This week in the paper, our own Chris Faraone interviews journalist DAVE TOMPKINS on his new book, How to Wreck a Nice Beach, which outlines the history of the Vocoder. As it happens, we know some people who have access to a Vocoder, so above, listen to audio of Faraone reading a passage from Tompkins' book filtered through that very device (and set to images of vocoders, voice boxes, Russian flight attendants, fornicating astronauts, and hostage situations).

Via Bostonist, Blue Mass Group has video of our new Massachusetts Senator talking with Neil Cavuto on Fox News about the incident in Texas where a man lit his house on fire and then flew his plane into an IRS building in Austin. He seems to be saying that the guy shares a mindset with his own supporters. The relevant quote:

Last September, New Yorker staffwriter (and former Phoenix staffer) Susan Orlean laid out the case for keeping fresh poultry in the backyard: it's cheap, it's safe, it's fun, and it's environmentally sound. You would think that would be enough for the city fathers of Cambridge, Massachusetts.

KEITH OLBERMANN is a sports guy. Inside, we suspect he's not too happy about Martha Coakley's Red Sox flubs either. But there are times -- especially during the Hot Stove season -- when we put such minor things aside. Here's why:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

We're proud to say that former Phoenix intern Sam MacLaughlin (bro to former Web Managing Editor and scribe Nina) is featured in this Daily Show clip about the mad rush slow crawl to buy Sarah Palin's new book ("So you've come in character as everything that's wrong with America!"). He's the bookish lad around the 2:45 mark: "One more than seven!"

Tomorrow the Institute of Contemporary Art Boston opens its latest blockbuster, "Damian Ortega: Do It Yourself." It is, in the words of our own Greg Cook, a "survey of work by a former political cartoonist whose sculptures — like a tin space capsule and mobile victory obelisk — often address political and social themes from his native Mexico.

Former Boston Phoenix contributor James Surowiecki -- now the New Yorker's financial columnist -- sat down with BARNEY FRANK in late August to talk about the state of the economy and, somewhat more sexily, about the health-care town-hall debates. ahead to the 13-minute mark This was just a few days after Frank had conducted just such a town-hall in Massachusetts -- which we covered extensively