January 25, 2011
Totally Cool Thing Alert: Monday Edition
The National Geographic recently published a map of American last names — it’s basically a tag cloud that shows the most common surnames in each region of the country. In the northeast, there are quite a few O’Briens, don’t ya know (hey, Conan!), while Garcias are more dominant in south Florida. (The Sunshine state also boasts a few Fitzpatricks, but not enough, alas, to throw off the ranks in either region.)
Find out where you fit in — the map is interactive and online.
January 21, 2011
Science Friday: Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson on The Daily Show
Science Friday: Neil deGrasse Tyson, on The Daily Show to promote new episodes of NOVA scienceNOW, talks science and imagination with Jon Stewart.
View the clip here (the site didn’t like the embed).
And, remember to support the (regular) Science Friday.
Appreciation: Sargent Shriver on “Fresh Air”
In case you missed it, “Fresh Air” rebroadcast a chat with Peace Corps founder Sargent Shriver, who died this week. It’s a nice short history of the War on Poverty, from the liberal point of view, and a darn enjoyable conversation to listen in on. Enjoy.
January 19, 2011
Frontline: “Are We Safer?”
PBS’s “Frontline” magazine series could not be more timely in exploring whether all the money the U.S. is spending on anti-terrorism programs is actually making Americans safer. If lawmakers are serious about cutting the budget deficit and examining “what works” in government, it is only fair that they scrutinize the homeland security budget as much as health care’s. The program airs tonight, but you can view the segment here and below.
Watch the full episode. See more FRONTLINE.
January 17, 2011
On MLK Day, Know Your Rights
The ACLU decided to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. day by focusing on the rights people have when they are stopped by the police, the FBI, or even immigration authorities. And it uses humor to make its points in a video featuring comedian Elon James White. Check it out here.
Find out what other communities are doing to honor the civil rights icon at the MLK Day of Service website.