Top Picks: The program WorldWide Telescope, the book 'The Third Plate,' and more
Road songs
The Milk Carton Kids (Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan) felt like their acclaimed live shows were much more representative of their music than what they鈥檇 recorded in studios. So for their third album, , they decided to write and record all new material live in various venues along their lengthy tour, but before the audience arrived. The result is the same gorgeous close harmonies, thrilling lighter-than-air guitar lines, and 11 beautiful songs 鈥� all performed without a net.聽
Star search
Ever feel like a quick trip to the stars before turning in for the night? Microsoft has married space imagery and data in a free open-source online computer program. With 聽scientists can link their research together in layers, students can tinker, and amateur astronomers can take guided tours of the galaxies. There鈥檚 one (understandable) catch: Some features run only on Windows machines.聽
American innovators
National Geographic Channel鈥檚 new miniseries takes a look at some of history鈥檚 most storied rivalries 鈥� from Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst to Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla 鈥� that resulted in some of the world鈥檚 most important innovations. The first two episodes, comparing the achievements of Apple鈥檚 Steve Jobs and Microsoft鈥檚 Bill Gates followed by the Wright Brothers and Glenn Curtiss, air June 1 at 9 p.m.
Recipe for sustainable food
All chefs strive to heighten flavors of meals they prepare. , by bestselling author and chef Dan Barber, gets at the literal root catalysts to outline how symbiotic relationships between farm animals and soil result in the best-tasting meat and produce. In colorful and smart prose Barber explores how these relationships can be improved. The book is now out in paperback in time for summer reading.聽
Family harmony
Last year the talented and eclectic Ben Harper and his mom, Ellen, released a folk album, 鈥淐hildhood Home.鈥� The short documentary takes viewers right into the heart of that sweet simplicity. It鈥檚 a tribute to his formative years selling and repairing instruments in his grandfather鈥檚 Folk Music Center in Claremont, Calif. Check it out on YouTube at http://bit.ly/BenandEllen.
