You guys know about BBC Radio 4's
In Our Time, right? Each week, the broadcaster Melvyn Bragg hosts a 45-minute discussion on some aspect of culture, history, philosophy, religion or science. His guests are always three academics with expert knowledge of the chosen subject, and the tone is serious and detailed but never inaccessible. By respecting his audience's intelligence, Bragg delivers a programme of unrivaled interest, depth and educational value. The topics covered this year alone include
The Frankfurt School,
The Glencoe Massacre,
Silas Marner and
Ibn Khaldun. Eclectic, yes, but never less than fascinating. The good news is that the programme has just redesigned its
website, making all 440 episodes to date available for your listening pleasure in its eminently browsable
archive. In the dumbed-down 21st Century, it's a miracle that a programme like this still exists, so let's all make the most of it while we can.
posted by Paul Slade
on Feb 4, 2010 -
59 comments
Flying Spagetti Monster expelled from Kansas The Kansas School Board has decided that it knows much more about the origins of life than the combined intelligence of all the scientists on the planet, and that fiction can be taught as fact. But seriously, if you don't even understand the scientific method, what business do you have setting academic policy?
posted by gallois
on Nov 8, 2005 -
187 comments
