Most tech podcasts spend all of their time talking about the newest, hottest thing to hit the shelves. But sometimes, I like to highlight those everyday bits of tech that people actually use, and find useful. Take bubble wrap, for instance. Did you know that it was originally created in the 1950s to be used as wallpaper? [...]
Chinese musician Yang Ying has played the traditional two-stringed erhu for many dignitaries, including American presidents. Later she founded China’s first all-girl rock band.
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On this episode of our weekly technology podcast, we revisit the PechaKucha phenomenon. It’s short, regular brainstorming sessions hosted the world over by architects, designers and other creative types. Find out what they’re doing for Japan in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami. Download MP3 (35:27)
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We veer into the desert for the Geo Quiz. We’re headed to a West African city: the capital of Niger. The capital is pretty arid but it’s even dryer in towns like Agadez in the north. The climate is pretty inhospitable but the Touareg nomads who live there are warm and welcoming. One of them is musician Bombino. Download MP3Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
In this week’s Technology Podcast, look into past nuclear accidents at Chernobyl (pictured), Three Mile Island, and Tokaimura to understand the current events at Fukushima in Japan. We’ll try to give you some historical perspective on the breaking news. (Photo: Elena Filatova) Download MP3 (36:09)
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Cell phones seem so innocent, and we use them so much. One German politician decided to find out just how much he uses his phone, and how much of that use was tracked by his cell phone company. You’ll be amazed at how much information was kept. Just listen in to this edition of The World’s Technology Podcast. Download MP3 (27:03)
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This is one of the damaged reactors from the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan. During the past week, the plant has been the focus of global attention, as plant operators try to avoid the release of radioactive material, caused by damage wrought by last week’s earthquake and subsequent tsunami. On this week’s Tech Podcast, you’ll hear a variety of viewpoints on the unfolding crisis. (Photo: BBC screengrab) Download MP3 (24:20)
As Japan faces its biggest crisis since World War Two, here are two takes on self-censorship from those war years. A child survivor of Hiroshima explains why she kept quiet about her experiences for so long, through the pain and guilt of survival. And a Japanese examination of the self-censorship of American newspaper reporters and editors in the weeks after Hiroshima and Nagasaki.[...]
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This week, the US Army charged Bradley Manning with 22 counts in connection with the alleged leaking of documents to WikiLeaks. The new charges include one that could carry the death penalty, although prosecutors say they will not ask for it. Find out more in this episode of The World’s Technology Podcast. (Photo: US Army) Download MP3 (19:33)
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Author Kathryn Schulz likes to call herself “the world’s leading ‘wrongologist.’” Her book, Being Wrong, details the role that wrongness plays in our lives, and how different cultures and individuals deal with not getting it right. In this special edition of our technology podcast, you can hear Kathryn discuss her book. Download MP3 (19:33)
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Protestors from Tahrir Square feel they could have used a bit more star-power support. One singer they’re not happy with is superstar Amr Diab. Last year, he recorded a song supportive of Mubarak. During the protests, he was nowhere to be found. Now he has a song called “Egypt Has Spoken” in which he tries to restore his street credibility. Marco Werman has more. Download MP3Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
In this week’s World in Words podcast: why did British band Gang of Four name themselves after China’s notorious cultural revolutionaries? Also, was Hosni Mubarak Egypt’s last pharaoh? Or is that just a cute turn of phrase? And is Cantonese, once the lingua franca of Chinatowns around the world., imperiled by the steady march of Mandarin?Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
The World’s Marco Werman meets the leader of Israeli band Yemen Blues, Ravid Kahalani. He’s an Arab-Jew who believes that the identity of his music blurs the lines in the mideast in a positive way. (Photo: Leigh Ann Hahn) Download MP3Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Ah, a good old-fashioned wedding, organized entirely via Facebook and Twitter. In a special BBC series, we’ll take a look at “The Secret History of Social Networking.” We’ll find out how social networks got started, and where they might be headed. Download MP3 (27:04)
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The Global Hit takes us to Brazil and beyond. Zuzuka Poderosa performs a Brazilian-bred style called “baile funk.” It’s rooted in the favelas of Rio but baile funk traces its sonic origins to Miami. And Zuzuka herself is based in Brooklyn. Reporter Corey Takahashi caught up with Zuzuka. Download MP3
