Continuing our expose into the very hush-hush world of Silence, we look at an app that promises to deliver you four minutes and thirty-three seconds of silence. PJ talks to Larry Larson, who helped design the 4'33" app.
TLDR - #20 – Silence
Update: Vulfpeck received an email from Spotify asking the band to remove "Sleepify" from Spotify. See our update here.
A band called Vulfpeck has asked fans to stream an entire album of silence on Spotify while they sleep, so the band can use the royalties to tour without charging for their shows. So far, the scheme has worked. We talk to Vulfpeck's Jack Stratton about hustling as a musician on the internet.
TLDR - #19 – Project Flame
In 1966, a bored college freshman created Project Flame, an early computer dating system that promised to pair lonely hearts. Project Flame was an overnight sensation. The only problem was that the guy who founded didn't have a computer. Or any idea how to use one.
Curious City - Compare: Illinois Governor Candidates’ Views On Concealed Carry
A concerned citizen poses questions about violence and the state’s new law allowing people to carry concealed guns. We find a surprising lack of consensus among the candidates and researchers, too.
Curious City - Compare: Illinois Governor Candidates’ Views On Concealed Carry
A concerned citizen poses questions about violence and the state’s new law allowing people to carry concealed guns. We find a surprising lack of consensus among the candidates and researchers, too.
TLDR - #18 – The Army’s Robot Recruiter
Sgt. Star is the army’s robot. Specifically, he’s a chatbot designed to influence potential recruits to enlist in the US Army. So how do we feel about that? Alex talks to the Army and a reporter who's covered recruitment abuses to figure out if we're better or worse off for having a Siri who can talk us into going to war.
Curious City - How Much Road Salt Ends Up In Lake Michigan?
Now that our wicked winter’s ending, we look at whether there’s any fallout from flinging so much salt around.
Curious City - How Much Road Salt Ends Up In Lake Michigan?
Now that our wicked winter’s ending, we look at whether there’s any fallout from flinging so much salt around.
TLDR - #17 – Hey, Guess What? I Found Truth For Us
Last fall, TLDR covered a bunch of hoaxes. Some we liked, most we didn't. On this episode, we talk to Paulo Ordoveza and Adrienne LaFrance, a couple of people who have devoted themselves to trying to debunk the innumerable falsehoods flying around the internet.
TLDR - #16 – *Win a Million Dollar Mansion From Your HOME COMPUTER*
"Sweepers" are people who spend their free time entering hundreds of online sweepstakes -- the contests most of us skip because we're sure they're all scams. It turns out, we're wrong. Some people win big. Reporter Laura Mayer takes us into the online sweepstakes universe.