AmerÂiÂca’s 42nd presÂiÂdent spoke this weekÂend at HarÂvard’s Class Day, a traÂdiÂtionÂal event held for gradÂuÂatÂing seniors. While Class Day often feaÂtures pop icons and comeÂdiÂans — take this speech by Ali G from a few yeas ago — ClinÂton’s speech was a bit more seriÂous and ideÂalÂisÂtic, and it reminds us that there may be again a day when we can look to the White House for subÂstance and inspiÂraÂtion. This too shall pass. You can watch Part 1 of his preÂsenÂtaÂtion below. Here are links to Parts 2 and 3.
David Chase Speaks
David Chase, the creÂator of The SopraÂnos, smartÂly decidÂed to spend some time in France while the rest of AmerÂiÂca watched and debatÂed the last episode of his masÂterÂful series. HowÂevÂer, he did agree to one interÂview, and it will apparÂentÂly be his last on the subÂject. After this, it’s radio silence.
Richard Rorty: 1931 — 2007
The prince of pragÂmaÂtism and a lion of StanÂford, Richard Rorty, died last week in Palo Alto at age 75. Rorty was most famousÂly a philoÂsophÂiÂcal pragÂmaÂtist, believÂing that the philosoÂpher’s role in life is to answer our pressÂing everyÂday quesÂtions, not to get lost in abstract theÂoÂries. AccordÂing to his obitÂuÂary, in his latÂer years he “fierceÂly critÂiÂcized the Bush adminÂisÂtraÂtion, the reliÂgious right, ConÂgresÂsionÂal DemocÂrats and anti-AmerÂiÂcan intelÂlecÂtuÂals.” And despite the pesÂsimism caused by any extendÂed conÂtemÂplaÂtion of these groups, he had hope for his counÂtry to the end.
You can lisÂten to one of Rorty’s last pubÂlic speakÂing engageÂments, the annuÂal Dewey lecÂture at the UniÂverÂsiÂty of ChicaÂgo, here.
Weekly Wrap — June 10
Here’s a quick recap of feaÂtures from this past week:
- InterÂview with Khaled HosÂseiÂni (in Video)
- Author Talks on PodÂcasts
- A Whole LotÂta ChomÂsky
- D‑Day RelivÂed in Real Time
- We’re TalkÂing UniÂverÂsiÂty PodÂcasts
- Books That WritÂers RecÂomÂmend
- A HisÂtoÂry of the West: 52 Free Videos
- The Cannes Film FesÂtiÂval: 60 Years of Images
- iTunes U & What It Means For You
Interview with Khaled Hosseini (in Video)
Catch Khaled HosÂseiÂni talkÂing about his latÂest bestÂseller, A ThouÂsand SplenÂdid Suns, which comes on the heals of the The Kite RunÂner. The interÂview was conÂductÂed by JefÂfrey TraÂchtÂenÂberg at The Wall Street JourÂnal.
Author Talks on Podcasts
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The Leonard Lopate Show (iTunes — feed — web site), comÂing out of New York City, has recentÂly aired a good series of interÂviews with authors of new, imporÂtant books. Lopate knows how to give a good interÂview. Give a lisÂten.
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A Whole Lotta Chomsky
We recentÂly stumÂbled upon a big trove of politÂiÂcal disÂsent. This colÂlecÂtion feaÂtures over 200 talks — some in audio, some in video — givÂen by MIT’s Noam ChomÂsky. The talks, which focus on polÂiÂtics (and not his work on linÂguisÂtics) range from the 1970s to today. For an archive of his politÂiÂcal writÂings, which includes many comÂplete online texts, click here.
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We’re Talking University Podcasts
A quick fyi: We recentÂly did an interÂview with The ChronÂiÂcle of HighÂer EduÂcaÂtion where we talked about uniÂverÂsiÂty podÂcasts and relatÂed trends. You can catch the interÂview here (iTunes — mp3), and I would also encourÂage you to explore their othÂer podÂcastÂed interÂviews.
You can look through our genÂerÂal colÂlecÂtion of uniÂverÂsiÂty podÂcasts here. Our othÂer podÂcast colÂlecÂtions include: Arts & CulÂture — Audio Books — ForÂeign LanÂguage Lessons — News & InforÂmaÂtion — SciÂence — TechÂnolÂoÂgy — UniÂverÂsiÂty (Law School) — PodÂcast Primer
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