The Man Who Counted, a book of 'Arabic' mathematical tales written by Middle Eastern scholar Malba Tahan was published in Brazil in the 1930s. It became a huge success. Malba Tahan's birthday, May 6th, is now celebrated as Brazil's National Day of Mathematics. But the author wasn't who everybody thought he was. Alex Bellos tells his story. This programme was first broadcast on the BBC World Service.
Cato Daily Podcast - Is College Worth It?
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The Gist - Bankers and Internet Outrage and All These Ands
On this Friday’s Gist, Mike Pesca talks with Felix Salmon, senior editor at Fusion, about why it’s not popular to prosecute bankers. Professor Ben Yagoda teaches us the power of the literary technique polysyndeton as demonstrated everywhere from the King James Bible to Lil Wayne. And for today’s Spiel, Mike’s outraged about the culture of outrage. Get notified as soon as The Gist posts each weekday: http://www.slate.com/gistemail.
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Cato Daily Podcast - Copyright as Intellectual Privilege
Reforming our system of copyrights is needed now more than ever.
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More or Less: Behind the Stats - Food Bank Britain
Food banks are being used by a million people in Britain according to recent newspaper reports. But what do we really know about how many people are using food banks, and does this tell us anything about whether food poverty is increasing? Plus: we remember Gary Becker; Alex Bellos tells the story of Brazil's most famous mathematician; and did a fruit and vegetable seller run the first four minute mile in 1770?
The Gist - Has the U.S. Crowdsourced Foreign Policy?
Slate's The Gist with Mike Pesca: The Telegraph's Tom Rogan speaks with Mike about the wisdom of sending forces to rescue the Nigerian schoolgirls. Later in the show, Mike tries his hand at freestyle hip-hop, and he shares recent news items related to urine.
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Cato Daily Podcast - NSA Reform Clears Key Hurdle
Reining in certain NSA abuses is now closer to reality.
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TLDR - #25 – Monsters
Kim Correa loves the online game DayZ, which lets you interact with other humans during a zombie apocalypse. DayZ's appeal is that it allows weird, spontaneous interactions between players. It also allows really terrible ones. Kim talks about her experience of being raped in a virtual world -- something she doesn't quite know what to do with. We also talk to writer Julian Dibbel, who wrote about how one online community dealt with a virtual rape back in 1993.
The Gist - Slate’s The Gist with Mike Pesca: Why Are Online Quizzes All the Rage?
On today’s episode, Mike Pesca talks with Mark Leibovich about politicians leaving Congress for on-air punditry. He then talks with Maria Konnikova about what personality quizzes really tell us. And today's Spiel centers on whether it’s time for Americans to give Monica Lewinsky a break. Get notified as soon as The Gist posts each weekday: http://www.slate.com/gistemail.
Music:
"Eclosion" by Salmo
“Readers! Do You Read?” By Chris Zabriskie
“Power Glove” by C. Scott
"Kosmiche Slop" by Anenon
"Divider" by Chris Zabriskie
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Cato Daily Podcast - Development, Autocrats and The Tyranny of Experts
The technocratic approach to ending global poverty favored by development experts often strengthens authoritarian governments and neglects or undermines the preferences and personal choices of poor people.
The Tyranny of Experts: Economists, Dictators, and the Forgotten Rights of the Poor
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