What can we expect from the newly nominated Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates? We’ll spend this hour with Texas Monthly Senior Executive Editor Paul Burka, who profiled Gates for the November issue of Texas Monthly. Can This Guy Save the Aggies? Robert Gates to the Rescue appears in the November issue of Texas Monthly Magazine.
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You hear her on Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me! You’ve seen her on television. But what’s it like to be Paula Poundstone? Find out this hour as she joins us to discuss her career and her new book “There’s Nothing in This Book That I Meant to Say” (Harmony Books, 2006), in which she profiles historical figures and tells her own story. There’s Nothing in This Book That I Meant to Say (Harmony Books, 2006)
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Is scientific research on human subjects necessary? What are the ethical considerations? Is there a risk of exploitation of research volunteers? Dr. Rosamond Rhodes, professor of Medical Education and director of Bioethics Education at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, will deliver the UTD Public Forum lecture “Rethinking Research Ethics” this evening. We’ll get a preview this hour. Dr. Rosamond Rhodes will deliver the UTD Public Forum lecture “Rethinking Research Ethics” at 7pm this evening at the McDermott Suite on the UTD campus.
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What is the good life? Why are some people happy when others are not? Dr. Mark Hebert, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Austin College, will join us to discuss recent research into positive psychology. He’ll also discuss the topic with the Dallas Philosopher’s Forum tomorrow night. Dr. Mark Hebert will speak to the Dallas Philosopher’s Forum at 7:30pm tomorrow night (11/14/06). The lecture will take place at the China King Super Buffet at the southwest corner of Midway and I-635(LBJ) in Dallas. Visit philosophersforum.org for more information.
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Why does music play such an important role in our culture? According to former record producer and AandR agent for Columbia Records, Daniel Levitin, the interaction of music and the brain leads to thoughts, feelings, hopes, desires, love and the experience of beauty. Levitin, who now runs the Levitin Laboratory for Musical Perception, Cognition, and Expertise at McGill University, will join us to discuss the effects and importance of music and his book “This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession” (Dutton, 2006). This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession (Dutton, 2006) Cuts played this hour: “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder, “Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony” performed by Woody Phillips, “Goldmine” by Parthenon Huxley, “Zavelow House” by Owsley
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According to the cover story on the current issue of Mother Jones Magazine, humans must “evolve or die.” How that evolution will occur is ultimately up to each of us. We’ll speak this hour with writer Julia Whitty who’s article “The Thirteenth Tipping Point” examines climate change and possible strategies to deal with it. The Thirteenth Tipping Point appears in the November/December issue of Mother Jones Magazine.
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What are your favorite television shows this season? Do you have opinions on music and the news? Do you still read the paper? Our guest this hour deals with all these topics on his (relatively) new blog unclebarky.com. He’s none other than Ed Bark, who after 26 years as the television critic at the Dallas Morning News has struck out on his own. Visit his site or tune in to learn more.
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Yesterday was Election Day and the voters have decided. Who won and what can be determined by the outcome here in North Texas and across the country? We’ll spend this hour with UTA Professor Allan Saxe, Dallas Morning News Editorial Page Editor Keven Willey and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Bob Ray Sanders.
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What is the situation like in Afghanistan today? From 1997-2002, Sarah Chayes served as an overseas NPR correspondent, reporting from the Balkans and Paris. In 2002 she left her career as a journalist to run the nongovernmental aid organization, Afghans for Civil Society. Sarah Chayes will join us this hour to discuss the complex and often difficult cultural environment in post-Taliban Afghanistan as detailed in her book “The Punishment of Virtue: Inside Afghanistan after the Taliban” (Penguin, 2006). The Punishment of Virtue: Inside Afghanistan after the Taliban (Penguin, 2006)
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Erik Larson has a knack for creating incredibly vivid accounts of little-known or entirely-forgotten historical events that seem obscure to modernity. He recreated the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair in “The Devil in the White City” and he’s given a 1902 murder in London the same treatment in his latest work. Erik Larson will join us this hour to discuss “Thunderstruck” (Crown, 2006). Erik Larson will appear for a book signing at 7pm this evening at Borders (Preston and Royal in Dallas). Call (214)363-1977 for more information. “Thunderstruck” (Crown, 2006)
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Is space travel soon to be in reach of ordinary citizens? Probably not. But Plano entrepreneur Anousheh Ansari has not only visited the International Space Station, but become an international sensation on earth as well. She’ll join us for the hour to discuss her adventure and how she realized her dream of traveling to space.
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Are quality films regularly “dismissed” by the cultural elites just because they are the products of Hollywood’s big studios? Morning Edition and L.A. Times film critic Kenneth Turan thinks so. He argues that there are at least 150 recent films that should not be shunned by the art house crowd simply because they ran nationwide. Turan’s new book is “Now in Theaters Everywhere: A Celebration of a Certain Kind of Blockbuster” (Public Affairs, 2006). Kenneth Turan will be our guest this hour. Now in Theaters Everywhere: A Celebration of a Certain Kind of Blockbuster (Public Affairs, 2006)
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