Radiolab’s “Parasites”

Radio and TV have incredible power. But until the last decade they were always constrained by time and signal power. You had to listen when the station broadcast it, and you had to listen where you could pick up the signal.  Living out in the boonies we don’t get good radio or TV reception (no I don’t subscribe to

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“The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination” by J.K. Rowling

This is J. K. Rowling’s 2008 Harvard commencement speech, “The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination.” It’s one of the best speeches I’ve ever heard. Watch and then watch again. Read the full text here. Two quotes that in no way can do justice to the whole thing. And so rock bottom

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“The Art of Suspense” by Ken Follett

I heard this a few years ago and LOVED it. Ken Follett is a master of suspense. Notice how he starts by talking about the emotion produced in the reader and getting readers emotionally involved in a story. He knows exactly what effect he’s trying to product. He also talks about how to determine whether an

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This American Life: Superpowers

What superpower would you rather have–flight or invisibility? What do others choose? Why? What does it say about you? Want to hear about a gal named Zora who, as a teen, made a list of everything that a superhero would have to know how to do, things like flying helicopters and diffusing bombs, and then set out to do

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