Why cheap wine, no-lose lotteries and selling your kidney make for great radio

The guys behind the best-selling "Freakonomics" books have done an admirable job of branching into media extensions of that brand, including a periodic Freakonomics Radio podcast that I've found worthy of subscribing to via iTunes.

Case in point are three recent podcasts:

"In Vino Veritas, Sort Of," an examination into a mantra that has driven the wine industry for years" you get what you pay for. But do you? Freakonomics dives into Wine Spectator reviews, blind tastings and exhaustive studies. and determine that, yep, people are more likely to enjoy cheaper wine. Amen.
"The No-Lose Lottery," which examines whether a national lottery might be a great alternative to traditional retirement-savings plans. Interesting concept that has some success in other countries. I say, let's give it a try.

"The Year in Repugnant Ideas," which debates some eye-opening proposals to open up the kidney trade and rethink who gets transplants. I'm still squishy on the thought of allowing people to sell their spare kidney willy-nilly but I do agree that if you want to be eligible to receive an organ donation, you need to be an organ donor as well. I mean shouldn't that be the basic price of admission?

Hockey up close and personal

I've been out of town so just finished watching the third of four installments of "24/7 Pens/Caps: Road to the NHL Winter Classic."

The series culminates with the NHL's outdoor New Year's Day Winter Classic game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals in front of 60,000-plus fans at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, normally the home of the NFL's Steelers. The HBO series itself is a spinoff of the network's successful "Hard Knocks" series tracking an NFL team each preseason.

But this is the first time HBO has followed two NHL teams around the clock leading up to the big game and as a hockey fan I've been glued to each episode. A bum hip forced me into retirement from beer-league hockey but each episode has my adrenaline pumping to the point I feel like lacing up the skates again. 

If you're a newcomer to hockey, this is a great introduction to a beautiful sport and some of the greatest athletes in the world. If you're already a hockey fan, "24/7 Pens/Caps" is a no-brainer. I know what happened on the ice today but come Wednesday's final episode that documents today's action, I'll find out what really happened.

In pursuit of peace, Southern Soul style

On this special day I'll share video of an amazing televised 1968 James Brown concert at the Boston Garden that is credited with muzzling rioting in Boston in the wake of the assasination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

The splicing/editing of this series of clips is very choppy but it's worth tolerating as Brown delivers fantastic performances throughout.

Pay special attention about 65 minutes in when Boston Mayor Kevin White pleads with the crowd and local television audience to make "Dr. King's dreams a reality in Boston. This is our city and its future is in our hands -- tonight, tomorrow and the days that follow. Martin Luther King loved this city and it's up to our generation to prove his faith in us. So all I ask you tonight is this, to let us look at each other, here in the Gardens and back at home, and pledge that no matter what any other community might do, we in Boston will honor Dr. King in peace." 

If anyone needs proof music can unite, this is it. Peace be with all of us.