March 2003
Shows
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MONDAY
MARCH 3RD
HOMELAND SECURITY: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The rash of terror alerts and the omnipresent fear of another
major attack continue to hang over us--but what does the general
public really know about responding to a terrorist catastrophe?
Our goal is to inform, not alarm. We seek to examine what might
be faced in the event of either "conventional" terrorism
or bioterrorism, and how you might prepare. The National Strategy
Forum, headed by RICHARD FRIEDMAN, has just published the valuable
booklet 'PRUDENT PREPARATION: WHAT CAN I DO IN THE EVENT OF A
MASS CASUALTY INCIDENT?' that examines a number of relevant topics.
Friedman will join us tonight, along with JOSEPH TROIANI, a counterterrorism
expert also affiliated with public health issues, and Dr. DOUGLAS
PASSARO of UIC, a public health expert specializing in epidemiology
and the threat of bioterrorism.
TUESDAY
MARCH 4TH
TRACKING THE GREAT AUTHORS
WILLIAM BAKER of Northern Illinois University is one of the leading
experts on Victorian literature in the United States. But he is
also an experienced literary sleuth. He tracks the great works
back to their origins, attempting to reach the root thought processes
of their authors through letters, notebooks, manuscripts, and
other early evidence. Among those he is “investigating”
are George Eliot, G H Lewes, Walter Scott, Harold Pinter, Wilkie
Collins, Bernard Kops, and Edwin Muir. Our other guest is LARRY
LIPKING of Northwestern University, a Samuel Johnson and 18th
Century specialist but, like all good English professors, a generalist.
On the trail of the great works, starting at 9:00pm.
WEDNESDAY
MARCH 5TH
STOCKS AND INVESTING
The rollercoaster ride on Wall Street over the last couple years
(mostly downward) does not phase tonight's panel. Our guests,
all major players in the investment business, will offer their
calming wisdom and predict the course of the markets in the coming
months. One of them, MITCH ZACKS,
is author of a new book 
Ahead
of the Market: The Zacks Method for Spotting Stocks Early -- In
Any Economy. Bring your wallets in the event of another
take-off--but beware of the lurking bear.
THURSDAY
MARCH 6TH
FRESH RECORDINGS FROM THE VAULT
We will be airing a number of new, never before heard recorded
interviews this evening. Among them: a talk with JARED DIAMOND,
whose wildly popular, Pulitzer Prize-winning book 
Guns,
Germs and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies has just
sold its 1 millionth copy. His linking of the history of biological
science with the general political course of human history was
unique-and perhaps the key to the book’s runaway success.
Tune in for this interview and more, beginning at 9:00pm.
FRIDAY
MARCH 7TH
THE ORIGINS OF LANGUAGE
Most of us don't give much thought to the words we use, why we
use them, or their history, but there is a large group of specialists
who study those issues intently, believing that language is a
reflection of who we are. Linguistics is the study of language
(its origins, its structure, and its continuing evolution), and
tonight we will be joined by two linguistic scholars who focus
on psycholinguistics and the origins (and acquisition) of language--and
how we have come to speak.
MONDAY
MARCH 10TH
Extension 720 takes a seat on the bench as the Cubs take the field
at 8:05pm tonight.
TUESDAY
MARCH 11TH
THE GARDENING SHOW
Francis Bacon once said, "God Almighty first planted a garden.
And indeed it is the purest of human pleasures." We will
follow this sentiment on Extension 720 tonight by taking a close
look at the latest trends in gardening. The 2003 Chicago Flower
and Garden Show is now well underway at Navy Pier and we accordingly
will take full advantage. Our guests will include KENTON MORRIS,
the director of the show, and TIM REDWOOD, one of the leading
garden specialists in all of England.
WEDNESDAY
MARCH 12TH
THE FUTURE OF INTELLIGENCE
Few doubt that the key element in the war on terrorism is intelligence--and
our intelligence community has taken severe admonishment for "failing"
to prevent the 9/11 attacks. Has too much emphasis been placed
on conventional geopolitical threats, with assumptions that linger
from the Cold War? How should we address unconventional threats
in a free society? In short, what is wrong with American intelligence
and what can be done to fix its myriad problems? Our guest tonight
is WILLIAM ODOM, the former director of the National Security
Agency (the budget of which dwarfs that of the CIA). A retired
lieutenant general of the army and now a professor at Yale, his
new book is 
Fixing
Intelligence: For a More Secure America. We will look
for his views beginning at 9:00pm.
THURSDAY
MARCH 13TH
This program remains under construction.
FRIDAY MARCH 14TH
THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
In "The Sign of Four", Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s
famous detective speaks of "the unofficial force-the Baker
Street irregulars." Tonight, Milt is joined in the studio
by three present members of the Baker Street Irregulars, a famous
Holmesian Society. Our expert panel of Holmes aficionados includes
ELY LIEBOW and ROBERT MANGLER--plus Dr. FREDERICK KITTLE, the
chief contributor to a major exhibition of Conan Doyle soon opening
at the Newberry Library. Find out all you need to know about this
great author and his even more famous creation, beginning at 9:00pm.
MONDAY MARCH 17TH--THURSDAY MARCH 20TH
Though regular programming may continue, Extension 720 is committed
to providing full analysis of the ongoing international situation.
Tune in for updates.
FRIDAY
MARCH 21st
THE MILTIES
It's Oscar time once again. Who's in line to carry home the coveted
gold statue? Are there any lasting gems in the bunch that may,
for a change, attain some sort of legendary status? And what was
overlooked last year? Our traditional panel of PENELOPE MESIC,
GENE PHILLIPS, and JOSH LARSEN will cut through the overblown
Hollywood hype to reveal the true classics (if any) from 2002.
MONDAY MARCH 24TH--TUESDAY MARCH 25TH
Though regular programming may continue, Extension 720
is committed to providing full analysis of the situation in Iraq.
Tune in for updates.
WEDNESDAY
MARCH 26TH
THE JUDGE'S ROLE
Around 430 BC, Socrates noted, "Four things belong to a judge:
to hear courteously, to answer wisely, to consider soberly, and
to decide impartially"--sound advice indeed. But in the enormously
complex modern world, what additional (if any) roles does a judge
have? Since the time of John Marshall, judicial activism has been
an almost standard practice in the United States. Should it continue?
Our guests tonight, Judge RICHARD POSNER of the 7th Circuit of
the U.S. Court of Appeals and ANTHONY D'AMATO, a professor of
law at Northwestern University, have some strong disagreements
over the judge's role and will debate the issue in full. The amazingly
prolific author Posner does have yet another book out that touches
on a number of these issues: 
Law,
Pragmatism, and Democracy. Join us at 9:00pm.
THURSDAY MARCH 27TH
This program remains under construction. Check back to this site
for updates.
FRIDAY MARCH 28TH
Late Cubs baseball puts Extension 720 back on the bench tonight.
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