Curated Culture

O'Connell Street is the main thoroughfare in our capital city, but is it in need of regeneration? Fo...

Whenever a financial or technological disaster takes place, people wonder if it could have possibly been averted. My guests today say that the answer is often yes, and that the lessons around why big disasters happen can teach us something about preventing catastrophes in our businesses and personal lives. Their names are Chris Clearfield and Andras Tilcsik, and they're the authors of Meltdown: Why Our Systems Fail and What We Can Do About It. We begin our discussion getting into how they got interested in exploring how everything from plane crashes to nuclear meltdowns to flash stock market crashes actually share common causes. We then discuss the difference between complicated and complex systems, why complex systems have weaknesses that make them vulnerable to failure, and how such complexity is on the rise in our modern, technological era. Along the way, Chris and Andras provide examples of complex systems that have crashed and burned, from the Three Mile Island nuclear reactor meltdown to a Starbucks social media campaign gone awry. We end our conversation digging into specific tactics engineers and organizations use to create stronger, more catastrophe-proof systems, and how regular folks can use these insights to help make their own lives run a bit more smoothly. Get the show notes at aom.is/meltdown....moreCopy Link

Photo: Russian Central Asia : including Kuldja, Bokhara, Khiva and MervYear: 1885 (1880s)Authors:  Lansdell, Henry, 1841-1919 Lansdell, Henry, 1841-1919, inscriber. insSubjects: Publisher:  London : Sampson Low, Marston, Searle and RivingtonContributing Library:  Harold B. Lee LibraryDigitizing Sponsor:  Brigham Young UniversityView Book Page: Book ViewerAbout This Book: Catalog EntryView All Images: All Images From BookClick here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.Text Appearing Before Image:om-pany him. Then, again, early next morning we weredisturbed by bugle calls for the practising of thesoldiers. Accordingly, when the messengers cameafter breakfast from the Kush-beggi to inquire forour health, and to ask if I had slept well, I repliedthat we had been somewhat disturbed by dogs andwatchmen, but that on the morrow we should like tosee the soldiers practise. Things were better after-wards as regards watchmen and animals, though as Psalm lix. 6. I never had so lively an illustration of this lastfigure as in Constantinople, where every street was monopolized byownerless dogs. They did not obtrude themselves much by day, butat night they are unmercifully severe upon any strange dog that tres-passes into their particular streets, and are not too nice in barking at,if not even attacking, foot passengers t Thereby illustrating The watchmen that went about the city foundme, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls tookaway my vail from me (Cant. v. 7 ; iii. 3).http://JohnBatchelorShow.com/contacthttp://JohnBatchelorShow.com/schedulesTwitter: @BatchelorShowOn the Road to Tashkent: Reawakening the major civilization of Central Asia: 1 of 2: or, the city state supremacy long before the Silk Road. S. Frederick Starr, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute Lost Enlightenment: Central Asia's Golden Age from the Arab Conquest to Tamerlane  Audible Audiobook – Unabridged S. Frederick Starr (Author), Kevin Stillwell (Narrator), Audible Studios (Publisher) https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Enlightenment-Central-Conquest-Tamerlane/dp/B00FTWM4U8/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= In this rich and sweeping history, S. Frederick Starr tells the fascinating but largely unknown story of Central Asia's medieval enlightenment through the eventful lives and astonishing accomplishments of its greatest minds - remarkable figures who built a bridge to the modern world. Because nearly all of these figures wrote in Arabic, they were long assumed to have been Arabs. In fact, they were from Central Asia - drawn from the Persianate and Turkic peoples of a region that today extends from Kazakhstan southward through Afghanistan, and from the easternmost province of Iran through Xinjiang, China.  Lost Enlightenment recounts how, between the years 800 and 1200, Central Asia led the world in trade and economic development, the size and sophistication of its cities, the refinement of its arts, and, above all, in the advancement of knowledge in many fields. Central Asians achieved signal breakthroughs in astronomy, mathematics, geology, medicine, chemistry, music, social science, philosophy, and theology, among other subjects. They gave algebra its name, calculated the earth's diameter with unprecedented precision, wrote the books that later defined European medicine, and penned some of the world's greatest poetry.  One scholar, working in Afghanistan, even predicted the existence of North and South America - five centuries before Columbus. Rarely in history has a more impressive group of polymaths appeared at one place and time. No wonder that their writings influenced European culture from the time of St. Thomas Aquinas down to the scientific revolution, and had a similarly deep impact in India and much of Asia.  Lost Enlightenment chronicles this forgotten age of achievement, seeks to explain its rise, and explores the competing theories about the cause of its eventual demise. Informed by the latest scholarship yet presented in a lively and accessible style, this is a book that will surprise general listeners and specialists alike....moreCopy Link

Sie kann schnell explosiv werden, die Lage in der Straße von Hormus. Nicht nur weil dort auf engstem Raum regelmäßig Öltanker unterwegs sind. Sondern auch weil dort jeder Zwischenfall zum Anlass werden kann, Öl ins Feuer zu gießen. All das kommt nun zusammen: Zwei Tanker, zwei Explosionen und mindestens zwei Akteure, deren Gemüter sowieso schon erhitzt sind: Hier der Iran, der mächtigste Anrainer der Straße von Hormus. Dort die USA, deren Präsident den Iran bei jeder Gelegenheit für den ersten aller "üblichen Verdächtigen" hält. Und dazwischen die Europäer, die beide Seiten am liebsten wieder an einen Tisch bringen würden und deshalb bemüht sind, Öl auf die Wogen statt ins Feuer zu gießen. Aber noch enger als die Straße von Hormus sind spätestens jetzt die politischen Spielräume....moreCopy Link

Are you tired of guilt-ridden burden-giving joy-sucking religion? If so, then you need Jesus! If Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, and even Moses needed Jesus, we all need Jesus.

Gwynne Hogan, associate producer at All Things Considered and reporter for WNYC, and Blima Marcus, oncology nurse practitioner at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and a member of the ultra-Orthodox community in Borough Park, Brooklyn, discuss the latest news on the measles outbreak in New York and efforts to counter misinformation regarding the vaccine to prevent it.

Australian-born Tal Wilkenfeld has made her sizable reputation by playing bass for some of the music world’s biggest stars – Prince, Mick Jagger, Jeff Beck, the Allman Brothers. In March she released her first album of her own singing and songwriting, Love Remains, and perhaps unsurprisingly, it went right to the top of Billboard’s Heatseekers chart. Tal Wilkenfeld joins us in-studio with her band to play some of these tunes in-studio. Set list: Killing Me Love Remains Corner Painter Watch the session here:   ...moreCopy Link

When Andraya Yearwood runs against her competition, people pay attention — whether she wants them to or not. Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom, Benedek ("Cruzin'"), Anamorphic Orchestra ("Signs of Life"), Andy G. Cohen ("A Perceptible Shift"), and Kai Engel ("Headway"). Support our work. Become a Nancy member today at Nancypodcast.org/donate.

Adrian Tinniswood explores the fascinating history of Britain’s royal households, from the Tudor period until today. historyextra.com/podcasts

When the biggest consulting firms in the business won’t even let you get your foot in the door, how do you get experience to launch your own firm? Garrett Mehrguth is the founder of Directive which is a lead generation-based search marketing company for B2B enterprise with a focus on SaaS. Garrett lived on a food budget of $12 a day, cleaned toilets and bid jobs on Fiverr all the while learning about search and lead generation so he could launch Directive. Garrett Mehrguth is the founder of Directive which is a lead generation-based search marketing company for B2B enterprise with a focus on SaaS. Sponsored byHostGator – Ready to take your website to the next level? Whether you’re a first-time blogger or an experienced web pro, HostGator has all the tools you need to create a great-looking website or online store. A wide range of options includes cloud-based web hosting, reseller hosting, VPS hosting and dedicated servers. Founded in 2002, HostGator is the perfect web partner for business owners and individuals seeking hands-on support. Visit www.hostgator.com/mixergy to see what HostGator can do for your website. Toptal – If you’re having trouble finding developers, Toptal is a network of elite pre-vetted software developers. You tell Toptal what you’re looking for, they search their network for the best people, they test the candidates, and then they present you with only the candidates who meet your individual needs. Once you pick someone you can start work with them the next day. They offer a no-risk trial period. Go to Toptal.com. Get the best of the best right now. More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint...moreCopy Link

Forced Adoption

Jessica Chou approaches her subjects with as little preconceived notions as possible, allowing people the space to collaborate with the moment and the place they inhabit. She strives for honesty and to look at things as they are, without artifice or judgement. The result is something that is at once observant and intimate. While her photography is documentary in style, it is led by the possibilities for storytelling and expression within a single frame. From photographing high-profile public figures to exploring changes in the cultural landscape or reporting at the U.S. and Mexico border, what unites her work is her curiosity, empathy and her ease in shifting between disparate worlds and finding the naturalness in things that do not necessarily belong together. Jessica was born in 1985 in Taipei, Taiwan and raised in the suburbs of Los Angeles known as the San Gabriel Valley. She graduated from UCLA with a degree in Middle East History and is currently living and working between Los Angeles and San Francisco.   Photographer Links: Jessica Chou Teresa Eng Listener Intro: Alex Casares   Education Resources: Tokyo: Explorations in the Metropolis with Ibarionex Perello & George Nobechi Momenta Photographic Workshops Ibarionex + Olaf in Vancouver, Canada   Candid Frame Resources The Candid Frame Newsletter The Candid Frame Alexa Skill Lessons from the Street eBook by Ibarionex Making Photographs: Developing a Personal Visual Workflow The Candid Frame Flickr Pool The Candid Frame YouTube Channel   Download the free Candid Frame app for your favorite smart device. Click here to download for iOS. Click here to download for Android Support the work we do at The Candid Frame with contributing to our Patreon effort.  You can do this by visiting patreon.com/thecandidframe or visiting the website and clicking on the Patreon button. You can also provide a one-time donation via PayPal. You can follow Ibarionex on Instagram and Twitter....moreCopy Link

Remember MySpace? What about Kodak? These companies seemed to be unstoppable monopolies. So what happened? Ryan Bourne is author of the new Cato paper, "Is This Time Different? Schumpeter, the Tech Giants, and Monopoly Fatalism."

Have you ever wondered what your dog or cat would say to you if they could talk? How about your plant? In this episode we explore the world of bioacoustics and cognitive ecology. Featuring MIDI Sprout creator, Joe Patitucci, and ecologist, Monica Gagliano, who is the author of Thus Spoke the Plant.Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor.Follow the show on Twitter & Facebook. Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate.If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org.Check out Data Garden’s plant music at datagarden.org.Go to forhims.com/20k for your $5 complete hair kit.Check out SONOS at sonos.com.Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/plantsthatsing...moreCopy Link

A lot has happened in the lives of Danielle and Adam this past year that has made them totally re-evaluate the idea of what it truly means to feel and be successful. How much do success and wealth overlap? Whom do each of them deem to be truly successful and inspiring? What makes a successful marriage and do they consider their own marriage to be an example of one? What do they not want their kids to lose as they get older and start to equate accomplishment with skill? There's so much more to this topic that needs to be discussed, and it's pretty obvious that there are going to be more episodes to come on this topic....moreCopy Link

How do you see yourself and what do you expect from yourself? In today's episode we're talking about perceptions and expectations of ourselves. So much of our motivation is impacted by how we and those around us perceive ourselves. Today's Episode is Brought To you by: Discover.bot Discover.bot​ ​– a digital space for bot developers and enthusiasts of all skill levels to learn from one another, share stories, and move the bot conversation forward. Want to learn more about building bots? Get started with their​ ​Guide to Bot Building Frameworks​ Get in touch If you have questions about today's episode, want to start a conversation about today's topic or just want to let us know if you found this episode valuable I encourage you to join the conversation or start your own on our community platform Spectrum.chat/specfm/developer-tea 🧡 Leave a Review If you're enjoying the show and want to support the content head over to iTunes and leave a review! It helps other developers discover the show and keep us focused on what matters to you. 🍵 Subscribe to the Tea Break Challenge This is a daily challenge designed help you become more self-aware and be a better developer so you can have a positive impact on the people around you. Check it out and give it a try at https://www.teabreakchallenge.com/....moreCopy Link

In This Episode You Will Learn About: Finding your own creative process How Monique sacrificed the safety and security of the path most taken to truly find fulfillment in her individual purpose and unique gifts How creating art for yourself frees you from worrying about how others perceive it How to connect with an audience by inviting them to breathe with you Creating mentors for yourself Finding the right support Implementing fun as a non-negotiable in your work Understanding the need to rest and gather inspiration Maintaining your creative control How to get past your own stories and ask for what you need   Resources: Learn more: Monique’s Facebook Instagram: @moniquebenabou Watch: Monique’s YouTube Support: Monique’s GoFundMe   Show Notes: Monique Benabou creates music and magic on her own terms. In this episode Monique and I go deep into how to create your own authentic pathway and connect with the people who need you. Make sure you share this episode with anyone that you know is feeling called to something bigger, feeling like they're having trouble getting something out in the world, feeling judged or feeling comparison. Question Highlights: What's your relationship with procrastination and periods of lull in your work? When did you discover that you needed to be expressing yourself through music? How do you know what to expect when you're pulling a vision through into reality? What would you say to the you of even two years ago? I know that one of the hardest things for you was you started a GoFundMe account. Can you tell me about that process? You're in a super fast interaction with someone, but it's a total stranger. And it's only 30 seconds and they look at you and they say, how can I make myself happy? What do you say?   Guest Bio: After her worldwide debut on season two of The Voice and many years in the pop music industry, Monique Benabou decided to shift her focus from the mainstream to her own unique path of conscious music creation and healing arts. Her mission on the planet is to bring reliability, authenticity and joyfulness to the world through music and storytelling and a little hood humor. Earn Your Happy is a production of Crate Media...moreCopy Link

Have you ever dated someone for the perks? Free gig tickets? A sweet beach house? Maybe even a valid driver licence? Heaps of people do it, so it can be tricky to know if someone’s with you for you — and not the perks. Sexologist Amanda Lambros joins Nat to get right into that, plus why so many of us do it, even though we know it's wrong.

Alice Waters has been called a food revolutionary. In 1971, she opened a cozy restaurant in Berkeley, California called Chez Panisse. It showcased seasonal, local, organic fruits and vegetables and meats... a radical departure from the kind of food Americans were used to eating. Waters and her restaurant ushered in the farm-to-table movement and raised Americans' consciousness about fresh ingredients and healthy eating. She talks here about the trip to France that started it all, about her dedication to taste, and about the environmental impact of our food choices....moreCopy Link

Shaq opens the show by talking about what it's like for the Toronto Raptors after winning an NBA Championship, and how Pat Riley set up their epic championship celebration after winning the title in Miami. We also get to talk about Shaq's upcoming summer DJ tour, called the "Summer League" and how it will include appearances at Tomorrowland in Belgium and Lollapalooza in Chicago. We also present some of our favorite dummies from the news in a round "You Idiot," we answer a ton of questions in a round of "Dear Shaq," of course we get Borderline, and we play a round of Shaq's favorite game "White Crime or Black Crime." Follow the show on Twitter by following @Shaqcast - follow the show on Instagram and Facebook - or email your best stuff toTheBigPodcastWithShaq@gmail.com. Create a free account on BetOnline.AG and receive a 50% SIGN UP BONUS just by using the promo code PODCASTONE...moreCopy Link