trocksblog

Podcast Addict

2009-04-06T15:40:00.001-05:00

I love podcasts. Although I was not an immediate adopter, I have fallen head over heels for this media format. I do a ton of driving, exercise, and yard work. Therefore I have plenty of time to listen to a wide array of podcasts. I find myself talking about many of them with many of you. I am always being asked to send a list of my favorites, or recall this or that podcast that I like. In an effort to deduplicate my efforts, here is a list of some of my current favorites (all available through iTunes):

ARTS

The Moth Podcast: The Moth features people telling true, engaging, funny, touching and eye-opening stories from their lives. Hailed as "New York's hottest and hippest literary ticket" by the Wall Street Journal, The Moth has been producing sold-out storytelling shows for over ten years. Stories are told without notes to a live audience by a wide range of people. The best have been captured here. [consistently good.]

BUSINESS

[I've given up on all of my business, personal finance, and investment podcasts. None of them worked. I did like the APM: Marketplace Conversations from the Corner Office Podcast at one point.]

COMEDY

Comedy Factory from CBC Radio: CBC Radio knows that if a joke's worth telling, it's worth repeating. The Comedy Factory collects our favourite skits, commentaries and funny bits that appeared on CBC Radio over the past week. It's an assembly line of humor, safety-tested and priced to move!

Flight of the Conchords: Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie - a.k.a. Flight of the Conchords - are New Zealand's 4th Most Popular Folk Parody Duo. Now, they're ready to conquer America. Join them as they move to New York's East Village, getting one new fan at a time! An HBO Video Podcast.

Real Time with Bill Maher: Bill Maher and his peerless panelists are back to take on the contenders, and pretenders, all year long! Download complete episodes including Overtime, where Bill and his guests answer fan questions. [love him or hate him]

The Adam Carolla Podcast: The new home for the rantings and ravings of Adam Carolla. Check it out Adam hangs out with some his pals, like: Larry Miller, David Allen Grier, Dr. Drew Pinksy, Dana Gould, Doug Benson, and many, many more. [Some episodes are excruciatingly funny. I woke people up on the airplane with my laughter recently.]

The Onion Radio News: Daily podcast featuring a short news clip from The Onion's award-winning 24-hour radio news network. [Big fun in a small package.]

GADGETS

gdgt weekly: You may know Peter Rojas and Ryan Block as the guys behind Engadget and Gizmodo, but they're back with gdgt - the ultimate online destination for all things gadgety and electronic. Tune in weekly as Peter and Ryan discuss the latest goings on in the world of gadgets.

GENERAL

Editor's Choice from CBC Radio: Daily podcast of the highlight of our broadcast day. A special treat for the ears plucked from the airwaves for your listening pleasure.

HEALTH

Chill Meditation: [No description necessary. I don't think that I have ever made it more than two minutes through this podcast without falling asleep with my headphones on. Warning: Do NOT listen to this in the car!]

HISTORY

Great Speeches in History: A podcast devoted to the great thinkers, statesman and other public orators that have graced us throughout history with their words. [One of my all-time favorites is "Television is Vast Wasteland, by FCC Chairman Newton Minnow on May 9, 1961 to the National Association of Broadcasters. Also, if you have never actually listened to it all the way through, take the time to listen to MLK's "I Have a Dream Speech" on your headphones. It is extrordinarily powerful.]

MUSIC

Bob Dylan Podcast: Patti Smith hosts music and conversation about Bob Dylan. His friends, early influences and collaborators discuss their close relationships with Dylan, the stories behind his greatest songs and other memorable moments of his career. Journalists and biographers add critical insights and provide historical contexts. A few of today's singer-songwriters also detail how Dylan's art influenced their own lives and careers. We also hear comments from Dylan, himself, from interviews recorded throughout the last 45 years.

Bopod Luaka Cast: David Byrne's (of Talking Heads fame) world music-oriented record label. Note - Byrne took the phrase "Luaka Bop" for his record label from the inner packaging of a specialty tea which is sold in England. (Luaka is the name of a tea importer. Luaka's "Broken Orange Pekoe" is packaged in a silver foil block; when the sleeve is removed, it reveals a white label stuck to the foil, reading "Luaka BOP".)

Endless Boundaries Jam Radio: The premier radio show and podcast from Jambands to Reggae. These podcasts are archived segments from the live EB radio broadcast every Saturday night in the Philadelphia and South Jersey area on Z88.9, 95.1, and 100.7FM.

Future Rock [podcast]: Live and studio recordings from Future Rock. [Future Rock's music is classified as electronica, but fuses elements of progressive house and dance rock. Each of the musicians sample and layer themselves throughout live performances.]

KCRW's Today's Top Tune: A free song a day, from KCRW's all Music Channel, the represents a cross section of KCRW's eclectic music format.

KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic; and Tuned in with KCRW's Nic Harcourt: Few people are as in-the-know when it comes to great music as Nic Harcourt. For years his Morning Becomes Eclectic radio program has made KCRW synonymous with fantastic, cutting-edge music. Combining independent artists with well-established superstars, and rock and roll with world and soul, Nic's picks have consistently raised the bar for music shows around the world. Now, from Nic's expertise as "the most influential DJ in America" comes 60Frames' newest series, "TUNED IN WITH KCRW'S NIC HARCOURT", a daring new program that puts a face to the legendary voice, and images to so many great songs. In each episode, Nic serves us his freshest picks for the week, from the latest Coldplay chart-topper to the newest European hip-hop and rock, from the panoramic sounds of Death Cab for Cutie to the explosive rhythms of Latin and world music.

KEXP Live Performances Podcast: Every week KEXP hosts live performances from our studios and now you can take them with you. With roughly 200 performances each year, KEXP boasts an impressive line-up of guests.

KEXP Song of the Day: KEXP's Song of the Day podcast features exclusive in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent musicians that KEXP thinks listeners should hear along with songs from more well-known artists. [Where else would I have heard of Larkin Grimm's "Ride that Cyclone"?]

MPR: The Current Song of the Day: Music lovers from 89.3 The Current [Minnesota Public Radio] comb through mountians of music to choose the best new, independent, and unreleased songs to share each weekday. [Consistently good]

NPR: Live Concerts from All Songs Considered: A unique podcast. Entire concerts from artists like Radiohead, Tom Waits, Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver and many more in the archives, and more to come. Some concerts include interviews with the bands. Quality recordings from NPR's All Songs Considered. [I especially liked the show by The Raconteurs.]

Sounds of the Caribbean with Keith Rowe: Featuring the best in Reggae, Roots, Soca, Dancehall and Dub. [One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain. - Bob Marley]

WFMU's Radio Freetown with DJ Franc O: West African Pop music from the 1970's. [I think that this is off the air. But excellent archives are available for download.]

NEWS & POLITICS

President Obama's Weekly Radio Address: [I liked his recent address about food and drug safety and the FDA]

SOCIETY & CULTURE

92nd Street Y Podcasts: The 92nd Street Y is about people. The people of New York City and the surrounding area. The people of the United States and of the world. It's about people who entertain and challenge, inform and educate. It's about people who learn and discover, observe and participate.

This American Life: Official free, weekly podcast of the award-winning radio show "This American Life." First-person stories and short fiction pieces that are touching, funny and surprising. Hosted by Ira Glass, from WBEZ Chicago Public Radio.

CBC Radio: The Best of Ideas: Ideas is all about ideas - programs that expose everything from culture and the arts to science and technology to social issues. [Listen to "Climate Wars, Parts 1-3"]

Ethicist: Randy Cohen, New York Times Magazine columnist, answers readers' questions on ethical issues each week.

iTunes: Meet the Author: iTunes and the Apple Store in New York's SoHo district have teamed up to bring you the hottest authors talking about the season's biggest books. [Of note: Chuck Palahnuiuk, Augusten Burroughs, Stephen Colbert]

NPR: Driveway Moments Podcast: Listeners' NPR favorites. Riveting stories from Morning Edition, All Things Considered and other award-winning NPR programs. [Personal favorites include: 'Mesmerized' By the Words, Music of Wynton Marsalis;
Heartbreaking Reports from a Devastated City, re: Melissa Block's coverage of the Chinese earthquake.]

NPR: StoryCorps Podcast: At recording booths across America, everyday people interview one another about their lives. StoryCorps creator Dave Isay showcases these first-person stories in this weekly podcast. [Listen to my favorite episode by clicking on A Victim Treats His Mugger Right]

NPR This I Believe Podcast: [A couple of my recent favorites are Health is a Human Right and Caring Makes us Human.]

This American Life: Official free, weekly podcast of the award-winning radio show "This American Life." First-person stories and short fiction pieces that are touching, funny, and surprising. Hosted by Ira Glass, from WBEZ Chicago Public Radio. [I only wish that I had the time to keep up with them every week. A recent favorite of mine - 355: The Giant Pool of Money.]

SCIENCE

NYT: Science Times: David Corcoran, a science editor, explores the topics addressed in this week's Science Times.

TRAVEL

The North Face Expeditions

TV & FILM

Filmspotting: A weekly podcast from Chicago featuring reviews, interviews, top 5 lists and insightful film talk with Adam Kempenaar and Matty Robinson. Also featured on Chicago Public Radio.

KCRW's The Treatment: A treatment in Hollywood parlance is a concise overview of a screenplay. On The Treatment film critic Elvis Mitchell turns the tables and gives the treatment to some of the most influential and innovative forces creating movies and popular art and entertainment. Each week Elvis speaks with an amazing array of guests discussing everything from their inner conflicts to their interior design. With a straightforward style that understates his vast knowledge Elvis is able to extract insights issues and inspirations from even the most introverted guests. Conversations on The Treatment are mostly comfortable sometimes contentious but always fascinating.

Movies You Should See: The "off topic" movie review show. [Funny...and British.]

Slate Spoiler Specials: Slate's Spoiler Specials are not reviews of current movies, but "postviews" -- audio critiques meant to be played AFTER you've seen the film. Our movie critic Dana Stevens leads discussions of twist endings, plot holes, and other secrets you won't read in the reviews. It's the kind of discussion you have with friends as you're leaving the theater. WARNING: Listening to these podcasts before you've seen a film could be hazardous to your suspension of disbelief! [I rarely agree with Dana and her guest's criticism, and sometimes feel that they 'don't get it.' However, I still listen to all the episodes for movies that I have seen and sometimes find intersting insights cultural references.]

Spoutblog >> FilmCouch: Daily coverage of what is truly interesting in the film world. [Sadly, this highly interesting film criticism podcast just recorded its last episode. It's worth checking out some of the recent archived shows though.]

iTUNES U

Darwin Distinguished Lecture Series: From ASU School of Life Sciences. ASU celebrates Darwin's 200th brithday and commemorates the 150th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species with Darwinfest - a creative scientific enterprise.

Yale University

The Crow

2008-04-30T15:31:00.001-05:00

Rustic Overtones' "Letter to the President" video

2008-04-21T11:07:00.002-05:00

Dear Mr. President,
I’m a soldier with the 82nd Airborne stationed overseas.
My family and my friends all pray that God is watching over me.
Even God can’t save us now.

Mr. President, I’m writing you this poem,
And I’ve sent along this picture of my family back at home.
I hear my heart beat loud in these killing fields alone.
I always hit my target; I just miss my happy home.

When will be the end of this all?
Tell me, when will be the end of this all?
Now that our back is against the wall.
Whoa, oh yea

I joined the army like my father did and his father did before.
I saw Army green and canvas look like perfect art of war.
The images I see now are like ones I saw before.
How am I a hero if I don’t know what it’s for?
[ Find more Lyrics at www.mp3lyrics.org/Heka ]

Days are getting longer, nights I never get to sleep,
And I just had a newborn daughter that I hope I get to see.
I’ve got bloodshed on my conscience; she’s so innocent and free.
I just killed some baby’s father, better him instead of me.

When will be the end of this all?
Tell me, when will be the end of this all?
Now that our back is against the wall?
Mankind is getting small.

Before the war, life it was beautiful, we marched out in the sun.
Now it’s stars and stripes at funerals, our darkest days have come.
Dying in this combat zone, it scares me half to death,
‘Cause if I don’t make it to heaven, what’s to live for after death?

I’ve seen mothers of the friends I’ve lost out marching in a crowd,
‘Cause their sons wear purple hearts inside their coffins in the ground.
When they left for war, they thought their mommies would be proud.
When they faced off with their enemies, they fought to take them down.

Hatred is tearing our soul apart,
Separation is tearing the world apart,
Corruption is playing its part.

The Hidden Truth Behind Hotel Drinking Glasses

2007-12-19T22:02:00.000-05:00

Japanese Binocular Soccer

2007-11-28T09:29:00.000-05:00

Japanese Binocular Soccer - Watch more free videos

2007-04-05T10:38:00.000-05:00

David Lynch's Public Service Announcement

If you love David Lynch, and deplore littering, half as much as I do, watch this PSA.

2007-03-19T08:59:00.000-05:00

Bob Dylan San Francisco Press Conference-Mid 60s

Michael Jackson performs "Billy Jean" and FIRST MOONWALK at Mowtown 25th Anniv. TV special

2007-02-28T15:53:00.000-05:00

I was just listening to a podcast interview featuring Bill Condon Director: "Dreamgirls," "Gods and Monsters," "Chicago," and "Kinsey") on KCRW's THE TREATMENT. Bill made reference to the Motown 25th Anniversary Television Special. I can't recall if I ever saw this or not. Anyway, I just watched this clip of Michael Jackson performing "Billy Jean" in which he demonstrates the Moonwalk for the very first time. As strange as he has become in recent years, this man had some SERIOUS talent in his prime. Check it out!

2007-02-13T14:28:00.000-05:00

The Police - Roxanne

Amazing! It's as if Andy, Stewart and Gordon (Sting) haven't aged a bit.

2007-02-03T16:30:00.000-05:00

Bob Dylan's MASTERS of WAR

Timely and timeless, like all of Dylan's great works.

When pictures speak volumes

2007-01-18T15:31:00.000-05:00

What more is there to say?

Bob Dylan Subterranean Homesick Blues

2007-01-15T21:10:00.000-05:00

A Sad Day for Ernest (Trey) Anastasio

2007-01-02T13:33:00.000-05:00

From Relix Magazine (15 Dec 2006):

Trey Anastasio has gone on the record about his December 15th arrest. "I feel terrible about what happened last night,” Anastasio says in a statement sent to Relix from his manager via e-mail. “I am deeply sorry for any embarrassment I have caused my friends, family and fans." At approximately 3:30AM this morning, Trey Anastasio was arrested under suspicion of driving while intoxicated in Whitehall, NY.

After being searched, police found a variety of medications, including Xanax, Percocet and Hydrocodone, which were prescribed to another person. Anastasio was approached at a traffic stop by Patrolman Andrew Mija and failed a sobriety test. Anastasio was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, DWI-drugs, and driving without a license. According to reports, Anastasio was traveling from his current New York home to Vermont. Since parting ways with Phish, Anastasio has talked at great lengths about his sober lifestyle. In 2005 he told Relix, "I have been fucked up in one way or another for my entire life, so I'm trying my best, simple as that."

I post this because I love Al Gore, and love the Onion even more!

2006-12-27T15:35:00.000-05:00

Al Gore Caught Warming Globe To Increase Box Office Profits

Environmental officials claimed that Gore's tire fire in Akron, OH was "completely out of line."

The Dam

2006-12-27T13:44:00.000-05:00

The Dam

This is an actual letter sent to a man named Ryan DeVries by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Quality, State of Pennsylvania. This guy's response is hilarious, but read the State's letter before you get to the response letter.

SUBJECT: DEQ File No.97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Lycoming County

Dear Mr. DeVries:
It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality that there has been recent unauthorized activity on the above referenced parcel of property. You have been certified as the legal landowner and/or contractor who did the following unauthorized activity:

Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream of Spring Pond.
A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity.

A review of the Department's files shows that no permits have been issued Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Pennsylvania Compiled Laws, annotated.

The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially failed during a recent rain event, causing debris and flooding at downstream locations. We find that dams of this nature are inherently hazardous and cannot be permitted. The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all activities at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition by removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the stream channel. All restoration work shall be completed no later than January 31, 2006.
Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff.

Failure to comply with this request or any further unauthorized activity on the site may result in this case being referred for elevated enforcement action.
We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this matter. Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

David L. Price
District Representative and Water Management Division.

=================================================

Here is the actual response sent back by Mr. DeVries:

Re: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Lycoming County

Dear Mr. Price,
Your certified letter dated 12/17/02 has been handed to me to respond to.
I am the legal landowner but not the Contractor at 2088 Dagget Lane, Trout Run, Pennsylvania.
A couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized) process of constructing and maintaining two wood "debris" dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond. While I did not pay for, authorize, nor supervise their dam project, I think they would be highly offended that you call their skilful use of nature�s building materials "debris." I would like to challenge your department to attempt to emulate their dam project any time and/or any place you choose.
I believe I can safely state there is no way you could ever match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam ingenuity, their dam persistence, their dam determination and/or their dam work ethic.

As to your request, I do not think the beavers are aware that they must first fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type of dam activity.
My first dam question to you is:

Are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers, or
Do you require all beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam request?
If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, through the Freedom of Information Act, I request completed copies of all those other applicable beaver dam permits that have been issued. Perhaps we will see if there really is a dam violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Pennsylvania Compiled Laws, annotated.

I have several concerns. My first concern is, aren't the beavers entitled to legal representation? The Spring Pond Beavers are financially destitute and are unable to pay for said representation -- so the State will have to provide them with a dam lawyer. The Department's dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed during a recent rain event, causing flooding, is proof that this is a natural occurrence, which the Department is required to protect. In other words, we should leave the Spring Pond Beavers alone rather than harassing them and calling their dam names. If you want the stream "restored" to a dam free-flow condition please contact the beavers -- but if you are going to arrest them, they obviously did not pay any attention to your dam letter, they being unable to read English.

In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build their unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is green and water flows downstream. They have more dam rights than I do to live and enjoy Spring Pond. If the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection lives up to its name, it should protect the natural resources (Beavers) and the environment (Beavers' Dams).

So, as far as the beavers and I are concerned, this dam case can be referred for more elevated enforcement action right now. Why wait until 1/31/2006? The Spring Pond Beavers may be under the dam ice then and there will be no way for you or your dam staff to contact/harass them then.

In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention a real environmental quality, health problem in the area. It is the bears! Bears are actually defecating in our woods. I definitely believe you should be persecuting the defecating bears and leave the beavers alone.

If you are going to investigate the beaver dam, watch your step! The bears are not careful where they dump!

Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to contact you on your dam answering machine, I am sending this response to your dam office.

THANK YOU.

RYAN DEVRIES & THE DAM BEAVERS

2006-12-18T15:47:00.000-05:00

SNL - Digital Short - A Special Christmas Box *Uncensored Ve

I love this!

2006-12-15T11:59:00.000-05:00

Little man, big water.

Hey buddy, give us a big wave

World's Tallest Man Saves Dolphin

2006-12-15T11:49:00.000-05:00

Top photograph by Ren Yong/Xinhua Photo/AP Photo, bottom photograph from Reuters/China Daily

December 14, 2006—Who says superheroes don't exist?

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - The world's tallest man has saved the lives of two dying dolphins in China by reaching deep into their stomachs to pull out pieces of plastic, official Chinese media reported on Thursday.
At an aquarium in the northeastern city of Fushun, doctors failed to remove the plastic with surgical instruments because the pieces were difficult to grasp, Xinhua news agency said. The arms of ordinary people were too short to reach the stomachs.
Bao Xishun, a 2.36 metre (7 foot 9 inch) herdsman who is listed by Guinness World Records as the tallest living man, was therefore summoned from the nearby Chinese region of Inner Mongolia, Xinhua reported.
In an operation shown on local television, a dozen men held the dolphins down while Bao slid his 1.06 metre (42 inch) long arm down their throats to grab the plastic. The dolphins are now recovering well, Xinhua said.
Bao, 55, reached his height in a seven-year growth spurt that began in his teens and which doctors cannot explain, according to Guinness. After a career in the army, where he was recruited for a basketball team, he returned to Inner Mongolia where he hires himself out for publicity stunts in addition to herding livestock.

Iraq Study Group's report: The damning verdict

2006-12-07T10:51:00.000-05:00

For more, read San Francisco Chronicle article

A Pregnant Man? Oh My!

2006-12-06T11:24:00.000-05:00

"To my surprise and horror, I could shake hands with somebody inside," he said. "It was a bit shocking for me."

ANOTHER PERSON LIVED INSIDE A MAN FOR NEARLY FOUR DECADES

Aug. 23, 2006 — Sanju Bhagat's stomach was once so swollen he looked nine months pregnant and could barely breathe.

Living in the city of Nagpur, India, Bhagat said he'd felt self-conscious his whole life about his big belly. But one night in June 1999, his problem erupted into something much larger than cosmetic worry.

An ambulance rushed the 36-year-old farmer to the hospital. Doctors thought he might have a giant tumor, so they decided to operate and remove the source of the bulge in his belly.

"Basically, the tumor was so big that it was pressing on his diaphragm and that's why he was very breathless," said Dr. Ajay Mehta of Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai. "Because of the sheer size of the tumor, it makes it difficult [to operate]. We anticipated a lot of problems."

Mehta said that he can usually spot a tumor just after he begins an operation. But while operating on Bhagat, Mehta saw something he had never encountered. As he cut deeper into Bhagat's stomach, gallons of fluid spilled out — and then something extraordinary happened.

"To my surprise and horror, I could shake hands with somebody inside," he said. "It was a bit shocking for me."

Removing the Mutated Body

One doctor recalled that day in the operating room.

"He just put his hand inside and he said there are a lot of bones inside," she said. "First, one limb came out, then another limb came out. Then some part of genitalia, then some part of hair, some limbs, jaws, limbs, hair."

Inside Bhagat's stomach was a strange, half-formed creature that had feet and hands that were very developed. Its fingernails were quite long.

"We were horrified. We were confused and amazed," Mehta said.

A Mutated Body Within a Body

At first glance, it may look as if Bhagat had given birth. Actually, Mehta had removed the mutated body of Bhagat's twin brother from his stomach. Bhagat, they discovered, had one of the world's most bizarre medical conditions — fetus in fetu. It is an extremely rare abnormality that occurs when a fetus gets trapped inside its twin. The trapped fetus can survive as a parasite even past birth by forming an umbilical cordlike structure that leaches its twin's blood supply until it grows so large that it starts to harm the host, at which point doctors usually intervene.

According to Mehta, there are fewer than 90 cases of fetus in fetu recorded in medical literature.

Fetus in fetu happens very early in a twin pregnancy, when one fetus wraps around and envelops the other. The dominant fetus grows, while the fetus that would have been its twin lives on throughout the pregnancy, feeding off its host twin like a kind of parasite. Usually, both twins die before birth from the strain of sharing a placenta.

Sometimes, however, as in Bhagat's case, the host twin survives and is delivered. What makes his case so unusual is that no one suspected Bhagat had a twin inside him for 36 years.

Bhagat said he was very much relieved after his operation. He was not interested in knowing what Mehta did to him or seeing what he had removed from his abdomen.

"He didn't want to see it because it was looking very ghastly," Mehta said.

Avoiding the Gory Details

There was no placenta inside Bhagat — the enveloped parasitic twin had connected directly to Bhagat's blood supply. Right after the surgery, Bhagat's pain and inability to breathe disappeared and he recovered immediately.

The case may have been a medical miracle to doctors, but to Bhagat his condition had been a source of shame and misery. All his life, people in the village where he lived had mercilessly teased him and told him he looked pregnant. Ironically, they were right in a way.

Today Bhagat is in good health and leads a normal life, but he still gets teased occasionally.

"They still ridicule him. What they say is, you went for an operation and you had the baby," Mehta said.

*Related: For More Information on Fetus in Fetu

Flatulence Forces Plane to Land

2006-12-06T11:14:00.000-05:00

Plane Forced to Land After Passenger Passes Gas, Lights Match to Cover Scent

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Dec 6, 2006 (AP)— An American Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing Monday morning after a passenger lit a match to disguise the scent of flatulence, authorities said.

The Dallas-bound flight was diverted to Nashville after several passengers reported smelling burning sulfur from the matches, said Lynne Lowrance, spokeswoman for the Nashville International Airport Authority. All 99 passengers and five crew members were taken off and screened while the plane was searched and luggage was screened.

The FBI questioned a passenger who admitted she struck the matches in an attempt to conceal a "body odor," Lowrance said. She had an unspecified medical condition, authorities said.

"It's humorous in a way but you feel sorry for the individual, as well," she said. "It's unusual that someone would go to those measures to cover it up."

The flight took off again, but the woman was not allowed back on the plane. The woman, who was not identified, was not charged in the incident.

2006-12-05T11:10:00.000-05:00

12 Days of Indian Christmas

This was just sent to me by my Indian American friend, and grad school roommate, Alok. Alok has long been a trusted source of internet humor and shenanigans.

Mrs. Betty Bowers' Words of Christian Concern for Ted Haggard's Delicious Disgrace

2006-11-13T17:28:00.000-05:00

Check out this absolutely hilarious bit of "shamless schadenfreude" It's got me in stiches!

http://www.bettybowers.com/nl_nov2006.html

Excerpt:
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Delighted Snickers:

I suspect that this will be a rather uncomfortable weekend at the Ted Haggard tax-free mansion. You see, Reverend Haggard is a vociferous spokesperson against gay marriage and, until yesterday, his wife probably had no idea she was actually in one.

Oh, I can hear some of you gals used to being around florists and Governors of New Jersey -- and Texas -- cackling. You think I'm selling the woman's intuition for pushily obvious queenery short. But if Haggard's unblinking congregation could sit and listen to such a liturgical Liberace week after week and not realize they were in the presence of someone who makes Barry Manilow in a full-length mink look butch, they really need to recalibrate their ability to detect prescription-strength doses of flamboyance. Because if you can't tell that Haggard is not just gay, but marabou mules wearing gay, you must have bought your refurbished Gaydar at the same kiosk Tom Cruise got his E-meter.

read on . . . http://www.bettybowers.com/nl_nov2006.html

2006-11-13T17:11:00.000-05:00

Phenomenal Human Beatbox

I join the 1.7M viewers and 180K "Favorite'ers" in saying this is FAR OUT!

2006-11-13T14:48:00.000-05:00

U2 and Green Day - "The Saints Are Coming"

Great tune. Great video. Great collaboration. I want more.

2006-10-05T01:50:00.000-05:00

Male Restroom Etiquette

My father sent this video to me. Classic!

Bill Clinton/Fox News (Chris Wallace Interview) Pt. 1

2006-09-26T11:41:00.000-05:00

President Bill Clinton taped an interview with Fox News’ Chris Wallace, which aired today. He was told the interview would focus on his nonpartisan efforts to raise over $7 billion to combat the world’s biggest problems.

Early in the interview, Wallace attempted to smear Clinton with the same kind of misinformation contained in ABC’s Path to 9/11. Clinton was having none of it.

For the complete transcript visit:
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/09/22/clinton-fox/

Additional reporting:
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/09/23/fox-clarke-demoted/

Original Source:
http://onegoodmove.org/1gm/

2006-09-25T10:59:00.000-05:00

L'shna Tova - Happy New Year

Get a load of this Hebrew Crunk!

Bush to hold talks on Ali G creator after diplomatic row

2006-09-15T10:58:00.000-05:00

Bush to hold talks on Ali G creator after diplomatic row
Daily Mail - 12th September 2006

US President George Bush is to host White House talks on British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen.

Cohen, 35, creator of Ali G, has infuriated the Kazakhstan government with his portrayal of Borat, a bumbling Kazakh TV presenter.

And now a movie of Borat's adventures in the US has caused a diplomatic incident.

The opening scene, which shows Borat lustily kissing his sister goodbye and setting off for America in a car pulled by a horse, had audiences in stitches when it was first shown last week.

But the film, which has just premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, has prompted a swift reaction from the Kazakhstan government, which is launching a PR blitz in the States.

Kazakhstan president Nursultan Nazarbayev is to fly to the US to meet President Bush in the coming weeks and on the agenda will be his country's image.

President Nazarbayev has confirmed his government will buy "educational" TV spots and print advertisements about the "real Kazakhstan" in a bid to save the country's reputation before the film is released in the US in November.

President Nazarbayev will visit the White House and the Bush family compound in Maine when he flies in for talks that will include the fictional character Borat.

But a spokesman for the Kazakhstan Embassy says it is unlikely that President Nazarbayev will find the film funny.

Roman Vassilenko said: "The Government has expressed its displeasure about Borat's representation of our country.

"Our opinion of the character has not changed.

"We understand that the film exposes the hypocrisy that exists both here in the USA and in the UK and understand that Mr Cohen has a right to freedom of speech.

"Nursultan Nazarbayev has taken Mr Bush up on an invitation to visit this country to help build our relationship with the USA.

"I cannot speak for the president himself, only for the government, but I certainly don't think President Nazarbayev and Mr Bush will share a joke about the film.

"The bottom line is we want people to know that he does not represent the true people of Kazakhstan."

The Kazakh government has previously threatened Baron-Cohen with legal action, for allowing Borat to, among other things, make fun of his homeland, demean women, slander gypsies and urge listeners to "Throw the Jew Down the Well."

Anti-Borat hard-liners have pulled the plug on borat.kz, Borat's Kazakhstan-based Website after his frequent displays of anti-Semitism and his portrayal of Kazakh culture.

Nurlan Isin, President of the Association of Kazakh IT Companies took the action after complaints.

He said: "We've done this so he can't badmouth Kazakhstan under the .kz domain name.

"He can go and do whatever he wants at other domains."

The row originally erupted in November 2005, following Borat's hosting of the MTV Europe Music Awards in Lisbon.

The Kazakh Foreign Ministry was furious over Cohen's bad taste representation of the nation.

'No such thing as bad publicity'

Foreign Ministry spokesman Yerzhan Ashykbayev told a news conference: "We view Mr. Cohen's behaviour at the MTV Europe Music Awards as utterly unacceptable, being a concoction of bad taste and ill manners which is completely incompatible with the ethics and civilized behaviour of Kazakhstan's people.

"We reserve the right to any legal action to prevent new pranks of the kind."

Baron Cohen responded to Ashykbayev in character by posting a video on the Official Borat website.

In the video, Borat said, "In response to Mr. Ashykbayev's comments, I'd like to state I have no connection with Mr. Cohen and fully support my Government's decision to sue this Jew.

"Since the 2003 Tuleyakiv reforms, Kazakhstan is as civilized as any other country in the world.

"Women can now travel on inside of bus, homosexuals no longer have to wear blue hats, and age of consent has been raised to eight years old."

His blatant outpouring then prompted the Kazakh government to hire two public relations firms to counter the claims, and ran a four-page advertisement in The New York Times.

The ad carried testimonials about the nation's democracy, education system and the power and influence enjoyed by women. News of President Nazarbayev's upcoming visit has prompted experts to study the character's impact on US culture.

Sean R. Roberts, Central Asian Affairs Fellow at Georgetown University, has been studying the phenomenon.

He said: "I have found that more Americans are aware of Kazakhstan than four years ago when I last lived in the United States.

"The increased knowledge of Kazakhstan, however, is not due to the country's economic successes or its role as a U.S. ally in the war on terror.

"Instead, most Americans who have heard of Kazakhstan have heard of it through a satire of a Kazakh journalist named Borat.

"Borat certainly does not promote an image of Kazakhstan that is in sync with that which the government and its leader would like to promote abroad.

"As the old adage goes, however, 'there is no such thing as bad publicity.'

"If that is true, Borat is bringing much more publicity to Kazakhstan."

Cohen's representatives refused to allow him or his alter ego to respond to the controversy because it's not close enough to the film's release date.

Latest Bushism

2006-09-15T10:31:00.000-05:00

Check out our Commander in Chief's latest telling "Bushism," during a recent interview with Katie Couric. (click above for direct link to video, and wait while short commercial runs)

bushisms
Bushism of the Day
By Jacob Weisberg
Posted Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2006, at 5:29 PM ET

"You know, one of the hardest parts of my job is to connect Iraq to the war on terror."—Interview with CBS News, Washington D.C., Sept. 6, 2006

The Bushism is at 4:48.

Got a Bushism? Send it to bushisms@slate.com.

For more, see "The Complete Bushisms."

Jacob Weisberg is editor of Slate and co-author, with Robert E. Rubin, of In an Uncertain World.

Article URL: http://www.slate.com/id/2149504/
Copyright 2006 Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive Co. LLC

Watch the video - he really says it - straight faced and it was not a mistake

2006-08-14T12:50:00.000-05:00

Stevie "The Great Regurgitator" Starr

This is one of the nuttiest videos ever! How do you think Stevie first learned of his special skills?

2006-07-20T10:41:00.000-05:00

Best of Jimmy Kimmel Unnecessary Censorship

The Shadowy World of Disco Puppetry

2006-07-11T12:49:00.000-05:00

Watch this grocery store stock boy, who obviously has way too much time on his hands (pun unintended), bring the 70s back to life on the inside of a cardboard box. (click on title above for video).

This makes me laff!

2006-07-06T15:52:00.000-05:00

Phish 20th Anniversary Video Montage

2006-06-08T08:25:00.000-05:00

So cool! I just stumbled upon this clip, which I have been dying to see again - ever since I saw it on stage at this show in Boston in 2003. It was such a nostalgic show for me. Although I saw the boys several times after this, including Coventry, I consider this the last real stadium show of the Phish I grew up with.

IN MEMORIAM: Since 4/23/05 - Part II

2006-06-05T15:10:00.000-05:00

For detailed statistics of Iraq Coalition Casualties, visit http://icasualties.org/oif/

U.S. Mint Employee Disciplined For Putting Own Face On Nickels

2006-06-02T08:05:00.000-05:00

Source: the ONION BEST OF YESTERDAY'S NEWS

BOOKS I'VE READ . . . AM READING . . . WILL READ

2006-05-20T11:46:00.000-05:00

I am a book junkie. I like to buy books, talk about books, flip through books at the library, and not put them back in the right spot - gotta keep those librarians on their toes. Most of all I like to emerse myself in a book, either in print or on tape. Thank you again public library! If I had more time, that elusive jewel, I would read all the time - or at least all the time that I was not watching movies, making and eating food, playing in the outdoors, or sleeping. Alas work, chores, my commute, and other responsibilities interfere. Nevertheless, I do find some time in my increasingly scheduled life to read. Here is a short list of books that I have recently read, am currently reading (for those of you who know me, you know that I juggle about a half dozen books at a time . . . I know, it's weird), and books on deck:

BOOKS I'VE RECENTLY READ

1. The Dark Tower (The Dark Tower, Book 7) by Stephen King, Michael Whelan (Illustrator)

The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.

http://www.stephenking.com/DarkTower/

2. Gag Rule: On the Suppression of Dissent and Stifling of Democracy by Lewis H. Lapham

In this first serious book by the award-winning columnist in more than a decade, Lapham issues a call to action in defense of one of our most important liberties — the right to raise our voices against the powers that be and have those voices heard.

http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?inkey=2-0143035029-2

3. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

Ever wanted to know how to build a cathedral? Here's how.

http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-0451166892-8

BOOKS I AM READING

1. Mountains Beyond Mountains: Healing the World: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer by Tracy Kidder

Think its impossible for one man to save the world? Read this tale about Paul Farmer and the work he is doing in Haiti.

http://www.pih.org/index.html

2. Operation Shylock: A Confession by Philip Roth

Zionism or Disasporism? That is the question.

http://www.powells.com/biblio/62-0679750290-0

3. Between a Rock and Hard Place by Aron Ralston

Would you have the cajones to do it? At first I thought "Yes. Of course. I'd cut my hand off with a dull pocket knife to save my life." The more I think about it however, I am not sure that I would have if put in that situation. Tough to tell.

http://www.aralston.com/

BOOKS I WILL READ

1. Haunted: A Novel by Chuck Palahniuk

Stephen King once said in an interview, "I want to hurt people [through my writing.]" If you've read 'Pet Semetary' or 'Misery' you might agree that he is a success.

But Chuck Palahniuk, author of 'Fight Club,' 'Lullaby,' and others, REALLY DOES HURT YOU! This is the kind of writing that gets deep under your skin and gives you the shivers. Cool!

http://www.avclub.com/content/node/21702

2. The Nasty Bits : Collected Varietal Cuts, Usable Trim, Scraps, and Bones by Anthony Bourdain

My two favourite memoirs about travel and food by a maniacal chef? 'Kitchen Confidential,' and 'A Cooks Tour' hands down! I am certain that 'The Nasty Bits' will make that list. Check this dude out if you have not read his books or seen him on the Travel Channel.

http://www.anthonybourdain.com/

Build a Better Bush

2006-05-18T15:48:00.000-05:00

This helps. Trust me. Click on "Build a Better Bush" above to build one yourself.

“We Went to War with the Leadership we Had, Not the One we Needed”

2006-05-09T14:45:00.000-05:00

On May 1, U.S. Representative Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) released the following statement in rememberance of President Bush's "Mission Accomplished" speech aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. Note: if you have not yet read the October 2005 Rolling Stone article about Rep. Emanuel titled "The Enforcer" I encourage you to do so. You can access the article at: http://www.rollingstone.come/politics/story/8091986/the_enforcer

And now, the May 1 press release . . .

“In honor of today's Mission Accomplished anniversary, allow me to remind the President of some of his "accomplishements" in Iraq:

“Predicting that the Iraq conflict would take no more than five months, that our troops would be greeted as liberators, that stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction would be found, and that Iraqi oil would finance the reconstruction.

“Ignoring Paul Bremer’s call for additional troops on the ground in the days following the invasion, leading to widespread looting, destruction of infrastructure, the escape of Baath Party officials and the development of a sustained insurgency.

“Failing to provide sufficient vehicle armor and body armor to protect American lives.Missing an opportunity to capture Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in 2002 and again in 2004.

“Allowing Iraq to become a haven for terrorism.

“Projecting the cost of the war would be $50 to $60 billion, when in reality – factoring in the cost of Afghanistan – current estimates are closer to $800 billion.

“Allowing the dereliction of leadership at Abu Ghraib, leading to systemic prisoner abuse.

“Failing to restore electricity and water to significant portions of Baghdad and Iraq.

“Losing track of $10 Billion that went missing from no-bid reconstruction contracts. Overstraining National Guard and Reserves resources.

“Neglecting homeland security, leading to 12 D’s, 5 F’s, and 2 incompletes from the 9/11 Commission.

“Since the President landed on the USS Abraham Lincoln and declared victory, we’ve lost 2,260 American lives, and current estimates project costs at $800 billion. Clearly we went to war with the leadership we had, not the one we needed.”

Colbert Roast's Bush, Pt. 1

2006-05-01T15:10:00.000-05:00

Colbert Roasts Bush, Pt. 1

Stephen Colbert Roasts Bush at the Annual White House Correspndents Dinner

2006-05-01T09:34:00.000-05:00

Stephen Colbert's roast at the annual White House Correspondents Dinner left the audience, including the President, speechless.

Demonic Tots and Deeply Disturbing Cuisine

2006-04-27T08:36:00.000-05:00

My brother Dan sent me a link to this site a while back. I have not visited it in months, but it haunts me. These advertising photos of Demonic Tots (ie. creepy kids) and Deeply Disturbing Cuisine (ie. creepy food) are totally wild. I don't know what they were putting in the water in the 50's, but it sure gave these kids some freaky Kubrick eyes.

The Year in Bushisms 2006, by Garry Trudeau

2006-04-18T10:16:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year again, for the eagerly anticipated G.B. Trudeau Sunday strip of his favorite "Bushisms" from the previous 12 months. While not quite as good as 2004 and 2005, these are still plenty funny . . . and disturbing. I especially like the December 12, 2005 address to U.S. forces in Iraq: "I believe we are welcomed. But it was not a peaceful welcome."

What if the Venus probe flew off course and crashed into Uranus?

2006-04-14T08:35:00.000-05:00

It's the part about the 'dark vortex' that really scares me.

Venus probe sends back first images
Swirling clouds seen on planet's south pole
Updated: 4:07 p.m. ET April 13, 2006

BERLIN - European scientists released new photos of Venus’ south pole Thursday, revealing a swirling mass of sulfuric acid clouds powered by 220 mph winds.
The clouds, 13 miles deep, completely enclose Venus. The new images of the planet’s south pole, which is turned away from Earth, closely resemble those of its more familiar north pole.
The images, taken from the European Space Agency’s orbiting Venus Express spacecraft from a distance of roughly 124,000 miles, show pale clouds turning around a dark vortex.

For more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12302630/from/ET/

THE IRAN PLANS

2006-04-14T07:59:00.000-05:00

THE IRAN PLANS
Would President Bush go to war to stop Tehran from getting the bomb?
by SEYMOUR M. HERSH
(Posted 2006-04-08)

The Bush Administration, while publicly advocating diplomacy in order to stop Iran from pursuing a nuclear weapon, has increased clandestine activities inside Iran and intensified planning for a possible major air attack. Current and former American military and intelligence officials said that Air Force planning groups are drawing up lists of targets, and teams of American combat troops have been ordered into Iran, under cover, to collect targeting data and to establish contact with anti-government ethnic-minority groups. The officials say that President Bush is determined to deny the Iranian regime the opportunity to begin a pilot program, planned for this spring, to enrich uranium.

For the rest of this article, goto: http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/060417fa_fact

Merriam-Webster's Words of the Year 2005

2006-04-10T15:37:00.000-05:00

This is a really interesting glimpse into the (online) minds of the public this past year. Though far from scientific, it provides a nice snapshot of our collective concerns. sjt

Merriam-Webster's Words of the Year 2005
Based on M-W.com online lookups, the #1 Word of the Year for 2005 was:
1. integrity

Pronunciation: in-'te-gr&-tE Function: nounEtymology: Middle English integrite, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French integrité, from Latin integritat-, integritas, from integr-, integer entire1 : firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values : INCORRUPTIBILITY2 : an unimpaired condition : SOUNDNESS3 : the quality or state of being complete or undivided : COMPLETENESSsynonym see HONESTY

The rest of the list . . .
2. refugee 3. contempt 4. filibuster 5. insipid 6. tsunami 7. pandemic 8. conclave 9. levee 10. inept

I'm ANIMAL. What Muppet are you?

2006-04-10T14:24:00.000-05:00

You Are Animal

A complete lunatic, you're operating on 100% animal instincts.

You thrive on uncontrolled energy, and you're downright scary.

But you sure can beat a good drum.

"Kill! Kill!"

The Muppet Personality Test

I'm Mexican Food! What kind of food are you?

2006-04-07T10:25:00.000-05:00

You Are Mexican Food

Spicy yet dependable.

You pull punches, but people still love you.

What Kind of Food Are You?

Man in the Dark

2006-04-07T10:21:00.000-05:00

This is one of the coolest programs I have run across in a long time. Put on you favorite tunes, click the link and move your mouse.

Best comic strip of the year

2005-12-18T14:12:00.000-05:00

Some Wedding Pics - Oct'03

2005-11-20T14:57:00.000-05:00

Our wedding montage

2005-10-21T09:51:00.000-05:00

I know it has been two years and nine days since our wedding. But many of you have not actually seen our wedding photos. Well, here's a little tease. I will put more up on the blog soon. Cheers! Steve

OUR NEW NIECE!!!

2005-09-15T09:26:00.000-05:00

Hayley Frisch Trockman . . . our new Niece!

MOM (ANNE) AND GRANDMA (PATTI) WITH HAYLEY

2005-09-15T09:10:00.000-05:00

Anne and Patti welcoming Hayley Frisch Trockman in the world

BIG BROTHER!

2005-09-15T09:05:00.000-05:00

Isaac holding his new sister with proud father (Dan) lending a hand.

Me & MK on Minneapolis Sculpture Garden Bridge, Minneapolis, MN - June 26, 2005

2005-06-29T13:28:00.000-05:00

Me & MK on the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden Bridge, June 26, 2005

Me & MK at Sculpture Garden, Minneapolis, MN - June 26, 2005

2005-06-29T10:09:00.000-05:00

Me and MK at Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, June 26, 2005

Mom & Dad at Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska, MN - June 26, 2005

2005-06-28T11:02:00.000-05:00

Mom and Dad at MN Landscape Arboretum, 6/25/05

Inside Flower at Arboretum, Chaska, MN - June 26, 2005

2005-06-28T11:01:00.000-05:00

Inside a phunky phlower at the MN Landscape Arboretum, 6/25/05

Mary Kate at Japanese Garden, MN Lanscape Arboretum, Chaska, MN - June 26, 2005

2005-06-28T11:00:00.000-05:00

Mary Kate in Japanese Garden at MN Landscape Arboretum, 6/25/05

2005-06-28T10:59:00.000-05:00

Owl at MN Landscape Arboretum, 6/26/05