MILT'S
FILE
June
30, 2003:
DID THEY GET HIM THIS TIME? This detailed account
of the most recent chapter in the hunt for Saddam is from the
forthcoming issue of Newsweek.
http://www.msnbc.com/
AGENCE
FRANCE PRESSE ON OPERATION SIDEWINDER. This--in English--is what
the official French news agency is reporting about the "get
tough" search for Baathists in Iraq.
http://sg.search.yahoo.com/
CAN
THIS BE TRUE? WHAT DOES IT MEAN? According to this study from
a reliable organization "fat cats" give more to Democrats
and plain folks give more to Republicans. Also note the difference
between employed women and "homemakers."
http://www.opensecrets.org/
OR, FOR THAT MATTER, IS GOOGLE GOOD? This interesting piece by
Tom Friedman in the New York Times posits political-historical
consequences from the still-evolving information technology. Thanks
to listener Leo Brown for sending this one to us.
http://www.nytimes.com/
A
SMALL ACADEMIC SCANDAL...relating to Oxford, Israeli graduate
students and politically impassioned professors. An intersting
"dust up" as they call this sort of thing in the U.K.
The story is from Sunday's U.K. Telegraph.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
WHAT WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT MOTHER TERESA.
This curious article from First Things reveals that Mother
Teresa doubted the existence of God through much of her life!
But, obviously, she sustained herself with a theological explanation
of the "dark night of the soul" as does the author of
this startling essay.
http://www.firstthings.com/
NOW,
THIS IS FILM "CRITICISM" AS IF IT MATTERED! We stumbled
upon this essay about one of our favorite films and thought it
was as good, or better, than almost any other film commentary
we may ever have read.
http://www.believermag.com/
RAVEL'S
VALSES NOBLES ET SENTIMENTALES. Ravel is undoubtedly the foremost
of the French composers who ushered in "modernism."
And this piece--beatifully performed here by Paul Crossley--is
a hallmark of his pianistic creativity.
http://classicalplus.gmn.com/
Extension
720 Listener Responses:
In Friday's File, we asked for
responses to this
article by Ann Coulter. Here are two of them:
From
Richard Crowell:
The column I read in Milt's File is the only exposure I've had
to Ann Coulter's writing, so perhaps I'm not being quite fair.
But, I get the impression that this is someone who thinks that
anyone with a contrary opinion to hers is, ipso facto, a traitor.
She does not seem to see such people as opponents, but rather
as enemies.
As
regards McCarthy, I agree with you that she has overstated her
case, in at least three areas. First, she keeps repeating the
mantra "liberals" did this, "liberals" did
that - as though all liberals were doing the same thing at the
same time. I wish I could find out how they synchronized all
of that! Her brush strokes are much too broad. Second, she would
have us believe that liberals, and only liberals, hated McCarthy.
I'm wondering if she included such a liberal traitor as President
Eisenhower, who also couldn't stand him. In truth, in the end,
McCarthy had few friends on either side of the spectrum. Third,
she presents the Moscow dispatches as conclusive proof that
McCarthy was right. Do those dispatches prove that he was absolutely,
unarguably right in everything he said and did? I haven't read
the dispatches, but that seems quite a stretch to me.
From
Robert Kulzick:
John Miller from Amazon.com calls Ann Coulter the "shock
jock of right wing political commentary," and he is absolutely
correct. Both on the left and the right our country has stopped
caring about solutions and reality. People want invective. In
all cases the so-called liberal and conservative view must be
expressed. If the color of the sky was discussed on MSNBC there
would be a conservative and liberal perspective. Ann Coulter
is entertainment, like Senator Clinton her book should be sold
in the fiction section. I had the interesting experience of
watching Ms. Coulter on MSNBC's Hardball explaining how the
public prefers conservative media and at the same time talking
about how the media is entirely liberal. When Chris Matthews
pointed out the incompatibility of her argument, she spent the
rest of the interview spluttering. Its time for people to start
ignoring her, and championing actual political debate by people
who care about the issues that matter to this country.
June 27, 2003:
SOWELL ON THE SUPREMES AND JUSTICE O'CONNOR.
This column by Tom Sowell is in direct response to the Court's
decision on the University of Michigan case. He does not mince
words on this matter--but, then, he never does.
http://www.townhall.com/
AND
KRAUTHAMMER'S TAKE. This editorial from today's Washington
Post by Charles Krauthammer takes a less vitriolic stance
on the affirmative action decision.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
WHAT
HATH THE COURT WROUGHT? As usual George Will has some sharp things
to say..this time about the Supreme's decision in the Texas sodomy
case.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
HAMAS
IS YIELDING TO BUSH (AND AMERICAN FORCE)? That is the interpretation
given in thgis startling article that has just appeared in the
U.K. Telegraph.
http://www.dailytelegraph.co.uk/
THE
LADY WHO MAKES THE LEFT VERY ANGRY...and even some of the conservatives.
Namely, Ann Coulter, whose new book is just out and selling heavily.
The gist of it is given in this column and, as regards McCarthy,
we think she has overshot the mark. What's your thought? Do e-mail
us at extension720@tribune.com
and we will put some of the responses up on the file.
http://www.anncoulter.org/
OSCILLATING BETWEEN INDIFFERENCE AND PANIC. That, says Jane
Smith of Northwestern University, was the public reaction to SARS
while the professionals were trying to get it under proper control.
This well-informed and thoughtful analysis has just been published
in the Chronicle of Higher Education.
http://chronicle.com/
MAKING
SOMETHING (EVERYTHING) OUT OF BEETHOVEN: It is indeed curious
that so many have tried to recruit the memory--and the music--of
Beethoven to their own political causes. Apparently, the bigger
you are the more is projected upon you.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/
THEY
DON'T WRITE OR RECORD SONGS THE WAY THEY USED TO. Or, at least,
that seems to be the opinion of the compiler of this "oldies"
site. There is some great stuff here performed by Fats Domino,
Bobby Darin, the Shirelles and...be sure not to skip Patti Page
doing the Tennessee Waltz.
http://www.geocities.com/
June 26, 2003:
BRITAIN AND THE WMD CONTROVERSY. Tony
Blair is in significantly more hot water over the missing WMDs
than President Bush. This article from Slate details
all of the various European papers' reactions to Blair's "dodgy
dossier debacle."
http://slate.msn.com/
FINANCIAL
ADVICE FROM ACROSS THE POND. The U.K. Economist on the
Federal Reserve's decision to lower interest rates to their lowest
level since the 1950s and how that decision will affect both the
domestic and world markets.
http://www.economist.com/
THE
LATEST SUPREME COURT DECISION. It's been quite a week for the
Supreme Court. Just a few days after handing down a landmark ruling
on affirmative action, today they struck down anti-sodomy laws.
This news article from the Washington Post provides an
excellent summary of the decision and its possible implications.
Be sure to check tomorrow's file for more reactions.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
AN
INSIDER'S VIEW OF THE TIMES. Elizabeth Kolbert gives an insider's
perspective on the New York Times debacle in this excellent
essay from the New Yorker.
http://www.newyorker.com/
EXAMINING
THE ETHICS OF WAR. Here is an excellent article from Legal
Affairs about the morality of killing soldiers versus civilians
in Iraq. Whatever side of the issue you come down on, this does
provide some food for thought.
http://www.legalaffairs.org/
WHAT
IS ORWELLIAN? This essay from the New York Times' Week in Review
examines George Orwell and how his contributions to how we think
about language will most likely outlive his contributions to literature.
Is this all malreported doubleplusungood doublethink? Read on
to find out. And if you're particularly interested in newspeak,
here
is an on-line dictionary.
http://www.nytimes.com/
MORE
ON ORWELL. Here is another interesting article, from the U.K.
Spectator, that uses Orwell's love of clarity to analyze
the jargon that proliferates modern speech, particularly in universities.
http://www.spectator.co.uk/
DVORAK'S
GREAT DUMKY. The "Dumky" trio for violin, cello and
piano is one of the highlights in chamber music. You can hear
it as part of this program from last year's Lugano festival, along
with works by Debussy, Arenskij and Prokofiev.
http://www.rtsi.ch/
June 25, 2003:
A LEGITIMATE CRITIQUE FROM TOM FRIEDMAN.
Long known as a sensible and responsible observer of Middle Eastern
affairs, Friedman of the New York Times offered these
thoughts today about what we did--and are doing--wrong in Iraq.
http://www.nytimes.com/
IS
IRAN A NUCLEAR THREAT? Shimon Peres, former Prime Minister of
Israel, thinks so and urges us to take preventive action. This
article by Peres appeared this morning in the Wall Street
Journal.
http://www.frontpagemag.com/
WHAT PRICE TRIANGULATION? By co-opting the Democrat's most ambitious
plan for Medicare drug benefits, President Bush may have "outfoxed"
himself. This commentary is by a new voice on our file: Rebecca
Hagelin, vice president of the Heritage Foundation.
http://www.townhall.com/
DO
YOU KNOW WHAT CPUSA STANDS FOR? You may be surprised to learn
that these folks are still around and that they are still "organizing"
and "making plans." This is from their weekly newspaper.
http://www.cpusa.org/
A GREAT ARTICLE ON EINSTEIN, RELATIVITY AND THE SWISS CLOCK. Whatever
their other troubles, the New York Times still does great
science reporting. This article from yesterday's paper is a dazzler.
http://www.nytimes.com/
YARDLEY
ON TENNER AND BODY TECHNOLOGY. Jonathan Yardley of the Washington
Post did an interesting and informative review last Sunday
of the book by our guest of last Monday: namely, Edward Tenner
author of 
Our
Own Devices: The Past and Future of Body Technology. We found
him a fascinating guest and this review helps to explain why.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
MORE
ON THE SPAM PROBLEM: A BRITISH VIEW. They have as much trouble
with it as we do. But in this article from Spiked, an
important opinion journal, most of the possible solutions are
found wanting. Will somebody please do something soon before e-mail
dies?
http://www.spiked-online.com/
THE
INTERIOR MEANING OF THE "OLD TESTAMENT." The quotes
are there because Jews call it the Hebrew Bible. Either way, Leon
Kass analyzes it deeply, if personally. This review is from the
new issue of First Things--and Kass, an old friend, will
be with us soon to discuss this most important new work.
http://www.firstthings.com/
MORE
FINE LATIN-AMERICAN MUSIC. Though titled "music from the
Andes," this collection casts a wider net. Don't miss the
Mexican "Peternera" or the Argentinian "La Baguala"
and "Mi Tierra."
http://www.boleadora.com/
June 24, 2003:
"AFFIRMATIVE ACTION" FOR WHAT?
Looking for wise commentary on the decisions in the University
of Michigan cases, we turned to George Will--and were not disappointed.
http://www.townhall.com/
ANOTHER
COMMENTARY ON THE SUPREME COURT DECISION. This one, more strongly
stated, examines the "unintended, dysfuntional consequences"
that may well follow from yesterday's decision. The author is
professor of law at Vanderbilt University and has written on the
dangers of "identity politics."
http://www.frontpagemag.com/
WHY
ARE THERE SO FEW BLACK FACULTY MEMBERS...in American colleges
and universities? This question is seen by some as related to
the "need for affirmative action." Despite the Supreme
Court's decision yesterday, other factors seem far more important.
They are studied in a recent major research report that is reviewed
here by Nathan Glazer of Public Interest magazine.
http://thepublicinterest.com/
SCHOLARSHIP AND BIAS IN MIDDLE EASTERN STUDIES. This column by
Dan Pipes from today's New York Post reports on the strong
testimony given before a House Committee concerned with the pro-Islamic
bias found in many university programs. The testimony of Stanley
Kurtz was particularly telling and is reviewed in this article.
http://www.danielpipes.org/
THE
TIMES YET AGAIN...but we had to post this since it informs us
that an old friend, Joe Epstein, foresaw it all and predicted
the catastrophe some ten years ago!
http://www.weeklystandard.com/
AN
EMERGING ISSUE IN PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS? The former governor of
Vermont will make it one if he gets the Democratic nomination.
http://dynamic.washtimes.com/
THE DANGERS OF PREMATURE DEMOCRACY. Fareed Zakaria developed that
thesis in his recent book and discussed it on Extension 720. Roger
Scruton, who has also appeared on our program, is considered one
of the leading conservative intellectuals in the U.K. Here he
reviews Zakaria's book.
http://www.amconmag.com/
A
POSSIBLY GREAT AND OFTEN MAD AMERICAN POET. This fine review-essay
on Robert Lowell (whose collected poems have just been published)
is from yesterday's Los Angeles Times. His was a life
of disturbing--and disturbed--rawness, yet the vast reams of poetry
he left do often rise to the highest level.
http://www.calendarlive.com/
LATE
BAROQUE OR EARLY CLASSICAL? Either way, this divertimento by the
other Haydn, is a charming piece and is well performed with a
wonderfully light touch, in this recording.
http://classicalplus.gmn.com/
June
23, 2003:
HAVE THEY FOUND AND KILLED SADDAM? This report,
from yesterday's U.K. Guardian, is the first we have
found in print about a rumor we heard the day before from a Washington
friend. The rumor is, simply, that a convoy carrying Saddam and
one of his sons was destroyed in the Iraqi desert a few days ago.
http://www.observer.co.uk/
TODAY'S
FOLLOWUP ON THE HUNT FOR HUSSEIN. This story from today's Washington
Post reveals further details of the assault on the convoy
that may have been carrying Saddam Hussein--or may be not.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
THE
IRANIAN OPPOSITION PURSUED BY FRANCE. Here's a story from Agence
France Presse that reveals a good deal about the struggle
in Iran. Apparently, a strong opposition movement, in exile in
France, is involved in the current struggle in Tehran. It should
be remembered that the Ayatollah Khomeni came to rule in Iran
from a long exile in Paris!
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/
GANG
CRIME AND MURDER DOWN UNDER. We like to look in on the Australians
(via The Australian newspaper) now and then. This story
suggests that some things are same the world over.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/
ARE
THERE DIRTY (I.E. RADIOACTIVE) BOMBS IN OUR FUTURE. This perceptive,
informative and worried article is from yesterday's English-language
edition of Ha'Aretz, one of Israel's leading newspapers.
http://www.haaretz.com/
WHAT
WAS (IS) STRAUSSIANISM? Supposedly, many of the government-based
"neo-conservatives" are the intellectual children of
Leo Strauss. Here is a useful article that seperates myth from
reality.
http://www.techcentralstation.be/
CASABLANCA:
AS MOVIE AND TERRORIST TARGET. This charming but telling essay
has just appeared in the American prospect. Memories of Rick and
visions of Al Quaeda!
http://www.prospect.org/
DIDJA
EVER WONDER...how Google works? We did and by assiduous searching
on the search engine we found this explanation. It does establish,
at least, the illusion of comprehension for the non-technolgue
reader.
http://www.google.com/
GOSPEL
BY THE GREATS! A fine collection of gospel as performed by Patsy
Cline, Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson and don't miss the great recording
by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.
http://www.countrymusicplanet.com/
June
20, 2003:
MORE ON THE MENACE OF A NUCLEARIZED IRAN. This
article, from the Yale Global Forum, is by a vice president
at the influential Carnegie Endowment for Peace.
http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/
CONTROLLING
CHAOS IN IRAQ. The trouble dosn't come solely (or mostly) from
loyal Saddamites. There are criminals around every corner according
to this account from the World Press Review.
http://www.worldpress.org/
IRAQ
AGAIN: ANOTHER READING FROM A DIFFERENT MAN ON THE GROUND. This
time it's Mark Steyn, one of the most perspicacious observers
we know. This article is from the current issue of the U.K. Spectator.
http://www.spectator.co.uk/
THE
VIEW FROM SIPRI. That's the Stockholm International Peace Reseach
Institute which monitors arms levels and international conflicts.
Here, in a speech given in China just a week ago, the director,
Alyson Bailes, evaluates the causes and consequences of the Iraq
war.
http://www.sipri.org/
DO
WE OR DON'T WE ALL COME OUT OF AFRICA? The controversy about human
origins persists among paleoanthropologists. Some new findings
in Ethiopia are interpreted differently by the different schools.
The question is, of course, not merely of scientific interest.
It has (often unspoken) political implications.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
THE
OLYMPUS OF AMERICAN ACADEMIA. It's not Harvard or Yale or the
University of Chicago. It's The Institute for Advanced Study at
Princeton. And here is their current Press Announcements bulletin.
We just thought you might like to look in to see what's happening
"at the top."
http://www.admin.ias.edu/
WAS
ZELDA GOOD OR BAD TO SCOTT? That's the Fitzgeralds--and the nature
of their relationship and of her personality remain as buzzing
questions among specialists in "modern" American literature.
Here's a fine essay-review about her from the London Review
of Books.
http://www.lrb.co.uk/
MOZART,
ANYONE? Of course! Here is a fine recording of his 39th symphony
by Sir Charles Mackerras and the English Chamber Orchestra. This
is sometimes called "the serene symphony." It is, at
any rate, a masterwork.
http://classicalplus.gmn.com/
June
19, 2003:
IS IRAN ON THE BRINK? The evidence is increasing
that a youth revolt may topple the tyrannical regime of the Ayatollahs.
What should we do, if anything, to assist the process? Bill Safire,
in today's New York Times, has some sensible advice.
http://www.nytimes.com/
IS
THE NEW MEDICARE DRUG BILL A DISASTER? Some quite estimable experts
think it is and fault the Bush administration for going forward
with it. Here are some relevant analytic reports worked up by
the Heritage Foundation.
http://www.heritage.org/
THE
MISADVENTURES OF A STATE REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN. The state is California
and the rest of the story is told in this rather anguished article
from the current National Review.
http://www.nationalreview.com/
IS
THE JAMES OSSUARY A FAKE? It has been considered further proof
of the historical existence of Jesus--but now certain Israeli
experts have labelled it a fake. The two biblical archaeologists
who wrote the book attesting to the authenticity of the ossuary
did a broadcast with us about half a year ago. Here
is the direct audio archive link to that discussion.
http://www.thestar.com/
THE
WISE PROFESSOR WISSE. Ruth Wisse of Harvard is one of the leading
scholars of Jewish history and culture--and of the sources and
"uses" of anti-semitism. This important discussion,
placing Arab judeophobia in historic context, appeared a few days
ago in the Wall Street Journal.
http://www.opinionjournal.com/
JAYSON
BLAIR: THE EARLY YEARS. This may be more than you want to know
about the young man who propelled the New York Times
into crisis mode. All the same, we found this article from the
American Journalism Review irresistible reading.
http://www.ajr.org/
PROKARYOTES,
EUKARYOTES AND ORGANELLES. Whazzat? Very important stuff relating
to the origins of life--and this story from the BBC science section
reports some surprising and important new discoveries that may
change our understanding of how it all got started.
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/
A
WONDERFUL MUSIC COLLECTION! We stumbled upon this large collection
of jazz, gospel, country and etc. Don't miss: Just a Closer Walk
With Thee, Bad Leroy Brown, Frenesi, Let's Dance (Benny Goodman),
Mack the Knife and Old Time Rock and Roll. Enjoy!!
http://www.trellis.net/
June 18, 2003:
"ISRAEL
WILL EXIST...UNTIL ISLAM WILL OBLITERATE IT." The words are
from the charter of Hamas. Reading the charter gives a fuller
understanding of the continuing problem in the Middle East.
http://www.mideastweb.org/
AN
INTERESTING ADVENTURE ON H-LABOR. That's a site for discourse
among labor historians. This intrepid young fellow tried to take
them on in a debate about Marxism. His report, from Front
Page Magazine, reinforces the view that Marxism/Leninism/Stalinism
is not underrepresented in American academic life.
http://www.frontpagemag.com/
THE
WMD PROBLEM IN THE U.K. In this article from the Guardian,
the leading left-wing newspaper in the U.K., William Shawcross
takes the critics of the Iraq war to task. Shawcross has been
a guest on our program in the past. His father, Sir Hartley Shawcross,
was an active diplomatist for earlier Labor governments.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/
A
READING LIST FOR SPIES. We talked to one of the CIA's star-spies
last night. Here's what spies are reading these days if they are
following the CIA's recommendations. The compiler of this list,
Hayden Peake, is the curator of the CIA's Historical Intelligence
Collection.
http://www.cia.gov/
A
TITAN REMEMBERS AND IS REMEMBERED. Titan of Hollywood, that is.
Wasserman helped remake the American entertainment biz--and managed
to be a fairly decent person at the same time! Connie Bruck has
done a major biography and that inspired Larry McMurtry to do
this fine essay-review for the New York Review of Books.
http://www.nybooks.com/
PERHAPS
WE NEED A MINISTRY OF EATING? Rather like the Monty Python Ministry
of Funny Walks? This column by an old friend of our program, Andrew
Ferguson, reviews--with his usual wit--what we know about why
we are growing fatter and fatter; and about how the true "costs"
might be reckoned.
http://quote.bloomberg.com/
KENNETH
KOCH'S SERENADE TO THE FRENCH LANGUAGE. Koch, one of our great
modern American poets, was honored just two years before his death,
by the French government. He repayed the honor with the poem to
be found at this site.
http://www.frenchculture.org/
THE
GREAT MOVIE THEMES. Whether its Gone With the Wind, Doctor Zhivago,
Rio Bravo, Close Encounters or any of many others--you will find
the movie theme (taken off the original soundtrack) on this site.
http://www.theraven452000.addr.com/
June
17, 2003:
A SECOND REVOLUTION IN IRAN? The first one brought
Khomeni and the Shiite ayatollahs to tyrannical power--with it
should be remembered--stong student support. Now the children
of those children seem to be reversing history. This story from
the Christian Science Monitor gives some useful details.
http://www.csmonitor.com/
WERE IRAQI WMDS A LIE? Despite much Democrat candidate effort
to stir up this form of the "incredulity response,"
the public does not seem to buy it. See this interesting poll
just released by the Gallup Organization.
http://www.gallup.com/
MEANWHILE
IN ZIMBABWE. This column by our friend (and fellow FIRE board
member) Nat Hentoff relays some interesting news. Not only are
Harare college students protesting the tyranny of Mugabe--but,
at last, African-American leaders are adding their voices to the
protest. Has anyone heard from Jesse Jackson?
http://www.villagevoice.com/
IS CRIME
UP OR DOWN--HERE AND ELSEWHERE? This annual report from the FBI
is just out. You can compare Chicago to other places and to itself
(as between 2001 and 2002). Take heart: only 648 murders in Chicago
last year!
http://www.fbi.gov/
(This link requires Adobe Acrobat Reader, which can be downloaded
here.)
KASS
ON THE CHALLENGE OF BIOETHICS. Leon Kass--now the Chairman of
the Presidential Commission on Bioethics--discussed his book with
us a few months ago. Here is a valuable review of that book which
appeared recently in the journal, First Things.
http://www.firstthings.com/
CAN
E-MAIL BE SAVED? This article about the spam plague was written
by last night's program guest, James Gleick a few months ago.
It was published in the New York Times.
http://www.around.com/
A
BEAUTIFUL "MODERN" VIOLIN SONATA. We say modern though
most would classify Elgar as a late romantic composer. But before
modern music abandoned melody this is what it was at its best
(circa 1918-19).
http://classicalplus.gmn.com/
June
16, 2003:
THEY ARE HERE AND HAVE PLANS! This important story
about Al Qaeda operations in the United States is, to say the
least, scary. It is also an excellent piece of work by the team
at Newsweek.
http://www.msnbc.com/
A
WORTHY TRIBUTE. David Brinkley is properly memorialized here in
a fine piece by George Will. Both have appeared on Extension 720
in the past--and we will try to get Brinkley's last visit up on
the audio archive.
http://www.townhall.com/
FISHINESS
IN HIGHER EDUCATION. Stanley Fish, Dean of Arts and Sciences at
the University of Illinois-Chicago, recently argued that there
is no (or very little) restriction of speech in American universities.
But here is a debate about a year ago in which he suggests otherwise
and defends squelching "conservative" views. The other
participant is Thor Halvorssen of FIRE.
http://www.erinoconnor.org/
A
SOMEWHAT CHILLY REVIEW OF THE SENATOR'S BOOK. Mark Steyn is a
witty and sometimes merciless observer of the socio/cultural/political
scene. Here is his meditation, as published yesterday in the Chicago
Sun-Times, on the new book by Hillary Clinton.
http://www.suntimes.com/
ECOLOGY
AND CIVILIZATIONAL DECLINE: This thoughtful piece by Jared Diamond
(recently a guest on Extension 720) focusses on what went wrong--over
the long course of history--in the "fertile crescent"
that includes Iraq. The article appeared in the Los Angeles
Times yesterday.
http://www.latimes.com/
EDUCATION
UNLIKE (INSTEAD OF FOR) LIFE. Here's a revealing piece on the
decline of education in the United Kingdom. On this matter, they
seem to be "ahead" of us.
http://www.spiked-online.com/
MORE
GREAT ANDEAN MUSIC...from Ecquador, Bolivia, Venezuela, Argentina,
Columbia. Don't miss Tu Traicion or La Equivoca.
http://www.boleadora.com/
June
13, 2003:
IF FRANCE CAN'T GET ALONG WITH THE U.S., HOW ABOUT
ISRAEL INSTEAD? The question comes to mind in light of this "make
nice" article by the French foreign minister as published
today in Ha'Aretz, one of the leading Israeli newspapers.
http://www.haaretz.com/
HOW
MUCH INTELLIGENCE IS NEEDED IN HIGH PLACES? Or, to put it otherwise,
how much damage can bright fools do? This challenging essay, focused
on presidential brilliance and performance, is from the current
Weekly Standard.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/
BASIC
RULE OF ARAB JOURNALISM: SAY NOTHING CRITICAL OF THE IMAMS. This
article is quite revealing. It is from the English language newspaper
of Lebanon and it does rather bravely face the issue of how "liberal"
Arab newspaper reporters and editors are held on very tight leash.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/
WHERE
DID AIDS COME FROM? The mystery is beginning to unravel and the
findings are fascinating. For example, the HIV virus may be about
a million years old but did not cross from chimps to humans until
the 1930s. For more of the recent conclusions check this article
from the current issue of New Scientist.
http://www.newscientist.com/
HITCHENS
AND THE BBC TWERP. Another one of Chris Hitchens wonderfully contemptuous
columns. And as usual he is, in this recent piece from Slate,
quite right!
http://slate.msn.com/
WHY
DO WE AVOIR MORE DU POIS THAN ANYONE ELSE? i.e. Why are Americans
so fat? The question is addressed boldly, if not respectfully,
in this column from the U.K. Standard.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/
SIR
JOHN AGAIN. One of our favorite writers, Sir John Betjman was
poet laureate of England back in the 50s. His light touch and
perfect versification are here put to work "sending up"
yet another English twit.
http://www.cs.rice.edu/
FRENCH
ROMANTICISM AT ITS HIGHEST. That is a widely-held view of the
music of Cesar Franck. Though he did only one symphony his chamber
works, like this gorgeous violin sonata, are profoundly moving.
He was, incidentally, for many years the organist at Notre Dame
de Paris.
http://classicalplus.gmn.com/
June
12, 2003:
DOES HE MATTER ANYMORE AT ALL AFTER THE LAST FEW
DAYS OF BLOODLETTING? That question comes inevitably to mind as
one reads this informative profile, from Slate, of the
new "Prime Minister" of the Palestinian Authority.
http://slate.msn.com/
WHAT
SEPTEMBER 11TH CHANGED AND WHAT IT DIDN'T. This reflective column
by Peggy Noonan (a former guest on Extension 720) appeared yesterday
in the Wall Street Journal.
http://www.opinionjournal.com/
SPEAKING
OF WORST CASE SCENARIOS..TRY THIS ONE ON FOR SIZE. Norman Orenstein
asks, in the current issue of The Atlantic magazine,
what would we do if the U.S. government were destroyed in a great
act of terrorism.
http://www.theatlantic.com/
ANOTHER
COMFORTING ILLUSION IS SHATTERED. We thought that old Saddam,
whatever else was lacking, was a serious literateur. But, according
to Reuters, someone else wrote his novels for him. Sob!!
http://reuters.com/
REMEMBERING
BUDDY AND WHAT HE MISSED. This column by Pete Hamill (a buddy
of ours!) appeared a few days ago in the New York Daily News.
It is pure Hamill, heartfelt but not falsely sentimental.
http://www.nydailynews.com/
CURZON
OF INDIA. When England was the great imperial power its proconsuls
took themselves quite seriously. As does the author of a new biography
of Viscount Curzon--and as does Simon Schama who reviews that
book in the current New Yorker.
http://www.newyorker.com/
IF
A GREAT CONSTANT WERE, IN FACT, INCONSTANT. The idea boggles the
mind a bit--but if the speed of light was variable what sort of
world would this be? This fascinating, speculative essay is from
an Australian astrobiologist.
http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/
MARIACHI
IN THE MODERN MODE. As you might hear it at the Maria Isobel in
Mexico City. Be sure to listen to Popurri Jalisco.
http://www.mariachisisenor.com/
June
11, 2003:
THE VIOLENCE IN ISRAEL AND GAZA. As we "go
to press" the news of today's violence and the consequences
for the "peace process" is coming in. Here is the site
for the English language edition of Ha'Aretz, one of the leading
Israeli newspapers. Many different stories are available for your
selection.
http://www.haaretz.com/
"PINCH"
SON OF "PUNCH" OPINES AND INFORMS. Translation: the
publisher of the New York Times gives a rather facile,
but still revealing, "apologia pro vita sua." And we
think that what it lacks in self-knowledge it makes up in chutzpah.
http://www2.observer.com/
ARE
THE TEACHERS UNIONS WHAT'S WRONG WITH AMERICAN EDUCATION? That
is the conclusion drawn by Peter Brimelow, a former editor of
Fortune magazine. Here's a review of his book in anticipation
of his appearance on Extension 720 the night of June
26th.
http://www.frontpagemag.com/
ANOTHER
EVALUATION OF THE CLINTON BOOK. This one, from Tony Blankley,
has some interesting thoughts expressed in his usual "cut
through the spin" style.
http://www.townhall.com/
WHAT
DO AMERICANS THINK ABOUT WHAT AMERICANS THINK ABOUT JEWS? This
interesting poll has just been reported by the Gallup Organization.
One interesting sidelight should cheer Senator Lieberman: there
seems to be very little objection to having a Jewish president!
http://www.gallup.com/
ALMOST THE LAST WORD ON SAMMY AND THE BAT. Or, at least, we hope
these rational and balanced reflections will end the discussion.
The piece is from yesterday's Slate e-zine.
http://slate.msn.com/
CALLING
ALL GOOGLERS! We have just tried some of the tricks and sites
detailed in this great article from the MIT Technology Review.
This strikes us as possesing great value for anyone who uses search
engines.
http://www.technologyreview.com/
LINCOLN'S
DOCTOR'S DOG. This wonderful bit of trivial history from the Civil
War period has just appeared in American Heritage magazine.
http://www.americanheritage.com/
THE
ALMOST LOST ART OF THE FUGUE. Even in his time Bach's interest
in complex counterpoint was not shared by some of his younger
contemporaries. In this masterwork (incomplete at the time of
his death) he showed them what it was all about. Here we have
two performances--equally thrilling--but done with different instrumentations.
http://classicalplus.gmn.com/
June
10, 2003:
WILL THE ROAD MAP WORK ANY BETTER THAN THE OSLO
ACCORDS? Dan Pipes has some doubts and warnings. And yesterday
four Israeli soldiers were killed and Al Aqsa, Hamas and Hizbollah
proudly took the credit, announcing that they remain commmitted
to the destruction of the Israeli state. Prime Minister Abbas
clearly has problems over on his side!
http://www.danielpipes.org/
LAROUCHE
TEACHES THE TIMES ABOUT THE "STRAUSSIAN CONSPIRACY."
This is one of the looniest developments in recent conspiracy
theorizing. Considering the source one might not be surprised.
At any rate, this article by Robert Bartley in the Wall Street
Journal is, to say the least, importantly informative.
http://www.opinionjournal.com/
AND
STILL MORE ABOUT STRAUSS, NEOCONS AND THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.
If you need a guide to who he really was, what he said and whom
he influenced and how--this is as good an article as you are likely
to find. It is from a former student at the University of Chicago
and was published a few days ago in the Jerusalem Post.
http://www.jpost.com/
IS
THERE A HILLARY IN THE NATION'S FUTURE? The publication of her
memoir has revived speculation about Hillary in '08. This article
from the current National Review examines the unlikelihood
of that prospect.
http://www.nationalreview.com/
AFTER
THE RAINES AT THE TIMES. Can you stand one more story about the
mess at the New York Times? Here it is from Howard Kurtz,
the well-connected Media Reporter for the Washington Post.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
NASA
HAS DESIGNS ON MARS. The new Mars Explorer was launched today
and is expected to land on the surface next January. Here is the
NASA-Mars site with a lot of fascinating detail.
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/
CHICAGO--THE
BROADWAY MUSICAL. Some of the important portions of the original
stage performance. Also on this site: great performances by the
original companies of Phantom of the Opera and Music Man.
http://www.theraven452000.addr.com/
June
9, 2003:
THE ISRAELI VIEW OF THE ROAD MAP. After a promising
beginning, the peace process in the Middle East appears to be
more difficult than actually anticipated, especially after this
weekend's violence. This editorial from the Jerusalem Post
contends that the plan is actually for Israel's "phased destruction"
and that Ariel Sharon knows about it.
http://www.jpost.com/
THE
POLITICAL DANGERS OF PETROLEUM. From the Atlantic Monthly,
here is an interview with Robert Baer, a former CIA agent who
fought on the front lines of the war against terrorism. He contends
that America's dependence on Saudi oil is affecting our nation's
policies.
http://www.theatlantic.com/
LESSONS
LEARNED FROM THE TIMES FIASCO. This article from Editor and
Publisher tries to cull some advice for editors from the
New York Times' Jayson Blair scandal, the aftermath of
which included the resignation of two top editors.
http://www.mediainfo.com/
YOU
SAY WOLFOWITZ...Our old friend Christopher Hitchens on the frequent
mispronunciation of Paul Wolfowitz's last name. What seems like
an understandable mistake could actually be a deliberate undermining
of his character.
http://slate.msn.com/
CINCINNATTI'S
ARCHITECHTURAL MASTERPIECE? In this article from the New York
Times, Herbert Muschamp claims that Zaha Hadid's new home
for the Center for Contemporary Art in Cincinnati is the "the
most important American building to be completed since the end
of the cold war." Is this mere hyperbole?
http://www.nytimes.com/
PERFECTING
THE PIANO. Three of the world's top five piano makers celebrate
their 150th anniversaries this year. This article from the Economist
gives a brief history of the art of piano making.
http://economist.com/
GREAT
PIANO MUSIC. These two rhapsodies by Brahms capture the range
and expression of the piano at its most passionate. Particularly
outstanding is the stormy G minor rhapsody.
http://classicalplus.gmn.com/
June
6, 2003:
MORE ON THOSE PESKY WMD'S. In this essay from the
Weekly Standard, Max Boot points out that British Prime
Minister Tony Blair and President Bush are much too politically
savvy to base their justification for the war in Iraq simply on
whether Saddam Hussein had illegal weapons.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/
AN
OVERVIEW OF BUSH'S TRIP ABROAD. This excellent article from the
Christian Science Monitor gives a good overview of each
stop on President Bush's overseas trip to campaign for peace in
the Middle East.
http://www.csmonitor.com/
MISSION:
POSSIBLE? If you judge from the latest espionage movies, every
agency--from the CIA to British intelligence--has the latest technology
at their fingertips. But perhaps fiction is outdoing reality in
this case, according to this article from the B.B.C.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/
HITCHENS
VS. HOBSBAWN. This article from the U.K.'s Independent
relates an interesting debate from the Hay-on-Wye festival on
May 26. Apparently Christopher Hitchens, a frequent guest on Extension
720, and Eric Hobsbawn, one of the few defenders of Communism
still around, squared off for a good natured debate on the Soviet
Union.
http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/
THE
METHOD BEHIND THE MARKET. This article from the Boston Globe
explores whether the stock market has any basis in reality, or
if is completely dependent on investors' whims. If this topic
interests you, be sure to tune in on June 19 when mathematician
John Allen Paulos will be on hand
to try to take the mystery out of the investment game.
http://www.boston.com/
AND
SPEAKING OF MATH...here is an article about the burgeoning field
of Pop Math, which tries to appeal to people who find Euclid and
Pythagoras a little dry.
http://daily.nysun.com/
BOB
HOPE, POST-MODERNIST EXTRAORDINAIRE. The first association that
comes to mind when you mention Bob Hope is not with Derrida and
the rest of those post-modern pioneers. However, this article
from the Wall Street Journal makes a case for the magic
behind the madcap genius of Bob Hope.
http://www.opinionjournal.com/
MUSICAL
SHAKESPEARE. Roger Quilter was a brilliant British composer in
the first half of the 20th century whose effortlessly lyrical
melodies form a perfect complement to Shakespeare's poetry. Particularly
wonderful is the middle piece, "O Mistress Mine."
http://classicalplus.gmn.com/
June 5, 2003:
THE
ARAB VIEW OF THE ROAD MAP. This interesting editorial from the
Arab News doesn't immediately dismiss the idea of a permanent
peace between Israel and Palestine, and--somewhat surprisingly--applaudes
President Bush's efforts at negotiations.
http://www.arabnews.com/
IT'S
FINALLY HAPPENED. After weeks of speculation, the two top-ranking
editors at the New York Times have finally resigned.
Is this the end of the venerable newspaper's troubles, or have
they only just begun? Here's the official statement from the source.
http://www.nytimes.com/
AND
THE VIEW FROM ACROSS THE POND. Here's a story from the U.K. Guardian
which gives a succinct and unbiased account of the New York
Times scandal thus far.
http://media.guardian.co.uk/
WILL
SHE BE BAKING BRIOCHE IN PRISON? Just when it seemed like Martha
Stewart's ImClone debacle had blown over, she was indicted yesterday
for obstruction of justice. This Washington Post article
posits that Martha isn't greedy, just sloppy.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
THE
TRIUMPHANT RETURN OF MAGGIE. Is Europe ready for a Maggie moment?
Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, one of our most
distinguished guests on Extension 720, left an indelible mark
on British society and politics. Is her influence ready to seep
over into Europe? This editorial from the London Times
posits that it's time for the triumphant return of Thatcherism.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/
SO
FAR-FETCHED IT MUST BE TRUE. Apparently NASA is planning to put
robots on Mars, while Europe is also fronting a mission to Mars.
Though it may sound like science fiction, it's actually happening.
What does this mean for the future of space travel?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/
EVEN
MORE JELLY! Here are some fantastic recordings from Jelly Roll
Morton and his Red Hot Peppers. They certainly live up to their
name, and some of these recordings from the late 1920s were done
in Chicago. Be sure to listen tonight as we dedicate our entire
program to this amazing artist.
http://redhotjazz.com/
June
4, 2003:
IS
WORLDWIDE DEMOCRACY POSSIBLE? Here is an interesting article from
Policy Review about the possible propagation of worldwide
democracy. If this topic is particularly interesting to you, be
sure to listen to Extension 720 on June 10, when Michael
Hirsh will be discussing this very topic.
http://www.policyreview.org/
THE
W.M.D. CONTROVERSY. Recently, there has been much speculation
about whether Iraq had weapons of mass destruction (W.M.D.'s),
why we haven't found them, and what this means about the legitimacy
of the war. As Donald Kagan pointed out on Monday's show, that
wasn't the real issue. New York Times' columnist Thomas
Friedman agrees.
http://www.nytimes.com/
WILL
IT EVER END? Yet another opinion about the mess at The New
York Times. This one, from Slate, focuses on how
Executive Editor Howell Raines has been running the paper like
his personal fiefdom.
http://slate.msn.com/
BOWLING
FOR CONTROVERSY. Whatever your political leanings, Michael Moore's
vitriolic, finger-wagging attack on President Bush at this year's
Academy Awards was certainly offensive. This article from Dissent
concludes that the famed documentarian's antics turn serious issues
into jokes and only succeed in harming the causes Moore wants
to help.
http://www.dissentmagazine.org/
THE
REAL MEANING OF YOUR I.Q. The difference between "stupid"
and "smart" too often boils down to how well a person
does on one test taken on one day in their life. This article
from the Weekly Standard shows how dangerous judging
people on their I.Q.'s can be, while getting in a few jabs at
the new intellectual elite.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/
CONFESSIONAL
POETRY AS THE NEW NARCISSISM. The time has come when every angst-filled
teenager fancies him or herself a poet. While Yeats rolls in his
grave, English prosody is massacred every day by people who think
the difference between poetry and prose is starting a new line
mid-sentence. If you find this amusing, you should also check
out this
humorous article at The Onion.
http://www.butterfliesandwheels.com/
THE
PERILS OF MODERN DATING. With the advent of reality-dating shows,
it seems like singletons would rather watch others date than step
out into the wilds of the modern relationship market. Apparently,
things are so desperate that there is now a market for "relationship
consultants." Whatever happened to dinner and a movie?
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/
EARLY
BEETHOVEN. This early piano sonata embodies Beethoven's youthful
energy and virtuosic talent. Written before his deafness ended
his career as a performer, this work gives us the lighter side
of Beethoven and pays tribute to Beethoven's idol--and one-time
teacher--Mozart.
http://classicalplus.gmn.com/
June
3, 2003:
MARK STEYN REPORTS FROM A PEACEFUL IRAQ. This fellow
is one of our favorite occasional writers. He has just returned
from poking around in Iraq--and he seems to have found some rather
surprising things.
http://news.telegraph.co.uk/
IS
THERE AN AMERICAN EMPIRE? The question is raised and seriously
addressed by Paul Johnson, a major figure in British intellectual
life and the former editor of the New Statesman and
Nation.
http://www.newcriterion.com
THE
WOLFOWITZ INTERVIEW. This full transcript of the Sam Tannenhaus
interview wiht Paul Wolfowitz has just been released by the Department
of Defense. Tannenhaus, a former guest on our program, is a sharp
and well informed interviewer. And Wolfowitz, the leading planner
on the political side of the Iraq war, is quite forthcoming. Thus,
we learn a lot--including Wolfowitz's personal history--from this
published version of their transcribed conversation.
http://dod.mil/
BAD
TIMES AT THE TIMES. The "meltdown" continues, according
to Howard Kurtz, the highly qualified media observer for the Washington
Post. And there is interesting news from other newspapers,
as well.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
SO
WHAT IF SHE DIDN'T WRITE IT? The controversy about the authorship
of Senator Clinton's book is, says Bill Buckley, focused on the
wrong question. Here is his take on what questions should be asked
and how they should be answered. The column is from his magazine,
The National Review.
http://www.townhall.com/
THE
RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE OF HARRY POTTER. Apparently there's a whole
Potterized world out there--and religionists and the reporters
who cover them have been very busy pondering the spiritual meaning
of it all. This site put up by the Religion Newswriters Association
will open (through the links provided) that world for you.
http://www.religionwriters.com/
AN
UNDESERVEDLY FORGOTTEN AMERICAN POET. That's Arthur Guiterman.
Though a perfect stylist he was too given to humor to be remembered
by the professors. But, just read "The Vanity of Earthly
Greatness" and "Pershing at the Front" and your
amusement will be matched by your sense of the grace and ease
with which he pulls it off.
http://poetryarchive.bravepages.com/
HOW ABOUT MORE GREAT BROADWAY MUSICALS? From My Fair Lady
to Grease! And be sure not to miss "Hernando's Hideaway"
from The Pajama Game.
http://www.theraven452000.addr.com/
June
2, 2003:
CHANGE AND
RESISTANCE IN ISRAEL. Sharon has shifted significantly toward
restricting (reducing or removing?) the West bank settlements.
Or is it all a mere verbal ploy? This story from yesterday's New
York Times (despite the inevitable leftist slant) is informative
and fairly thorough.
http://www.nytimes.com/
WHAT
DID WOLFOWITZ SAY TO TANNENHAUS AND WHAT DID HE MEAN. Were WMDs
just a cover story and did we go into Iraq to get bases that would
replace the ones we now have in Saudi Arabia? That is the meaning
that some have put on an article in Vanity Fair. Well,
says Bill Kristol, they have it all wrong...and here's the text
to prove it as provided in the current issue of the Weekly
Standard.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/
THE
SON OF TONIGHT'S GUEST ON HOW EUROPE AND THE U.S. DIFFER. The
guest is Donald Kagan, professor of classics at Yale University.
The son is Robert Kagan of the Carnegie Endowment for Peace and
author, a few months ago, of this highly influential article on
foreign policy issues.
http://www.policyreview.org/
WHAT
TO DO ABOUT IRAN...in the view of one of the major "neocon"
foreign policy analysts.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/
THE
UNKNOWN AND THE UNKNOWABLE. Can we ever know whether there are
other universes or is that sort of knowledge eternally unavailable?
What else can we never know? This fascinating, speculative essay
has just appeared in the science supplement of the Wall Street
Journal.
http://online.wsj.com/
A
REAL LUCKY RUN FOR THE MANAGEMENT! Here's an exciting story from
Atlantic City. The folks at The Onion do really stay
on top of things.
http://www.theonion.com/
TWO
LIVES OF ORWELL. He is one of our favorite modern (though dead
for over fifty years) writers and now Orwell has been memorialized
in two recent biographies. Here is the review from the U.K. Independent.
http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/
DOLLY
PARTON, KENNY ROGERS AND FRIENDS. Here's some great contemporary
country. We particularly urge that you listen to: "The Gambler,"
"We've Got Tonight," "Rueben James" and "Romeo."
http://www.theraven452000.addr.com/
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