Filed under: Biking the Iditarod
After worrying all day about snow cyclist Jill Homer, I'm happy to report that the reason she stopped making progress on the Iditarod Trail Invitational leaderboard is that she'd pulled off by the side of the trail to catch 40 winks. Or 400. The report from Alaska:
Jill told them that she was falling asleep while riding her bike and decided to stop otherwise she was fine.
Her boyfriend, Geoff Roes, finally reached her by phone. He says she has made it to Nikolai and plans to head out early Saturday for the last 50 miles of the 350-mile race. He writes, "She's had a couple tough days with lots of walking, wind, and cold but she is feeling strong and is planning to get some sleep and get up early for the final push on to McGrath."
Get those pancakes ready, y'all. After the jump, a Google map.
Continue reading "Jill Homer Takes a Nap" »
Laura Conaway
9:07 PM ET | 02-29-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Filed under: Tomorrow's BPP
The Monday Rundown for the BPP:
Win Rosenfeld
3:37 PM ET | 02-29-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
Filed under: Slideshow
Click the picture to view the slideshow.
You might know "manga" as a style of Japanese comic book full of big-eyed, gangly-bodied action figures.
One artist in the U.K. used the storytelling genre to recreate one of the oldest known texts - the Bible. It's called ""The Manga Bible: From Genesis to Revelation," and was authored and illustrated by Nigerian-educated Ajinbayo Akinsiku (pen name "Siku"). The latest edition of the graphic novel, including both the old and new testaments, was published in the United States this month.
Listen to a live interview with Siku on our show.
Pauline Bartolone
12:53 PM ET | 02-29-2008 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post
Filed under: Election 2008
From the Dallas-Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
The Texas Democratic Party is warning that its primary night caucuses could be delayed or disrupted after aides to White House hopeful Hillary Clinton raised the specter of an "imminent" lawsuit over its complicated delegate selection process, officials said Thursday night.
(With thanks to Twitter friend @elizs.)
12:27 PM ET | 02-29-2008 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post
Filed under: News, Personal/Private
Ali Hassan al Majid, aka Chemical Ali
After months of delay, there is news today that the Iraqi government finally gave the go ahead for the execution of the man known as Chemical Ali.
He is Saddam Hussein's cousin and he was one of his most trusted advisers. His real name is Ali Hassan al Majid and he got his nickname because of the role he played in the Kurdish genocide of the 1980s. At Saddam's order, al Majid spearheaded a campaign against Iraqi Kurds, killing 200,000 civilians and militants. Last summer, al Majid and two others were convicted of crimes against humanity.
I was in Baghdad last summer reporting for NPR and I covered that case. I was in the courtroom the day that al Majid was sentenced. Today's news provoked me to go back and dig up what I wrote about that day. I'll post it after the jump.
Continue reading "Watching Chemical Ali Get the Death Penalty" »
Rachel Martin
12:20 PM ET | 02-29-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
On today's show, we heard from runner Geoff Roes. He'd been forced by bad ankles to drop out of the 350-mile Iditarod Trail Invitational. Now he's waiting for news of his girlfriend, snow cyclist Jill Homer.
The leaderboard shows Homer has left the Rohn checkpoint at mile 210 after an unexpectedly long stay. Race organizers Bill and Kathi Merchant, who were with her there, have reached Nikolai (at mile 300). Homer hasn't, at least according to the latest -- quite possibly iffy -- leaderboard. (UPDATE: "Jill Homer was reported about 20 miles from Nikolai and told people she was going to rest however she seemed fine and we should hear from her fairly soon."
Roes was hopeful that Homer would pull on into McGrath this morning, but I just talked to cyclist Rocky Reifenstuhl and there's no sign of her there. Reifenstuhl says he's about to set off for Nome. We'll keep our fingers crossed for Homer.
12:18 PM ET | 02-29-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post
Filed under: Music, Video
The music of North Carolina's Bowerbirds is a rare blend of simple appalachian folk music and lush, natural imagery. Here they are in our studio performing"In Our Talons," from their first full length effort, "Hymns For a Dark Horse."
12:02 PM ET | 02-29-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post
Filed under: Book Club
Hisham Matar's In the Country of Men
We think you're so smart that we're starting a Bryant Park Project Book Club. Today.
Here's how it works. We'll pick a book and give you all a month to read it. The book club leader, Sarah Goodyear, will periodically post on our blog to remind us to keep reading, to give us stuff to think about and to field your questions.
One month from today--Friday, March 28th--we'll have our book club meeting online. Sarah will moderate a discussion about the book, and we'll generate some questions for the author.
Then we'll talk to the author on our radio show and give you a chance to have your questions answered.
Our first selection is. .. Hisham Matar's In the Country of Men. It's genius, like you. And it just came out in paperback. Go get it.
Hey, we're official! The BPP Book Club now has its own e-mail address.
Tricia McKinney
10:12 AM ET | 02-29-2008 | permalink | comments (20) | e-mail post
Filed under: Sound Off
All parts not shown here.
Remember when a bunch of astronomy guys got together and decided Pluto wasn't a planet but a dwarf planet? Then Pluto people were like, "Fine, but Pluto's awesome, so if Pluto's a dwarf planet, let's count dwarf planets as planets." The astronomy guys were like "whatever, OK, but if you count Pluto, you got to count Ceres, which we recently upgraded from asteroid to dwarf planet, and Eris, which is way out there past Pluto. Which still isn't a planet, btw."
We ended up with 11 planets, which means the old nine planet mnemonic "My Very Excellent Mother Just Sent Us Nine Pizzas" no longer flies. Now that it's Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Ceres, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and Eris, we need a new one. National Geographic held a contest, and a very smart 10-year-old, Maryn Smith, won with "My Very Exciting Magic Carpet Just Sailed Under Nine Palace Elephants."
So are you smarter than a 4th grader? What can you do with M-V-E-M-C-J-S-U-N-P-E?
Ian Chillag
8:05 AM ET | 02-29-2008 | permalink | comments (14) | e-mail post
Filed under: Links From the Show
Yesterday, Google announced that the company will give every single homeless person in San Francisco a lifelong phone number and voice mail.
"It just seems exactly like any other voice mail," said Craig Walker, senior project manager of Google. "There's no stigma attached to it that 'hey this is a temporary thing' or 'this is an 800 number.' It's really just a local number owned by the user."
This would allow homeless people to fill out job applications that ask for a call back number. If homeless people can get jobs, they can ultimately find their way off the streets.
It's the BPP's Most.
Google gives homeless free voicemail/ Leap year explained/ Mnemonic to remember the 11 planets/ 'American Idol' cuts four more contestants/ Pregnant woman gives birth in train toilet/ Mine water poses danger of a toxic gusher
Will Hoffman
6:33 AM ET | 02-29-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
E-Day, the U.K.'s first "energy saving day," ended with no noticeable reduction in the country's electricity usage. Citizens were asked to turn off all electronic devices they did not need for a period of 24 hours. For those in support of E-Day, the results were disappointing.
"I am afraid that E-Day did not achieve the scale of public awareness or participation needed to have a measurable effect," said E-Day's organizer Dr Matt Prescott in a message on his website.
It's the BPP's Ramble.
No impact from energy saving day/ Redsox hammer Boston College 24-0/ Mike Smith, singer of Dave Clark Five, dies at 64/ CBS to air martial arts events on Saturday nights
6:23 AM ET | 02-29-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
Filed under: City Living
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree may be out-gawked this year by a 35-foot light sculpture called the Electric Fountain. We caught up with the creators at yesterday's unveiling, London-based artists Sue Webster and Tim Noble, and brought back some eye candy:
5:17 PM ET | 02-28-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
The Friday Rundown for the BPP:
3:05 PM ET | 02-28-2008 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post
When all else fails, there's still the New York Post. "Horror Night at the Plaza," the tabloid says today. "Woman Trapped 7 Hours After Door Jams."
Except to say that it involved the former Plaza Hotel and a garbage room, I'm not going to add a thing. Go ahead and treat yourself to the rest.
1:58 PM ET | 02-28-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
Filed under: News
Mwai Kibaki (left) and Raila Odinga shake hands after signing a deal.
So I took a risk today...
After we were off the air (on the East Coast at least) a story flashed across the wires, "Power Sharing Peace Deal Reached in Kenya." Now I must tell you that over the course of the past couple months I think I have seen this headline literally three times. I report it and then it turns out to be false -- one of the leaders didn't show up to the signing ceremony or the press jumped the gun or the terms were never agreed on.
When I saw this headline I thought, "OK, is this for real?" I waited for an hour or so and saw a few more sources reporting it and then took a chance and updated our West Coast feed with a newscast topping with the Kenya news. I'm pleased to report that it really does look like this peace accord is going to stick. As for how well this power sharing deal works, that -- as we say in the business -- remains to be seen. But this is indeed a positive step in a country that has seen months of horrific violence.
1:35 PM ET | 02-28-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
Filed under: Personal/Private
Go ahead and dream.
A couple of weeks back I did segment about how much I love riding freight trains and how little I've done it compared to my kid brother. Brian just checked in from Mississippi, where he's been visiting our family. He writes:
Just rode down to brookhaven yesterday. You were right about there being a lot of train traffic around here. I was at the eudora welty library yesterday when i decided to go on an adventure. walking right down around the corner from the amtrak station there was a train creeping by. Very pleasant boxcar ride down to brookhaven (seventy mph easily). nice town, cheap to live there.
Color me still jealous.
1:31 PM ET | 02-28-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
When racers in the Iditarod Trail Invitational reach McGrath, Alaska, they head for Peter Schneiderheinze's four-room home. Schneiderheinze and his wife feed and house the racers, sometimes two or three dozen at once. He says the winner, Jay Petervary, came in at 4:20 this morning looking like an ice man. He fed Petervary, and then fed him some more, and then Petervary headed off for a nap. He'll likely stay a couple of days before heading out another 750 miles on the trail to Nome.
11:27 AM ET | 02-28-2008 | permalink | comments (8) | e-mail post
Filed under: Media
Listen to our interview with Grant Pick's son John and his former colleague Alex Kotlowitz
Grant Pick, poet of the quotidian
Grant Pick spent 25 years finding great stories where most other people would look away, and telling those stories in print with humanity and humor. Three years ago, while walking home from lunch, he died of a heart attack at age 57.
I was lucky enough to meet Grant when I lived in Chicago. I'm friends with his kids and asked him to meet me for coffee, so I could mine him for advice on my budding journalism career. He was personable, wise, and generous with his time and insight. He told me then what he told so many others: The people are the news. In other words, there are great stories all around you. You just have to look.
Now there's an anthology of his most memorable pieces entitled, The People Are The News: Grant Pick's Chicago Stories. It's edited by his son John, with a foreword by his former colleague, writer and author Alex Kotlowitz.
Rachel Martin spoke to both men on today's show. Click the listen link at the top of this post to hear the interview. And to read some excerpts from the book click here.
Dan Pashman
11:10 AM ET | 02-28-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Jay Petervary of Jackson, Wyoming, as seen on his website.
The Iditarod Trail Invitational has its first winner. Jay Petervary blazed his way to mile 350 in McGrath, Alaska, in three days, 14 hours and 20 minutes. Official results show him knocking on the cabin door at 4:20 a.m. local time. Come on in.
The record keeper writes: "[Jay] reports that trail conditions were a bit soft however he sounded in great spirits maybe this had to do with the fact that he called after eating several plates of lasagna provided by our host Peter Schneiderheinze."
After McGrath, the race continues another 760 miles to Nome. Nineteen people signed up for that -- including Petervary. Man.
9:48 AM ET | 02-28-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Runner Geoff Roes at the start of the race.
Got an e-mail this morning from runner Geoff Roes, who'd been leading the men's division in the 350-mile Iditarod Trail Invitational before an ankle went bad and he had to leave the race -- at mile 130.
Roes is now in Anchorage, in a place with no phone, but he promises to call later. (And special thanks to his mother, Sharon Roes, for helping to get us in touch with her son.) Roes writes, "It's funny because there's all this discussion about the race going on all over the Internet, but out on the trail we don't know or hear any of it, so it's been interesting and surprising to see how much interest there has been in following our progress. Obviously things didn't go as planned for me." Now he's looking forward to next year.
Roes' girlfriend, Jill Homer, may or may not be holed up at the Rohn checkpoint (mile 210). The leader board says she's "still in," but lists another racer as "last out." Not sure what that's about. (An aside: Joe Polk reports that race officials weren't able to get a heater into the Rohn roadhouse. Brrrr.)
UPDATE: Homer has left Rohn, for the final 140 miles. Roes says he's not sure why she stayed at the checkpoint for so long, but he's relieved that she's on her way.
After the jump, an updated Google map.
Continue reading "Warm Enough in Anchorage, Geoff Roes Checks In" »
7:21 AM ET | 02-28-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
Bob McNichol, an Irishman blinded by an explosion two years ago, has had his sight restored after doctors inserted his son's tooth in his eye, he said on Wednesday.
The miracle operation is called osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis and was pioneered in Italy in the 1960's.
For me details, check out the BPP's Most.
Blind Irishman sight restored / Starving exchange student blames stingy host family/ "Blossom" star Mayin Bialik gets PhD in neuroscience/ Deckhand's heroic swim/ Tensions roil Estee Lauder dynasty
7:07 AM ET | 02-28-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
A manuscript containing early illustrations of how to play the game of chess was discovered last year in a private library in Gorizzia, a town in northeast Italy.
Researchers believe these illustrations may have been drawn by the hand of Leonardo da Vinci. If researchers can conclude that the drawings are indeed authentic works of da Vinci, the manuscript will be priceless.
'Da Vinci link' to chess drawings/ Marc Jacobs brings back the Hillary t-shirt/ Less teens are buying CDs/ Whiskers help rats "see" in the dark
6:46 AM ET | 02-28-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Looking back at the Alaska Range from the trail to Nikolai. After crossing those mountains, the leaders will likely have covered this ground in the dark.
The 350-mile Iditarod Trail Invitational should have a winner in the men's cycling division this morning, according to the record keepers.
Jay Petervary and Peter Basinger are in the last 50 miles, with the major obstacle being lack of sleep. Petervary's got the lead. Basinger was slowed earlier in the race when he broke a pedal and had to wait for a new one on the mail plane. The record keeper writes, "Will Jay go all the way without stopping? If he stops, can Peter catch him if Peter does not stop?"
In 2006, Peter Basinger shared his victory with Rocky Reifenstuhl. Race organizer Bill Merchant says Basinger stuck with Reifenstuhl, who's with the lead pack again this year, rather than leave him behind. They crossed the line together.
Continue reading "Leaders Battling Darkness, Cold, Sleep" »
6:31 AM ET | 02-28-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
The Thursday Rundown for the BPP:
4:19 PM ET | 02-27-2008 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post
From a WWII US Navy training film strip.
2:59 PM ET | 02-27-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
The Rohn roadhouse: In the rear-view mirror?
This is far from a definitive report, but it appears that snow cyclist Jill Homer may be part of a lead group of 13 bikers in the Iditarod Trail Invitational that has passed through the Rohn checkpoint (mile 210 of the 350-mile course). She's been the lone woman in that pack.
Homer was 13th at the previous checkpoint, Puntilla, 45 miles back. The next person left out three and half hours after her. It's hard to see how he could have made up enough ground to pass her. See what you make of this, from the record keeper:
[Rob] reports that 13 bikers have passed through and are on the way to Nikolai. He was not there for some, however looking at the list of people that departed Puntilla, the leading group has thirteen racers in it.
2:50 PM ET | 02-27-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Filed under: Video
When I first signed on as a BPP intern, I was super excited about all the interesting people I was sure to meet. I had no idea some of those folks would be, perhaps, too "interesting" and I certainly never intended to eat any bugs. My world--and my palette--shifted when Producer Angela asked me to help film a dinner party in the West Village. This was no ordinary dinner party. We were dealing with Gastronauts (www.Gastronauts.net), members of a club for adventurous eaters in Manhattan and London. Gastronauts are not like you and me. They get excited about trying things like goat testicles and haggis imported from New Jersey. Currently, they are looking for a dish that involves the following: a block of tofu, eels swimming around on top, alcohol poured over it, eels burrowing into the tofu to escape the alcohol, slices of the eel tofu and "mangia!" That night, the Gastronauts were dining on creepy crawly, antennaed and winged creatures. In fact, one of the delicacies served was a giant water bug, known as a toe-biter in certain circles. In New York we call them cockroaches. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene would have had a field day assigning violation points to this crowd. Nevertheless, I chowed down on cicadas, crickets and water bugs. Frankly, I'm a starving student and it was the most decadent meal I ate all month. Check out the video.
(For the record, the BPP does not make interns eat bugs.)
Elsa Butler
2:21 PM ET | 02-27-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
Filed under: Stuff We Don't Love
We had the Moldy Peaches on our show a few weeks ago and they played a bit of their song "Anyone Else But You"--you know, the song from Juno. I have to say (and I know this is unpopular) I was not a big fan. Too sing-songy. I told director Jacob as much as we listened to the interview in the control room.
Flash forward to Sunday night and the Barbara Walters pre-Oscars special on ABC. I didn't watch her interview with Ellen Page, but director Jacob did. He forgot to tell me until today that Barbara Walters got Ellen Page to whip out a guitar and sing the song. And Barbara sang along.
Sorry to Barbara Walters (full disclosure: I once worked at "The View" and I liked her a lot), but this does not make me like the song any better:
2:19 PM ET | 02-27-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
A slice of the Iditarod trail
Just finished updating our Google map of the Iditarod Trail Invitational with photos from the race so far. But there's always someone cooler than you, as Mama used to say, and today that person is named Chris.
The generous listener sent over a link to the Google Earth map above. It follows the Iditarod race for mushers and their dogs, but the course is the same. And somewhere in those folds of green and white -- now mostly white -- Jill Homer is pedaling along. At least according to the latest report.
2:07 PM ET | 02-27-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Reports from the Iditarod Trail Invitational are thinning out as the racers move deeper into the 350-mile course to McGrath, Alaska.
Runner Geoff Roes was leading the pack when he checked into Finger Lake (mile 130). Then his name froze on the leader board as he spent 12 long hours in the cabin there. Last yesterday, word emerged that Roes had injured his ankle. He waited at Finger Lake in hopes of being able to continue, and he did set out on the course again. But the mighty runner could go no more.
After the jump, a Google map of the frozen course, plus an update on Jill Homer.
Continue reading "Bad Ankle Forces Geoff Roes From the Race" »
11:59 AM ET | 02-27-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Squash it. Swat it. Smush it. It's what most of us do when we see a bug. But for some insect enthusiasts, the first impulse . . . eat it. It's called entomophagy -- categorizing bugs as culinary delights.
Challenged by bug lover David Gracer, a group of so-called Gastronauts sampled a creepy, crawly menu he prepared of crickets, giant water bugs, ant and silkworm pupae and cicadas.
"I'm a little scared, honestly," said Gastronaut Hillary Cooper, before the meal. "I'm even more nervous about this than I was the live octopus." Down the hatch.
After the jump, Gracer argues that the world would be a better place if we all ate bugs instead of beef, pork and chicken.
Continue reading "Fly in Your Soup? Yes, Please!" »
10:38 AM ET | 02-27-2008 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post
Matt Venzke of Yorktown, New York, was named Beerdrinker of the Year by the Colorado-based Wynkoop Brewing Company.
Venzke's prizes include "free beer for life" at the brewery, a $250 beer tab at his favorite bar -- the Taphouse in Hampton -- and the opportunity to create a special beer with Wynkoop's head brewer for next year's event.
Beer drinker of the year/ Study finds immigrants commit less California crime / Grand Canyon set for massive manmade flood/ Teens losing touch with historical references
10:23 AM ET | 02-27-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Pop icon Michael Jackson could lose his Neverland ranch if he fails to repay a nearly $25 million loan he used to secure the California estate.
According to court documents cited by Fox News, the auction would include the house and everything on the property down to "all ferris wheels, carousels, merry-go-round type devices... and all amusement ride equipment and facilities of every kind or nature."
Jackson faces Neverland auction/ Bleeping Ben Affleck/ Sea monster fossil/ Only Italians can call it Parmesan cheese
10:20 AM ET | 02-27-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
The main ingredients
Tired of the same ol' chicken? Sick of ordering Chinese? Why not try something different tonight?
Ant Brood Tacos 2 tbs. butter or peanut oil 1/2 pound ant larvae and pupae 3 Serrano chilies, raw, finely chopped 1 tomato, finely chopped Pepper, to taste Cumin, to taste Oregano, to taste 1 handful cilantro, chopped Taco shells, to serve
Heat the butter or oil in a frying pan and fry the larvae or pupae. Add the chopped onions, chilies, and tomato, and season with salt. Sprinkle with ground pepper, cumin, and oregano, to taste. Serve in tacos and garnish with cilantro. (Courtesy of Eatbug.com)
Mealworm Fried Rice
1 egg, beaten 1 tsp. oil 3/4 c. water 1/4 c. chopped onions 4 tsp. soy sauce 1/8 tsp. garlic powder 1 c. minute rice 1 c. cooked mealworms
Scramble egg in a saucepan, stirring to break egg into pieces. Add water, soy sauce, garlic and onions. Bring to a boil. Stir in rice. Cover; remove from heat and let stand five minutes, then add mealworms. (Courtesy of Iowa State University Entomology Club)
Have your own bug recipe? Do share . . .
Angela Ellis
8:20 PM ET | 02-26-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
Matt and Trish with Wednesday's Rundown:
6:49 PM ET | 02-26-2008 | permalink | comments (7) | e-mail post
View Larger Map Puntilla Lake weather, 2.26.08: High of 20, low of 3
As I write these words, snow cyclist Jill Homer is probably pedaling her way through some nameless portion of the Alaska interior. Homer's riding the 350-mile version of the Iditarod Trail Invitational. The latest news from the race has her pulling into the Puntilla checkpoint (mile 165) still in the women's biking lead. She got there at 3:45 this morning and left again at 8:55. (Thanks for the update, @buttermilk1)
And then there's her boyfriend, Geoff Roes, who's running the race. He's ahead of the foot pack, checking in at Fingerlake (mile 130) last night at 11:56. No word on when he left out again.
Another interesting note: Champion cyclist Peter Basinger broke a pedal and had to wait for a new one on the next mail plane. He then caught up to the pack at Puntilla, pulling in at 9:40 p.m. -- 1:35 later than the leader. Basinger and the leader, Jay Petervary left again at 1:05 a.m., a half hour after another pair. A few years back, Basinger reportedly decided to stick with a racer he thought was in trouble on the course, settling for a share of first place to help another person. Don't know about you, but I'm so with that.
Bonus: Flickr photos
2:34 PM ET | 02-26-2008 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post
A new study of the religious dominations in the United States finds that Protestants are becoming a minority, Catholicism is becoming heavily Hispanic, and more people are saying they're not affiliated with any religion.
"Americans are not only changing jobs, changing locations, changing spouses, but they're also changing religions on a regular basis," said Luis E. Lugo, the director of the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, which conducted the study. "We have nearly half the American public telling us they're something different today than they were as a child, and that's a staggering number. It's such a dynamic religious marketplace, and very competitive."
Americans in religious transition/ Anchorage's reindeer run/ Beet recipe to treat icy roads/ China and Tibet fake photo scandal
1:56 PM ET | 02-26-2008 | permalink | comments (5) | e-mail post
The unidentified protester
We spoke with Angus Thermer, co-editor of the Jackson Hole News & Guide, about the capture and sometime slaughter of bison at the nations first national park. The animals that are suspected of having something called brucellosis are killed. Others have been forced back into sequestered areas of the park.
Activists from the Bufffalo Field campaign say they want to stop the practice. I got this note from Angus, who writes that someone sympathetic to their cause is staging a protest. Angus sent me this note:
An unidentified man has made it impossible for Montana Department of Livestock agents to capture bison in the recently erected Horse Butte bison trap. The man is perched upon a platform suspended from the top of a pair of poles that are standing on end and anchored to the walls of the trap. A large banner hanging from the platform reads, "I called, I wrote, and no response...This is my response."
Stay tuned.
Alison Stewart
11:44 AM ET | 02-26-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
This year's 80th Academy Awards was the least watched Oscars in more than 20 years. The show plunged to a record-low average of 32 million viewers. That's a 21 percent drop from last year's awards show.
New York Time's columnist A.O. Scott, wrote " There is something of a consensus among critics -- a disagreeable bunch, it should be noted -- that 2007 was one of the best years for movies, American movies in particular, in recent memory."
I agree with Scott, who leads me to conclude: the better the films, the less viewers interested in watching the Oscars. I'm still unsure if this is a good or bad thing...
Least watched Oscars/ German police dogs wear shoes/ Cholesterol drug Lipitor to end Jarvik ads
8:29 AM ET | 02-26-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post
View Larger Map There seriously is nothing out there.
The morning news from the human-powered Iditarod Invitational has snow cyclist Jill Homer not only leading her division but within reach of a course record.
Homer passed through the Fingerlake checkpoint, at mile 130 of the 350-mile race, at 3 p.m. local time Monday. She stayed for an hour before heading out. The record keeper sends this:
Jill Homer is setting a great pace and may be able to beat the womans record to Mcgrath. The current record is held by Kathi Hirzinger-Merchant at 5 days 7 hours and 48 minutes. The overall record is held by Chloe Lanthier-Brandner set in 1998 is 4 days 23 hours and 50 minutes.
Homer's boyfriend, runner Geoff Roes, continues to lead his division, reaching Skwentna (mile 90) just shy of 2 p.m. and heading out at 3:34.
A few stubborn moose have caused problems along the trail, keeping some of the runners, skiers and bikers from reaching checkpoints. It sounds as if race organizers Bill and Kathi Merchant, who are doing the full 1,100 mile race, nearly had to surrender. After the jump, the record keeper's report.
Bonus: Ultracool audio reports from Joe Polk.
Continue reading "Jill Homer Blazes Through First 130 Miles" »
6:23 AM ET | 02-26-2008 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post
Filed under: Oscars Caption Contest
You submitted your best photo captions, and we chose our favorites. Check the slideshow to see if you've won. To see the runners up and all the captions, check out our Oscar caption contest page.
Caitlin Kenney
6:47 PM ET | 02-25-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post
Filed under: Links From the Show, News, Sound Off
The same week a gay 8th grader was murdered, allegedly by a fellow student because of his sexual orientation, a landmark documentary on gay tolerance celebrated its 10th anniversary.
"It's Elementary: Talking about Gay Issues in School" focuses on 8th graders and the effort to prevent anti-gay bias from taking root in young minds. Here's a clip from the film, re-released last week on DVD.
When it came out in '98, there was a firestorm of controversy over talking homosexuality with K-8 graders. Opponents claimed the film was trying to indoctrinate school children in "the gay agenda," as they called it.
So is 6, 7 or 8 too early to talk LGBT? Or is it the right time to open minds and possibly help avoid more hate crimes like the California case? Let us know what you think.
4:20 PM ET | 02-25-2008 | permalink | comments (7) | e-mail post
Matt and Trish with Tuesday's Rundown:
1:39 PM ET | 02-25-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Looking like the First Couple of ridiculous outdoor endeavors, Geoff Roes and Jill Homer hit the initial checkpoint of the Iditarod Trail Invitational leading their divisions. The last record of Homer, who's doing the 350-mile race in the cycling division, was when she blew through Yentna Station at 9 p.m. Sunday night as the top female biker.
Now comes news that Roes made it to Yentna at 6:55 a.m. and kept on going -- the first runner through. Just for kicks, here's the second of his three-part video series from a training run.
1:07 PM ET | 02-25-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
A small, portable wind generator the shape of a lima bean can charge your cell phone. It's called a Hymini, and it was featured this month at the 2008 Greener Gadgets Conference in New York City.
The conference included a green design competition, which drew entries from 61 countries. Conference organizer Jill Fehrenbacher and competition judge Allan Chochinov joined us in the studio to talk about green designs and existing energy-saving gadgets.
"People are waking up to the fact that products create consequence," says Chochinov to the BPP. "Informed consumers are better consumers."
12:52 PM ET | 02-25-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Definitely not the kind of birth described in the headline
Tricia McKinney, NPR
So a headline on MSNBC.com caught my eye this morning: Pioneering midwife touts 'orgasmic birth.' It's a story about a 69-year-old midwife from Tennessee who is trying to revitalize the art of midwifery. The bulk of the article is about stuff like statistics about the safety of home births. The bit that led to the headline doesn't come up until the very end of the story. Here's a quote, "Gaskin says that under the right circumstances women experience a sort of birth ectasy."
As the attached picture attests, I did not experience that kind of childbirth.
11:32 AM ET | 02-25-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
Filed under: Stuff We Love
If you watched this red carpet weirdness last night and wondered where indeed was Jennifer Garner's husband as she fended off Gary Busey? Two words -- Jimmy Kimmel. Another few words -- don't Google the answer at the office.
11:18 AM ET | 02-25-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
The 350-mile human-powered Iditarod Trail Invitational kicked off Sunday at 2 p.m. local from the outskirts of Anchorage, Alaska.
At 9:10 p.m., snow cyclist Jill Homer hauled herself into the first official checkpoint, Yentna Station. She left again 15 minutes later, heading for Skwentna at mile 90. No sign yet of Homer's boyfriend, Geoff Roes, who's racing on foot. That's not unexpected, since biking the course takes about eight days, running it more like 11 or 12.
The record keepers are sending over short notes, like this one:
"Jill Homer is the first Woman into Yentna at 9:10 if she has a good race it is possible to beat the womans record to Mcgrath."
We'll post more as we get it. Meanwhile, here's a clip from Roes on a training run with his sled. On his blog, he shares a couple more -- let's just say it's a long, long run. You can post notes for the racers on the course message board.
10:36 AM ET | 02-25-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
We're giving you until this afternoon to get in your entries for our Oscar Photo Caption Contest so keep them coming.
Here are some of my favorites so far:
Keri on Katherine Heigl: I heard from Charlize that if you were the same color as Oscar you had a better chance of winning.
M E on Jessica Alba and Cameron Diaz: Oh my gosh you must love getting to eat food! I mean oh I mean congratulations.
James Wax on Hugh Welchman: Brits clone Owen in an attempt to reduce dependency on foreign Wilsons.
Kevbo on Josh Brolin: I coulda been somebody. I coulda been a contender.
Javaun Moardi on Heidi Klum and Seal: Heidi is going to be upset when she goes in there and the Emperor's guard are wearing the same outfit
Andy Carvin (NPR) on Ryan Seacrest and Amy Ryan: Ryan Seacrest Goes on Assignment for BPP to Record Armpit Noises.
8:02 AM ET | 02-25-2008 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post
Thanks for hangin' with us here at NPR and the BPP. We'll be back in the morning. Meanwhile, keep those captions coming! We'll pick winners tomorrow.
2:47 AM ET | 02-25-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Handover: Best Director Ethan Coen with presenter Martin Scorsese.
Mark J. Terrill, AP
Winning Caption: Though it was Coen's night, Scorsese out-spectacles him once again. --James Wax
Runners Up:
Thinking that he was actually the recipient and not the presenter, Henry Kissinger attempted to wrestle his Nobel prize from winner Ethan Coen. --AJ Sours
"All right, Marty, final offer: I'll give you two Oscars and my brother if you just let me wear your glasses for five minutes!" -- Mitch Pindus
2:35 AM ET | 02-25-2008 | permalink | comments (42) | e-mail post
In on the thrill: Daniel Day-Lewis shares the Oscar love with George Clooney.
Winning Caption: "Seriously George, I need to know who does your hair." -- Paula in DC
"I want in on Ocean's Fourteen!" -- Greg
"You're still People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive." -- Chuck S.
2:31 AM ET | 02-25-2008 | permalink | comments (57) | e-mail post
Magnifique: La Vie en Rose star Marion Cotillard
Chris Carlson, AP
Winning Caption:"I keep twisting, but still no pepper?" -- John Paul
Runner Up:
Quand je le prend dans les bras, Son or brillant tout bas, Je vois la vie en rose. -- Tom Sawallis
2:17 AM ET | 02-25-2008 | permalink | comments (25) | e-mail post
Awwwwww! Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova leave the stage after winning the Oscar for Best Original Song.
Winning caption: "Don't turn around: There's a Scientologist on our trail." -- Kevbo
Runner Up: "Oh my god, what did you just say about Travolta's hair?!?!" -- Paula in DC
2:05 AM ET | 02-25-2008 | permalink | comments (43) | e-mail post
Curtain time! Renee Zellweger
Stan Honda, AFP/Getty Images
Winning Caption: Renee Zellweger's legs win for best supporting an actress. -- Kevbo
Runner Up: You put your right leg in, you put you right leg out... -- Laura Auerbach
11:34 PM ET | 02-24-2008 | permalink | comments (46) | e-mail post
Preserved in bronzer: Katherine Heigl
Vince Bucci, Getty Images
Winning Caption: For best results bake for 30 minutes at 425. -- Dan Sturdevant
27 Trips to the Tanning Salon -- Kevbo
"I heard from Charlize that if you were the same color as Oscar you had a better chance of winning." -- Keri
11:20 PM ET | 02-24-2008 | permalink | comments (43) | e-mail post
Expecting an Oscar?: Double nominee Cate Blanchett. (She missed out: Marion Cotillard and Tilda Swinton took the little gold men.)
Frazer Harrison, Getty Images
Winning Caption: Cate Blanchett leads the crowd behind the velvet rope in a shoulder-relaxation exercise. -- Leila
Runner Up: Alas, Cate's rendition of the Macarena with bystanders also did not win any awards. -- AJ Sours
11:07 PM ET | 02-24-2008 | permalink | comments (40) | e-mail post
Not touching this one: We here at the BPP aren't making jokes about Cameron Diaz and Jessica Alba.
Winning Caption: "Would you mind standing next to me all evening?" -- Tony Wolf
"No, really! It's held up with duct tape!" -- Michelle Doty
"Oh my gosh you must love getting to eat food....I mean, oh, I mean congratulations!" -- M.E.
10:46 PM ET | 02-24-2008 | permalink | comments (43) | e-mail post
'Wolf' man: Hugh Welchman (Oscar winner for Peter and the Wolf, just called as Best Animated Short) arrives at the Academy Awards.
Winning Caption: "I won the Owen Wilson look alike contest, and all I got was this Luke Wilson doll." -- Wayne Dize
Runner Up: "Say hello to my little friend." -- Lisa S.
9:50 PM ET | 02-24-2008 | permalink | comments (53) | e-mail post
Presenter, accounted for: Oscar presenter Josh Brolin.
Winning Caption: "No, really. I'm an actor. Here, I'll prove it: 'STELLA!' 'STELLA!' ... Good, right?" -- Dave McLain
"Come on - let me in. My dad knows Barbra." - Lisa S.
And the award for Achievement in Air Guitar goes to...Josh Brolin! -- Myron Andes
9:45 PM ET | 02-24-2008 | permalink | comments (54) | e-mail post
Kid (at the) flicks: Teen queen Miley Cyrus.
That caption at lower left? Won't elicit as many squeals as Miley Cyrus. But you can help us out: Write your own caption using the comments link. (Think funny, witty, snarky -- but not mean. Not too mean, anyway.) Your caption could end up in our Oscars slideshow.
9:40 PM ET | 02-24-2008 | permalink | comments (43) | e-mail post
Drama queen?: Nominee Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton) makes her entrance .
Winning Caption: The Ambassador from Planet Bowie arrives at the Academy Awards. -- mkhall
Runner Ups:
Mugatu's "Derelicte" line makes its red-carpet debut. -- Tehresa
Harry knew of Ron's predilection, but was still astonished to see the spell he cast over the red carpet. -- Keri
"Has anyone seen my mortarboard?" -- John Dillon
9:35 PM ET | 02-24-2008 | permalink | comments (76) | e-mail post
Pole Star: Last year's Best Actress winner, Helen Mirren, arrives at the Kodak Theater.
Winning Caption: Diablo, is this how you do it? -- D. Burgess
"My stripper name is Dame Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison!" -- Neda Ulaby
Helen Mirren does her Diablo Cody imitation before the Oscars. -- Kevbo
Helen Mirren practices for the after-party. -- Dan S.
8:30 PM ET | 02-24-2008 | permalink | comments (68) | e-mail post
Point and shoot: Best Actor nominee George Clooney arrives with girlfriend Sarah Larson.
Winning Caption: "Actually, I own the tux. The girlfriend is rented." -- Greg Wells
"Yes, she's wearing my shower curtain... next question?" -- G. Burns
"So the free child care is this way?" -- Jody
8:24 PM ET | 02-24-2008 | permalink | comments (66) | e-mail post
Think Ink: Juno screenwriter Diablo Cody
Winning Caption: "Who are you are wearing?" "Tigger." -- Kevbo
"Is Charlie Sheen here? Good, that would be awkward." -- Chuck S.
"Me Jane. Want Oscar." -- Erin
8:09 PM ET | 02-24-2008 | permalink | comments (81) | e-mail post
We're Scared to Ask: But we're asking anyway: What's Ryan Seacrest doing to/with/for Amy Ryan in this picture?
Winning Caption: Ryan Seacrest Goes on Assignment for BPP to Record Armpit Noises. -- Andy Carvin, NPR
Seacrest (knocked) out. -- Dave in Brighton
No, no!!! I bruise like a peach. -- Chuck S.
7:47 PM ET | 02-24-2008 | permalink | comments (60) | e-mail post
Hatha-WaitWait, Don't Tell Us: Anne Hathaway makes her entrance wearing what the team at gofugyourself.com sez is a Marchesa gown.
Winning Caption: Hathaway has just won the Kentucky Derby - with two more she will be a Triple Crown winner. -- Luisa Schumacher
"Once again: It's not Prada, and I am not the Devil." -- Chuck S.
Up for Best Supporting Trellis: Anne Hathaway -- Tricia, NPR
7:18 PM ET | 02-24-2008 | permalink | comments (63) | e-mail post
Supermodel, Soul Man: Heidi Klum (wearing Galliano) and Seal arrive at the Kodak Theater.
That caption at the left? Not nearly fabulous enough for this twosome. But you can help us out: Write your own caption using the comments link. (Think funny, witty, snarky -- but not mean. Not too mean, anyway.) Your caption could end up in our Oscars slideshow.
6:32 PM ET | 02-24-2008 | permalink | comments (42) | e-mail post
'Insider' Fashion: For Oscar night, fashion commentator Steven Cojocaru goes with basic black.
Winning Caption: That Hansen brother cleans up real nice. Real nice. -- Sent by Priya
"Pat" goes glam. -- Jessica
I am fashion. Hear me roar. -- Joann Stevens
6:13 PM ET | 02-24-2008 | permalink | comments (58) | e-mail post
'To Wear' or Not?: What Not to Wear host Stacey London arrives at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles.
Winning Caption: "Can you believe it? We danced like mad at that funeral!" -- Don Riggin
"This is how I begin the paso doble." -- D Burgess
"I knew I should've put more Bounce in the dryer." -- John M Havel
What not to do with what not to wear. -- Sent by Angela Harvey
5:40 PM ET | 02-24-2008 | permalink | comments (80) | e-mail post
I went to YouTube looking for something for tomorrow's radio show, but I stumbled upon this featured video instead. A three-year-old girl recaps "Star Wars." Cutest. Thing. Ever. Enjoy.
5:10 PM ET | 02-24-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
We have talked a lot about Jill Homer's preparations to bike 350 miles in snow and ice for this weekend's Human Iditarod race. When we last spoke to Jill, she was worried she wouldn't have a bike to ride, because FedEx didn't have a clear idea of where it was or when it would get to her. Kind of a "girl meets bike, girl loses bike" story. How will this one end?
Like all great stories: girl gets bike. I just checked the tracking number Jill gave us. Her beloved Pugsley was delivered on Thursday, February 21st. It doesn't say what time the bike showed up. Here's Jill's blog post about it.
The race starts tomorrow.
8:57 AM ET | 02-23-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post
We had Jake Sasseville on the BPP today, the 22-year-old star of a new late night show aptly named The Edge with Jake Sasseville. We filmed some highlights from the interview and spliced in a snippet of episode one.
5:43 PM ET | 02-22-2008 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post
Matt with what's on tap for Monday's BPP:
3:38 PM ET | 02-22-2008 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post
I want this to be real. But it can't be real.
10:09 AM ET | 02-22-2008 | permalink | comments (5) | e-mail post
Filed under: Inside The BPP
It's snowing in New York! This is a view of Bryant Park from NPR offices, way up on the 19th floor.
Matt Martinez
10:03 AM ET | 02-22-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Filed under:
With the 80th Academy Awards in only three days, the show host, Jon Stewart, and his team of "Daily Show" writers are crunching to meet the deadline.
Due to the writer's strike, Stewart and his staff only have only had one week to prepare for this year's show.
When asked late Wednesday how close he was to finishing his opening monologue, Stewart replied, "We've got everything but the adverbs."
Stewart restlessly prepping for Oscars/ Monopoly contest stirs up Jerusalem conflict/ Computers still confused by the apostrophe/ Teenage gives birth to triplets - again/ J-Lo gives birth to twins
6:40 AM ET | 02-22-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Milan Kohout, originally from the Czech Republic and now living in Boston, was arrested back in November when he tried selling nooses to the public outside of the Bank of America headquarters. Though Kohout believed he was simply making an artistic statement on the sub-prime mortgage crisis, police thought otherwise.
Kohout tried to clarify his intentions, saying, "To me, the noose is the symbol of suicide. The banking industry makes millions of people incredibly miserable. I was making the comment that their cynicism was so deep that they could include a noose as part of their loan package."
Kohout has a pretrial hearing today and fears that what he considered only to be performance art may land him in prison.
Nooses on sale/ New York City Transit celebrates the semicolon/ Team ready to chase satellite's remnants/ Pythons could inhabit one-third of the USA/ Disney kids' spa to include Hanna Montana makeovers
6:23 AM ET | 02-22-2008 | permalink | comments (5) | e-mail post
On Tuesday, the Hawaii Democratic Caucus had an historically large turnout. Thanks to a hot tip from our Twitter feed, we came across this video of the scene at the polls. Many thanks to Ryan Ozawa for the Vlogging.
Hawaii Democratic Caucus from hawaii on Vimeo.
From Ryan's blog:
The Hawaii Democratic Caucus was held the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008. Prior to this year's hotly contested race between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama (who was born in Hawaii), the state's record turnout for the primary caucus was 4,800 people in 1988. Last night, over 36,000 people turned out to participate. Long lines everywhere, chaos and confusion in several locations, and handmade ballots had to suffice for many when the printed ones ran out. In the end, Obama received 76 percent of the Hawaii Democratic vote, versus Clinton's 24 percent.
4:53 PM ET | 02-21-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Earlier today we posted a video of the amazing Fernando "Kam" Kuo, a world-renowned pen spinner. Click here for that video, a discussion of proper hand care for pen spinning, and a look inside the worldwide pen spinning community. (Yes, there's a worldwide pen spinning community.)
Now it's time for BPP Director's Cut extras. Here's what happened when Kam tried to teach me how to do a "thumb around":
4:12 PM ET | 02-21-2008 | permalink | comments (11) | e-mail post
Why didn't the Pentagon just call Bruce Willis?
Late last night the US Navy says it successfully shot down a defunct spy satellite that was plummeting towards Earth. Even if we'd missed, experts say there's very little chance anything bad would have happened. These things actually fall to Earth fairly often. The Bush administration said they'd rather be safe than sorry, but it looks like they may have had another motive--target practice.
Of course, the idea of humans having to stop objects hurtling towards Earth from destroying us isn't new. If the Pentagon wanted some help with their strategy, they could probably have just gone to Netflix. In fact, there are so many movie variations on this plot, we decided to put together a list...
Continue reading "[Object] Imperils Earth, [Movie Star] Saves Humanity" »
3:24 PM ET | 02-21-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Friday's Rundown, from Trish and Matt:
2:13 PM ET | 02-21-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Twitter from riots in Belgrade.
A huge protest of Kosovo's independence is going on right now in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. Twitterers are among the masses.
1:36 PM ET | 02-21-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
A long time ago, before I went to bed at 7:30 every night, I used to throw an Oscar party pot-luck. The only requirement was that the food you brought had to be based on an Oscar nomination. One of the regulars, my friend Elena, just emailed and told me she'd be making There Will Be Bloody Marys this year. I'm trying to work out a menu, but this is all I've got so far:
Atonemints Johnny Dipp Into the Wild Rice Philip Seafood Hoffman Cake Blanchett 3:10 to Yucca. Alternatively, 3:10 to Yummy. Transfatsmers The Diving Bell and the Butter
Can you help?
12:19 PM ET | 02-21-2008 | permalink | comments (5) | e-mail post
On today's show, we talked with Brian Crecente of Kotaku about the weird, wonderful world of indie video games. Last night, the game above, Crayon Physics Deluxe, won Game of the Year at the Independent Games Festival in San Francisco. It's mesmerizing, like playing with crayons but awesomer.
8:45 AM ET | 02-21-2008 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post
The "Sonic Reverse." The "Double Charge Combo." The "Thumb Around." What do these terms have in common? Get your mind out of the gutter. They're pen spinning tricks. And they're just a couple of the dozens of moves that make up master pen spinner Kam Kuo's repertoire.
Perhaps you've even partaken in pen spinning yourself. But you probably didn't realize that there's an entire pen spinning community, a place where pens are discussed, tricks are taught and exchanged, and international competitions are held. The BPP met up with world-renowned pen spinner Kam Kuo, who made a pen spinning video that's been viewed more than two million times online. Kam is so huge in the pen spinning world that he got hired as spokesman for a new line of pens designed specifically for spinning. He put on a show for the BPP, and talked about a pen spinner's approach to hand care.
7:25 AM ET | 02-21-2008 | permalink | comments (7) | e-mail post
Inside a small adobe church in a village in northern New Mexico lies a patch of dirt. Tens of thousands of pilgrims walk eight miles or more to get to this patch of dirt on Good Friday. This dirt, more popularly known as miracle dirt, is considered holy by the congregation. However, the pastor of the church, Reverend Casimiro Roca, has a different opinion. He says, "It's not the dirt that makes the miracles! I even have to buy clean dirt!"
To explore the difference between miracle dirt and just dirt check out the BPP's Most.
The miracle dirt / Made in Italy? Check the fine print/ Anger slows healing process/ 1959 Opel T-1 gets 376.59 miles per gallon/ Chief Beer Officer
6:43 AM ET | 02-21-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Do you worry about your pet when you're not home? Do you ever feel nervous that your animal gets lonely when you're out and about?
Well, there's a new product called the ChatterBowl that's here to calm your fears.
"Made of sturdy plastic, the device runs on four AAA batteries and can even be placed in the dishwasher once the recording box has been removed."
AAA Batteries? A recording box? What?
To learn more, check out the BPP's Ramble.
The talking bowl/ Pauly Shore contersues Wes Craven over property dispute/ Company cloning pet dogs/ Drunk Canadian driver parks at police station
6:30 AM ET | 02-21-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Matt and Trish with how Thursday runneth down:
7:31 PM ET | 02-20-2008 | permalink | comments (8) | e-mail post
We've talked about Kosovo on the show the last couple days. Tuesday, we heard from a Kosovar who lives here in New York and supports independence. Today we heard from the head of a Serbian advocacy group in Washington, D.C., who does not.
Part of her argument is that because Kosovo unilaterally declared its independence -- which international law experts say could actually be a violation of international law -- the move could trigger other such declarations in hot spots around the world...think Kurdistan in Iraq and the Palestinian territories. Just saw this piece on the BBC on that very subject. Apparently, there's could be some truth to that theory.
9:57 AM ET | 02-20-2008 | permalink | comments (6) | e-mail post
Fat tires go missing.
Jill Homer has been training for months now to bike 350 miles through the Alaskan interior in the Iditarod Trail Invitational. Last week, Homer packed her bike in Juneau and shipped it to Anchorage, where the race begins.
Now, she writes, Federal Express' national people say there is no package, because no one scanned it. The local Fed Ex office says it may or may not be on its way to Anchorage. One told her:
"If it doesn't get there by next Monday, give us a call and we'll see what we can do."
The race starts Sunday. People commenting on Homer's blog seem hopeful. One writes, "Relax. They are good at getting things from point A to point B, but like a taciturn male (hey it's a fact men use fewer words than women!), a little lite in the communication dept."
9:52 AM ET | 02-20-2008 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post
The link between Monroe's premature death and Lohan's trouble with various substances hasn't been lost on anyone. One comment on an LA Times blog said:
What people fail to see is that Marilyn Monroe was just the Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears of the '50s & '60s. If she was around today, she would be in the tabloids everyday.
Many of us think of Marilyn Monroe as being elegant and glamorous while we consider Hilton and Lohan to be trashy. But think about it. Monroe wasn't famous for her acting talent, she was famous for being a sex symbol. She traveled in high falutin' social circles. She had relationships with various and sundry men, including Joe DiMaggio and John F. Kennedy. (How did Arthur Miller get on that list? I guess he was Marilyn's K-Fed.)
Sure those beaus are classier than Rick Salomon, but folks can't get away with presidential affairs like they used to. (At least they can't get away with them forever.) Monroe's allure was due in part to the fact that we didn't know everything about her. If we had, she probably wouldn't have seemed so glamorous.
In short, I'm inclined to agree with the above comment. If Marilyn Monroe were around today, she'd be less Scarlett Johansson and more Lindsay Lohan. What say you?
9:51 AM ET | 02-20-2008 | permalink | comments (13) | e-mail post
I look forward to getting my dictionary.com e-mail everyday and just want to share:
factitious \fak-TISH-uhs\, adjective:1. Produced artificially, in distinction from what is produced by nature. 2. Artificial; not authentic or genuine; sham. Use in a sentence as you see fit!
9:09 AM ET | 02-20-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
In major cities, crime is always the primary concern for the safety of citizens. Moscow is currently dealing with a slightly different problem, a canine problem. Packs of wild dogs run wild in its subways and streets.
These pups are dangerous. "According to official statistics, last year there were about 20,000 cases of humans attacked by stray dogs; 8,000 of them serious enough to involve the police or requiring hospitalization."
Moscow plagued by wild dogs/ Lindsay Lohan poses nude as Marilyn Monroe/ AT&T and T-Mobile create flat-rate plans similar to Verizon/ Chantix: The dangers of a smoking-cessation drug
9:08 AM ET | 02-20-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
Sky Watchers Alert: Tonight, February 20, there will be a total lunar eclipse.
When: 10:01 - 10:51 pm Eastern Standard Time Where: North America, South America, Western Europe and Northwest Africa
For more details, check out Total Lunar Eclipse.
Giant sea spiders in Antarctica/ 40-somethings tapping their 401(k)s for cash/ Mosqutio device used to disperse teen groups/ Firefighter's life saved by DVD about fire extinguishers
8:47 AM ET | 02-20-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Filed under: Links From the Show, Slideshow
Legless photographer Kevin Connolly
Kevin Connolly has spent his life being stared at. He was born without legs and these days gets around mainly by skateboard. On a trip to Europe, he snapped a picture of someone looking at him. He liked what he saw and decided to stare back. The result is a collection of photographs he calls "The Rolling Exhibition."
8:17 AM ET | 02-20-2008 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post
Filed under: Links From the Show, Media, News
U.S. soldier in Afghanistan, September 2007.
7:54 AM ET | 02-20-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
The line at the Maryland Avenue Montessori polling place.
Twitter friend @bb_mke sends these pics from the polling place/bake sale at the Maryland Avenue Montessori School in Milwaukee, Wisc., Tuesday.
Vote a little, buy a lot.
@bb_mke writes, "I think we'd be in much better shape as a country if every election involved home-made Rice Krispy treats and cupcakes."
(They do the bake sale thing at my precinct, too, in Brooklyn -- always look forward to that.)
7:20 AM ET | 02-20-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Filed under: The Dagobah System
Beautiful, and understandable.
Summer Ash, astrophysicist to the (radio) stars, sends this primer on tonight's lunar eclipse. She blogs regularly at Newtonianism for the Ladies, and she is so doggone cool.
Special to the BPP from Summer Ash:
Tonight, the full moon will go into shadow for approximately 50 minutes. From 10:01 p.m. to 10:51 p.m Eastern Standard Time, the moon will be fully eclipsed by the Earth when its orbit places it directly opposite the sun in our skies.
The great thing about lunar eclipses, unlike solar eclipses, is that the moon is completely harmless to stare at directly, with the naked eye or otherwise, because it "shines" due to reflected, and not direct, sunlight. I find I appreciate lunar eclipses best with no fancy equipment at all. The moon moves fairly fast across the sky and the more you magnify it, the faster it will move out of your view. However you catch it, this will be a beautiful sight to behold.
Continue reading "Good Night Moon: Summer Ash Explains the Eclipse" »
7:14 AM ET | 02-20-2008 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post
At 4:30 AM, we were talking about Fidel Castro and the future of Cuba.
Now, we're all staring blankly into this.
3:17 PM ET | 02-19-2008 | permalink | comments (5) | e-mail post
Miko, a black and white cat, fled from its Albuquerque home after a fire last December. On Sunday, the cat was found in Pueblo, Colorado, 240 miles north.
"I was like, 'Great I'll pick her up!'" said Shulte, Miko's owner. "I figured she was here at the shelter but they said, 'We're in Pueblo, Colorado,' and I said, 'How on earth did she get to Pueblo, Colorado?' and they said 'I don't know, where are you?' I said, 'We're in Albuquerque.'"
Journeys of a cat from New Mexico/ Harry Martin, a.k.a. Captain Sacto, dies at 81/ No sweets for New York City jail inmates/ Church urges 30-day sex challenge/ Ben & Jerry's founders endorse Barack Obama
8:38 AM ET | 02-19-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
Want to talk a walk to nowhere? Well, you can -- sort of. A law in Virginia requires all new developments, residential or commercial, to provide sidewalks out front. Hopefully, all of these sidewalks will eventually meet up, but for now, Virginia is just a rural state sprinkled with scabs of isolated sidewalks.
Sidewalks to nowhere/ How to make Darth Vader's voice Ancient frog was as big as a bowling ball/ New Princess Diana conspiracy theory/ Colleges scramble to offer curriculum on Mormon religion
8:23 AM ET | 02-19-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Filed under: Links From the Show, News
Whatever you do, don't lie to Jeff Hancock. The Cornell University professor makes a living out of separating truth from fabrication. On our show today, Hancock talks about a study his lab did into online dating profiles.
Forty men and 40 women submitted their profiles and then let the Cornell team assess, point by point, how closely they'd stuck to the truth. The results shouldn't surprise anyone who's shown up for a blind coffee date -- 80 percent of the online daters lied about something. But men and women lie differently, as you can see in the charts detailing truthfulness about weight, height and age below. Each respondent is a red dot, with truth-tellers on the diagonal line.
Truthfulness about weight, by gender:
The straight arrows are on the diagonal line.
Continue reading "Online Dating: Liars with Their Pants on Fire" »
7:20 AM ET | 02-19-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Fidel Castro speaks shortly after taking power in 1959.
After almost 50 years in power, 81-year-old Fidel Castro is formally stepping down as Cuba's president.
Next up, his 76-year-old brother Raul. With Fidel's health failing, Raul has had the reins since July 2006. The AP reports:
The younger Castro has raised expectations among Cubans for modest economic and other reforms, stating last year that the country requires unspecified "structural changes" and acknowledging that government wages that average about $19 a month do not satisfy basic needs.
Fidel Castro came to power in 1959 through an armed revolution. The AP adds this grace note:
Entering Havana triumphantly, Castro declared: "Power does not interest me, and I will not take it."
Bonus: A Castro timeline.
6:27 AM ET | 02-19-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
Matt and Trish are here with the Rundown:
4:47 PM ET | 02-18-2008 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post
Way up there? That's us.
Dan Pashman tried. We know he tried. But his quest to hit the top spot on NPR's list of Most E-mailed Stories stalled at Number 2. So much for kittens, quinoa and Ron Paul.
Meanwhile, a BPP interview on the Joy of Christian Sex Toys has hit Numero Uno.
End of comment.
1:47 PM ET | 02-18-2008 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post
Ingrid Michaelson is 28, and she lives with her parents.
She doesn't have a record deal or a huge publicity machine -- but she does have a huge hit. She produced her album Girls and Boys by herself, and thanks to the power of the Interwebs, it's skyrocketed up the itunes chart. It also grabbed the attention of the folks at Old Navy, who decided Michaelson's "The Way I Am" would make the perfect soundtrack to their latest ad.
Here's Michaelson in our studio, performing "Breakable."
11:53 AM ET | 02-18-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post
The saucy folks at Daily Candy have come through with a list of political jargon to get you through this long primary season. A sample:
scamdidate: n. an unviable aspirant who just confuses the public
super delegetsome: n. when power insiders use their influence to score dates
pundItgirl: n. the token female analyst who sits at at the table with Wolf Blitzer and co.
Click for the full list, or add your own.
11:19 AM ET | 02-18-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Last month BPP newscaster Rachel Martin opened a thread about cows being handled roughly in a California slaughterhouse. She asked whether it mattered if the beef you and your family ate came from crippled cows dragged onto the production line.
Apparently it does matter -- to the USDA, which just recalled 143 million pounds of that beef. It appears that much of the product has already been consumed, partly in school lunches.
Anyone think it matters now?
8:42 AM ET | 02-18-2008 | permalink | comments (8) | e-mail post
Picked-on: Warren G. Harding
In honor or Presidents' Day, an open thread on the worst U.S. president ever -- with one important rule: The person has to have been elected prior to 1990. I'm voting for Warren G. Harding, but only because someone told me to.
8:34 AM ET | 02-18-2008 | permalink | comments (7) | e-mail post
Filed under: Inside The BPP, Stuff We Love
Photojojo's Time Lapse Video of Bryant Park from Photojojo on Vimeo.
A year on Bryant Park, in photos (with thanks to Twitter pal w8in for the link).
6:29 AM ET | 02-18-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Click to watch.
Dan Pashman's great run at the top slot on NPR's list of Most E-mailed Stories reached the high heights of number two. There, it was stalled by a piece on the up parts of being down that got linked on Yahoo. I as write these words, The Greatest Story Ever E-mailed has begun a gentle fall to earth. It's now at number four.
In honor of Pashman's fearless endeavor, here's a slideshow version of the fabulous radio he made. If you've got any more clicks in you, remember, you can always go to the article and hit that "E-mail Page" button one more time. (That's how we're spending the weekend at my house.)
3:50 PM ET | 02-15-2008 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post
Sure, any astrophysicist out there can show you how the universe works by taking you around NYC's world-famous Hayden Planetarium. But only Summer Ash, astrophysicist to the (radio) stars, can bring you up to speed without even leaving the gift shop.
2:52 PM ET | 02-15-2008 | permalink | comments (7) | e-mail post
Filed under: Inside The BPP, Links From the Show, Tomorrow's BPP
Bake Off winner revealed!
2:50 PM ET | 02-15-2008 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post
The Centers for Disease Control released the results of the first-ever nationwide study of deaths related to the "Choking Game." By their account, based on media reports from the years 1995 to 2007, 82 kids between the ages of 6 and 19 have died playing the game in which they choke themselves in order to feel a brief, euphoric sensation. The study authors say the number of deaths is probably underestimated.
Nearly 87% of the victims were male; the average age was 13.
The CDC found that most of the deaths occured when kids played the game alone, using ligatures made from items like ropes or belts.
They also found that most parents they studied had no idea the choking game existed before their child died.
Along with the study, the CDC is putting out advice for parents, warning signs of what to look for. You can see the list after the jump:
Continue reading "CDC Warns Parents About the Choking Game" »
2:27 PM ET | 02-15-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post
Strength, power, emotion, history . . . the words that come to mind while watching contemporary African dance artist Nora Chipaumire. Not to mention the word "gym," as in, "I should go . . . now." Looking at her incredibly sculpted body move in ways that would throw my back out makes me appreciate her art even more.
And after learning more about her during our interview, it's obvious her physical strength is exceeded only by her emotional strength. The woman grew up during Zimbabwe's guerilla war of liberation, was one of the first to integrate a post-apartheid school, graduated law school and now tours the world as an award-winning modern dancer. Did I say gym? I need to go all the way back to the drawing board.
Check out this clip from "Chimurenga," the solo-show she's performing tonight in Seattle and elsewhere on tour.
1:59 PM ET | 02-15-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
Twitter pal @robpatrob sends this. And that's all I'm saying.
OK, OK, one more.
1:31 PM ET | 02-15-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
The NPR News Blog has a terrific take on the dueling music videos for Democratic presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Our buddies in D.C. say one of the clips is sparking "unintentional guffaws." You be the judge.
Video for Barack Obama
Video for Hillary Clinton
11:40 AM ET | 02-15-2008 | permalink | comments (7) | e-mail post
I was poking around the Interwebs looking for an unrelated item when I stumbled across this Saturday Night Live classic. I post it here now for no reason other than the fact that it's still awesome. The only thing that holds it back from perfection is the inclusion of Jimmy Fallon. Happy Friday, everyone.
10:00 AM ET | 02-15-2008 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post
While real canines descended on New York City earlier this week for the Westminster Kennel Club show, some other puppies sat up and begged for our attention...on canvas.
Fine art auction house Bonhams held its 26th annual sale of dog-themed art this week. The timing of the sale on the same day as the most prestigious dog show in the country is no accident. After all, people who spend time and money to breed the perfect pooch are also likely to want some two dimensional tail-waggers adorning their walls.
We spoke to Charles O'Brien, director of 19th century paintings for Bonhams about what makes a successful work of dog art.
9:37 AM ET | 02-15-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Celebrity judge and NPR New York office manager Agnes Janiszewski
I am proud to say that I am the official winner of the BPP Bake Off with my chocolate espresso mousse cake with fresh raspberry puree. Ian was a great challenger, and his dish was very artistic but in the end Agnes put it best when she described Ian's cake as "a healthy brownie." I would like to thank my mom for giving a love of baking and my dad for teaching me that you can never have too much butter or too much cream. Glad to know I can still live up to my high school nickname, Betty.
9:27 AM ET | 02-15-2008 | permalink | comments (9) | e-mail post
I was put up to it, I swear.
Right before I started working at the BPP, my video producer friend Charlotte Buchen asked me to be the on-camera reporter for a Current TV piece on 'eye gazing' parties. Basically it's like speed dating, except the flirting happens nonverbally. Rules are simple: Lock eyes with someone for three straight minutes, then move onto the next person. It's pretty intense.
Flirting in this case was part of the reporting process. How did I do?
8:48 AM ET | 02-15-2008 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post
Left by the Rio Grande.
Traveling along the Mexico border on a drive from San Diego, photographer Richard Mosse spotted a rucksack lying by the side of the road. Curiosity got the better of him, and he looked inside. He found clothes, jewelry and cards for learning English.
The border.
Mosse realized he was looking at the belongings of a woman crossing the border, likely dropped when she had to run. It was the beginning of his project in process, "Nothing to Declare," a series of images of artifacts of journeys across the border.
He's in Arizona today working on it, but you can find the photographs captured so far on his website.
7:19 AM ET | 02-15-2008 | permalink | comments (9) | e-mail post
Mark Beaumont, a 25-year-old from Fife, Scotland, will be finishing one long bike ride this afternoon in Paris. How long? Well, after Beaumont's 195-day journey, he will have cycled 18,000 miles.
The BBC writes, "During his seven-month journey Mr. Beaumont has passed through 20 countries including Pakistan, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and the United States."
As of this afternoon, Beaumont will beat the current world record for biking around the world by 81 days.
It's the BPP's Ramble. /
World cyclist nears finish line/ Swedish preschool bans children from wearing striped and spotted clothing/ Taser used on Josh Booty after DUI arrest/ Obama and McCain win Essex Middle School mock primary
7:03 AM ET | 02-15-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Though the screenwriters strike is over, the three-month halt production continues to take a toll on the network's programming. Fox's drama 24 won't air new episodes until January 2009.
According to CNN, "Even though eight episodes for this season had already been filmed before the beginning of the writers strike, producers would have had to ramp up production soon to complete the season."
Looks like fans will just have to wait until 2009 to see Jack Bauer again.
It's the BPP's Most .
24 Shelved until next year/ More details of possible JFK son revealed/ Japanese men shout "I love you"/ From the Las Vegas Sun: "We're not that fat"/ New virus from China is a "Trojan Horse"
6:38 AM ET | 02-15-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Filed under: Personal/Private, The Best Song In The World Today
Click to watch: "Catching Out with William T. Vollmann"
We kinda went nuts for trains this week. Author William T. Vollmann stopped by to talk about his time hopping freights, and then someone from Alabama Mississippi (sorry, Mama) tacked on a Most Wonderful Song in the World Today -- Robyn Hitchcock's "I Often Dream of Trains."
Dear listener, we're always shopping for Best Songs in the World Today. You just need a story -- or at least a rationale -- and a song.
Full read: William T. Vollman Hops Trains, Lives to Tell All Hobo, Interrupted, Still Dreams of Trains
6:32 AM ET | 02-15-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
Filed under: City Living, Video
We had WNYC reporter Kathleen Horan on the show yesterday to talk about her website relationshipobit.com. The site collects creative writing meant to put past relationships to rest.
Last night Horan threw a "wake for love" in downtown Manhattan, where we got to see some catharsis in action.
What's your relationship obituary this lovers' holiday?
8:22 PM ET | 02-14-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
Bake Off ingredient revealed!
6:20 PM ET | 02-14-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
Back to 1970, and lovin' it.
Out on the streets, I'm seeing signs of a recovery. And it's not an economic recovery, but it does involve a cycle -- a bicycle. City types are turning away from the mountain bike. After years of seeing the urban crowd lumber along on tricked-out, knobby-tired beasts with names like "Mountain Capper," I'm noticing signs of sanity among my fellow pedaling commuters.
The "comfort bike" started it, when people realized they didn't want to hunch over a quirky, jerky straight handlebar every time they wanted to enjoy the outdoors. But there was one problem: the name "comfort bike" makes it sound like you should ride it with Velcro-strap shoes.
So, enter the "city bike," a catchall term for bicycles with classic designs and more muted colors (and no over-the-top decals). They are heavy and sturdy enough to ride on city streets, they have a long wheelbase to soak up the bumps, and many of them look like they were stolen off the streets of Amsterdam. Also, forget that useless fuss of having 28 gears: most city bikes have between one and seven gears, which are often in an enclosed, simple rear hub.
And just to prove how civilized they are, most city bikes also include a chain guard, to keep your street clothes looking good when you get where you're going.
I helped a friend of mine put her new Dutch-style city bike together the other day. It looks cool, it rides great -- and, I'm happy to say, it seems to be part of a trend.
Bill Chappell
2:27 PM ET | 02-14-2008 | permalink | comments (8) | e-mail post
It turns out that there's a city in Japan that shares its name with a U.S. presidential candidate. Now, in what appears to be a serious sign of hometown pride, the people of Obama are supporting the senator from Illinois.
Links from today's Most:
I Love You, But You Love Meat/Twin Cities residents can now eat sushi off of naked people/Japanese city of Obama decides against supporting Hillary/Evangelist Billy Graham is in the hospital
1:28 PM ET | 02-14-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke says the U.S. economy no haz cheesburger. Bernanke told the Senate Banking Committee today that the biggest hurt is in the housing market. Hiring has also fallen off, he says. And things aren't getting better soon:
"Further cuts in homebuilding and in related activities are likely," he said.
Bernanke says the Fed "will act in a timely manner as needed to support growth and to provide adequate insurance against downside risks" -- read: may cut the interest rate -- and does expect some improvement later in the year.
12:24 PM ET | 02-14-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
Strength, power, emotion, history . . . the words that come to mind while watching contemporary African dance artist Nora Chipaumire. Not to mention the word "gym," as in, "I should go . . . now." Looking at her incredibly sculpted body move in ways that would thow my back out makes me appreciate her art even more.
11:33 AM ET | 02-14-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
As part of our Valentine's Day coverage, we had Joy Wilson of Book22 on our show. The evangelical Christian opened up about how her personal troubles rekindling intimacy after her first child burgeoned into an online sex toy business.
Joy's products are for married couples only. You won't find any images of naked people, and anal toys are a no-no. Prayer helped her decide which toys were acceptable for Christians.
Her business has become a ministry of sorts -- Joy gets almost as many requests for sex advice as she does for her toys.
Sorry folks, no multimedia for this story. But Joy's story couldn't be more colorful.
11:16 AM ET | 02-14-2008 | permalink | comments (122) | e-mail post
On March 1, National Pig Day, Des Moines, Iowa will be holding its first Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival. Brooks Reynolds, a Des Moines insurance salesman is running the festival. Reynolds and his buddies have been going on summer weekend pilgrimages they called "all things bacon," packing over 15 pounds for the fried feast.
"Why not bring it to the masses?" asked Reynolds.
Admission to the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival is $30. You get a T-shirt, bacon bracelet, bacon menu and samples, bacon lecture, one drink, $1 Pabst Blue Ribbon draw and bacon-eating contest.
See you there?
Bacon festival/ South Korea to send 'kimchi' to space/ High school accidentally calls all 2,550 students to detention/ New movie shows Putin as loving husband, father
8:19 AM ET | 02-14-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
As you may have heard, we've created a radio piece designed specifically to make it to Number One on the NPR.org Most E-mailed Story list.
How? By studying the list and incorporating all the most popular themes and elements into one story. If you never thought you'd live to hear Ron Paul, quinoa, and Masterpiece Theatre in the same story, these are truly your salad days.
But we need your help. Right now we're up to #2 on the list, trailing a story that shall remain nameless. Go to the story, listen to it, enjoy it, click on the "E-mail Page" button, and email it to all your friends. (Please note that if you type in a list of names all at once, it counts only for one e-mail. So you might want to call in sick and spend the day sending the story many times to various individuals.)
6:54 AM ET | 02-14-2008 | permalink | comments (5) | e-mail post
Filed under: Music, Sound Off, Video
BPP musical editorialist Jill Sobule is working on a new record. She also is putting together a new band. Funny thing, the witty wordsmith is at a loss for a name for her new group.
Please help Jill -- she's our friend. What should she name her band?
6:18 AM ET | 02-14-2008 | permalink | comments (33) | e-mail post
Think back to the last cell phone, BlackBerry, PC or television you owned. Is it sitting in a closet at home, or did you return it to the manufacturer through a take-back program? If you did send it back, have you thought about where it might have gone afterwards?
You might want to. There is about $1 worth of precious metals in your cell phone and enough gold in 200 cell phones to make a gold ring. Your watch or bracelet could easily be made from the same platinum, gold, silver or copper that helped power the circuit board in your last laptop. In fact, there were 233 million cell phones in use in 2006--that's a lot of potential bling.
Extracting precious metals from recycled electronics is a booming business. We toured the We Recycle! shredding facility in Mt. Vernon, NY to learn how it all works. Check it out:
5:14 PM ET | 02-13-2008 | permalink | comments (7) | e-mail post
Here's how the Valentine's Day BPP is gonna go:
3:55 PM ET | 02-13-2008 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post
As you may have heard, I created a radio piece that is the BPP's attempt to bring together all the classic elements of typical NPR.org Most E-Mailed stories. And we're judging our success by how far up the Most E-mailed list we get. (As of right now we're at number eight. Help us out!)
We're also judging our success by the response of our colleagues, and if that's any indication, the piece is a success. Stephen Thompson from NPR Music sent me an e-mail that's so hilarious, I've decided to post it here...
Continue reading "Make Your Own NPR Story" »
12:33 PM ET | 02-13-2008 | permalink | comments (8) | e-mail post
Filed under: Inside The BPP, Links From the Show
The keepers of the Great Seal of the United States, the familiar emblem on the back of the $1 bill, want you to know what it is not. It is not a sign that Freemasons run the country, it has nothing to do with the occult, and it does not contain clues to a fabulous hidden treasure.
Check out all The Most links right here:
Demystifying the Great Seal/Town's only business burns down/How do I get you alone?/Secretly Hitched: Gary Coleman!
11:57 AM ET | 02-13-2008 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post
The brilliant Dan Pashman (positive reinforcement, learned it in supervisor school) put together a most e-mailed mash-up this morning that is now #12 on NPR's Most E-mailed page. I think we just totally ripped the space-time-continuum or something like that. Keep e-mailing!!!
11:51 AM ET | 02-13-2008 | permalink | comments (7) | e-mail post
Filed under: City Living, News
Twitter and NPR guy Jon Foreman sends this video of a Baltimore cop who went to 11 on a 14-year-old skateboarding where he shouldn't have. Officer Salvatore Rivieri was suspended yesterday with pay.
Dude, please, kids are people, too.
11:22 AM ET | 02-13-2008 | permalink | comments (13) | e-mail post
White Hinterland is singer-songwriter Casey Dienel's new project. The record, Phylactery Factory, presents some haunting and lovely tunes with a touch of melancholy.
Casey recently dropped by the studio to talk with us about making the transition from solo artist to band leader, struggling with nerves as a performer and memories of watching people disassemble a giant whale that had washed up on the beach near her hometown.
White Hinterland also treated us to a rendition of "Vessels" off the new album.
7:13 AM ET | 02-13-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Update: a commenter pointed us to the new location of 90 Day Jane's website. If "Jane" is to be believed, the whole thing is an art project. And she's disappointed in us.
The anonymous blogger known as 90 Day Jane has gone 404. She said she intended to kill herself in 90 days, and she was counting down to the zero hour with a post each day.
Who knows whether Jane was operating in earnest or crafting a hoax. She attracted a crowd in a hurry, with many of her readers using the comments section to urge her on. Today would've been day 82. Instead, her usual Web address goes to a Page Not Found message from Blogger.
Jane had written that if Blogger pulled her site, her audience should go to 90dayjane.com. That takes you back to her defunct Blogger page. Bonus: Radar offers an emerging theory of the site's origin (warning: adult language).
7:00 AM ET | 02-13-2008 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post
Trish runs it down for us.
6:06 PM ET | 02-12-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post
Being the crazy experimental narcissists that we are here at the BPP, we thought it might be fun to show you what our trademark segment, "The Most" looks like. Turns out, it looks like us.
Enjoy!
4:43 PM ET | 02-12-2008 | permalink | comments (5) | e-mail post
When the BPP found out that today was Charles Darwin's birthday, we knew we needed the perfect guest. Richard Milner, Darwin expert and performer was the...er...natural selection.
Milner, an anthropology associate at the American Museum of Natural History, is author of The Encyclopedia of Evolution and a contributing editor to Natural History magazine. But his other passion is performing his original one-man musical, Darwin Live and in Concert.
Milner treated us to one of the show's songs -- "Why Didn't I Think of That?" -- in the studio today.
4:01 PM ET | 02-12-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
As you heard on this morning's Most, Northeast Philadelphia High School was overrun with more than eighty chickens yesterday. School was canceled as the chickens were escorted out and the mess they left was cleaned up.
Today, Northeast is back in session, though the origin of the chickens--all hens--remains a mystery. Somewhere in Pennsylvania, there's a very lonely rooster.
1:26 PM ET | 02-12-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
Mmm. Tastes like smackdown.
At first, it seemed so innocent, so nice. Caitlin made delicious coffee cake for all the unfortunate staff working on New Year's Day. Then, a couple weeks later, Ian brought in some homemade chocolate chip cookies.
The rest of the staff thought they were lucky to have not one but two able bakers on the staff. Little did they know, a bitter rivalry was brewing, er, baking, between them.
Caitlin brought in some "Boy Scout bars," which Ian publicly denounced as "craptacular." Of Ian's next contribution, butterscotch oatmeal cookies, Caitlin said, "Baked goods? More like baked bads."
There is only one way to settle it: BPP Bake Off. On Valentine's Day, Caitlin and Ian will submit a sweet something to be judged by the rest of the staff. But we need your help. We need you, BPP nation, to determine the key ingredient. In the comments here, submit your nominations.
Tomorrow, Matt and Tricia will pick from the nominated ingredients and announce it in the Rundown. Then it's on.
12:31 PM ET | 02-12-2008 | permalink | comments (22) | e-mail post
How NPR gets drunk.
Here at the BPP? Whiskey for breakfast. Down at my old show, Fresh Air? Why, it's Chateau Terrey-Gros-Cailloux or nothing. Thanks to Danny Miller for sending the pic.
11:30 AM ET | 02-12-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Still the biggest record ever.
Michael Jackson's Thriller turned 25 in November, and now a celebratory reissue features remixes from big names like Kanye West. Nick Marino of Paste marks the occasion with a feature detailing what he misses about the Gloved One. "It's been a long, long time since the whole world was listening to the same music, and there's great power in that," Marino said on our show today. Jackson's greatest wonder may be the way he mixed and matched enough styles to get everybody moving.
Being who I am, I find my favorite bit of Thriller in the Eddie Van Halen solo in "Beat It" -- and especially in the door knocking that precedes it.
10:08 AM ET | 02-12-2008 | permalink | comments (10) | e-mail post
Some 3,600 students from Northeast Philadelphia High School got the day off yesterday because of a literal fowl prank. As faculty arrived to school in the early morning they were greeted by 85 "full-blown live chickens," that were freely roaming the hallways.
"They've created quite a mess," said Fernando Gallard, spokesman for the school district. "It's going to take us at least a day to clean up."
Chickens close Philadelphia high school/ New-born rhino named Kofi Annan in honor of former UN Secretary/ Super-adhesive tape made from geckos/ Town clarifies citations for pig roasting/ Illegitimate JFK son
9:08 AM ET | 02-12-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
Electronic voting in Silver Spring, Md.
After waiting nearly an hour, NPR's Andy Carvin finally reached the head of the voting line in Silver Spring, Md., where he was welcomed by the Diebold electronic voting machine. In New York, we still pull a lever.
9:05 AM ET | 02-12-2008 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post
Natalie Cooper, 17, is battling a mystery illness that restricts her diet to one type of food: Tic Tacs. These tiny two-calorie mints are the only food that her body doesn't reject.
You're probably wondering, how is Natalie Cooper alive? A medical report says, "The rest of her sustenance comes from a specially-formulated feed which she receives from a tube."
Asked if she ever gets sick of an all mint diet, Natalie responded, "They give me a bit of energy, but I eat them mostly to get rid of hunger. It's a psychological effect."
Tic Tac diet/ Sam Harris' YouTube show/ Dolly Parton postpones tour, blames breasts Siegfried & Roy to make 1-night comeback/ Patty Hearst wins Westminster dog show with French bulldog
8:49 AM ET | 02-12-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
The line in Silver Spring, Md.
NPR's Andy Carvin reports a significant wait at his polling place in Silver Spring, Md., around 8 a.m.
8:44 AM ET | 02-12-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
A polling place in Palmyra, Va.
It's presidential primary day in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Virginia. BPP Twitter pal @gubilla headed off to vote with the early birds in Palmyra, Va., a 20-minute drive from Richmond. Thanks for the cell phone pic!
8:25 AM ET | 02-12-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
90 Day Jane's profile photo
Someone posting as 90 Day Jane is doing one of those Internet countdowns to suicide. Saying she's going to kill herself at the end of 90 days, Jane's now due to file a post for day 83. Yesterday she reported that a coworker had asked her out for Valentine's Day, and added:
I just hope he's not looking for anything long-term.
Real or hoax, this spectacle strikes me as pitiful. For starters, Jane's photo looks like a Goth glamor shot. Then we get to the hundreds of comments, some of them showing the worst -- really, the worst -- in human beings. Or maybe just in guys. I dunno.
Seriously, I'm a "Yuck" on this. You?
7:51 AM ET | 02-12-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
Because sometimes, it's OK to love again. (Thanks, Alison.)
6:41 AM ET | 02-12-2008 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post
Matt and Trish with The Rundown:
5:39 PM ET | 02-11-2008 | permalink | comments (6) | e-mail post
This weekend, the activists of Anonymous took their campaign against the Church of Scientology from the Internet to the streets of major cities. NPR's Andy Carvin, who was on assignment for the video blog Rocketboom, shot this footage in Washington, D.C.'s Dupont Circle:
11:56 AM ET | 02-11-2008 | permalink | comments (9) | e-mail post
Rob Paterson lives up in Canada, on Prince Edward Island, where's he beginning to get his news from an unusual source: Twitter. Paterson writes:
Bryant Park scooped the world on Mitt Romney . . . using Twitter. Yes, a morning show in New York -- hours after it was off the air scooped the world.
Hard telling from here whether we were truly, truly first in the entire universe to blast the news that Romney was leaving the GOP presidential race. But we are loving this Twitter thing, both for silly comments about running pants and for serious bulletins on the news. (And we do love that big-thinking Rob Paterson, who's always first with an idea.)
You can find Paterson on Twitter, alongside us. If you're new to the Twitter thing, check here for a starter list of people to follow.
10:20 AM ET | 02-11-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
Stephen Colbert faces off with Mike Huckabee.
A long time ago, back when the Republican nomination was just a twinkle in John McCain's eye, the Bryant Park Project enjoyed a visit from a certain Mike Huckabee. The former Arkansas governor -- and now one of two remaining challengers to McCain's nomination run -- stared down our own Luke Burbank in a mean game of ping-pong. You can see the video of their epic battle below.
This week, Huckabee took on another athletic challenge from the media, playing air hockey with the fabulous Stephen Colbert. (The YouTube on that's up top.)
Now, I'm not going to say which clip is better. I'm just going to say which one of them was posted on August 17, 2007: Ours. The Bryant Park Project's. (Kinda warms up a winter Saturday.)
10:37 AM ET | 02- 9-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
We are powering down for the weekend, though we'd like to leave you with this breaking news from the Associated Press:
BC-APNewsAlert,0040
LONDON (AP) - British singer Amy Winehouse's representatives say her visa to the United States has been granted. (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) AP-NY-02-08-08 1705EST
We know you'll sleep better tonight knowing that Amy is free to traverse the Atlantic to America's welcoming shores.
Back on Monday.
5:09 PM ET | 02- 8-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
Trish and Matt with the scoop on how Monday is shaping up:
4:03 PM ET | 02- 8-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Remember Malan Breton, one of the fashion designers on an early season of Project Runway? He got bumped off the show before he got a chance to show his stuff on the long white walkway...
Well this week, he felt vindication when his collection was part of Fashion Week in NYC. It's wrapping up today in Bryant Park, a stone's throw away from our office. We caught up with him at the show, and had him on yesterday's radio program.
3:07 PM ET | 02- 8-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post
Paris Hilton at the The Hottie and The Nottie premiere.
Our regular movie critic, Daniel Holloway, sees ooo-goodles of films every year. Good, bad, horrifying, objectionable -- whatever. But Holloway says he just flat doesn't want to see Paris Hilton's new flick, The Hottie and The Nottie. Holloway jokes that the very idea of it makes him feel "so dirty" -- and not in a good way, either.
We're good with that, but we'd still like to know whether the Paris Hilton movie is any good. From someone who's seen it. Volunteer critics, hit the comments with your reviews, please.
1:16 PM ET | 02- 8-2008 | permalink | comments (5) | e-mail post
Filed under: Links From the Show, The Dagobah System, Video
Satellites watch our planet all the time, sometimes for top-secret military reasons, sometimes for reasons as quotidian as making a cellphone call possible.
Satellite watchers like Kevin Fetter and Ted Molczan watch back. Molczan told us about his extreme hobby today on the show.
Now Fetter shares the video above. The first images are of a satellite crossing the moon. The second image captures the incredibly bright reflection, or flare, from a particular type of satellite turned at an exact angle. The third set shows trios of Naval Ocean Surveillance System satellites moving across the night sky. If you like these, check out the rest on Fetter's personal site.
12:48 PM ET | 02- 8-2008 | permalink | comments (9) | e-mail post
Many people consider yoga a spiritual excursive, a mix between meditating and working out. Some say yoga is the ultimate way to relax the mind. That wasn't the case for some prisoners.
The BBC reports, "A prison in Norway has stopped holding yoga classes after it found that instead of calming inmates, they were actually making some more aggressive."
Talk about unintended reverse psychology...
Yoga classes provoke prisoners/ See-through fish to help cure cancer/ India police parade kidney-snatching 'mastermind'/ All blue-eyed people may be related/ "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader" answers on Google Trends
7:08 AM ET | 02- 8-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
A political horror rock musical: The setting is the Harvard Law Review, 1990. The plot features a young Barack Obama, who struggles to convince a secret society of vampires that opposing political philosophies can exist. It's called Barackula, and yes, it's a real musical, and yes, there is dancing.
Barackula/ Turtle swims from Indonesia to Oregon/ Grammy nominated Amy Winehouse denied U.S. visa/ Steven Spielberg develops Nintendo Wii game
6:08 AM ET | 02- 8-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
Trish is out again, but she's here with us in spirit - and over speaker phone.
3:37 PM ET | 02- 7-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post
Parody alert: The Onion ran a doctored photo of Mitt Romney below the fold on Jan. 28, with the headline "Depressed Candidate Runs Attack Ad About Self."
Guess they won't have him to kick around anymore, at least not in the presidential way.
1:16 PM ET | 02- 7-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
British music group Hot Chip dropped by the Bryant Park Project last week to share a stripped-down version of their trademark electropop sound.
Here's "In the Privacy of Our Love":
12:51 PM ET | 02- 7-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Filed under: Election 2008, News
News that Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is dropping out of the race just crossed the wires at BPP World Headquarters:
BC-USA-POLITICS/ROMNEY (URGENT) Romney to suspend campaign for US president -CNN WASHINGTON, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Mitt Romney will suspend his campaign for the Republican nomination for U.S. president, CNN said on Thursday, citing three party sources. (Reporting by Philip Barbara)
CNN's article says Romney will make an announcement today at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C. (We'll cable the speech on our Twitter feed.)
After winning in Massachusetts, Alaska, North Dakota, Utah, Minnesota, Colorado and Montana in Feb. 5's Super Tuesday voting, Romney told supporters his campaign was "gonna keep on battling. We're gonna go all the way to the convention." But John McCain's victories in delegate-rich states -- NPR's delegate tally shows him leading with 707 to Romney's 294 and Mike Huckabee's 195 -- established a clear front runner for the Republican nomination.
Here's Romney, addressing his supporters on Super Tuesday:
12:20 PM ET | 02- 7-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
Jeremy Abelson on the speed-dating event
The plot from The Graduate might become a reality for some young men in New York City tonight. Fifteen wealthy women over 35 and 15 hot young guys are set up for a speed-dating event. To qualify, the women had to make more than $500,000 a year or have $4 million in liquid assets. The guys just had to be nice to look at and under 35 years old.
The "Sugar Mama and Boy Toy" event is being organized by Jeremy Abelson of pocketchangenyc.com.
On their website, you can click through the listings of the real-life "cougar" women and pretty boys and vote on your favorites. Names are not disclosed, but pictures are included -- and in the case of the women, you get a financial snapshot. If for no other reason, browse for the comments.
To a 37-year old blond woman with $15,000,000 in entrusted assets, one man jokingly writes:
38. Commented by George Costanza on 2/6/2008 I'm bald. Have no job. And I live with my parents. Cawwwwl me!
Or a message to a 65-year-old with $10,422,000 in liquid assets:
I AM SUNDAY ADEBOLA 28, YOU LOOK VERY BEATIFUL AND NICE EVEN AT YOUR AGE , I CAN MAKE YOU LOOK YOUNGER BY GIVING YOU HAPPINESS
Gals, you can vote on your favorite boy toy until 7pm EST tonight. I don't know about you, but those big muscles scare me.
9:55 AM ET | 02- 7-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
I'm in the market for an iPod. My current iPod is a super-old 40GB woolly mammoth without the tusks. (It looks like this one.) As I see it, I have three options: The 80GB iPod Classic, the new 32GB iPod Touch, or neither. (If I go with neither, I'll wait for an iPod Touch with more memory.)
Here are my considerations. . . .
Continue reading "Please Tell Me What iPod to Buy" »
7:22 AM ET | 02- 7-2008 | permalink | comments (11) | e-mail post
IHOP's National Pancake Day was scheduled for Feb. 5, Shrove Tuesday, aka Pancake Tuesday in the U.K. Because of Super Tuesday, IHOP decided to push its celebration back a week.
If you're craving a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes, be sure to drop in on your local IHOP next Tuesday, Feb. 12.
Free pancakes at IHOP pushed back/ Woman buckles up beer video / Google trends #2, "blooter"/ Die-off bats could hurt area crops
6:55 AM ET | 02- 7-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
In the last two days, over 60 tornados were reported in the Southern states, killing dozens, injuring hundreds and leaving miles of debris. While searching for survivors, a rescue team nearly mistook an 11-month-old boy for a baby doll.
"It's not a baby doll -- it's alive," called out David Harmon, 31, an emergency worker from nearby Wilson County.
Baby found in post-tornado rubble/ University of Wisconsin wants to build a rat and mouse house/ Dick Vitale returns/ Dallas hospital room where JFK died is now stored in Kansas
6:26 AM ET | 02- 7-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post
Filed under: Slideshow, Video
We had Shirin Neshat on Monday's show - her videos and photographs are on exhibition at the Gladstone Gallery in New York City. The gallery provided us with images of her work over the past couple of decades, so we made an audio slideshow with her narrative and music from her video installations. Click on the image.
Click the image to view the slideshow.
What do you think?
8:27 PM ET | 02- 6-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Trish is back to help cough up The Rundown:
2:11 PM ET | 02- 6-2008 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post
If you think purple, gold and green together looks good enough to eat and you think finding a small plastic baby in your cake is a good thing, then the Mardi Gras tradition of eating King Cake is for you.
In the studio, we taste-tested three of these colorful, sweet, danish-like King Cakes, typically served between Epiphany, on January 6, and Fat Tuesday, the day before Lent. The contenders were Haydel's Bakery, King Cakes Online and our own baking virtuoso, Laura Silver. The winner? Watch the video to find out.
1:09 PM ET | 02- 6-2008 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post
What your world looks like today
Got this post from our own astrophysicist to the (radio) stars, Summer Ash. She blogs regularly at Newtonianism for the Ladies -- and we're hoping to have her on the show later this week.
Wow, that was close! Did you see that?!? We had not one, but two, near misses in the inner solar system last week. Asteroid TU24 buzzed by Earth last Tuesday while Asteroid WD5 just missed Mars on Wednesday. Who knew there was so much traffic among the planets?!
The Minor Planet Center knew. While both Earth and Mars escaped the events of last week unscathed, near-Earth objects are an actual concern that might one day pose a true danger. As of today, according to scientists there, the inner solar system looks like what you see on the left. The center updates this plot daily; it's hard not to look at it and realize that the statistics may not be in our favor in the long run.
Continue reading "Astrophysicist Checks In: A Pair of Near Misses" »
12:54 PM ET | 02- 6-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
NPR's Mike Pesca -- we love saying that -- sends this calculation from Super Tuesday.
Pesca writes: I added up the vote totals for all states that had primaries last night (rounded off to the nearest thousand).
Hillary 7,270,000 = 50.8% Barack 7,027,000 = 49.2%
HOWEVER, Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota and North Dakota had caucuses, so we don't know their exact votes. Obama won them all. My theory is that exactly as many Democrats voted for Barack Obama last night as voted for Hillary Clinton, and no one can disprove my theory.
Pesca adds that there are something like 150,000 votes that still await counting, which could unravel the whole thing. Stay tuned.
12:34 PM ET | 02- 6-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
Filed under: Sports
If you listened to the show this morning, you heard me talk how BPP video producer Win Rosenfeld and I ventured down to lower Manhattan yesterday to try to catch a glimpse of the tickertape parade honoring the New York Giants' Super Bowl victory.
Turns out there's no tickertape. The city handed out bags of shredded newspaper for people who were really into the spirit of things. But mostly, it was just a big ol' mass of Giants fans who ditched out on work and school to celebrate the sweet win against the Pats one more time. Win caught our little adventure on video. Enjoy:
12:08 PM ET | 02- 6-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Filed under: Inside The BPP, Sound Off
Our producers tried something new today for the opening block of the show. Basically they created a tapestry of cool sounds for a Super Tuesday report, and then folded the opening newscast right in.
I'm interested to hear how you like it.
10:09 AM ET | 02- 6-2008 | permalink | comments (7) | e-mail post
I just strolled down 5th Avenue and saw a lot of people which smudges on their foreheads. After all our Mardi Gras festivities yesterday, I am surprised I forgot today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.
Traditionally, the 40 days of Lent were a pre-Easter period of fasting...but now most people who observe the holiday give up something near and dear to their hearts to help them consider growth, penitence and simplicity. In the past, I've given up gossip websites, chocolate, beer. I better get on the stick and decide about '08. What about you?
10:02 AM ET | 02- 6-2008 | permalink | comments (17) | e-mail post
Barack Obama in Iowa, after winning the Democratic caucus
Democrat Barack Obama may trail Hillary Clinton in the overall delegate count (his 765 to her 845), but there's one political venue he all but owns: the caucus, any caucus, apparently anywhere.
Obama opened his party's primary season by winning the Iowa caucus. Since then, Obama has gone on to win caucuses in Alaska, Minnesota, Colorado and Idaho. He trailed Clinton in overall voting in the Nevada caucus, but still emerged with one more delegate than she did.
What is it about this guy and caucuses?
9:29 AM ET | 02- 6-2008 | permalink | comments (9) | e-mail post
There's something very soothing in the way new cars smell. Whether or not you like the odor of a fresh interior, it indicates something specific: The car is brand new, and people like new things. They're reliable, they're clean, and it just feels good to be the first person behind the wheel.
But you might want to think twice before sniffing that new smell. A new study says that "new car smell" is caused by volatile organic compounds that can cause headaches, sore throat, nausea and even cancer.
Add another carcinogen to the list...
New car smell could cause cancer/ Tearless onion created in lab/ The story behind the Conan, Stewart, and Colbert late night brawl/ Squirrels use snake smell as camouflage
8:42 AM ET | 02- 6-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
After a deputy saw Tina Williams run a red light, he pulled her over. According to the arrest report, when the deputy approached her car and noticed something suspicious buckled in the front seat: a 24-pack of beer. In the back seat was a 16-month-old girl, unbuckled and without a proper child seat.
The deputy asked Tina for her driver's license to which she replied, "I never had one."
Driver straps in beer, not toddler/ High heels "may improve sex life"/ United Airlines to charge for second checked bag/ Donate your video games to the troops in Iraq/ Google may outbid Microsoft for Yahoo
8:17 AM ET | 02- 6-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
The future just showed up.
Google and Twitter have moved into the realm of Freaking Me Out. Sit with this mashup of Google Maps, Twitter and Twittervision.
Seriously, you have to give it a minute or two to work its magic. And then the Tweets start popping up all over the map. Right now, I'm watching a guy in the town where I was born ping back and forth with someone counting delegates in California and a person in Massachusetts who's got a figurative candle lit for Obama. And then there's the guy in the picture, from Marietta.
How's this going to work if Twitter gets insanely popular? What will it feel like then?
6:53 AM ET | 02- 6-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Filed under: City Living, Music, Video
Vampire Weekend is a band worth watching. Pitchfork anointed them with its coveted "Best New Music" title this year, and The Village Voice and The New York Times have both spent plenty of column inches gushing about the band's original sound. This week, Vampire Weekend reached the top 10 on the iTunes most-downloaded list.
Some people hear the Talking Heads in their music, some hear the Clash. But everyone can agree that they have a distinctly New York feel. Weekends' lyrics range from crosstown bus rides to Upper East Side hangouts. We chatted with the Columbia graduates last week near their alma mater and discussed all things New York.
10:07 PM ET | 02- 5-2008 | permalink | comments (8) | e-mail post
The Rundown is here, folks:
8:40 PM ET | 02- 5-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
I just breezed through my polling place in Brooklyn -- steady flow at 3:30 p.m., but not the crowds people reported from the morning rush hour.
Wondering what other people are seeing out there.
3:38 PM ET | 02- 5-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post
As the election results come in tonight, NPR will have all kinds of coverage. And we'll keep the fires burning, here and on our Twitter feed. (BPP friend Andy Carvin will be Tweeting over at the NPR News Blog, too.)
If you're not right with Twitter yet, not to worry. It's easy and free, and experience says it'll be crackling tonight with Tweets from election-watchers around the world. Just head for Twitter.com and sign up.
To see anything besides your own posts, you'll need to "Follow" other people. Some of them will follow you. The rest just kind of happens.
After the jump, a partial list of Twitter friends. Follow 'em. They mostly volunteered.
Continue reading "Election Coverage: Where to Find the BPP" »
1:55 PM ET | 02- 5-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
Peggy Geary and her daughter Elizabeth. Geary, the first to cast a ballot when the polls opened, said she was voting for change.
David Hollis (aka @aardvarko on Twitter) checks in from Hamilton, New York, with a straw poll Monday of students in grades 6-12.
Hollis, of the local news site Radio Free Hamilton, got the results from a teacher friend of his. He Tweets: "Obama 102 & Hillary 26. GOP: McCain 25, Paul 13, Rommney 11, Huckabee 4."
Those numbers are about what you'll see in today's voting, Hollis predicts. He thinks Republican Mitt Romney will do a little better with the adults than the kids. Otherwise, it's all about Barack Obama up there. "The only signs you see here are Obama signs." Polls are open in Hamilton from noon until 9 p.m.
We'll be Tweeting the election tonight. Stroll over and check it out.
More photos from Hollis after the jump.
Continue reading "Listener Checks In: Voting in Hamilton, New York" »
1:14 PM ET | 02- 5-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
No OMG. I'm going to take the time to write it out for this one: Oh My God.
12:51 PM ET | 02- 5-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
Filed under: Election 2008, Music, Video
Jill Sobule, our musical columnist, sings a little ditty about politicking. It's called "Ode to Super Tuesday."
12:34 PM ET | 02- 5-2008 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post
Costco's wholesale stores are huge. How huge? The average store is 148,000 square-feet. That's big enough to sell 100 millions pounds of ground beef and 40 million rotisserie chickens each year.
As you'd probably imagine, these huge stores require a tremendous amount of energy. Chief executive Jim Sinegal recently announced Costco's plans to install skylights and solar panels in its massive storefronts. The company hopes these installations will make a significant cutback on the store's environmental footprint.
Costco's newest supplier, the sun/ Britney saga creates its own economy/ Fat people are cheaper to treat, study says/ Actress Shell Kepler, from 'General Hospital,' dies at 49/ Holocaust float parades
9:23 AM ET | 02- 5-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Listen to some fandidate music on the BPP.
On today's show, we talked about songs that voters were writing for their respective candidates. Good tracks for Huckabee, Romney, Obama, and Clinton, or "H-ROC," as I like to call them. But we had a hard time finding a song for McCain, probably because he's been something of a comeback kid and songwriters haven't had long enough to do their thing.
We found a nice young man from South Carolina, Zack Dedonis, who describes himself as a amateur musician and McCain supporter. Asked him if he'd want to drop some verse about his would-be president. In about half an hour, he sent this:
G Well it's about time, for John McCain Am Waited 8 Years Just To Get his Chance Again C He served his country, his plane got shot D Obama and Clinton, Ooh I think not G If you wanna give your money away Am Choose Clinton or Obama Today C But if you'd like your money to stay D Vote McCain, He won't tax us away G If you wanna live free and safe Am Vote McCain in the '08 Race C He's the man who can get it done D Vote McCain for every daughter and son
Here's the thing: Zack says he can't sing. We need you, Mellifluous McCain People. Here's a guitar track Zack sent.
9:06 AM ET | 02- 5-2008 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post
Are you getting bored of that picture on the living room wall? Are you tired of it blending into the background? "Why not hang up a cross-section of your late husband's stomach?" asks German anatomist Gunther von Hagens, creator of the Body Worlds exhibition.
Hagens, also known as Dr. Death, plans to put some of his chemically treated body parts on sale. Who would have thought death could bring life to the living room wall?
Dead body art/ Bridesmaids may have to sign weight contract/ Last marine in Iwo Jima dies at 82/ iShoes: The electronic shoe
9:05 AM ET | 02- 5-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
Win, you have my respect.
8:53 PM ET | 02- 4-2008 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post
Fat goes far.
Somehow, while training to ride 350 miles in this month's Iditarod Invitational, snow cyclist Jill Homer found time to move to a new apartment, keep her day job and consider the bike she'll use to carry herself and her gear across the Alaska Range and beyond.
Her bike's a Pugsley, and it's phat. Also fat. If you've got even a dash of gear fetish, you'll know what Homer means when she writes:
You wore the purple remnants of somebody's bad '90s ecstasy trip, and even when they finally painted you gray, I could still see your skewed fork and crooked frame and offset rims -- purposeful deformations just to make room for all that excess fat.
4:25 PM ET | 02- 4-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
At dawn this morning, New York Giants fans were already out hunting for merchandise to help them savor their victory over the Patriots. By the time the BPP arrived at Modell's sporting goods store around 10am, Giants hats were already sold out. Check out the scene for yourself.
Obviously in order to get championship goods on sale less than eight hours after a game ends, you have to print up items with both teams' names on them way before the game. So what happens to all the "Patriots Super Bowl Champions" t-shirts and hats that are sitting in a warehouse somewhere? This might give you some idea.
2:26 PM ET | 02- 4-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Abbigale, as seen on Animal Planet
Watching Puppy Bowl IV (we flipped to the Super Bowl during commercials) last night, I wondered just how the good people at Animal Planet found the many cute puppies they threw onto the miniature football field. Was there a draft? Is there a minor puppy league? And most importantly, how could I obtain such puppies?
Drunk on cuteness, I went to work to get these questions answered. I managed to track down Abbigale Rottenbottom Glasby, the PetSmart MVP of Puppy Bowl IV. She chose to speak through her agent, Dwight Glasby of Manassas, Virginia.
Normally, Dwight tells me, the Puppy Bowl people pick among puppies up for adoption at shelters, but for some reason this year there was a paucity of puppies. A woman at Dwight's local pet store knew this, had a connection, and let him know. Dwight sent in Abbigale's picture, and the next thing they knew she was going to the dance.
They started filming, it was a good eight hours. You know, Abbi hardly ever took a nap. She was out on the set just going crazy most of the day. It was a day of chaos. Even in the green room, they were raring to go.
That's right. There's a green room at Puppy Bowl. More after the jump.
Continue reading "Most Valuable Puppy" »
1:59 PM ET | 02- 4-2008 | permalink | comments (5) | e-mail post
With thanks to @timjeby, a sample:
Spent year's budget for/ Thirty seconds, but ev'ry-/ One loves monkeys, right?
1:36 PM ET | 02- 4-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post
Star magazine, Feb. 4, 1992 (enlarge)
Look what I found in my basement! Sixteen years to the day -- this was the big political story in the '92 race, when a different Clinton was running. And The Star only cost 95 cents.
9:47 AM ET | 02- 4-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Workin' on it, baby. Workin' on it.
9:32 AM ET | 02- 4-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post
Filed under: Sound Off, Sports
Two of last night's Super Bowl ads seem to be getting extra heat on the Interwebs -- and not the good kind of heat. The San Francisco Chronicle called this SalesGenie.com ad "most likely to result in the first Super Bowl ad apology of the season."
As for this next one...I don't have kids, so I'm not an expert on what freaks them out, but I have a feeling this ad might qualify:
What do you guys think? Is either ad offensive and/or inappropriate?
8:16 AM ET | 02- 4-2008 | permalink | comments (14) | e-mail post
Filed under: Sports, Stuff We Love
Who needs CGI?
Here are all of last night's Super Bowl ads.
8:15 AM ET | 02- 4-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
Filed under: City Living, Stuff We Love
Remember when we had Alan Corey of Improv Everywhere on the BPP to talk about No Pants 2K8? The pants-free subway ride was just one of many cool stunts the group has pulled in NYC and elsewhere.
They just posted video of an earlier adventure, in which they got 200 people to freeze simultaneously in Grand Central Station for five minutes. It's seriously awesome. Check it out.
8:13 PM ET | 02- 1-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post
Filed under: News, Slideshow, Video
St. Mary's College students filled their campus waterfront with splashes and shrill laughter on Thursday afternoon -- not just for fun, but to show concern about global warming. As part of their second annual "polar bear splash," over a hundred stripped down to their swimsuit and plunged into the freezing cold St. Mary's river.
Continue reading "Slideshow: A Cool Dip for a Warming Planet" »
1:31 PM ET | 02- 1-2008 | permalink | comments (5) | e-mail post
Forward this beefcake to a friend.
In his ongoing look at our blog and Twitter feed, Lee Siegel turns his considerable attention today to the nexus of sex, money and the Internet. Put them in whatever order you like, just try to be human about it.
Siegel's the author of Against the Machine: Being Human in the Age of the Electronic Mob, a little book worthy of a big stir.
Earlier in the week, we went around with Siegel about a BPP post on High School Musical, a Tweet on Chekhovian potatoes and a cupcakes post that served as an island refuge.
1:28 PM ET | 02- 1-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Matt and Trish with the last rundown of the week:
1:19 PM ET | 02- 1-2008 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post
One puts you on the floor. The other says it can get you off it.
Since I have a good TV and a large den, it's a given that I have friends over for the Super Bowl. But since Super Sunday goes late -- and often leaks into Miserable Monday -- I've got a gastronomical plan to help my pals make it into work the next day. And it even goes with a Southwestern theme, in honor of the game's host state of Arizona.
Prickly Pear Margaritas The recipe: Lime juice, prickly pear juice, Cointreau, and Tequila with a little sugar and lots of ice. Shake the hell out of it, and pour over more ice.
'Healthy' Snacks Help the recovery with actual things the body needs, beyond fat and salt. I'll have almonds and pecans (protein foods) out early, with some booze-absorbing cheeses. Then grilled beef or chicken tacos.
A Mighty Garnish And if that's not enough, I'll be garnishing the drinks with goji berries. You know, the Chinese/Tibetan berries that are full of anti-oxidants. The ones that supposedly kept some Chinese dude alive 'til he was about 250 years old. I bet he never had trouble dragging it in on a Monday.
12:43 PM ET | 02- 1-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Filed under: Sports, Stuff We Love, The Dagobah System
Back in the day, I used to simulate NFL games before they happened using a sophisticated piece of software called Madden '93 on my Sega Genesis supercomputer. It was a glorious time, a sad time. Now a crafty young emulator has taken it way back in the day to the Nintendo game Tecmo Bowl, and Tecmo-ized the entire playoffs.
Second half of this year's Super Bowl is here.
9:07 AM ET | 02- 1-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
A company called Bark Vineyards has started making wine for dogs. Don't worry, there's no alcohol in it.
It's not about getting your dog drunk. It's about the experience. The sell from Bark Vineyards: "A gourmet treat experience awaits the canine or feline who receives a bottle of the Bark Vineyards' Varietals. Pour evenly over a meal, step back as your beloved furry friend savors the delicious bouquet and unique flavors ... Whine not!"
Wine for dogs/ Beware: Super Bowl may be hazardous to your heart/ Exercise that makes you younger/ Sean "Diddy" Combs hoards Super Bowl Cristal
8:51 AM ET | 02- 1-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post
Steve Smith is from Britain. He has a potentially fatal heart disease. With a stroke of luck, Smith won 19 million pounds, roughly $38 million dollars, in Britain's National Lottery.
When he picked up his check, reporters asked Smith how he wanted to spend his money. Smith thought of his wife first. "It's Ida I worry for," he said. "It's leaving her behind. I would give all that back if I am allowed to still be with her, because there are no shops in the cemetery, are there?"
Smith's wish is beautiful, sad and very true. It reminds me of a title from a short story by Tao Lin, "Love Is a Thing on Sale for More Money There Exists."
What all the money in the world can't buy/ Ralph Nader '08?/ 19th century shipwreck turns up on New England shoreline/ Restaurateur Thomas Sieg passes away Hospital mistakenly sends woman in labor home
7:53 AM ET | 02- 1-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post
Listen to Jack Johnson's complete interview and performance
Jack Johnson got serious about writing songs after a surfing accident at the infamous Banzai Pipeline. Known to pro surfers simply as "the Pipeline," the Hawaiian reef break has claimed the lives of many who have tried to hang ten on its massive waves. Johnson survived his rough go with 150 stitches and four lost front teeth. While recovering, he put aside his pro surfing aspirations and planted the seeds for what would become a remarkable career as a musician.
Four hit albums later, Johnson continues to amass scores of fans who are drawn to his unique brand of acoustic rock. He dropped by the BPP a while back to play a few tunes off of his latest effort, Sleep Through The Static. Here's Johnson doing the title track off that record:
To see Johnson perform "Same Girl" in our studio, check out our video podcast.
7:38 AM ET | 02- 1-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post
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