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As you know by know, we’re co-produced by the BBC World Service. Every once in a while, Auntie Beeb (or the MotherShip, as I like to call her) goes all out with a special series of reports and interviews on one topic. This time around, luckily for me and you, it’s the Internet. The BBC is calling it SuperPower: Exploring the Extraordinary Power of the Internet. One of the more interesting segments from this week’s SuperPower offerings forms the highlight of WTP 281. At right are the Kims from South Korea, one of the most wired and connected countries on earth. Sometimes, as you’ll hear in the podcast, that reliance on the Internet can lead to problems such as child neglect, and cyber-bullying. The BBC somehow convinced them to try to live without the internet for one week. Listen in to the podcast to see how it goes. You can see some video here.

While the Kims were trying to live without the Internet, Moses Mamman Maisuari (l) and Nicholas Madaki, two farmers in the small Nigerian town of Gitana, were given mobile phones that, for the first time, got them online. Listen in to the podcast to find out how they got on. You can read more about their experiences here. My favorite moment is when Nicholas tells the BBC that yes, it’s great to be connected to the Internet…but that sometimes he can hardly get a signal, and that at other times he has to pay someone locally to charge his cell phone battery. That helps keep it all in perspective…

Also in this episode, we look at how online match-making is booming India, and we hear about the relaxation of some US Treasury Department rules that would make it possible for US tech companies to export online communications services to places such as Iran, Cuba and Sudan.

Remember, you can always follow us on Facebook or Twitter. You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes and RSS.

The music this week is brought to you by Dave Asma and Spunkshine.

And here is the PechaKucha link I promise you right at the end of the podcast.

The first is a type of pasta shaped like ears. The second is what Italians call turnip tops or greens. You may find both ingredients at your local grocery store. But if you want them freshly picked — and deliciously prepared — try south-eastern Italy.

We’re looking for a region that borders both the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. You might picture it better as the heel of Italy’s boot.

This region is known for its trulli — stone houses with cone-shaped roofs. And its also known for the freshness of its cuisine. We’ll hear about that from a local chef…

Download audio file (0311201010.mp3)

Download MP3

http://www.trulliresidence.it

ISRAEL INTERVIEW
ISRAEL VISA REPORT

MUSIC:
SONG: Roda
ARTIST: Ceu
CD TITLE: Ceu
CD LABEL: Six Degree Records

TUNA BAN REPORT

MUSIC:
SONG: Kantemir’s Drag
ARTIST: Ensemble FisFuz
CD TITLE: Simsim
CD LABEL: Alula Records
CD #: ALU-1038

END TIME: 19:46

MUSIC:
SONG: War Again
ARTISTS: Balkan Beat Box
CD TITLE: Blue Eyed Black Boy

START TIME: 21:00

IRAQ INTERVIEW
BRITISH ELECTION REPORT

MUSIC:
SONG: Desert Rain
ARTIST: Outback
CD TITLE: Dance the Devil Away
CD LABEL: Hannibal Records
CD #: HNCD 1369

END TIME: 29:29

MUSIC:
SONG: Desert Rain
ARTIST: Outback
CD TITLE: Dance the Devil Away
CD LABEL: Hannibal Records
CD #: HNCD 1369

START TIME: 33:30

FARC INTERVIEW
BOXER REPORT
DOMINICAN BASEBALL INTERVIEW

GEO QUIZ

SONG: Diaraby
ARTIST: Moriba Koita
CD TITLE: Sorotoumou
CD LABEL: Cobalt
CD #: CD 09279 2

END TIME: 48:46

MUSIC:
SONG: Let the Chips Fall
ARTIST: Praful
CD TITLE: Pyramid in Your Back Yard
CD LABEL: Therapy Recordings

START TIME: 50:00

GEO ANSWER
GLOBAL HIT

END TIME: 58:14