Opinion Remembering Poet David Franks February 15, 2010 Commentator Andrei Codrescu remembers a friend, Baltimore poet David Franks. Franks blurred the line between his private life and his public art: He did outrageous things and had a sense of humor about it. One stunt: conducting the horns on a fleet of tug boats in Baltimore Harbor. Remembering Poet David Franks Listen · 3:59 3:59 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/123747163/123747305" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Remembering Poet David Franks Listen · 3:59 3:59 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/123747163/123747305" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Opinion How Does 'Avatar' Compare To Zombies, Vampires? February 2, 2010 Commentator Andrei Codrescu explores the different worlds, and different strengths of the fictional characters in movies such as Avatar, which are created digitally, with characters in zombie and vampires movies. He says the digital creations can learn from the alliance between the undead and the blood-drinkers. How Does 'Avatar' Compare To Zombies, Vampires? Listen · 2:43 2:43 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/123287745/123287727" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
How Does 'Avatar' Compare To Zombies, Vampires? Listen · 2:43 2:43 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/123287745/123287727" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Opinion A Few Keystrokes Away From Digital Dark Ages January 1, 2010 There is talk now of a Digital Dark Ages brought about either by info-hating nomads or some accident. We are as vulnerable now as Europeans were in the 12th century. The Internet is one big place, just like the leftovers of the Roman Empire, ripe and ready for a gang of neo-barbarians. A Few Keystrokes Away From Digital Dark Ages Listen · 2:10 2:10 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/122154110/122154098" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
A Few Keystrokes Away From Digital Dark Ages Listen · 2:10 2:10 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/122154110/122154098" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Opinion The Future Is Now ... And Then December 11, 2009 Commentator Andrei Codrescu remembers writing fortune cookies for $5 a fortune. The last fortune he received said: "You will know the future in time." Now that it IS the future, he offers this insight: time will make truth irrelevant. The Future Is Now ... And Then Listen · 2:34 2:34 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/121353059/121353681" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
The Future Is Now ... And Then Listen · 2:34 2:34 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/121353059/121353681" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Opinion As You Age, Time Turns Off The Lights November 19, 2009 Commentator Andrei Codrescu says bulbs have been dimming, and he's not talking about flower bulbs. It's more like time has been putting out lights. He says when you're 20, you think the future is so bright you're immortal and you need sunglasses. But when you're 60, he says, you're looking forward to retiring and getting to that martini beach in the neon light you can't see your wrinkles by. As You Age, Time Turns Off The Lights Listen · 2:27 2:27 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/120583680/120583661" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
As You Age, Time Turns Off The Lights Listen · 2:27 2:27 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/120583680/120583661" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Opinion Thoughts On A Human Re-Creation Of The Berlin Wall November 4, 2009 Commentator Andrei Codrescu notes that a British artist is asking people to help him mark the 20th anniversary next month of the fall of the Berlin Wall by making a human wall for 15 minutes. At first, Codrescu wants to be part of it, but then has second thoughts. Thoughts On A Human Re-Creation Of The Berlin Wall Listen · 2:16 2:16 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/120098214/120098196" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Thoughts On A Human Re-Creation Of The Berlin Wall Listen · 2:16 2:16 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/120098214/120098196" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Opinion Old Media Praises New, Pens Own Obituary April 1, 2010 Commentator Andrei Codrescu observes that TV, newspapers and books are fascinated by all things tech — especially the Internet. He thinks those old media are busy writing their own obituary as they do this. Old Media Praises New, Pens Own Obituary Listen · 2:46 2:46 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/125468451/125468744" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Old Media Praises New, Pens Own Obituary Listen · 2:46 2:46 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/125468451/125468744" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Opinion Dose Of Fellow Man Spurs Creativity March 17, 2010 Commentator Andrei Codrescu says he once had to escape an artists' colony because it isolated him from the buzz of the city. Today, he's content having more trees and fewer people. But he says peace of mind and solitude are not a good breeding ground for creative ideas. Dose Of Fellow Man Spurs Creativity Listen · 2:58 2:58 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/124783771/124784698" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Dose Of Fellow Man Spurs Creativity Listen · 2:58 2:58 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/124783771/124784698" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Opinion Bombing Moon Gives New Meaning To Lunatics October 9, 2009 In response to NASA putting a spent rocket part on a collision course with the moon in search of water, commentator Andrei Codrescu asks whom the moon belong to anyway. They used to call the mentally ill lunatics, but Codrescu says he now wonders who the real lunatics are. Bombing Moon Gives New Meaning To Lunatics Listen · 2:24 2:24 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/113677780/113678482" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Bombing Moon Gives New Meaning To Lunatics Listen · 2:24 2:24 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/113677780/113678482" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Opinion Internet's History As Tracked By Codrescu September 2, 2009 Commentator Andrei Codrescu recounts the entire history of the Internet, from 40 years ago, when UCLA made the first connection between two computers, up until now — in places that parallel his own life. Internet's History As Tracked By Codrescu Listen · 3:24 3:24 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/112488309/112488561" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Internet's History As Tracked By Codrescu Listen · 3:24 3:24 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/112488309/112488561" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Opinion Award The Birther Movement August 6, 2009 To the Oscars, the Grammys and the Emmys, you can now add a wonderful new distinction: the Dobbies. Andrei Codrescu says the Southern Poverty Law Center's award, named for CNN's Lou Dobbs, should go to the "birther" movement. Award The Birther Movement Listen · 3:21 3:21 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/111629574/111630114" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Award The Birther Movement Listen · 3:21 3:21 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/111629574/111630114" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Opinion Will Economy Push Californians Back To Midwest? July 22, 2009 The Great Depression sent millions of dispossessed Midwesterners toward California's promise. Andrei Codrescu says now that the Golden State is selling off furniture signed by its movie-star governor to raise money, he's sure a reverse migration is on the way. Will Economy Push Californians Back To Midwest? Listen · 3:06 3:06 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/106894654/106894639" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Will Economy Push Californians Back To Midwest? Listen · 3:06 3:06 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/106894654/106894639" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Opinion A Summer Challenge: Learning To Nap July 3, 2009 Commentator Andrei Codrescu has been a vigilant observer of the world for years. He's tried to reshape revolutions, parsed the media landscape, wrestled with scandals and triumphs. Now, he is taking on a new challenge: learning to nap. A Summer Challenge: Learning To Nap Listen · 2:53 2:53 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/106259991/106259850" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
A Summer Challenge: Learning To Nap Listen · 2:53 2:53 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/106259991/106259850" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Opinion Issues Are Similar, But Iran And Tiananmen Differ June 17, 2009 The streets of Tehran look much like the streets of Tiananmen Square in 1989. Some of the issues are the same, but this is 2009, and the stakes are both different and higher. Now, the whole world is watching, listening and hearing the events unfold. Issues Are Similar, But Iran And Tiananmen Differ Listen · 2:30 2:30 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/105545364/105519112" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Issues Are Similar, But Iran And Tiananmen Differ Listen · 2:30 2:30 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/105545364/105519112" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Opinion Pondering Google, Facebook And Wasting Time June 2, 2009 Commentator Andrei Codrescu complains about Google and Facebook, and how people ask him things they could look up themselves on Google. He finds Facebook a waste of time — and Google an alien force worthy of fear. Pondering Google, Facebook And Wasting Time Listen · 2:32 2:32 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/104841491/104852625" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Pondering Google, Facebook And Wasting Time Listen · 2:32 2:32 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/104841491/104852625" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Opinion One Theory: Theories Rarely Work May 21, 2009 Theoretical ideas are fine, but the real world doesn't always correspond to those theories. And too often, we delude ourselves into thinking experts have the answers. One Theory: Theories Rarely Work Listen · 2:37 2:37 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/104406487/104406463" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
One Theory: Theories Rarely Work Listen · 2:37 2:37 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/104406487/104406463" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Opinion Looking To A Post-Human Future May 6, 2009 To Andrei Codrescu, being "post-human" means transitioning to a new kind of animal, a wired, connected and, hopefully, less arrogant creature that might use its successful tools to rejoin the nature humans have nearly eliminated. Looking To A Post-Human Future Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/103865470/103865458" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Looking To A Post-Human Future Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/103865470/103865458" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Opinion Pirates, Real And Phony April 23, 2009 With much help from Hollywood, we tend to glorify old-style pirates. Commentator Andrei Codrescu wonders if someday in the distant future we will treat terrorists with similar affection. Pirates, Real And Phony Listen · 2:37 2:37 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/103420618/103421377" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Pirates, Real And Phony Listen · 2:37 2:37 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/103420618/103421377" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Opinion Tear Down Caribbean Berlin Wall: End Cuba Embargo April 6, 2009 President Obama has a historic opportunity to erase the unfair division of our Caribbean Berlin Wall. Lifting the travel ban is a good first step, but let's get rid of the whole embargo. It's time for real people to come first, politics second. Tear Down Caribbean Berlin Wall: End Cuba Embargo Listen · 2:47 2:47 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/102804327/102804313" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Tear Down Caribbean Berlin Wall: End Cuba Embargo Listen · 2:47 2:47 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/102804327/102804313" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Opinion A Way To Save Economy: No-Theft Day March 25, 2009 Commentator Andrei Codrescu proposes a Theft-Free Day to solve the nation's economic crisis. He adds that the holiday will only work if it is observed by big thieves, not just small fry. He says the flow of unfilched cash will boost the economy. A Way To Save Economy: No-Theft Day Listen · 3:08 3:08 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/102353831/102356118" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
A Way To Save Economy: No-Theft Day Listen · 3:08 3:08 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/102353831/102356118" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Opinion Say It Loud: I'm Hybrid And I'm Proud March 11, 2009 The United States was always a nation of hybrids, but acknowledging it was something else. Not until the 1970s did we allow the possibility that we could accept our roots and also be Americans. The age of the hyphen was upon us. Say It Loud: I'm Hybrid And I'm Proud Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/101751594/101751565" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Say It Loud: I'm Hybrid And I'm Proud Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/101751594/101751565" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Opinion Economic Hard Times May Be Good For Art February 25, 2009 Commentator Andrei Codrescu reflects on how artists respond to the economic slowdown. He goes through the decades and examines when the best art has been made. He concludes that hard times make good art. Economic Hard Times May Be Good For Art Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/101158662/101143109" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Economic Hard Times May Be Good For Art Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/101158662/101143109" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript