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Poet on Call Poet and novelist Andrei Codrescu offers a wry twist on news culture in his commentaries for NPR.
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Poet on Call

Opinion

Old Media Praises New, Pens Own Obituary

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

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Opinion

Dose Of Fellow Man Spurs Creativity

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

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Opinion

Remembering Poet David Franks

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

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Opinion

How Does 'Avatar' Compare To Zombies, Vampires?

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?

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Opinion

A Few Keystrokes Away From Digital Dark Ages

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

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Opinion

The Future Is Now ... And Then

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

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Opinion

As You Age, Time Turns Off The Lights

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

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Opinion

Thoughts On A Human Re-Creation Of The Berlin Wall

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

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Opinion

Bombing Moon Gives New Meaning To Lunatics

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

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Opinion

Internet's History As Tracked By Codrescu

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

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Opinion

Award The Birther Movement

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

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Opinion

Will Economy Push Californians Back To Midwest?

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?

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Opinion

A Summer Challenge: Learning To Nap

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

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Opinion

Issues Are Similar, But Iran And Tiananmen Differ

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

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Opinion

Pondering Google, Facebook And Wasting Time

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

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Opinion

One Theory: Theories Rarely Work

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

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Opinion

Looking To A Post-Human Future

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

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Opinion

Pirates, Real And Phony

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

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Opinion

Tear Down Caribbean Berlin Wall: End Cuba Embargo

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

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Opinion

A Way To Save Economy: No-Theft Day

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

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Opinion

Say It Loud: I'm Hybrid And I'm Proud

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

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Opinion

Economic Hard Times May Be Good For Art

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

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