Look around your house and ask yourself if what you see is necessity or luxury. According to recent research, the line between has blurred. Today after four, Ben Merens and his guest talk about what we want versus what we must have.
Guest: Robert Thompson, professor of media & popular culture, Newhouse School of Communications, Syracuse University.

After five, Ben Merens talks with Internet pioneers Angie Hicks of Angie’s List and Craig Newmark of Craig’s List about their popular sites, and the future of online communities. Guests:- Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List. www.angieslist.com -Craig Newmark, founder of Craig’s List. www.craigslist.com

The weekly average of assaults against U.S. and Iraqi targets is currently 960, and according to a report from the Pentagon, this is a record level. After four, Ben Merens and his guest examine why.
Guest: Mary Habeck, Associate Professor of Strategic Studies, John Hopkins University. Most recent publication, “Knowing the Enemy: Jihadist Ideology and the War on Terror.”


Keeping children safe on the Internet doesn’t happen by accident. At Issue, after five, Ben Merens talks with an Internet safety expert about how parents can guide kids safely through the net.
Guest: Dusty Katz, Internet safety expert. Founder, Web Safety 4 Kids. www.websafety4kids.org websafety4kids@wi.rr.com

Health organizations and other groups are calling for a $1-a-pack increase in the cigarette tax to pay for anti- smoking programs and health care. After four, Ben Merens’ guest will discuss how many Wisconsinites smoke and what the tax increase may mean for their health. During the second half of the hour, what will the tax money fund?
Guest:
4-4:30 William Scheckler, MD. Hospital Epidemiologist, St. Mary’s Hospital, Madison Wisconsin. Member of the Wisconsin Medical Society, and a member of the society’s Health of the Public Council.
4:30-5 Eric Borgerding, Senior Vice President, Wisconsin Hospital Association.

After five, Ben Merens talks with the lead author of a major study that shows, for the first time ever, that the suburban poor now outnumber their city counterparts.
Guest: Alan Berube (ber-OO-bee) lead author of “Two Steps Back: City and Suburban Poverty Trends 1999-2005,” Metropolitan Policy Program, Brookings Institution http://www.brookings.edu/metro/pubs/20061205_citysuburban.htm

After four, and every Friday, Ben Merens welcomes listener commentary on the top news stories of the week. It's Your Views on the News.


Time magazine's Person of the Year will be announced this weekend. Today Ben Merens invites you to call in with your guess for this year's pick.
Guest: Steve Cohn, editor-in-chief, Media Industry Newsletter.

George W. Bush is certainly not the first president to preside over an unpopular war. Join Ben Merens and his guest expert after four with an historical perspective on past presidents, their wars, and the lessons we can draw for today.
Guest: Dick Haven, Dean of the College of Arts and Communication, Professor of Communication, UW- Whitewater.


After five, Ben Merens and his guest discuss the latest headlines from space: water on Mars, the current shuttle mission, and NASA's plan for a permanent Moon base.
Guest: Jim Oberg, former Space Shuttle mission control engineer, NASA. Author. Space consultant, NBC News. www.jamesoberg.com

You could call it a national “naughty and nice” list; a new poll reveals the professions that Americans trust most (and least). Find out how they rated, after four, as Ben Merens and his guest ethicist discuss the results of the annual survey. Here’s a hint: politicians dropped yet again.
Guest: Rick Kyte, director, Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership.


After five, Ben Merens talks with a consultant to the Iraq Study Group about Iraq’s oil revenues and why only fifteen-percent of billions earmarked for reconstruction is actually funding projects.
Guest: Amy Jaffe (JAFF-ee), director, Baker Institute Energy Forum, Rice University.

Ben Merens talks with a researcher who finds that media bias is driven by media consumers, not by owners or reporters.
Guest: Matthew Gentzkow, assistant professor of economics, University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. Author, “What Drives Media Slant? Evidence from U.S. Daily Newspapers.” View the study at http://faculty.chicagogsb.edu/matthew.gentzkow


Unsolicited emails are on the rise, doubling in recent months, and your home computer might be sending out thousands of these messages while you sleep. Ben Merens’ guest tells the story of spam, and offers advice on how to fight it.
Guest: John R. Levine writes, speaks, and consults on the Internet, electronic mail, cybersecurity, and related topics. Author, “Fighting Spam for Dummies.” Board member, The Coalition Against Unsolicited Commercial Email. www.cauce.org

In order to slow the “brain-drain” from Wisconsin, Ben Merens’ guest, after four, is offering a proposal that would provide free college tuition for students who agree to live and work in Wisconsin for ten years.
Guest: Mark O’Connell, executive director, Wisconsin Counties Association, member of the Commission on Enhancing the Mission of the UW Colleges.


After five, in the second of two programs on charitable giving in America, Ben Merens' guest questions the appropriate use of philanthropy to fund social needs in a democratic society.
Guest: Susan Ostrander, professor of sociology, Tufts University.

The results of the Iraq Study Group dominated the news this week. After four, Ben Merens hosts "Your Views on the News" for your take on this and other news stories that may have been missed.


After five, Ben Merens' guest talks about unusual and fascinating words. Do you know what a snollygoster is? Would you eat something called a muktuk? Learn about these and many more.
Guest: Erin McKean, senior editor, Oxford University Press North American Dictionary Program. Editor, Verbatim magazine. Author, "Totally Weird and Wonderful Words" (Oxford University Press)

The Iraq Study Group dominated the news this week. After four, Ben Merens hosts "Your Views on the News" for your take on this and other news stories that may have been missed.


Do you know what a snollygoster is? Would you eat something called a muktuk? You can learn about these words and many more, after five, when Ben Merens' guest, a noted lexicographer, talks about unusual and fascinating words.

Guest: Erin McKean, the Senior Editor for the Oxford University Press North American Dictionary Program and the Editor of Verbatim magazine. Author, "Totally Weird and Wonderful Words" (Oxford University Press)

The long-awaited report from The Iraq Study Group is released today. After four, Ben Merens and his guests will study the recommendations and discuss the politics of the report.
Guest: Craig Gilbert, Washington Bureau Chief, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Pete Moore, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Case Western Reserve University View the report: http://www.usip.org/isg/iraq_study_group_report/report/1206/index.html



Ben Merens speaks with a guest whose organization conducted a study on race relations in Southeastern Wisconsin, which states that attitudes towards race have improved but much more needs to be done.
Guest: Jeff Browne, president of the Public Policy Forum of Milwaukee. Has conducted civic research focused on workforce and housing diversity in metropolitan Milwaukee, education reform, philanthropic giving, tax policy regarding the working poor, criminal justice policy and public survey. http://www.publicpolicyforum.org/

After four, Ben Merens and his guest political scientist discuss the highlights from today’s confirmation hearings for Robert Gates as secretary of defense.
Guest: Eric Giordano, assistant professor of political science, University of Wisconsin - Marathon County


After five, Ben Merens speaks with a guest whose organization conducted a study on race relations in Southeastern Wisconsin, which states that attitudes towards race have improved but much more needs to be done.
Guest: Jeff Browne, president of the Public Policy Forum of Milwaukee. Has conducted civic research focused on workforce and housing diversity in metropolitan Milwaukee, education reform, philanthropic giving, tax policy regarding the working poor, criminal justice policy and public survey. www.publicpolicyforum.org

After four, Ben Merens’ guests call for increased media literacy, and detail other recommendations to offset the negative impact of advertising aimed at children.
Guests: 4:00 - Dr. Victor Strasburger, chief of the Division of Adolescent Medicine, New Mexico School of Medicine. Member, American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Communications whose report: “Children, Adolescents, and Advertising” was released today. www.aap.org
4:30 - Elizabeth Thoman, founder, Center for Media Literacy www.medialit.org Alliance for a Media Literate America www.amlainfo.org


After five, Ben Merens welcomes talk show legend Art Linkletter.
Guest: Art Linkletter, legendary radio and television host. Author, “How To Make The Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life."

It's Your Views on the News as Ben Merens welcomes listeners' commentary on the top news stories of the week.


Ben Merens and his guest discuss how everyone can unlock their personal strengths and achieve their personal best.
Guest: John St. Augustine, producer at Harpo Radio for the “Oprah & Friends” channel on XM Satellite Radio. Former host of a Michigan-based talk radio show “John St. Augustine’s Powerthouhgts.” Author, "Living an Uncommon Life: Essential Lessons from 21 Extraordinary People."