As an avid NPR listener, I’ve reported in the past on NPRiana that has taken my interest, and so I point you to these two stories, further proving how big of a loser I am while perhaps finding some kinship with you, dear readers, if you yourselves might be NPR dorks as well, or at least a little bit of harmless sympathy from you cool kids who have decided to stop reading right…about…now.
You can listen to both stories for free by clicking on the links below.
First, it seems as though scientists have finally discovered a reason to be kind to the most lowly and ravenous of all disgusting and bothersome insects, the mosquito. It turns out that mosquitoes are rare in the insect kingdom, for their mating rituals are based, surprisingly, on matching the tone of their beating wings before embarking upon “the act.” Scientists in a field called biomusicology (I know! Don’t you liberal arts majors wish you could go back and change your major now!?) have found that the mosquito has, in fact, a rather romantic side, and that the mating dance is a tango to which the music is simultaneously hummed by the mates. Now I’m just waiting for scientists to find in dejected mosquitoes a wing buzz pattern that would be the equivalent of Kanye’s last album. 1100 Hz and Heartbreak, anyone?
The second story is probably the dorkiest thing I’ve ever heard on NPR, and therefore bears repeating since this song has been stuck in my head since it first aired in September. It concerns the coincidental male-pattern that every other Russian leader since Lenin has been bald, followed by a leader who has a full head of hair, followed by a bald leader, etc, etc. The story offers no knowledge that will help you in life, nor any quips that may serve as a funny anecdote to tell at a party (and if you do so choose to tell it, you certainly will be going home alone, even if you brought your own date. In fact, never talk about this to anyone you might want to talk to again at a later occasion!).
Still, I defy you to try to not get this ridiculous song stuck in your head.
And after listening to these two stories, please promise you won’t be too weirded out and will come back to our blog again.
Promise?
4 Comments
I am an NPR listener, mostly just on my short commute to and from work. I also download Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me (The NPR News Quiz) and This American Life. I am shocked…SHOCKED to learn that my mother has never heard of NPR and my co-workers have never listened to NPR. They cannot understand why I would listen to NPR. (Ummm…maybe because I’m surrounded by 8 year olds all day and I need some adult stimulation to my brain once in a while.)
You’re not going to believe this, but somebody actually brought up the NPR mosquito story at a party this weekend. And it wasn’t me.
How much of a dork does working at a National Public Radio affiliate make me?
Mosquitoes are still useless and further prove that there is no god. I don’t listen to NPR that much, I prefer to get my news from Paul Harvey. Good Day!