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The Brian Lehrer Show

Wednesday, June 06, 2007
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    Why the Internet is Bad for Us

    It seems like everyone loves the internet, but one former technology entrepreneur thinks it’s destructive. Self-described web contrarian Andrew Keen rails against blogs, wikis and web 2.0 in his new book, The Cult of the Amateur: How Today's Internet is Killing our Culture. We ask him why. Also, excerpts and analysis from the latest Republican presidential debate and a Harvard economist explains how New York businesses survive.

    Watch Brian's Web Video Picks.

Republican Debate

John Fund, columnist at the Wall Street Journal and author, Stealing Elections: How Voter Fraud Threatens Our Democracy (Encounter, 2004), analyzes the third Republican presidential debate, then Dan Coats, former senator from Indiana and surrogate for the McCain presidential campaign, Congressman Buck McKeon (R-CA), representing Mitt Romney, and former Congresswoman Susan Molinari (R-SI), a senior advisor to the Giuliani campaign, assess their candidates' performances. Finally, Republican listeners tell us which candidate they are leaning towards.

Listen to the debate.

Rep. McKeon's website

Why the Internet is Bad for Us

Andrew Keen, former Silicon Valley entrepreneur and author of the new book The Cult of the Amateur: How today's Internet is killing our culture (Currency, 2007), says blogs, wikis and other web 2.0 phenomena do more harm than good.

The Cult of the Amateur is available for purchase at Amazon.com.

Andrew Keen's blog
Keen's essay in The Weekly Standard

How Businesses Make it in New York

Harvard economist Edward Glaeser and writer Arianne Cohen analyzed how diners, drug dealers, copy shops, and other businesses manage to survive and thrive in NYC in their article "The Profit Calculator" in this week's New York Magazine. They discuss how "Newyorkonomics" makes it possible.

30 Issues in 30 Days

The Brian Lehrer Show

Once again, 30 Issues in 30 Days is taking on the election season by going beyond the horse race and examining the real issues that are at stake for the people of New York and New Jersey in the Mayoral and Gubernatorial contest. See the schedule and help craft the segments at the 30 Issues Wiki!

Michael Moore on Brian's 20th Anniversary

The Brian Lehrer Show

Live from the Greene Space: Michael Moore talks about his new documentary, Capitalism: A Love Story and Brian celebrates the 20 year anniversary of The Brian Lehrer Show.

Uncommon Indicators

The Brian Lehrer Show

The Brian Lehrer Show wants to hear how the economy is affecting the little things in your daily life. Share your stories and photos of the downturn.

Help us map abandoned lots, stalled construction and unsold condos.

Digesting Politics

Brian, Bob, and Andrea

WNYC's political team of Brian Lehrer, Bob Hennelly, and Andrea Bernstein talk politics and more over lunch each week. Hear the latest episode and subscribe to the podcast here!

Video Picks

The Brian Lehrer Show

Check out some recent video clips of interviews with guests and Brian Lehrer's weekly Web video picks.