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The Brian Lehrer Show

Monday, August 27, 2007
  • Facebook

    Is Facebook a Waste of Time?

    Facebook has mushroomed in popularity since it opened up beyond college students last September. Now almost half of the companies in a new poll say they are restricting access to the social networking site at the workplace. Does Facebook help or hinder employers? Also, why Alberto Gonzales is reportedly resigning, constitutional law professor Noah Feldman gives his take on the proposed Arab language and culture public school in Brooklyn, and we take calls on your out-of-body experiences.

Inside Intel

Alberto Gonzales announced his resignation today. Emily Bazalon, senior editor at Slate.com, unpacks the his career as White House Counsel and Attorney General. Then Karen DeYoung, senior diplomatic reporter for The Washington Post and the author of Soldier: The Life of Colin Powell (Knopf, 2006), discusses the new National Intelligence Estimate and Iraq.

Is Facebook a Waste of Time?

50% of companies say they are restricting Facebook in the workplace over fears it reduces productivity. Nick O'Neill, creator of the blog AllFacebook.com and owner of a social networking consultancy, looks at whether the social networking site helps or hinders work.

Be Our Friend On Facebook!

"Parochial" Schools

Harvard law professor Noah Feldman looks at the controversy over a public Arab-language school in Brooklyn and a Hebrew-language school in Florida, plus Mona Eldahry, founding director of Arab Women Active in the Arts and Media, or AWAAM, protests the resignation of the founding principal of the new Khalil Gibran Leadership Academy.

"Universal Faith" by Noah Feldman (NYT Magazine, 8/26/2007)

Open Phones: Out of Body Experiences

Scientists announced they've been able to induce "out-of-body" sensations in test subjects. Listeners call in with their out-of-body experiences.

Also, we listen in to a short excerpt of President Bush's statement about the Gonzalez resignation, and the response by Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY).

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.

Just Launched! The Uncommon Economic Indicators Video Contest. All the details here!

The Rocky Road Ahead

The Brian Lehrer Show

Ray Young, the chief financial officer of General Motors, talks about GM’s bankruptcy.

Then, Damon Lester, president of the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers, and Greg Williams, former owner of the recently closed Huntington Chevrolet in Huntington Station, NY., discusses the effect GM’s bankruptcy has had on dealerships and their employees.

Tweet If You Use Twitter

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Farhad Manjoo, Slate's technology columnist and the author of True Enough: Learning To Live in a Post-Fact Society talks about what Twitter means and how different groups use it.

What's your take on Twitter? How do you use it? Comment below!

Don't Say That, Literally

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John Flansburgh of the band They Might Be Giants discusses the running list the band keeps of "things we can no longer say." (a few examples: "my bad" "don't go there" "one hundred and ten percent" and "voted off the island")

What would be on your list of banned words or phrases? Comment below!

From Denmark with Love

The Brian Lehrer Show

Jesper Grunwald, senior managing editor with the Danish Broadcasting Corporation, talks about the Danish economy, biking to work, and why the Danes are allegedly the happiest people in the world.

Squatting, Then and Now

The Brian Lehrer Show

As former squats in the East Village make the transition to coops, making homes from abandoned housing is again an issue. Andrew Reicher executive director of Urban Homesteading Assistance Board, Frank Morales an Episcopal priest involved in East Village/Lower East Side squatting and homelessness activism since the late '70s, and Rob Robinson, a leader of the Housing Campaign of Picture the Homeless, discuss the return of squatting.

Video Picks

The Brian Lehrer Show

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