Citizens armed only with Molotov cocktails battle with Russian tanks on the streets of… Budapest.In November of 1956 Russian troops invaded Hungary. The revolution was crushed and thousands of Hungarians fled. Will history repeat itself? We talk with Réka Pigniczky about her memory project, a film series dedicated to the Hungarian revolution. Also: Branko Marcetic compares America’s response to the events of 1956 with our current posturing over the Russian invasion of Ukraine. ps. Your host will be visiting Hungary this August to report on 1956 for our upcoming 8 part mini series, get in touch if you have any Budapest tips

Citizens armed only with Molotov cocktails battle with Russian tanks on the streets of… Budapest.In November of 1956 Russian troops invaded Hungary. The revolution was crushed and thousands of Hungarians fled. Will history repeat itself? We talk with <a href="http://rekapigniczky.com/visual-history/memory-project-19562016/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Réka Pigniczky</a> about her memory project, a film series dedicated to the Hungarian revolution. Also: <a href="https://www.currentaffairs.org/2022/06/u-s-deliberation-during-hungarys-1956-uprising-offers-lessons-on-restraint" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Branko Marcetic</a> compares America’s response to the events of 1956 with our current posturing over the Russian invasion of Ukraine. ps. Your host will be visiting Hungary this August to report on 1956 for our upcoming 8 part mini series, get in touch if you have any Budapest tips

Second time as forced (500daysplus)

The life of musician Connie Converse easily reduces down to one of those Hemingway length sad stories: Before Dylan there was Connie Converse and then she disappeared. In his new book “To Anyone Who Ever Asks: The Life, Music, and Mystery of Connie Converse” Howard Fishman gives us the complete tale.  We meet up with Howard and learn why this incredible musician  just couldn’t catch a break in 1950s New York City, and why he is devoted to her life and art. You can get a copy of Howard’s amazing book wherever books are sold or use this link

The life of musician Connie Converse easily reduces down to one of those Hemingway length sad stories: Before Dylan there was Connie Converse and then she disappeared. In his new book “To Anyone Who Ever Asks: The Life, Music, and Mystery of Connie Converse” Howard Fishman gives us the complete tale. We meet up with Howard and learn why this incredible musician just couldn’t catch a break in 1950s New York City, and why he is devoted to her life and art. You can get a copy of Howard’s amazing book wherever books are sold or use this <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/to-anyone-who-ever-asks-the-life-music-and-mystery-of-connie-converse-howard-fishman/18748510?ean=9780593187364" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">link</a>

Outsider Studies: Connie Converse

We hear from two photographers who are masters at showing us what is hard to see, and always has been hard to see, in America.

We hear from two photographers who are masters at showing us what is hard to see, and always has been hard to see, in America.

How to look at America

The war/invasion/fighting is still going. We revisit our program on NFTs, art and war.  Your host visits the 59th International Art Biennale in Venice, the world’s most important art fair and the first since the global pandemic. Plus Digital Ukranians, Sound Art, and NFTs.

The war/invasion/fighting is still going. We revisit our program on NFTs, art and war. Your host visits the 59th International Art Biennale in Venice, the world’s most important art fair and the first since the global pandemic. Plus Digital Ukranians, Sound Art, and NFTs.

Venice (Ukraine redux)

One of the episodes in my False Alarm! Series from 2018 imagined a future where Elon Musk stepped up to help with the News. That Algorithmic Oligarchic joke is no longer funny. On 4.20.2023 Elon Musk followed through on his threat and brought Twitter to heel. From 2018: A handful of tech barons now own the news but only one can rule the fake news. A chat with the comedy team behind the CBC’sThis is That satirical news show turns into breaking news about Elon Musk.

One of the episodes in my False Alarm! Series from 2018 imagined a future where Elon Musk stepped up to help with the News. That Algorithmic Oligarchic joke is no longer funny. On 4.20.2023 Elon Musk followed through on his threat and brought Twitter to heel. From 2018: A handful of tech barons now own the news but only one can rule the fake news. A chat with the comedy team behind the CBC’s<a href="https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thisisthat" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">This is That</a> satirical news show turns into breaking news about Elon Musk.

Reality is that which, when you stop laughing at it, doesn't go away (false alarm Elon Musk 4202023 remix) 

Stormy Daniels

Back in 2018 your host met Stormy Daniels as part of his 15 part investigation into America’s disinformation complex.  You can find that series here. On this historic day, as we learn that no American floats above the law, we turn back to this historic TOE moment, a remix of False Alarm, featuring a profile of the artist Lynn Hershman Leeson, a conversation with writer Susan Jacoby and Benjamen Walker’s meeting with Stormy Daniels!

Back in 2018 your host met Stormy Daniels as part of his 15 part investigation into America’s disinformation complex. You can find that series <a href="https://theoryofeverythingpodcast.com/series/false-alarm/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. On this historic day, as we learn that no American floats above the law, we turn back to this historic TOE moment, a remix of False Alarm, featuring a profile of the artist Lynn Hershman Leeson, a conversation with writer Susan Jacoby and Benjamen Walker’s meeting with Stormy Daniels!

False Alarm! (Stormy Daniels 2023 Appreciation remix)

A remixed complete version of our two part Watergate series from last year:  Journalists may write the first draft of history but Hollywood prints the legends and the myths. The 1976 film All the President’s Men remains our most authoritative account of Watergate. The film is also responsible for the myth of Deep Throat. Your host follows the myth… from 1976 to the present.  Plus a reporter from the Washington Post newsroom who never made it into All the President’s Men yet did more to safeguard the free press and American democracy than Woodstein ever did.

A remixed complete version of our two part Watergate series from last year:  Journalists may write the first draft of history but Hollywood prints the legends and the myths. The 1976 film All the President’s Men remains our most authoritative account of Watergate. The film is also responsible for the myth of Deep Throat. Your host follows the myth… from 1976 to the present.  Plus a reporter from the Washington Post newsroom who never made it into All the President’s Men yet did more to safeguard the free press and American democracy than Woodstein ever did.

How to tell the truth about lies (complete)

Some books have titles that jump out right out at you, Carmela Ciuraru’s new group biography Lives of the Wives is definitely one of those books. She tells us about her five wives and the hazards of literary relationships.

Some books have titles that jump out right out at you, Carmela Ciuraru’s new group biography Lives of the Wives is definitely one of those books. She tells us about her five wives and the hazards of literary relationships.

Lives of the Wives 

Two very different tales about making stuff up about the CIA. Your host shares the story of Sylvia Press, who in the 1950s, wrote a revenge novel after she was fired during the McCarthy purges. And author Jefferson Morley tells us about the time CIA director Richard Helms tried to create an American James Bond with the help of future Watergate burglar E Howard Hunt. Get Jefferson Morley’s amazing new book: Scorpion's Dance. Sylvia Press’s novel The Care of Devils is harder to find.

Two very different tales about making stuff up about the CIA. Your host shares the story of Sylvia Press, who in the 1950s, wrote a revenge novel after she was fired during the McCarthy purges. And author Jefferson Morley tells us about the time CIA director Richard Helms tried to create an American James Bond with the help of future Watergate burglar E Howard Hunt. Get Jefferson Morley’s amazing new book: <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250275837/scorpionsdance" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Scorpion's Dance</a>. Sylvia Press’s novel The Care of Devils is harder to find.

Too good to be true

As decibel levels continue to rise, threatening human existence we turn to two listening experts for help. George Prochnik and George Foy both investigate listening, silence and noise. 

As decibel levels continue to rise, threatening human existence we turn to two listening experts for help. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pursuit-Silence-Listening-Meaning-World/dp/0385528884" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">George Prochnik</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Zero-Decibels-Quest-Absolute-Silence/dp/1416599592" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">George Foy</a> both investigate listening, silence and noise.

Listening to Noise

Personally connecting the dots. All of them. Benjamen Walker’s Theory of Everything is a proud member of Radiotopia, from PRX. Learn more at radiotopia.fm.

Someone who does not take himself too seriously

Walker is a unique voice. It’s not all fact, but it’s all true. The world is a weird place.

Brilliantly observed

Personally connecting the dots. All of them. <a href="http://theoryofeverythingpodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Benjamen Walker’s Theory of Everything</a> is a proud member of Radiotopia, from PRX. Learn more at <a href="http://radiotopia.fm/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">radiotopia.fm</a>.

Benjamen Walker's Theory of Everything

Our New ToE series on the battle between the real and the fake begins with a text alert sent out to everyone in Hawaii on a balmy Saturday morning. We also hear from the man who has written the text alert that will go out to all New Yorkers in the event of a real emergency. Photographer Stan Douglas shows us how to reconstruct a future that makes sense, and your host turns to fellow podcaster Jody Avirgan for advice on how to own the “real-ish” podcast genre. Plus the little boy who cried wolf meets the Emperor with no clothes!    Read our Medium page for details on the entire episode Illustration by Jordan Crane and new series logo by Val Dorito.

Our New ToE series on the battle between the real and the fake begins with a text alert sent out to everyone in Hawaii on a balmy Saturday morning. We also hear from the man who has written the text alert that will go out to all New Yorkers in the event of a real emergency. Photographer <a href="https://www.davidzwirner.com/exhibitions/dct%E2%80%99s-and-scenes-blackout" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stan Douglas</a> shows us how to reconstruct a future that makes sense, and your host turns to fellow podcaster <a href="https://twitter.com/jodyavirgan?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jody Avirgan</a> for advice on how to own the “real-ish” podcast genre. Plus the little boy who cried wolf meets the Emperor with no clothes! Read our <a href="https://medium.com/@benjamenwalker/this-is-not-a-drill-false-alarm-part-i-cc52d61559d8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Medium page</a> for details on the entire episode Illustration by <a href="http://www.whatthingsdo.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jordan Crane</a> and new series logo by <a href="http://valdorito.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Val Dorito</a>.

This Is Not A Drill (False Alarm! part i)

 Philosopher Daniel Heller-Roazen tells us the story of Pythagoras and the fifth hammer and how Kant and Kepler both tried (and failed) to record the universal harmonies Pythagoras once heard. Your host sets out to make some money doing experimental medical testing, and gets the chance to record the voice in his head. 

Philosopher Daniel Heller-Roazen tells us the story of Pythagoras and the fifth hammer and how Kant and Kepler both tried (and failed) to record the universal harmonies Pythagoras once heard. Your host sets out to make some money doing experimental medical testing, and gets the chance to record the voice in his head.

Guided By Voices (r)

A few years ago your host took a pilgrimage to Copenhagen to walk the streets the great Dane Søren Kierkegaard once walked. He wanted to understand  the meaning of Kierkegaard’s religious stage so he decided to ask the experts at the Kierkegaard research center. Also Photographer Dina Litovksy tells us about the history and some of the secrets of the modern bachelorette party. And Michael Holmes tells us about life’s final stage – death.  *********Click on the image for the whole story about this week’s installment**********

A few years ago your host took a pilgrimage to Copenhagen to walk the streets the great Dane Søren Kierkegaard once walked. He wanted to understand  the meaning of Kierkegaard’s religious stage so he decided to ask the experts at the Kierkegaard research center. Also Photographer Dina Litovksy tells us about the history and some of the secrets of the modern bachelorette party. And Michael Holmes tells us about life’s final stage – death. <a href="https://medium.com/@benjamenwalker/stages-on-lifes-way-f9701e668e28" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a> *********Click on the image for the whole story about this week’s installment**********

Stages on Life’s Way

A torture expert records an imaginary criterion commentary track for the torture scenes in Zero Dark Thirty. We learn about Umarov Muhibullah, one of the first innocent men to be released from Guantanamo. And your host ponders why Guantanamo is still open.  **********Click on the image for the whole story about this week’s installment********

A torture expert records an imaginary criterion commentary track for the torture scenes in Zero Dark Thirty. We learn about Umarov Muhibullah, one of the first innocent men to be released from Guantanamo. And your host ponders why Guantanamo is still open. <a href="https://medium.com/p/1f9ed203c5d6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a> **********Click on the image for the whole story about this week’s installment********

Red, White, Blue & Orange

What happens when you curse your own country? In this version of the classic Americana tale your host is sentenced to live out the rest of his days in a hot air balloon.  In part two of the story your host has his first human interaction in ten years. Plus radio host Glynn Washington tells us what it was like to grow up black in a white-supremacist Christian cult.

What happens when you curse your own country? In this version of the classic Americana tale your host is sentenced to live out the rest of his days in a hot air balloon.  In part two of the story your host has his first human interaction in ten years. Plus radio host Glynn Washington tells us what it was like to grow up black in a white-supremacist Christian cult.

Man Without a Country (2 of 3)

What happens when you curse your own country? In this version of the classic Americana tale your host is sentenced to live out the rest of his days in a hot air balloon.  Our story concludes(?) when your host attempts to turn bread into wine. Plus learn about the origins of the tale of the Man without a Country and the various versions that have been produced over the last hundred years.

What happens when you curse your own country? In this version of the classic Americana tale your host is sentenced to live out the rest of his days in a hot air balloon.  Our story concludes(?) when your host attempts to turn bread into wine. Plus learn about the origins of the tale of the Man without a Country and the various versions that have been produced over the last hundred years.

Man Without a Country (3 of 3)

In 1984 your host was twelve years old and like George Orwell’s protagonist Winston Smith, he kept a diary, for the citizens of the future. For this special installment of Benjamen Walker’s Theory of Everything we travel back in time and give this diary a soundtrack. TV commercials, radio spots, movie clips – all sound from 1984 (the year, not the book). Find out what totalitarianism really sounds like.  *********Click on the image for the whole story about this  installment********** 

In 1984 your host was twelve years old and like George Orwell’s protagonist Winston Smith, he kept a diary, for the citizens of the future. For this special installment of Benjamen Walker’s Theory of Everything we travel back in time and give this diary a soundtrack. TV commercials, radio spots, movie clips – all sound from 1984 (the year, not the book). Find out what totalitarianism really sounds like. <a href="https://medium.com/p/87aca847c0c3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> *********Click on the image for the whole story about this  installment********** </a>

1984 (the year not the book)

After moving to New York alone, writer Olivia Laing discovered the truth about loneliness. She says it is a gift.  Eric Klinenberg explains why more and more people are choosing to live alone and why cities like New York must invest in housing stock that singletons actually want to live in, the type of housing they have in Scandinavian countries.  In Denmark when someone dies alone, and no-one claims the body, the authorities put an ad in the newspaper calling for Possible Relatives. This is also the title of a photo-book by Danish photographer Tina Enghoff.  She tells us about the pictures she took of the apartments after the dead were removed. Some of these bodies went undiscovered for months.  *********Click on the image for the whole story about this week’s installment**********

After moving to New York alone, writer Olivia Laing discovered the truth about loneliness. She says it is a gift.  Eric Klinenberg explains why more and more people are choosing to live alone and why cities like New York must invest in housing stock that singletons actually want to live in, the type of housing they have in Scandinavian countries.  In Denmark when someone dies alone, and no-one claims the body, the authorities put an ad in the newspaper calling for Possible Relatives. This is also the title of a photo-book by Danish photographer Tina Enghoff.  She tells us about the pictures she took of the apartments after the dead were removed. Some of these bodies went undiscovered for months. <a href="https://medium.com/p/b0ff67ae6b64" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a> *********Click on the image for the whole story about this week’s installment**********

When You’re Lonely, Life is Very Long

The future of face-swapping! The REAL deepfakes speaks! Artist Lynn Hershman Leeson tells us how technology has transformed the way she plays with fact and fiction. Dipayan Ghosh warns us about AI powered ad-targeting. Criminal’s Phoebe and Lauren drop knowledge on the untrue in true crime. Plus your host meets STORMY DANIELS!

The future of face-swapping! The REAL deepfakes speaks! Artist <a href="http://www.lynnhershman.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lynn Hershman Leeson</a> tells us how technology has transformed the way she plays with fact and fiction. <a href="https://twitter.com/ghoshd7" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dipayan Ghosh</a> warns us about AI powered ad-targeting. <a href="http://www.thisiscriminal.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Criminal</a>’s Phoebe and Lauren drop knowledge on the untrue in true crime. Plus your host meets STORMY DANIELS!

Fake Nudes (False Alarm! part ii)

Allen Ginsberg tries his hand at Market Research,  Walter Benjamin goes on the radio and ToE’s Chris drops in on a new bar in DC called the Freedom Cock. Also visit radiotopia.fm and become a sustaining member today!  image: Celeste Lai

Allen Ginsberg tries his hand at Market Research,  Walter Benjamin goes on the radio and ToE’s Chris drops in on a new bar in DC called the Freedom Cock. Also visit <a href="http://radiotopia.fm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">radiotopia.fm</a> and become a sustaining member today! <a href="http://toe.prx.org/wp-content/uploads/three-cups.jpg?x74027" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a> image: Celeste Lai

The things we do for money

Your host decides to follow back a Joy Division T-shirt that is following him around the internet. Plus the surveillance that powers behaviorally targeted personalized advertising. 

Your host decides to follow back a Joy Division T-shirt that is following him around the internet. Plus the surveillance that powers behaviorally targeted personalized advertising.

Honeypot

The financial crisis of September 2008 overshadows one of the most important events in recent New York History: the arrival of Airbnb. And while your host wasn’t paying attention back then either, today he is fed up with the commodification of every square inch of the city. But what if the Airbnb economy is also changing the way New York City dreams and makes art? Can it be stopped? Housing Activist Murray Cox gives us a tour of his insideairbnb project, Sociologist Richard Ocejo takes us on a jaunt through Hell Square, and legendary performance artist Penny Arcade shows us around “the big cupcake”.  *********Click on the image for the whole story about this week’s installment**********

The financial crisis of September 2008 overshadows one of the most important events in recent New York History: the arrival of Airbnb. And while your host wasn’t paying attention back then either, today he is fed up with the commodification of every square inch of the city. But what if the Airbnb economy is also changing the way New York City dreams and makes art? Can it be stopped? Housing Activist Murray Cox gives us a tour of his <a href="http://insideairbnb.com/new-york-city/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">insideairbnb</a> project, Sociologist <a href="http://press.princeton.edu/titles/10396.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Richard Ocejo</a> takes us on a jaunt through Hell Square, and legendary performance artist <a href="http://pennyarcade.tv/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Penny Arcade</a> shows us around “the big cupcake”. <a href="https://medium.com/@benjamenwalker/new-york-after-rent-i-of-iii-b4c99eca87c6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a> *********Click on the image for the whole story about this week’s installment**********

New York After Rent (I of III)

Our series concludes with some revelations. Metahaven uses the story of Wikileaks to show us the infrastructure of the cloud and its super-jurisdictional powers. The BBC’s Paul Mason takes us on a wild tour of China in his novel Rare Earth. And a pile of iPhones brings your host a moment of clarity.  *********Click on the image for the whole story about this week’s installment********

Our series concludes with some revelations. Metahaven uses the story of Wikileaks to show us the infrastructure of the cloud and its super-jurisdictional powers. The BBC’s Paul Mason takes us on a wild tour of China in his novel Rare Earth. And a pile of iPhones brings your host a moment of clarity. <a href="https://medium.com/p/a0664b481cbe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a> *********Click on the image for the whole story about this week’s installment********

The Clouds (part 3 of 3)

Your host discovers you can’t beat the Russians at the fake game and ToE’s Chris reviews Oliver Stone’s Edward Snowden. Plus: Vladislav Surkov and the Potemkin Panopticon.

Your host discovers you can’t beat the Russians at the fake game and ToE’s Chris reviews Oliver Stone’s Edward Snowden. Plus: Vladislav Surkov and the Potemkin Panopticon.

Useful Idiots

For this special installment of the Theory of Everything we explore Maker Culture. Makerbot co-founder Bre Pettis gives us a tour of his new venture: Bold Machines. Plus we go to China to learn what the next generation of Chinese makers have planned for the future.

For this special installment of the Theory of Everything we explore Maker Culture. Makerbot co-founder Bre Pettis gives us a tour of his new venture: Bold Machines. Plus we go to China to learn what the next generation of Chinese makers have planned for the future.

Making it Happen

Paul Ford is a technologist and a writer, sometimes these two things blur. For example, he’s currently working on a book about webpages, but he’s also building a content management system for webpages –  because you know it could help with the writing.  (yeah his book is late) Its not like he’s trying to procrastinate, this is just what life is like when you are Paul Ford.  A couple of Monday night’s ago he was sitting on his couch drinking some rye whisky and chatting with his friends on twitter  and he accidentally a brand new webpage community.  This is the true origin story of his tilde.club. Yours truly also started a new thing it is called dislike.club. We also check in with Librarian and community manager Jessamyn West for advice on how to start an online community that doesn’t suck.  The Dislike Club is  a story-in-progress, it will play out on the podcast over the next few weeks and then culminate December 21 on Radiotonic, from ABC RN’s Creative Audio Unit.

Paul Ford is a technologist and a writer, sometimes these two things blur. For example, he’s currently working on a book about webpages, but he’s also building a content management system for webpages –  because you know it could help with the writing.  (yeah his book is late) Its not like he’s trying to procrastinate, this is just what life is like when you are Paul Ford.  A couple of Monday night’s ago he was sitting on his couch drinking some rye whisky and chatting with his friends on twitter  and he accidentally a brand new webpage community.  This is the true origin story of his tilde.club. Yours truly also started a new thing it is called dislike.club. We also check in with Librarian and community manager Jessamyn West for advice on how to start an online community that doesn’t suck. <a href="http://toe.prx.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-shot-2014-11-14-at-12.03.46-PM.png?x74027" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a> The Dislike Club is  a story-in-progress, it will play out on the podcast over the next few weeks and then culminate December 21 on Radiotonic, from ABC RN’s Creative Audio Unit.

Backspace to the Future (the dislike club part I)

We take another look at algorithms. Tim Hwang explains how Uber’s algorithms generate phantom cars and marketplace mirages. And we revisit our conversation with Christian Sandvig who, last year asked Facebook users to explain how they imagine the Edgerank algorithm works (this is the algorithm that powers Facebook’s news feed). Sandvig discovered that most of his subjects had no idea there even was an algorithm at work. Plus  James Essinger and Suw Charman-Anderson, tell us about Ada Lovelace, the woman who wrote the first computer program (or as James puts it – Algorithm)  in 1843.

We take another look at algorithms. <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2015/07/uber_s_algorithm_and_the_mirage_of_the_marketplace.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tim Hwang</a> explains how Uber’s algorithms generate phantom cars and marketplace mirages. And we revisit our conversation with <a href="http://www-personal.umich.edu/%7Ecsandvig/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Christian Sandvig</a> who, last year asked Facebook users to explain how they imagine the Edgerank algorithm works (this is the algorithm that powers Facebook’s news feed). Sandvig discovered that most of his subjects had no idea there even was an algorithm at work. Plus  <a href="http://www.mhpbooks.com/books/adas-algorithm/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">James Essinger</a> and <a href="http://findingada.com/about/meet-alds-founder/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Suw Charman-Anderson</a>, tell us about Ada Lovelace, the woman who wrote the first computer program (or as James puts it – Algorithm)  in 1843.

Enchanting By Numbers (2015 version)

When I was in Beijing last summer I dropped by the Microsoft research campus to talk with  Dr. Yu Zheng. He studies the air pollution in his city, and the noise pollution in mine. Using algorithms he is able to predict what kinds of noises New Yorkers are most likely to hear in their neighborhoods, take a look at his Citynoise map. His algorithms could one day help city planners curb air pollution and noise or as Christian Sandvig notes they could be used by the GPS apps on our mobile devices to keep us from walking through neighborhoods perceived to have loud people hanging around outside. Christian Sandvig studies algorithms which is hard to do, most companies like Facebook and Google don’t make their algorithms public. In a recent study he asked Facebook users to explain how they imagine the Edgerank algorithm works (this is the algorithm that powers Facebook’s news feed). Sandvig discovered that most of his subjects had no idea there even was an algorithm at work. When they learned the truth, it was like a moment out of the Matrix. But none of the participants remained angry for long. Six months later they mostly reported satisfaction with the algorithms that determine what the can and can’t see. Sandvig finds this problematic, because our needs and desires often don’t match with the needs and desires of the companies who build the algorithms. “Ada’s Algorithm” is the title of James Essinger’s new book. It tells the remarkable story about Ada Lovelace the woman who wrote the first computer program (or as James puts it – Algorithm)  in 1843. He believes Ada’s insights came from her “poetical” scientific brain. Suw Charman-Anderson, the founder of Ada Lovelace day, tells us more about this remarkable woman.

When I was in Beijing last summer I dropped by the Microsoft research campus to talk with  Dr. Yu Zheng. He studies the air pollution in his city, and the noise pollution in mine. Using algorithms he is able to predict what kinds of noises New Yorkers are most likely to hear in their neighborhoods, take a look at his <a href="http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/citynoise/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Citynoise</a> map. His algorithms could one day help city planners curb air pollution and noise or as Christian Sandvig notes they could be used by the GPS apps on our mobile devices to keep us from walking through neighborhoods perceived to have loud people hanging around outside. <a href="http://www-personal.umich.edu/%7Ecsandvig/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Christian Sandvig</a> studies algorithms which is hard to do, most companies like Facebook and Google don’t make their algorithms public. In a recent study he asked Facebook users to explain how they imagine the Edgerank algorithm works (this is the algorithm that powers Facebook’s news feed). Sandvig discovered that most of his subjects had no idea there even was an algorithm at work. When they learned the truth, it was like a moment out of the Matrix. But none of the participants remained angry for long. Six months later they mostly reported satisfaction with the algorithms that determine what the can and can’t see. Sandvig finds this problematic, because our needs and desires often don’t match with the needs and desires of the companies who build the algorithms. “Ada’s Algorithm” is the title of <a href="http://www.mhpbooks.com/books/adas-algorithm/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">James Essinger’s new book</a>. It tells the remarkable story about Ada Lovelace the woman who wrote the first computer program (or as James puts it – Algorithm)  in 1843. He believes Ada’s insights came from her “poetical” scientific brain. <a href="http://findingada.com/about/meet-alds-founder/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Suw Charman-Anderson</a>, the founder of Ada Lovelace day, tells us more about this remarkable woman.

Enchanting By Numbers

Frankie isn’t a real Media Influencer but the Government saw the 500k followers he bought for his Instagram profile back in the day and arrested him anyway. Now he’s in a Media internment camp. This is PART TWO of a special collaboration with the Truth podcast. Head over there to get part one. This is our contribution to Radiotopia’s new crossover series. We all investigate Doing Time to mark the arrival of the new Radiotopia Podcast Earhustle.

Frankie isn’t a real Media Influencer but the Government saw the 500k followers he bought for his Instagram profile back in the day and arrested him anyway. Now he’s in a Media internment camp. This is PART TWO of a special collaboration with the <a href="http://www.thetruthpodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Truth podcast</a>. Head over there to get part one. This is our contribution to Radiotopia’s new crossover series. We all investigate <a href="https://medium.com/public-radio-exchange/radiotopia-presents-doing-time-9cce07281a3b" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Doing Time</a> to mark the arrival of the new Radiotopia Podcast <a href="https://www.earhustlesq.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Earhustle</a>.

Influencers (part II of II)

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