“This American Life”

Podcast Patent Trolls: WTF?!

/ Matthew Clemente / 1 Comment

Podcast Patent Trolls: WTF?!

One of the most popular podcasts on the internet, WTF with Marc Maron, began today’s episode with an impassioned plea: stop the patent trolls. Apparently, patent trolls have begun to sue successful podcasts hoping for settlements or licencing fees.  As comedian Marc Maron mentioned in his opening monologue, Personal Audio, a patent troll group, has sued Adam Carolla, another popular comedian podcaster.  Maron urged listener to support the Saving High-tech Innovators from Egregious Legal Disputes (SHIELD) Act, a  pending bipartisan bill that would force patent trolls to pay defendants’ attorney’s fees in unsuccessful litigation.

Maron’s opening monologue about patent trolls lasts about 7 minutes.  This podcast contains explicit language.

  • http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/441/when-patents-attack (a “This American Life” episode referred to by Maron)
  • http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/02/28/shield_patent_act/ (article summarizing the SHIELD Act)

This American Life: Where Guns and Gangs Come From

/ Matthew Clemente / Leave a comment

This American Life: Where Guns and Gangs Come From

Part II of This American Life‘s look at Harper High School.

This story has six acts.

  • Act One: “The Eyewitnesses” (discusses the psychological toll of witnesses gun violence first hand, 10 mins)
  • Act Two: “Your Name Written On Me” (explores the origin of a Chicago gang, 15 mins)
  • Act Three: “Get Your Gun” (teenagers explain where the get their guns, 6 mins)
  • Act Four: “Devonte, Part Two” (aftermath of 14 year old who accidentally shoots his brother, 8 mins)
  • Act Five: “Reverse Turnaround Backflip” (principal discusses balancing budget cuts in inner-city school, 7 mins)
  • Act Six: “We Are Harper High School” (chronicles how schools in other cities struggle with gun violence, 3 mins)

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/488/harper-high-school-part-two (63 mins total)

http://slacearchive.wordpress.com/2013/02/25/this-american-life-everything-you-know-about-gangs-is-wrong-part-i/ (Part I)