I can’t say enough about the amazingly fun and interesting Radiolab podcast. Imagine the best Discovery Channel-type show you’ve ever seen and then convert it to a radio program that you can stop and start at your leisure (or rewind a bit when a train arrival drowns it out). The latest installment is about emergence, which is basically the theory of how large, complex systems happen almost by accident via thousands or millions of unwitting players. For example, ants: individually, they are incompetent scavengers, but collectively, they are responsible for incredible feats of engineering.

The same ideas can be applied to weather systems, thought processes, google searches and the shape of cities, which made me think of Tokyo: How did it get it’s shape? Why did it spread where and when it did? Most of it was not planned,really, but formed through a series of happy accidents. For example, one guy opens a pizza parlor. It becomes popular, so some other guys opens a shop nearby to get into the action, then another and another and then TA DA! Roppongi is born. No one planned it – it just happened.

Really interesting authors like Steven Johnson (this book is great) and James Surowieki (I’ve mentioned him before) add fascinating examples about how a million small unplanned things can add up to massively amazing accomplishments.

This weeks mix of the week is by Cosmo Vitelli, from I’m A Cliché Records, a special DJ, with his own very eclectic, yet very dancable, electro disco sound.

Born in 1974 in Montreuil, France under the name of Benjamin Boguet, and raised in Africa, he named (and perhaps, styled) himself after the character who plays a Sunset Strip nightclub owner in the 1976 film The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, by John Cassavetes.

The mix is from Tim Sweeny’s Beats in Space, one of my favourite mix sites, constantly topping up the old ipod with quality sounds.

Sit back and enjoy. Here it is, mix of the week: The Beats in Space Cosmo Vitelli mix.

Tracklist:
1. Dub Narcotic Soundsystem - Dub Narcotic Renew - K Rds
2. Barry de Vorzon - Theme From ‘The Warriors’ - A&M
3. Lee Douglas - Breakwind - Wurst
4. Rhetta Hughes - Angel Man(Disco Devil edit) - Disco Devil
5. Pete Shelley - Many a Time(dub) - Genetic
6. Model 500 - Play it cool(Instrumental) - Metroplex
7. Skatebard - Supersoul
8. Robert Görl - Eckhardt’s Party - Mute
9. Jackos - Xorsister - Street Trash
10. Bot’Ox - Babylon By Car - I’m a Cliché/DFA
11. Poni Hoax - Antibodies (Chateau Flight remix) - Tigersushi
12. Supertramp - Canonball(Instrumental) - A&M
13. Chez Damier - Can You Feel It (M.K. Dub) - KMS
14. Dave tech Nice - Nasty(Seduction Mix) - Sleeping Bag
15. Ame - Balandine - Innervisions
16. Straight Shooters “My time, Your Time” (Cosmo Vitelli’s instrumental edit)
17. Andrew Powell & The Philharmonia Orchestra Plays The Best of The Alan
Parsons Project “I Robot Suite” - Dutch
18. Phantom Band “Relax” - Sky rds
19. Can “Sunday Jam” - Harvest

What will the world be like if the world looked more like a retirement community? Japan will probably find out first.

The latest episode of the incredibly great Radiolab podcast was about mortality, so naturally there was a segment on Japan – the fastest aging country in the world. They touched on ways Japan is trying to care for legions of senior citizens and keep them happy. My favorite idea is combining a daycare with a retirement community, but one of the most popular options is Paro, the robotic seal. Until kids run on batteries, I’m guessing Paro will retain his number-one spot.