Welcome to our May Day show, where we explore the reasons why we don’t officially celebrate workers on May 1st in the United States, but the rest of the world does. We’ll also take a look at the way brains work, both human and feline. We look at how the Internet can change a human brain, and how a trained cat behavior consultant can change the way a cat thinks, too. We’ll also hear from UC Berkeley Neuroscientist Jack Gallant about the technology his lab is developing to decode signals from the human brain. We can’t read your minds, but we think you’re going to like this show!

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Music in this show:
“Fat Cat Keeps Fatter” – Squirrel Nut Zippers
“I Spy” – Guster
“Journey to the center of your mind,” – The Amboy Dukes
“Love Cats” – The Cure
“Mean Eyed Cat” – Johnny Cash
“Mind Eraser” – The Black Keys
“What’s the Ugliest Part of Your Body?” – Frank Zappa

Photo caption: May Day in Wheatley, UK. Photo by Flickr user net_efekt, cc.

May first is known internationally as the International Workers’ Day; it is a holiday in over eighty countries around the world. In many countries, Labor organizations stage protests, marches and other popular events. Yet, in America, life goes on as in any other day. What many don’t know, however, is that the mere concept of May Day originated in nineteenth century America, at a time where workers struggled for shorter working hours, higher pay and paid holidays. Francisco Perez digs up the story of this forgotten holiday.

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For information about May First events in the Bay Area, click here.

Photo credit: Flickr user jvoves, cc.

Stacey Kennelly gives us a live report from Jack London Square in Oakland this morning, where Occupy protesters staged one of many rallies.

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Photo credit: Alexis Kenyon.

With the expansion of the internet, the way human beings process information is being reshaped. Scientists believe this constant flow of content increases our ability to multitask at the cost of our ability to remain focused on one topic. Spencer Whitney finds out how the internet is changing the way the human brain processes information.

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To read more of what Nicholas Carr has to say about the Internet and our brains, click here.

Photo credit: Mike Licht, NotionsCapital

UC Berkeley neuroscientist Jack Gallant is working on technology uses brainscans to replay images you’ve seen. While the technology is in its infancy, the potential for machines that can read our minds is there. Gallant sits down with reporter Laura Hautala to drop some science on North Gate Radio.

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Photo credit: Flickr user Jason Langheine, cc.

To see the YouTube video of the Gallant lab’s results, click here.

We’ve all known one in our lifetime: a scratching, hissing, ill-behaved kitty. But an uptick in the number of cat behavior consultants is helping people realize they don’t have to live with a bad cat. So are “cat whisperers” for real? Stacey Kennelly has the story.

[audio:http://journalism.berkeley.edu/projects/radio/ngr/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/cats_final_for_air.mp3
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Photo credit: Stacey Kennelly.

This week, North Gate Radio is getting our hoax on. We spend some time investigating a medieval medical remedy that’s making a contemporary comeback in the Bay Area and take a look at what’s behind the KONY 2012 poster campaign. We’ll also hear about some local doomsayers that got it wrong before exploring the long history of pranks in the media.

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The show’s producer was Francisco Perez. The assistant producer was Megan Molteni. Ben Manilla is the executive producer. Our hosts today were Alexis Kenyon and Spencer Whitney.

Music featured in this broadcast:

- “Illusion” – Imagination
- “News of the World” – Jam
- “Heroin” – The Velvet Underground
- “Carmina Burana” – performed by Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
- “Nocturne in E Flat Opus #9” – performed by Tosco Tango Orchestra
- “Suckers” – Reel Big Fish
- “Of the Mountain” – Dan Deacon
- “A little less conversation” – Elvis Presley (Junkie XL Remix)
- “Abracadabra” – Steven Miller Band
- “Girl, you know it’s true” – Mili Vanilli
- “What fools believe” – The Doobie Brothers

On March 8^th, Invisible Children released the video Kony 2012, which went viral. By now, over a hundred million people have watched it, shared it on Facebook and tweeded about it. Last Friday, the American advocacy organization called upon their supporters all over the world to raise awareness of the wanted war criminal from Uganda by covering their cities in Kony posters. Anne-Sophie Braendlin reports on San Francisco’s “Cover the Night” event and delves deeper into the controversy the video has created.

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To learn more about Invisible Children:

http://www.kony2012.com/

To learn more about Jason Russel:

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/jason-russell-san-diego-invisible-children-kony-2012-142970255.html

To learn more about Uganda and the Lord’s Resistance Army:

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=41627&Cr=LRA&Cr1

A number of alternative therapies with roots in the middle ages, crystal healing, herbalism, and homeopathy to name a few, have been making a resurgence in contemporary culture. Now, one doctor in San Mateo is bringing back the ancient art of bloodletting — using leeches –to help his patients manage a variety of chronic pain ailments. Alexis Kenyon reports.

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To find out more about Dr. Bokarious’s hirudotherapy practice click here.

For a video from inside a Russian leech clinic click here.

Music used:

“Of the Mountains” – Dan Deacon

“Suckers” – Reel Big Fish

According to the Mayans, the world is coming to an end this year. But it’s far from the first time an apocalypse has been predicted. Just last year Oakland-based radio preacher Harold Camping predicted the Rapture would come May 21, 2011. And a lot of people listened. Megan Molteni reports on the failed prediction and the fallout that came after.

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Music used:

“Carmina Burana” – performed by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
“Nocturne in E Flat Opus #9″ – performed by the Tosca Tango Orchestra