Light On Light Through

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 94, in which I revisit one of the greatest shows ever to have been on television: The Sopranos.  The occasion is the release by HBO of The Sopranos: The Complete Series on Blu-ray and Digital HD on November 4, 2014, containing the complete 86-episode run of the series, as well as bonus feautures including a new documentary, "Defining a Television Landmark," in which I'm interviewed.   To commemorate this release, I've prepared a special episode of this podcast with my reviews of the final nine episodes of the series, recorded minutes after each episode ended, along with three additional pieces with my thoughts in the days after the finale.   These originally appeared on another one of my podcasts, Levinson News Clips, which has been unavailable for the past few years.   Enjoy.   See also my written reviews of the final nine episodes of The Sopranos: First of Nine, Second of Nine, Third of Nine, Fourth of Nine, Fifth of Nine, Sixth of Nine, Seventh of Nine, Eighth of

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 93, in which I explore how Marshall McLuhan's "tetrad" or four laws of media, first publicly propounded in the mid-late 1970s, can explain the "selfie" which didn't exist until a few years ago and is so vividly in evidence today.   This is the photograph which instigated this train of thought - thanks to Ian Bogost for pushing it out of the station.     You might also enjoy this podcast episode: Marshall McLuhan and the Kindle.  See also Tetrad on Eyeglasses Fliiping into Google Glass and Photography Flips into Snapchat. more about McLuhan  

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 92, in which I explain - as an author who is both traditionally and independently published - why I think Amazon has the right of it in its much-criticized dispute with Hachette.   I address some famous authors, such as Nobel-laureate Paul Krugman, and why I see their attacks on Amazon as not only wrong-headed, but serving as part of Hachette's classic appeal-to-authority propaganda.   In sum, Amazon has revolutionized the author's ability to reach potential readers, in as profound a way as the printing press before it. Some of my novels, now independently published on Amazon:   See also - Nobel laureate Krugman cites Asimov's Foundation as Inspiration Marshall McLuhan and the Kindle (a podcast episode) recent interview with me (written) with more about this issue

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 91, in which I read my short story, "The Last Train to Margaretville," published in John Mierau's shared world science fiction anthology, Walk the Fire 2, published in May 2014.  You can learn more about the anthology by clicking on the title, where you'll also find out more about the Walk the Fire series. If you'd like more of my science fiction about those tunnels under Keating Hall in Fordham University, here's a free alternate history story about The Beatles, "It's Real Life". And if you enjoy my science fiction, you might like any of these novels  Or, if short fiction is more your cup of tea, you'll find my short story "Extra Credit" in the new cyberpunk anthology, Altered States.

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 90, in which I discuss how Marshall McLuhan (1911-1980), who never wrote for a Kindle and of course didn't even know about it, nonetheless correctly foresaw its revolutionary impact on authors when he wrote, in Laws of the Media (1977) that the "Xerox makes everyone a publisher".  I also discuss the practical advantages of self-publishing on Kindle rather than via traditional publishers, and how such opening of the gates may ameliorate Thomas Gray's lament (1751) "Full many a flow'r is born to blush unseen, And waste its sweetness on the desert air." You might also enjoy this episode, The Selfie and Marshall McLuhan my science fiction on Kindle and Digital McLuhan and New New Media on Kindle  

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 89, which contains Patrick Rands and Carl Thien's recent "spotlight" on my science fiction and music, broadcast a few days ago on Patrick's WZBC Radio show.   Patrick decided to do this segment after hearing Sundial Symphony's new recording of my "Looking for Sunsets (in the Early Morning)".   He put together a wild, cool set of my music over the years, and began by inviting Carl to talk about my science fiction.   The playlist follows.  More about Sundial Symphony - consisting of Don Frankel (who played keyboard on the 1972 recording of Looking for Sunsets) and Robbie Rist (cousin Oliver on The Brady Bunch, the bus driver on Sharknado, and everything in between) - on their Facebook page.     1. Ring Around My Rosie - recorded by Protozoa - song written by David Fox, produced by Paul Levinson, Ed Fox, and Herb Abramson, Buddah Records, 1969   2. Sunshine Mind - recorded by Donna Marie (who sang in the Archies) - song written by Paul Levinson, produced by Jimmy "Wiz"

Welcome to Episode 88 of Llght On Light Through.  I've just finished writing the concluding chapter of Unburning Alexandria - sequel to The Plot to Save Socrates - which will be published on Kindle, iTunes, etc as an ebook by JoSara MeDia in a few days. As a little appetizer, I thought you might enjoy this brief reading I did from Unburning Alexandria at Robin's Books (the famous book store which closed in 2012) in Philadelphia, as part of Oz Fontecchio's Philadelphia Fantastic series. The reading comes from the beginning of the novel, which was published in November 2008 in Analog Magazine as a novelette, and which is in the 2012 ebook of The Plot to Save Socrates. (The ebook of Unburning Alexandria picks up the narrative right after.) Following the reading, I talk to Oz Fontecchio about time travel, and take questions from audience, including one from Gerry Elman. Thanks to Larry Robin, Ray Garman, Oz Fontecchio, Gerry Elman, Trevor Quachri, and Chuck Sterin, who in one way or another helped with this vide

Welcome to Episode 87 of Light On Light Through, in which I offer ongoing commentary about Occupy Wall Street, September 27 through November 23, 2011.  The commentary first appeared in 15 blog posts - dates, titles, and links to the text of the blog posts are listed below.  Main themes include Occupy Wall Street as a resurgence of direct democracy, police violation of the First Amendment in their violence against protesters and the press, failure of the Obama administration to protect the rights of Occupy citizens attacked by munipalities, and much more.  This podcast is about 55 minutes in length.  It is intended as both analysis and eyewitness to one of the most important revolutions in human history.  Further chronicles will appear here in subsequent months. Helpful links - Sept 27, 2011 NYC Police Disgrace Themselves in Brutal Treatment of Wall Street Protesters Oct 6, 2011 Advice to President Obama: Join Occupy Wall Street Oct 16, 2011 Occupy Wall Street, Direct Democracy, Social Media: A Thumbnail Hist

Welcome to Episode 86 of Light On Light Through, in which I share a recently recovered voicemail from Marshall McLuhan, from August 1978, about my doctoral dissertation, "Human Replay: A Theory of the Evolution of Media," which I had mailed up to him in Canada, a few weeks earlier, before I left with my wife Tina on our summer vacation ... Helpful links - 1. my most recent book about McLuhan       3. 21 videos of my keynote address, lectures, and panel talks about McLuhan 2. my blog post: Levinson re: McLuhan 2011 list of conferences and interviews, 2011 my home page: http://paullevinson.info more blogs: http://InfiniteRegress.tv more podcasts: http://Levinsonnewsclips.com                                          videoclips: http://www.youtube.com/user/PLev20062006                                                                            my latest media book:  New New Media my latest novel: The Plot to Save Socrates "challenging fun" - Entertainment Weekly "Da Vinci-esque thriller" - New York Daily N

Welcome to Episode 85 of Light On Light Through, in which I discuss the inadvisability of unconstitutional wars - that is, wars not declared by both houses of Congress, as required by the U.S. Constitution - such as the one we're now waging in Lybia... Helpful links - my blog post: On the Road to Another Unconstitutional War? my blog post: Wrong for NATO Strike to Kill Gaddafi Grandchildren my home page: http://paullevinson.info more blogs: http://InfiniteRegress.tv more podcasts: http://Levinsonnewsclips.com                                          videoclips: http://www.youtube.com/user/PLev20062006                                                                            my latest media book:  New New Media my latest novel: The Plot to Save Socrates "challenging fun" - Entertainment Weekly "Da Vinci-esque thriller" - New York Daily News and Brian Charles Clarke says The Plot to Save Socrates "resonates with the current political climate . . . Sierra Waters is sexy as hell . . . there's a bit

  The title of Episode 84 of Light On Light Through says it all:  the continuing nuclear crisis in Japan shows why it's long since time to take our leave of nuclear power as a mainstream energy source on this planet. Helpful links -  my blog post: Time to Say Goodbye to Nuclear Energy my home page: http://paullevinson.info more blogs: http://InfiniteRegress.tv                                        videoclips: http://www.youtube.com/user/PLev20062006                                                                            my latest media book:  New New Media my latest novel: The Plot to Save Socrates "challenging fun" - Entertainment Weekly "Da Vinci-esque thriller" - New York Daily News and Brian Charles Clarke says The Plot to Save Socrates "resonates with the current political climate . . . Sierra Waters is sexy as hell . . . there's a bite to Levinson's wit"-- in Curled Up With A Good Book               

The Chinese ban of time travel movies is an unwelcome but timely reminder of the enduring differences between closed and open societies ... this is the subject of Light On Light Through, Episode 83. Helpful links - my blog post: China Goes Totalitarian about Time Travel The New Yorker and China Hush on the subject list of my books translated into Chinese my blog post: The Enoyable Trouble with Time Travel 2002 movie (YouTube): The Chronology Protection Case transcript and vid of my 2005 lecture: The Flouting of the First Amendment my home page: http://paullevinson.info more blogs: http://InfiniteRegress.tv more podcasts: http://Levinsonnewsclips.com                                          videoclips: http://www.youtube.com/user/PLev20062006                                                                            my latest media book:  New New Media my latest novel: The Plot to Save Socrates "challenging fun" - Entertainment Weekly "Da Vinci-esque thriller" - New York Daily News and Brian Charles Cla

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 82 - Kojo Nnamdi's complete National Public Radio (NPR) Septemeber 2009 interview with me about New New Media.  This is one of best interviews I've ever been treated to on the subject.  We cover all the usual bases, from Twitter to YouTube, but with historical context and live questions via email, Twitter, and phone. Helpful links - What's Newer than New New Media - everything that's happened since Sept 2009 Mark Molaro's video interview with me on The Alcove my home page: http://paullevinson.info more blogs: http://InfiniteRegress.tv more podcasts: http://Levinsonnewsclips.com                                          videoclips: http://www.youtube.com/user/PLev20062006                                                                            published on 3 September 2009:  New New Media my latest novel: The Plot to Save Socrates "challenging fun" - Entertainment Weekly "Da Vinci-esque thriller" - New York Daily News and Brian Charles Clarke says The Plot to Sa

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 81 - 15 minutes of clear, cogent analysis from me about why MSNBC was dead wrong to suspend Keith Olbermann.  Well, I'll leave it to you to judge whether my analysis is clear and cogent, but the long and the short of it is, although I've found fault with Olbermann's over-the-top denunciations of everyone from Hillary Clinton to Bill O'Reilly to Jack Bauer, his suspension from MSNBC is based on the dangerous and foolish myth that news commentators are supposed to be "objective," and not connected in any way to those they may interview. Helpful links: my short blog post on this matter: MSNBC Wrong and Self-Destructive to Suspend Keith Olbermann strong comments and debate on this issue on my Facebook wall Olbermann, Bauer, Coleridge - I critique Olbermann in this 2007 podcast   my home page: http://paullevinson.info more blogs: http://InfiniteRegress.tv more podcasts: http://Levinsonnewsclips.com                                          videoclips: http://www.

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 80, in which you will hear the complete, uncut radio play of "The Chronology Protection Case," recorded before a live audience at the Mark Goodson Theater in the Museum of Television and Radio in New York City in September 2002.    The radio play is based on my novelette, "The Chronology Protection Case," published in Analog Magazine 1995.   The novelette was nominated for the Nebula Award by the Science Fiction Writers of America, was reprinted six times, and led to two other novelettes with the lead character - Dr. Phil D'Amato - and three novels, including The Silk Code, which won the Locus Award for Best First Novel of 1999.   Jay Kensinger released a short film based on the novelette in 2002. Mark Shanahan wrote the radio play, with Paul Levinson (me) and Jay Kensinger.   The script performed at the Museum of Television and Radio was nominated for an Edgar Award for Best Radio Play by the Mystery Writers of America.  Mark later recorded a studio production of th

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 79, in which you will hear the complete 65-minute interview Patrick Rands did with me about my music, in June 2006.   I drove up to WZBC Radio studios outside of Boston on a beautiful early summer afternoon for the interview by Partick Rands on his "Test Patterns" radio show on WZBC (Boston College) Radio.  With my 1972 LP, Twice Upon a Rhyme, re-issued in mini-CD by Big Pink/Beatball Records in December 2008, and to be re-issued in a vinyl re-pressing by Whiplash/Sound of Salvation Records in November 2010, I thought this interview, in which Patrick played 14 of my songs (many rarely heard before) to be especially significant.   A complete playlist and links to the music on the Web follow below ... I had first come to know Patrick after his review of Rhino Handmade's Come to the Sunshine compilation CD in 2005 - the CD has my group The Other Voices (aka The New Outlook) singing "Hung Up On Love," a song I wrote with Mikie Harris, produced by Ellie Greenwich & M

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 78, in which you will hear a tale - all true - about time, space, the vision of an artist 100 years ago, the vision of another artist now ... a tale of two Presidents, of the power of the penny to bring us the past and make it come alive.   I interview Joel Iskowitz, whose depictions appear on the back of American coins and on UK stamps, on illustrations for NASA and the Boyscouts ... We talk about the capacity of a coin to capture the past and bring it to millions, how Victor David Brenner persuaded Theodore Roosevelt to commission a new Lincoln Penny back at the beginning of the 20th century, and how Joel envisioned this scene and rescued it from the oblivion of the past in a brand new lithograph.   This interview will be of special interest to historians, artists, coin collectors, and all students of communication and technology, and how this affects our psyches and our world...   Links: Joel Iskowitz's web page and Wikipedia page. Meet Joel in person on 13 Aug 2

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 77, in which I discuss concerns that I and other civil libertarians have raised about U.S. Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan's views of the First Amendment, in particular her suggestion that objectional speech - such as hate speech and in pornography - can be restricted by government if it uses laws against physical abuse in hate crimes (which are indeed Constitutional and necessary for the government) to chill or limit the speakers.Links:my Infinite Regress blog piece:  Concern about Kagan's First Amendment positionmy Daily Kos blog piece, with extensive commentary:  Concern about Kagan's First Amendment positionJames Doty's defense of  Kagan in SalonJonathan Turley's critique of Kagan, with link to her article about combating hate speech and pornographyLight On Light Through podcast interview with the Doningers about Sotomayor's decision in their caseMy 2005 Fordham University Keynote Address:  The Flouting of the First AmendmentHuffington Post discussion of Ob

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 76, in which I discuss how the new Arizona Immigration  Law, even as amended, violates the 14th Amendment to our Constitution.Links -Why the Arizona Immigration Law Is Unconstitutional my Infinite Regress blog post, with extensive commentaryWhy the Arizona Immigration Law Is Unconstitutional my Daily Kos blog post, also with extensive commentaryWhy the Arizona Immigration Law Is Unconstitutional my Open Salon blog post, also with extensive commentaryhome page: http://paullevinson.info more blogs: http://InfiniteRegress.tv more podcasts: http://Levinsonnewsclips.com                                          videoclips: http://www.youtube.com/user/PLev20062006                                                                            published on 3 September 2009:  New New Media my latest novel: The Plot to Save Socrates "challenging fun" - Entertainment Weekly "Da Vinci-esque thriller" - New York Daily News and Brian Charles Clarke says The Plot to Save

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 75, in which I explain why Neil Armstrong, James Lovell, and Eugene Cernan are right to criticize Obama's cutting of the humans to the Moon space programs.   The long and the short of it is we'll never know who were are, never understand what we are doing here in this Universe, from our vantage point here on Planet Earth, and humans on the Moon are a crucial step to getting off this Planet. Links: my recent blog posts on this subject at Infinite Regress, Open Salon, and the Daily Kos, and the spirited discussion in the comments Obama's 2011-2015 budget and mission plans for NASA full text of Armstrong, Lovell, and Cernan letter to Obama MPAndonee's comment in the Huffington Post discussion my 2003 book, RealSpace   home page: http://paullevinson.info more blogs: http://InfiniteRegress.tv more podcasts: http://Levinsonnewsclips.com                                          videoclips: http://www.youtube.com/user/PLev20062006