Radio Free Earth

• Expanding Musical Taste

  Bob Dylan's got a Christmas album coming out, as many know already. Here's a piece that suggests his record may have been influenced by a 1991 Brave Combo Christmas album. Dylan covers a song that Brave Combo did there, the polka "Must Be Santa." According to this piece,' [...]
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  Posted: October 05, 2009, 7:21am EDT
  by Josh Wachtel

• New Times Require New Economy

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  Here's an interesting piece, which challenges the idea (or high religion) of the growth economy, always expanding, growing fatter and fatter. Some economists seem to be working on a new model, based on cellular growth, in an effort to dream up a sustainable model of economic activity. Read [...]
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  Posted: September 01, 2009, 7:21pm EDT
  by Josh Wachtel

• RFE Podcast #17

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  Get it while it's hot: #17
  
  Listen now:
  
  
  
  
  
  [...]
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  Posted: August 23, 2009, 10:44am EDT
  by Josh Wachtel

• A Photo from Musikfest

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  Here's a photo from the Morning Call's blog from our Musikfest performance last weekend:
  
  
  
  Permalink here. [...]
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  Posted: August 12, 2009, 6:04pm EDT
  by Josh Wachtel

• Priced to Sell: Malcolm Gladwell talks about "Free"

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  Malcolm Gladwell takes aim at a new book by Chris Anderson called "Free: The Future of a Radical Price" in this week's The New Yorker magazine. Get it while it's free.
  
  Gladwell refutes Anderson's assertion that "information wants to be free" -- "Amazon want information ... to be free," [...]
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  Posted: July 07, 2009, 9:02am EDT
  by Ben Wachtel

• Podcast #16

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  Our new podcast is posted, so hop on over to our podcast page to listen or subscribe. [...]
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  Posted: July 06, 2009, 7:10am EDT
  by Josh Wachtel

• Gargantu-ant

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  This is just plain cool -- a 400x-magnified image of an ant comprised of 400 photos taken with a scanning electron microscope. [...]
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  Posted: July 04, 2009, 10:28am EDT
  by Ben Wachtel

• Dreamwalkers

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  I just came across this documentary featuring the late Sufi writer Idries Shah. "Dreamwalkers" covers such topics as conditioning, unconscious brainwashing, the function of ritual in society, the human nutritional need for attention, how we learn, confined thinking, and the stories of Mulla Nasrudin. (It is split into 10 parts [...]
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  Posted: July 03, 2009, 1:08pm EDT
  by Ben Wachtel

• Trogholm Blog

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  Cory Panshin has officially started a blog, after toying with the idea for quite a while. She seems to be posting more regularly now, though you can go back and read some of her older posts as well. There's talk of story and the rise of civilization, cultural patterns and [...]
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  Posted: June 21, 2009, 9:50am EDT
  by Josh Wachtel

• Brother Ben Sits In

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  Our newest podcast is up, and it may be our best one yet. Scoot on over to our podcast page to listen. [...]
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  Posted: June 03, 2009, 7:28am EDT
  by Josh Wachtel

• Folk process or plagiarism?

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  A "poem" purportedly written by a teenage Bob Dylan and up for auction at Christie's is actually a song written by the late Canadian country singer Hank Snow, the auction house said on Wednesday. Read more.' [...]
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  Posted: May 22, 2009, 9:12am EDT
  by Ben Wachtel

• Making the world's knowledge computable

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  WolframAlpha.com is a newly released "computational search engine," with the humble long-term goal of making "all systematic knowledge immediately computable and accessible to everyone."
  
  I'm not sure I understand all the implications of this technology, or even how best to explain it, but I've been messing around with it [...]
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  Posted: May 16, 2009, 6:50pm EDT
  by Ben Wachtel

• "Sam Dogg, Meet Blind Willie Grunt!"

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  Nice tribute page to Doug Sahm, and his relationship with Smokin' Bobby D. Click right ... here.' [...]
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  Posted: May 16, 2009, 1:20pm EDT
  by Josh Wachtel

• Podcast 14

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  Podcast #14 is now up for your listening pleasure. Boogie on over to our podcast page to listen, or just subscribe here. [...]
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  Posted: May 05, 2009, 5:11pm EDT
  by Josh Wachtel

• Springing Back

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  When spring hits in New England, there's work to be done. And it's not inside in front of the computer. Still, expect a new podcast in the next few days!
  
  I also want to thank everyone for supporting us and coming out to recent shows. Deja Brew was a [...]
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  Posted: May 01, 2009, 1:35pm EDT
  by Josh Wachtel

• Podcast 13

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  Boogie on over to our Podcast page for number 13 just posted. [...]
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  Posted: April 17, 2009, 8:00am EDT
  by Josh Wachtel

• Stand By Me

  Number of comments: 0
  This has to be seen:
  
  [...]
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  Posted: April 07, 2009, 7:18pm EDT
  by Josh Wachtel

• Music From Dark Hollow

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  Check our podcast for episode #12 with music recorded live at Tinicum Arts Festival last summer. [...]
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  Posted: April 01, 2009, 6:16pm EDT
  by Josh Wachtel

• A Need for New Economic Models

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  I've been racking my brain lately over "The Economy." The current failure looks a lot to me like the failure of an outlook and value system, rather than something simply broken down and in need of tinkering and repair. I wonder how an ethic could be created to support an' [...]
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  Posted: March 27, 2009, 8:38am EDT
  by Josh Wachtel

• Earth Hour 2009 and Hilltown Sustainability

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  Saturday, March 28, 2009, our good friend Sarah Stockwell is putting on a concert/community-building event at the West Cummington Church, in West Cummington, Massachusetts, with doors opening at 7:00pm, concert beginning at 7:30pm. Kim and I are joining Sarah on a number of tunes, and singing a couple of our [...]
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  Posted: March 23, 2009, 10:55am EDT
  by Josh Wachtel

• Podcast 11

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  Our newest podcast is posted here. Go and get it! [...]
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  Posted: March 16, 2009, 4:03pm EDT
  by Josh Wachtel

• Bob Dylan: New Album and Interview

  Number of comments: 0
  
  Here's a short interview with Bob Dylan to accompany the April 28 release of his new album, "Together Through Life".' [...]
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  Posted: March 16, 2009, 9:51am EDT
  by Ben Wachtel

• Podcast

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  I'm bloody close, but I'm too exhausted from a busy weekend to finish tonight. Check back in the next day or two for Podcast #11. [...]
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  Posted: March 15, 2009, 10:02pm EDT
  by Josh Wachtel

• There's A Bailout Comin' But It's Not For You

  Number of comments: 0
  Neil Young rants about the economy, the war, the Internet, digital music ("Download this / It sounds like shit ... ") and a bunch of other stuff.
  
  Neil Young - Fork In The Road
  [...]
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  Posted: March 12, 2009, 5:20am EDT
  by Ben Wachtel

• Podcast 10

  Number of comments: 0
  Our new podcast is up. Listen here or simply click here and download it right now. [...]
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  Posted: March 01, 2009, 4:28pm EST
  by Josh Wachtel

• Magic Part 2 & 3

  Number of comments: 0
  
  
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  Posted: February 23, 2009, 1:01pm EST
  by Josh Wachtel

• Yesterday's Quote of the Day Today

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  "Economists continue to assume that the only limits to growth are labor, man-made capital, and consumer demand. In fact, the critical limit is ecological."
  
  -- Paul Craig Roberts [...]
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  Posted: February 22, 2009, 12:50pm EST
  by Josh Wachtel

• Magic Part 1

  Number of comments: 0
  [...]
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  Posted: February 22, 2009, 12:48pm EST
  by Josh Wachtel

• Podcast 9

  Number of comments: 1
  Podcast #9 is up. Click here to hear, download and subscribe to this and all our podcasts. [...]
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  Posted: February 15, 2009, 6:29pm EST
  by Josh Wachtel

• Last Minute Booking

  Number of comments: 1
  If you happen to be reading this, and are anywhere near Charlemont, Massachusetts this evening (Sat. Feb 7) come on over to the Charlemont Inn (Route 2). We got a last minute booking there, starting at 8:30pm. Apparently a group from the US Navy is skiing this weekend at Berkshire [...]
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  Posted: February 07, 2009, 6:00pm EST
  by Josh Wachtel

• Where Will Tom Tomorrow Be Tomorrow?

  Number of comments: 0
  Here's a personal take by Tom Tomorrow, the cartoonist who writes "This Modern World" -- you've seen it! -- on the rise and fall (probably) of alt weekly comics: that is, comic strips like Tom's that have appeared primarily in alternative weekly news magazines, those free entertainment guides' [...]
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  Posted: February 06, 2009, 6:25pm EST
  by Josh Wachtel

• Imitation and Art

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  When I first started out playing music, it was 99% imitation and 1% imagination. I tried to sound like my heroes, play their songs, and sing and perform the way I thought they did. Slowly, I tried to discover what I had to say and how I had to say [...]
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  Posted: February 04, 2009, 10:18pm EST
  by Josh Wachtel

• Daily News

  Number of comments: 0
  Thanks to everyone who showed up at the Meekins Library yesterday. We had a lot of fun. It was a day of firsts, including Jordan's first time playing the cajon with us live, and our first time playing with bass player Dan Wallack. I made a recording of the show,' [...]
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  Posted: February 02, 2009, 7:53am EST
  by Josh Wachtel

• Podcast 8

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  Podcast Episode 8 is up: [www.radiofreeearth.com]
  
  We're headed out to play at the Meekins Library in Williamsburg, Ma at 2pm, so if you're in the area this Super Sunday, come on by to hear us. Lots of new stuff for this show: I'll be playing the archtop guitar,' [...]
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  Posted: February 01, 2009, 11:04am EST
  by Josh Wachtel

• What's happening

  Number of comments: 0
  I want to welcome Jordan to the blog lineup here at Radio Free Earth. Thanks for your post on the influence of jazz music on the civil rights movement. I think that is a great point. The Harlem renaissance and then jazz, the blues, r&b and rock'n'roll must have had [...]
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  Posted: January 31, 2009, 3:54pm EST
  by Josh Wachtel

• Humming Alpacas (just for fun)

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  I recently was made aware of the sweet sound of alpacas humming.
  
  
  
  For more about the variety of sounds that alpacas make, check out What Sounds Do Alpacas Make? here. [...]
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  Posted: January 24, 2009, 9:43am EST
  by Ben Wachtel

• Great article about the role of Jazz in the Civil Rights Movement

  Number of comments: 1
  [...]
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  Posted: January 16, 2009, 2:08pm EST
  by Jordy

• Podcast

  Number of comments: 0
  If you're looking for our podcast, we've moved it here. It seems easier to set up a good subscription feed by giving it it's own home at [www.radiofreeearth.com]' [...]
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  Posted: January 16, 2009, 8:25am EST
  by Josh Wachtel

• Richard Thompson's Faves of the Millenia

  Number of comments: 0
  Here's an interesting presentation of Crossover Music. Richard Thompson was asked ten years ago by Playboy what his top ten favorite songs of the last 1000 years were. Now he's performing them in concert.
  
  The story is here from The Guardian.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: January 15, 2009, 8:14am EST
  by Josh Wachtel

• RFE Podcast #6

  Enclosure: [download]

  Number of comments: 0
  "Josh and Jordy Get the Blues"
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Jordan and I got a pretty bad case of the blues, so I pulled out my slide guitar for this program. After checking into Rob Stoner's "Hotel 1-2-3," we woke unexpectedly from the "Night Dream'" [...]
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  Posted: January 01, 2009, 2:29pm EST
  by Josh Wachtel

• Merry Christmas

  Number of comments: 0
  [...]
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  Posted: December 23, 2008, 5:01pm EST
  by Josh Wachtel

• Anti-Kidnapping Expert Kidnapped

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  What can be said about this? [...]
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  Posted: December 17, 2008, 5:10pm EST
  by Josh Wachtel

• RFE Podcast #5

  Enclosure: [download]

  Number of comments: 0
  All right, folks. Here's episode 5. This podcast is a work in progress, a chance to experiment, a chance to play and be heard. This is our first episode in the ubiquitous mp3 format, which we hope will allow more of you to more easily tune into our podcasts' [...]
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  Posted: December 17, 2008, 12:06pm EST
  by Josh Wachtel

• In Spite of Ourselves

  Number of comments: 1
  Until we learn to sing the song ourselves, here's John Prine and Iris Dement singing it:
  
  ' [...]
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  Posted: December 04, 2008, 3:01pm EST
  by Josh Wachtel

• Goodbye Odetta

  Number of comments: 0
  
  Odetta died yesterday. Here's an obituary from the New York Times.
  
  And here's a very nice interview with and profile of Odetta from 2007 posted on the New York Times web site.
  
  Kim and I were fortunate enough to see [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2008, 7:13am EST
  by Josh Wachtel

• Keep the Podcasts Coming

  Number of comments: 0
  The fourth in our series of band performance podcasts is now available. We're going to keep them coming twice a month, so get tuned in and stay tuned!
  
  This episode hear Kim and me joined by our solid-in-the-groove percussionist Jordan Russ and our good friend Vince Snyder' [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2008, 6:01pm EST
  by Josh Wachtel

• Goodnews.com strikes again

  Number of comments: 0
  A friend sent me this link this morning. It's a story about a paper just written by John Hawks, a University of Wisconsin anthropologist, who says, "We are more different genetically from people living 5,000 years ago than they were different from Neanderthals."
  
  Contrary to popular belief that' [...]
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  Posted: November 29, 2008, 8:45am EST
  by Josh Wachtel

• RFE Podcast #3

  Number of comments: 0
  Our third podcast is up. In this episode you will hear me on guitars and vocals, Kim singing too, and Jordan on djembe.
  
  We open the show with Ponte Bone's "Frio City Road Polka," which is one of the more inexplicable and fun songs we know, and take [...]
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  Posted: November 20, 2008, 7:11pm EST
  by Josh Wachtel

• Podcast #2

  Number of comments: 0
  Here's our second podcast. Download and enjoy! And drop us a line to let us know what you think. [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2008, 10:16pm EST
  by Josh Wachtel

• Label Art

  Number of comments: 0
  My friend Razvan Mitulescu, a Romanian living with his wife and child in Toronto, Canada, produced some curious pieces of art work and posted them on his blog. Have a look. [...]
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  Posted: October 31, 2008, 7:55am EDT
  by Josh Wachtel