Topic: Singing

An excerpt from Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" describes a religious taboo against using the phrase "by the way." According to the text, the phrase was viewed as taking the Lord's name in vain because "Jesus is the way." The etymology of the phrase is debated, contrasting the literary anecdote with historical directional usage.

The Sing Sing Correctional Facility in New York hosted its first film festival, where incarcerated men served as judges for documentaries about the criminal justice system. The event follows a similar festival held at San Quentin in California, aiming to provide vocational training in film critique for inmates.

The NFL announced it will play "Lift Every Voice and Sing," commonly known as the Black National Anthem, before games during the 2021 season. This move, combined with aggressive vaccine marketing, has led some long-time fans to abandon the league. Critics argue the league is using social justice initiatives to distract from controversial health policies and internal labor disputes.

Cliff Stoll shares a unique story about how he purchased his home in Berkeley in 1984 by singing old labor organizing songs with the owner. After discovering the seller was a labor lawyer and a fan of the International Workers of the World (IWW), Stoll joined him in singing "Mr. Block." The owner was so impressed by the connection that he insisted on selling the house to Stoll over higher-paying corporate investors.

The program opens with historical trivia regarding Sing Sing Prison beginning the practice of fingerprinting prisoners on this day in 1903. A second trivia point notes that in 1812, the first U.S. foreign aid bill was authorized to provide relief for earthquake victims in Haiti and Venezuela.

A description of the Austin museum event highlights the use of teepees and "singing bowls" as examples of cultural appropriation within the wealthy liberal community. A conversation with a campaign manager suggests that O'Rourke's victory depends entirely on high turnout from Black and Hispanic voters, leading to a discussion on the racial dynamics of Texas polling.

A "musical road" installed in the Friesland province of the Netherlands was removed after only one week due to intense noise complaints from local residents. The road was designed to play the Frisian regional anthem when driven over at the correct speed, but drivers intentionally sped over the strips at night, creating a constant cacophony. The $99,000 project was intended to celebrate Leeuwarden's status as the 2018 European Capital of Culture.

Vienna installs same-sex pedestrian crossing lights to promote "open-mindedness" ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest. In a related story, a Swedish peace group installs an underwater "Singing Sailor" neon sign that broadcasts Morse code saying "this way if you're gay" to deter Russian submarines.

A trained opera singer and podcast producer warns that persistent use of vocal fry can cause physical damage to the vocal cords, leading to the development of nodes. The friction caused by rubbing vocal cords together without proper airflow is compared to a frog's croak. The hosts speculate that pop singers like Megan Trainor may face long-term voice loss due to these speech patterns.

Adam Curry describes his decision to stop carrying a cell phone, opting instead for an iPod Touch with Wi-Fi disabled to avoid tower tracking. He claims this change has enriched his personal life, allowing him and his wife to sing songs together in the car without the distraction of digital devices. John C. Dvorak expresses skepticism about the practicality of being unreachable.

The "Sing for the Climate" campaign at the Doha summit is criticized as ineffective propaganda. Five percent of the Belgian population reportedly participated in singing the song to influence climate negotiators. The hosts suggest that better "indoctrination" music could be produced by their own contributors.

A listener request for an "Atlas Shrugged" jingle leads to a discussion about the difficulty of reading Ayn Rand's work. The conversation shifts to "cotillion" classes where children learn formal manners and dancing.

A clip of Miley Cyrus singing live on the *Today Show* outside the GE building is played to demonstrate poor vocal quality. The hosts describe the performance as "fake" and compare it unfavorably to the "Pants on the Ground" viral video. They suggest that modern pop stars lack actual talent and rely on studio production.