Thank you, Alun Salt, for introducing me to Mark Steel and wonderful lectures on the BBC—enjoy his version of Darwin and evolution, which combines information and humor.
Pharyngula
Evolution, development, and random biological ejaculations from a godless liberal
Like most things from the BBC, This will require Real Player. You can get one that doesn’t nag you from here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/help/install/
anyone know if these have been archived somewhere?
Ahh Mark Steel, excellent comedy lecturer. If you love your British comedy don’t miss Jeremy Hardy also available on the BBC readio online.
You can use the open source Video LAN Client to play Real Player files.
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/
Thank you for “Darwin and Evilution.” That was delightful!
I’d like to give an enthusiastic second to Dave Hone’s above recommendation of Jeremy Hardy. His current lecture – on the nature of belief – is absolutely fantastic (and highly relevant to themes commonly addressed on this blog). It can be heard – only until Tuesday evening – using RealPlayer at the address: rtsp://rmv8.bbc.net.uk:554/radio4/comedy/tue1830.ra
After Tuesday evening, next week’s edition will supercede it.
Peter – some of the Mark Steel Lectures are apparently available on CD as audiobooks through Amazon.co.uk (possibly including the Isaac Newton lecture), but I didn’t find the Mark Steel Revolution series (which includes Evolution). If you are willing to disregard certain legalities, there are products that let you archive audio streams. BBC7 replays most of Mark Steel’s radio work periodically (in weekly installments), probably twice a year or so, and most or all of the BBC’s content is available as streaming Realplayer audio for a week after it is broadcast.
Steel’s lecture on Charlie Chaplin is superb, so do check it out if you’re able to find it.
As was his one one the pankhursts.
In fact pretty much all of them were ace.
His books, particularly the one on the French Revolution and Reasons to be cheerful were fabulous.
And, finally, if you like Mark Steel & Jeremy Hardy, then you’ll probably also like Mark Thomas and Robert Newman