Shows – Milt Rosenberg

The night before the presidential election of 2012 callers voice their voting intentions and give their reasons. The contrast between then and what will probably be on their minds this coming November is – to say the least – striking!

The Best of Extension 720

Salman Rushdie. Henry Kissinger, Charlton Heston, Howard Cosell, Mike Wallace, Mike Royko, Kirk Douglas, Tony Curtis, Buck O’Neill, Herblock and Pete Hamill are some of the memorable guests in this batch of outstanding excerpts from earlier programs.

The Use and Abuse of the English Language

Inevitably, language guardians focus more on abuse than upon admirable use. Either way, this is a topic of eternal interest and prone to generate amusement and argument. And, by the way, which presidential candidate speaks of experts as “pundints” rather than “pundits?”

Does God Exist?

And, if so, what does “He” want of us? Three scholars–a rabbi, a Christian minister and a Professor of Divinity–join us in a mind-stretching and probing discussion of competing theologies.

The Adventures Of Arthur Conan Doyle

The inventor of the great detective, Sherlock Holmes, was, in his own life, a physician-adventurer whose experiences match those of the Wizard of Baker Street. John Lettenberg, in his biography of four years ago–and in this discussion recorded when he came to visit with us–puts forth a rich portrait of the fabulous Doctor Doyle.

Are We Getting Smarter?

James Flynn, a leading psychologist from Australia, offers evidence that average IQ has been increasing across recent decades. Here’s his evidence and the skeptical response of the psychologist-host of the program.

The Universe or Universes?

The “big bang” occurred some 13.7 billion years ago and thus began the universe. But was it only one of many (perhaps an infinity) of other such events which also generated many (perhaps an infinity) of other universes? That and other basic cosmological questions are under discussion here with three major astrophysicists.

Radio’s Golden Age

When was that? The 30s, 40s and 50s during which every form flourished including the classic “soap operas,” band broadcasts, variety shows, comedy series and extensive coverage of World War II. Our guide is the major radio historian, Fred MacDonald and here he is along with many great sound clips.

The Future of Food

What will we be eating (and why) a hundred years from now or – for that matter – in 2020? The future of food depends upon climate, politics, costs and sheer human curiosity and perversity, according to the three experts who joined us in this discussion.

Philosophical Interventions

The mode of ultimate inquiry represented by the likes of Plato and Aristotle still flourishes. One of the most significant practitioners of modern philosophy is Martha Nussbaum, with whom we had this memorable conversation focused on classical and contemporary concerns.