Milt Rosenberg's "Extension 720"
I had the privilege of joining Professor Rosenberg's Extension 720 panel on Wednesday, August 4 to discuss conservatism.
Two authors with new books appeared. I have skimmed Rush Limbaugh: Army of One, by Zev Chafets, and read the New York Times Magazine profile from which it evolved on the Sunday morning of its publication some months ago. Chafets got closer to Limbaugh than any previous writer. He was granted considerable access both in Florida and Cape Girardeau. If you marvel at Limbaugh's success, following and influence, then this book is a must.
Richard M. Reinsch II of Liberty Fund published Whittaker Chambers: The Spirit of a Counterrevolutionary last month through ISI's Library of Modern Thinkers series. It is an analysis of Chambers' mature political thought, in which he locates our relationship with God as far more important than others of his time, basing his view of conservatism with a redemptive element, which he found lacking in, say, Rand's objectivism and appetitive consumerism.
Of course, the star is always Professor Rosenberg, precisely not because he dominates the conversation but rather because he graciously guides it to cover considerable ground. Honored in 2008 by the National Endowment for the Humanities for his second career in broadcasting, Professor Rosenberg shows every night of the program (most weeknights, 10 p.m. to Midnight, WGN-AM 720 and http://www.wgnradio.com/) what the art of conversation may yield.
On this, our close last night was quite apt. Professor Rosenberg mentioned that tonight he would host an astronomer from Adler Planetarium and a leading cosmologist from the University of Chicago. "Our topic -- the universe, and any parallel universes that might exist. We will of course answer the question, "why is there anything, why not nothing?" Please join us."
Quite a promise. Broadcasting's most erudite program easily moves from the meaning of conservatism on Wednesday to the nature of reality on Thursday. You can be sure Professor Rosenberg and his guests will pay it off, and all of us will be privileged to listen.
Two authors with new books appeared. I have skimmed Rush Limbaugh: Army of One, by Zev Chafets, and read the New York Times Magazine profile from which it evolved on the Sunday morning of its publication some months ago. Chafets got closer to Limbaugh than any previous writer. He was granted considerable access both in Florida and Cape Girardeau. If you marvel at Limbaugh's success, following and influence, then this book is a must.
Richard M. Reinsch II of Liberty Fund published Whittaker Chambers: The Spirit of a Counterrevolutionary last month through ISI's Library of Modern Thinkers series. It is an analysis of Chambers' mature political thought, in which he locates our relationship with God as far more important than others of his time, basing his view of conservatism with a redemptive element, which he found lacking in, say, Rand's objectivism and appetitive consumerism.
Of course, the star is always Professor Rosenberg, precisely not because he dominates the conversation but rather because he graciously guides it to cover considerable ground. Honored in 2008 by the National Endowment for the Humanities for his second career in broadcasting, Professor Rosenberg shows every night of the program (most weeknights, 10 p.m. to Midnight, WGN-AM 720 and http://www.wgnradio.com/) what the art of conversation may yield.
On this, our close last night was quite apt. Professor Rosenberg mentioned that tonight he would host an astronomer from Adler Planetarium and a leading cosmologist from the University of Chicago. "Our topic -- the universe, and any parallel universes that might exist. We will of course answer the question, "why is there anything, why not nothing?" Please join us."
Quite a promise. Broadcasting's most erudite program easily moves from the meaning of conservatism on Wednesday to the nature of reality on Thursday. You can be sure Professor Rosenberg and his guests will pay it off, and all of us will be privileged to listen.
posted by Chris Robling at
8/05/2010 08:20:00 AM
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