Category Archives: Election 2016

A Female Demagogue?

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Dr. Jennifer Mercieca

In the last edition of Life Elsewhere we talked about the then-upcoming first Presidential debate with our guests, comedian, and writer, Dave Hill and Dr. Jennifer Mercieca, Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at Texas A & M University. A week has passed and the debate has come and gone, but the fallout from it may continue well past the election on November 8. With record-breaking viewers, the match-up between Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Trump was seen by many as more of a World Wrestling spectacle than a political debate. Mr. Trump, the controversial GOP candidate validated Dr. Mercieca’s premise that, “A rich billionaire, a fractured media, a polarized electorate, and a weak party system result in conditions ripe for demagoguery.” Since the debate, Mr. Trump has doubled-down on his well-documented sexist behavior, media chatter has continued at a feverish rate and a number of major newspapers have broken tradition by not endorsing a Republican. We too at Life Elsewhere have spent the last few days slicing and dicing the respective debate performances and the festering aftermath. Then, Norman B came up with this question, “Could we consider a woman a demagogue?” To find out, we invited back to Life Elsewhere, Dr. Jennifer Mercieca, Make sure you don’t miss our next edition, you may be surprised to learn what Dr. Jennifer, has to say about the possibility of a Female Demagogue…and the debate. Read more

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The first Presidential debate between Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump, scheduled for Monday, September 26th is being hailed as the biggest event since the invention of sliced bread. The audience could exceed 100 million people, according to experts, something never seen before in U.S. politics and will be a figure close to what the Super Bowl gets. Much of the anticipation is driven by Mr. Trump, the television personality turned Republican presidential nominee who created a ratings bonanza for cable networks during the GOP primary. We too at Life Elsewhere will be watching mostly because of our fascination with Mr. Trump. This began over a year ago when he first made his announcement to run for the GOP nomination. At the time we asked, (with tongue firmly planted in cheek) could a Caricature Run For President? Since that time the prospect of Mr. Trump even getting close to being a serious Presidential candidate has changed dramatically. So much has been written about who Mr. Trump is and his motivation for seeking the Presidency, but one recent quote on the topic really caught our attention: “This is the problem when you have a rich billionaire, a fractured media, a polarized electorate, and a weak party system – conditions are ripe for demagoguery.” These are the words of Dr. Jennifer Mercieca, an associate professor of communications at Texas A&M University and a historian of American political rhetoric. We had to know more and invited Dr. Mercieca to join us on Life Elsewhere, as we prepare for the first Presidential debate.

Plus, we invited back to the program the extraordinarily talented Dave Hill, one of “today’s” truly brilliant performers and writers. Dave is currently on a tour of Europe and we caught up with him in Bergen, Norway. Dave Hill gives his take on the Clinton – Trump debate and what Europeans think of the US Presidential election and in particular, Mr. Trump? “It’s the most serious I have ever been!” Says Dave after unleashing a torrent of choice Anglo-Saxon words.

And, a Life Elsewhere exclusive, the latest release from Hugh. Make sure you do not miss one second of the next edition of Life Elsewhere.

Life Elsewhere Show #188 airs:
Sundays 12 noon ET at The Source WMNF HD3  
Mondays 5.00pm PT & Wednesdays 2.00pm PT at NWCZ Radio
Thursdays 6.00pm ET at Internet Radio Network

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If you miss any editions of Life Elsewhere, go here then go to the Listen On Demand panel, choose the date of a show and click play.

Check out the Life Elsewhere Music page and download Norman B’s curated selections of new, obscure, rare, unique and extraordinary music; hits of the future; artists who deserve your attention and timeless recordings you probably missed.

You Must Speak To Be Heard

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This may surprise you: As the US Presidential election looms ahead in November and the non-stop news coverage of every move the candidates make and the cacophony of noise that generates, there are still folks who need prompting to register to vote.

Yes, it is hard to fathom. Which is where HeadCount comes in. A non-partisan organization that uses the power of music to register voters and promote participation in democracy. HeadCount‘s vision is musicians and their fans becoming leaders in worldwide social movements. They are focused on harnessing that ability and translating it into real action. Their goal is to help shape policy and culture in America by galvanizing the music community into a politically influential force.

“Our message is not about what party you support or where you land on an issue. It’s that you must speak to be heard.” These are powerful ideas and we want to know more. In the next edition of Life Elsewhere, Norman B will ask Aaron Ghitelman of HeadCount how a non-partisan organization can use the power of music to register voters and promote participation in democracy.

The graphics above are from Norman B’s collection

Life Elsewhere Show #173 airs:
Sundays 12 noon ET at The Source WMNF HD3  
Mondays 7.00pm ET at WROM Radio
Mondays 5.00pm PT & Thursdays 7.00pm PT at NWCZ Radio

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Life Elsewhere can be heard on CMG Global Media
If you miss any editions of Life Elsewhere, go here then go to the Listen On Demand panel, choose the date of a show and click play.

PS: You can now download the new WMNF mobile app for FREE and listen to LIfe Elsewhere as it streams live at 12 noon ET every Sunday

Polls: The Most Inexact Of Sciences

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LE 172 Poll graphic

“Caught between a cynical Clinton machine and a shape-changing reality television show, US politics has featured its latest twist in the saga of surges and poll ratings. Now, we are being told that Donald Trump does have a chance against Hillary Clinton, spluttering ahead in some of the figures.” The words of Dr. Binoy Kampmark in a cogent piece he wrote for CounterPunch, titled Trump and the Polls of Loathing. The Melbourne-based lecturer joins the next edition of Life Elsewhere to talk about polls, what they mean and can they mislead as the race for the Whitehouse looms ahead. Binoy, a returning guest to the program, offers thoughtful analysis of the current state of American politics and the Presidential hopefuls. His subtle wit and clever diagnosis makes for informative and entertaining listening.

Dr. Binoy Kampmark is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, at RMIT University, Melbourne

Life Elsewhere Show #172 airs:
Sundays 12 noon ET at The Source WMNF HD3  
Mondays 7.00pm ET at WROM Radio
Mondays 5.00pm PT & Thursdays 7.00pm PT at NWCZ Radio

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Life Elsewhere can be heard on CMG Global Media
If you miss any editions of Life Elsewhere, go here then go to the Listen On Demand panel, choose the date of a show and click play.

PS: You can now download the new WMNF mobile app for FREE and listen to LIfe Elsewhere as it streams live at 12 noon ET every Sunday

Conversations with Brian Cullman & Dave Hill

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Brian Cullman
Dave Hill

The PR package for Brian Cullman’s new album, The Opposite Of Time caught Norman B’s attention not only for the music, but also the extraordinary bio accompanying it. Brian’s story reads like a rock ’n’ roll fairy tale. He is was still a teenager when he bumped into Edie Sedgwick clad only in a bra and panties, cutting out pictures from Vogue, while Jim Morrison lay passed out on a couch, as Nico hid in the bedroom. Next, he’s in London writing for Crawdaddy! magazine, where he opens for Nick Drake and hangs with John and Beverly Martyn, Sandy Denny, Richard and Linda Thompson. On his return to the States, Cullman almost accidentally forms OK Savant, who become a fixture at CBGB’s. Brian’s story is long and expansive, in the next edition of Life Elsewhere, you’ll hear selections from Norman B’s recent, in-depth, conversation with Brian,  plus tracks from his latest album.

Dave Hill is a comedian, writer, musician, actor, radio host, and according to his bio, a man-about-town. Qualifications that meet the high standards we maintain at Life Elsewhere for guest invitations. It also helps that Dave has a new book, we recommend, Dave Hill Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. In the next edition of Life Elsewhere, Dave says he’ll fight anyone who disagrees with his claim that Led Zeppelin are rock gods. He talks of the trials and tribulations for a comedian and he tells a true-life story about writing ringtone copy for the GOP Presidential frontrunner. Dave describes his encounter with the presumptive candidate, concluding that a venerable Anglo-Saxon word best describes him.*

*The Anglo-Saxon word Dave Hill refers to was also a major part of the recent interview with Lisa Hilton. Hear the interview by going to the Life Elsewhere Archives and clicking on show: 2016-05-01

Life Elsewhere Show #169 airs:
Sundays 12 noon ET at The Source WMNF HD3  
Mondays 7.00pm ET at WROM Radio
Mondays 5.00pm PT & Thursdays 7.00pm PT at NWCZ Radio

Life Elsewhere can be heard on CMG Global Media
If you miss any editions of Life Elsewhere, go here then go to the Listen On Demand panel, choose the date of a show and click play.

PS: You can now download the new WMNF mobile app for FREE and listen to LIfe Elsewhere as it streams live at 12 noon ET every Sunday

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