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Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 158, in which I discuss why the polls got so much wrong, again, in the 2020 US Presidential election.  They did predict that Biden would win, which he did, but by smaller margins in several states than projected in the polls.  And he lost Florida and Ohio, which the polls said he would win.  Why did this happen, again (it happened in 2016), what can be done about it, and what are the implications of this failure in polling for the future? Further reading:  "A Black Eye: Why Political Polling Missed the Mark. Again."  The New York Times  

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 157, in which I review The Crown season 4 -- the best season so far in this superb series. Further listening: Review of The Crown seasons 1-3 Further reading: Review of The Crown Season 1 ... Season 2 ... Season 3 ... Season 4  

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 156, in which I consider why more than 70 million Americans voted for Donald Trump in the just concluded Presidential election. Further reading: Escape from Freedom by Erich Fromm

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 155, in which I put Joe Biden's victory in some philosophic context: it offers proof of John Milton's argument, way back in the Areopagitica, that truth can win in the marketplace of ideas, even when situated in social media. [painting by Paul Zeaiter, Sydney, Australia]  

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 154, in which I explain how Joe Biden is winning the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 153, in which I dig into the issues raised  by the appearance of the CEOs of Twitter, Facebook, and Google before the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee at the end of October 2020.  In a nutshell, the issues boil down to violating the First Amendment vs. Violating the Spirit of the First Amendment. Relevant reading: Postjournalism by Andrey Mir

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 152, in which I review Borat 2: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm.

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 151, in which I argue that the U. S. government pursuing anti-trust action against Google is not a good idea.   My reasons range from media evolution, which responds to human needs, taking care of information monopolies as it did regarding Microsoft's near-monopoly in the 1990s, to Trump's real reasons for going after Google. Links to articles and books mentioned in the podcast: Google Abuses Its Monopoly Power over Search, Justice Department Says in Lawsuit Leave Poor Microsoft Alone I'm a Progressive Libertarian Human Replay: A Theory of the Evolution of Media Other relevant podcast episodes: Trump Ban of TikTok Violates the First Amendment Why I Am Against Net Neutrality

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 150, in which I discuss Trump's decision to withdraw from the 2nd 2020 Presidential debate because it was virtual (online not in person) which would allow him to be easily "cut off". Further reading (blog post): Running Scared: Trump Withdraws from Second Presidential Debate  

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 149, in which I review Utopia,now streaming on Amazon Prime. Further reading (blog post): Utopia: More Fun than the Real World

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 148, in which I review episodes six to ten of Raised by Wolves.  Further listening:  podcast review of Raised by Wolves 1-3 podcast review of Raised by Wolves 4-5 Further reading: Mind at Large: Knowing in the Technological Age review of The Silicon Man The Silk Code  

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 147, in which I offer a lecture I gave just last night -- the night before Trump's ban on TikTok was announced -- about why that ban violates the First Amendment.  I discuss such issues as why the public's right to know protects non-American media in the United States, why entertainment is and has long been protected under the First Amendment, and Trump's real reasons for the ban. Further reading:  TikTok, the First Amendment, and the Public's Right to Know

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 146, in which I review all five episodes of Amazing Stories (2020) now on Apple+ TV. Further reading: Amazing Stories (2020) 1.1: "The Cellar": The Tops Amazing Stories (2020) 1.2: "The Heat": Life after Life Amazing Stories (2020)1.3: "Dynoman and the Volt!": Sweet Superpowers Amazing Stories (2020)1.4: "Signs of Life": Happy Revivals Amazing Stories (2020)1.5: "The Rift": Time Travel and a Candy Bar

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 145, in which I review episodes four and five of Raised by Wolves.  (Cameo by Tina) Further listening:  podcast review of Raised by Wolves 1-3 Further reading: Touching the Face of the Cosmos: On the Interaction of Space and Religion blog post reviews: Raised by Wolves 1.4-5: Halfway to Dune Raised by Wolves 1.1: Fast Action and Deep Philosophy Raised by Wolves 1.2-3: More than Meets the Eye  

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 144, in which I review the first three episodes of a powerful new science fiction series, Raised by Wolves. Further reading: Touching the Face of the Cosmos: On the Interaction of Space and Religion blog post reviews: Raised by Wolves 1.1: Fast Action and Deep Philosophy Raised by Wolves 1.2-3: More than Meets the Eye

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 143, in which I offer my assessment of the second night of the 2020 Republican National Convention: lies. Further reading (blog post): Report on Day 2 of 2020 Republican National Convention: Lies Further listening: Four nightly assessments of the Democratic National Convention: Podcast take on 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day One Podcast take on 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day Two Podcast take on 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day Three Podcast take on 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day Four

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 142, in which the inimitable Captain Phil (on WUSB Radio) interviews me again, this time about the 2020 Democratic National Convention, conducted virtually, which concluded last week.  Special treat: Phil plays "Samantha" from my new album, Welcome Up: Songs of Space and Time, right before the interview. Further listening: 1. Four nightly assessments of the Democratic National Convention: Podcast take on 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day One Podcast take on 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day Two Podcast take on 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day Three Podcast take on 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day Four 2. More about my music: a taste of Welcome Up on YouTube lyrics to all the songs on Welcome Up complete album on Spotify and Bandcamp multi-color limited pressing vinyl (100 copies) from Light In the Attic Records CDs rave review of Welcome Up in Ugly Things Magazine

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 141, in which I offer my assessment of the fourth and final night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention. Podcast take on 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day One Podcast take on 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day Two Podcast take on 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day Three Further reading (my blog): Report on the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day 1 Report on the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day 2 Report on the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day 3 Report on the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day 4  

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 140, in which I offer my assessment of the third night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention. Podcast take on 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day One Podcast take on 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day Two Further reading (my blog): Report on the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day 1 Report on the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day 2 Report on the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day 3  

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 139, in which I offer my assessment of the second night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention. Podcast take on 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day One Further reading (my blog): Report on the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day 1 Report on the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day 2