins, high heeled shoes were originally worn by men. As early as the tenth century, many horseback riding cultures wore heels on their boots and on their shoes, because heels help you stay in the stirrups (which is why cowboy boots have heels).” At the link right-click “download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Highway Funding 46 mins – “The nation’s Highway trust fund is running out of money. Congress can’t agree on a solution. How do we keep America’s roads and bridges up and running?..Sixty-three thousand bridges in need of significant repair. Delaware, with its leaning interstate bridge tangling up I-95. Seattle, with its I-5 span in the river. This summer, the US federal fund supporting road and bridge repair is going broke. Congress can’t agree – surprise, surprise – on how to replenish it. This hour On Point: road and bridge infrastructure in the USA in trouble. Who will pay to rebuild?
Inequality 42 mins – “Branko Milanovic – Income inequality in the United States has been increasing since the early 1980′s, and it’s only getting worse. Perhaps even more worrisome is the continuing growth in the income gap on a global basis. The wealth gap between the richest and the poorest countries is becoming so large that our entire economic system is in danger. This week we are joined by Branko Milanovic, the former head economist in the World Bank’s research department as we discuss income inequality around the world and his most recent book, The Haves and the Have-Nots: A Brief and Idiosyncratic History of Global Inequality.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Iraq Revolution 51 mins – “…the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria released photos allegedly documenting the mass execution of as many as 1,700 Iraqi security forces. The group, ISIS, which was once part of Al Qaeda, has taken control of a large swath of territory in Iraq, including the major cities of Mosul, Tikrit, and now, Tal Afar. The U.S. is considering air strikes as it also seeks new dialogue with Iran. While Iraqi prime minister Nouri Al Maliki has been seeking to stiffen his army’s resolve, many say the crisis stems in large part from his failure to create a representative government. Please join us to discuss the turmoil in Iraq and what, if anything, the U.S. can or should do in response.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy of the podcast is in the blog archive.
Iraq Revolution 46 mins – “Iraq is, right now, coming apart at the seams. What should the US do? The White House isn’t saying yet. But everybody else is, and the range of fervent recommendations is vast. On the gung ho end: get back in there. Special forces, intelligence, drones, bombers, politics, arms into Syria, deals with Iran, boots on the ground. Essentially, renewed American war. At the other end, this firm advice: do nothing. Do not get involved. Let Iran handle it. Let it take its course. And if a threat to the US develops, hit it then. This hour On Point: what to do, what not to do, now, in Iraq.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Kenya Violence 7 mins – “Recent attacks in Kenya have left as many as 57 people dead. Meanwhile, in Nigeria, the search for hundreds of missing schoolgirls continues amid more violence in the north.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Leadership Defined 18 mins – “Simon Sinek has a simple but powerful model for inspirational leadership all starting with a golden circle and the question “Why?” His examples include Apple, Martin Luther King, and the Wright brothers … (Filmed at TEDxPugetSound.)” At the link click “Download” then “Download audio” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-menu.
Local Internet Choice 8 mins – “…I discuss the Coalition for Local Internet Choice, CLIC, that was announced last week. This is a short episode that aims to answer some of the common questions about CLIC, including why we felt it was necessary to create this coalition now. You can still sign up to become a member of CLIC if you agree with our statement of principles that these important decisions should be made by communities, not preempted by states.” At the link right-click (here or there) “… can download this Mp3 file directly from here..” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Placebo Value 14 mins – “Anne Harrington, Harvard professor for the history of science and author of “The Cure Within“: Everyone has heard about the placebo effect, but most people only think about the phenomenon – erroneously – in the context of sugar pills. This singular focus may distract us from future research on “ways in which the placebo effect is a part of every medical intervention,” says Anne Harrington, Harvard professor for the history of science and author of “The Cure Within.” Placebo surgery, for example, can provide measurable relief to patients. In a landmark study, Dr. J. Bruce Moseley worked with a group of Korean War veterans who had been experiencing knee problems for years. He told patients that some of them would be getting surgery, but they wouldn’t be told who….”At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow at the ring end of the sound bar and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Pneumonia 42 mins (3 parts) – Dr Gil Porat, a practicing Colorado Hospitalist, Board Certified in Internal Medicine, defines pneumonia, discusses how it is diagnosed, its complications and treatment. At the link click “Download,” right-click the next “Download” and select “Save Link As” select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu to get Part 1. Do the same for Part 2 and part 3.
Prosthetic Sockets 5 mins – “What drove David Sengeh to create a more comfortable prosthetic limb? He grew up in Sierra Leone, and too many of the people he loves are missing limbs after the brutal civil war there. When he noticed that people who had prosthetics weren’t actually wearing them, the TED Fellow set out to discover why — and to solve the problem with his team from the MIT Media Lab.” At the link click “Download” then right-click “Download audio” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Resilience Project 11 mins – “What can we learn from people with the genetics to get sick — who don’t? With most inherited diseases, only some family members will develop the disease, while others who carry the same genetic risks dodge it. Stephen Friend suggests we start studying those family members who stay healthy. Hear about the Resilience Project, a massive effort to collect genetic materials that may help decode inherited disorders.” At the link click “Download” then right-click “Download audio” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Robot Trends 46 mins – “Human imagination got so far out front, so fast, on robots that robot reality has been vaguely disappointing for a long time. Isaac Asimov and “WALL-E” and the Terminator put our real robots to shame. They still do. But things are changing. Sensors and chips and AI and mechanics and “the cloud” are coming together to push robot dreams and reality into new terrain. There is need – we have aging societies that could use the help. There is risk – talk of jobs lost to robots and “killer robots.” And there is reality – they’re moving in. This hour On Point: the rise of the robots.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save link as” from the pop-up menu.
Self Regulation 54 mins – “What I.Q. was to the 20th century, self-regulation will be to the 21st. That’s the prediction of psychologist and philosopher, Dr. Stuart Shanker. For decades he’s been teaching kids how to self-regulate, so tantrums, meltdowns and lack of focus diminish.” At the link find the title, “Neuron Therapy,” right-click (there or here) “Download Neuron Therapy” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Sickle Cell Trait 8 mins – “It is one of the most common inherited blood disorders in the U.S., and most people who have it are African-American. Host Michel Martin learns more from pediatrician Dr. Leslie Walker.” Not addressed is the risk for offspring if a couple each has the trait. At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Smells 15 mins – “Do our smells make us sexy? Popular science suggests yes — pheromones send chemical signals about sex and attraction from our armpits to potential mates. But, despite what you might have heard, there is no conclusive research confirming that humans have these smell molecules. In this eye-opening talk, zoologist Tristram Wyatt explains the fundamental flaws in current pheromone research, and shares his hope for a future that unlocks the fascinating, potentially life-saving knowledge tied up in our scent.” At the link click “Download” then right-click “Download audio” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Smithsonian Pilot’s Day 91 mins – “Recorded at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum during the 10th annual Become a Pilot Family Day and Aviation Display. This annual event at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, located in Chantilly, Virginia offers not only the Museum’s amazing exhibits, but also about 50 vintage, recreational, and home-built aircraft flown in for one day only. This year, United brought in a Boeing 777 that was open for a tour….” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the p0p-up menu.
Sting 23 mins – “Sting’s early life was dominated by a shipyard—and he dreamed of nothing more than escaping the industrial drudgery. But after a nasty bout of writer’s block that stretched on for years, Sting found himself channeling the stories of the shipyard workers he knew in his youth for song material. In a lyrical, confessional talk, Sting treats us to songs from his upcoming musical, and to an encore of “Message in a Bottle.'” [Music will play slightly faster in the archived file.] At the link click “Download”then right-click “Download audio” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Teacher Tenure 51 mins – “Last week in California, a judge ruled the state’s teacher tenure laws unconstitutional, arguing the current system discriminates against children from low- income families. The decision is the latest battle in a movement to weaken teacher tenure laws across the country and it’s a battle that often pits school reform advocates from both parties against teachers’ unions. Since 2009, two-thirds of states have toughened tenure standards. The California ruling is the first time the issue has been decided in the courts and observers say it has national implications. Guest host Tom Gjelten and a panel of [4] experts discuss teacher tenure and the quality of a public school education. At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy of the podcast is in the blog archive.
Vertical Farming 67 mins – Hosts Dickson Despommier and Vincent Racaniello discuss how the vertical farm concept was developed and where it stands today nationally and internationally. Ten links are found at the web site for more details about topics they discuss. At the link right-click “UrbAg5” beside “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Yeardle and the Ogallala Road 30 mins – “How much junk do you own? You’re probably not technically a “hoarder” but like most Americans, you may have way more stuff than you know what to do with – stuff that is no longer valuable to you, but that you don’t want to just throw away. This week on Sea Change Radio, we talk to Adam Werbach, the co-founder of Yerdle, an online sharing platform that allows people to trade things they no longer need or want in exchange for other people’s stuff that they do want, using a points-based economy. No currency changes hands, and no new materials are used to make more stuff. Then, host Alex Wise speaks to the author of The Ogallala Road, Julene Bair. Her touching new memoir is a personal account of how the ascendance of industrial farming in America has laid waste to the social fabric of the heartland.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
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An alphabetic encyclopedia of 3600 of these hyperlinked descriptions is here and updated quarterly. A complete folder of the actual podcasts is here and can be downloaded as a 20+ GB zipped file or individually. A separate folder of C-Span, Diane Rehm, et. al. files that aren’t available at their sites is there, also, and can also be downloaded as a zip file or individually. Jan-Jun 2013 files in 18 zip segments (832 podcasts) can be downloaded here, and a list of those files here; Jul-Dec 2013 files in 13 zip segments (720 podcasts) downloaded here, and a list here; Jan-Jun 2012 files in 8 segments (360 podcasts) and a list are here, and Jul-Dec here in 13 parts (593 podcasts). For 2011 a list and 5 segments (184 podcasts). For 2010 and earlier 64 podcasts are listed here and zipped as Part 1 and Part 2. (Dead links in old episodes are due to updating; try a current episode.) Over 180 feeds used to prepare this weekly blog are harvested with Feedreader3 and Juice. The feeds are available in this opml file which Feedreader and Juice can import. A list of the feeds is here. Free Commander is used to compare old with new downloads and remove duplicates. MP3 Speed Changer is used on batches of new files to boost playback speed 150%. A speed listening background article is here. Please comment on any problems with the links and downloads.
Thank you for visiting.
Media Mining Digest 