Sunday, December 11, 2011

Coast to Coast AM - 2011.12.10 - Free Will & the Brain

Free Will & the Brain

Date:	12-10-11
Host:	Ian Punnett
Guests:	Michael Gazzaniga, Andy Hines

The father of cognitive neuroscience, Michael Gazzaniga, joined Ian to offer a provocative argument against the common belief that our lives are wholly determined by physical processes and we are therefore not responsible for our actions. He explained that neuroscience research reveals that decision making is based on a combination of "the information that was built into us structurally" as well as knowledge of previous experiences. He marveled that the human brain is a "finely honed machine" that "provides us, also, with this believe that we're in charge of running this thing."

Despite this perspective on decision making, he argued, it does not free people from accountability and responsibility, since these are societal factors that exist outside of the brain. "Responsibility is something that we humans assigned to the other person," he mused, "so if you are going to be a part of the human culture, I'm going to hold you responsible." In light of that, Gazzaniga suggested that criminal cases where the perpetrator is mentally disturbed, but clearly guilty, should result in a judgement of "responsible, but insane." He also predicted that neuroscientists may eventually be able to "fix" such mental issues, which will create a deep cultural debate over how to mete out proper punishment. "I don't say these are easy answers," he said, "I'm saying they're tough questions, but that's what we should be thinking about."

Gazzaniga was also dismissive of the religious connotations surrounding the debate over free will, which suggest that all of our actions have been predetermined by a proverbial 'higher power.' He contended that there were far too many variables and "there's no information system in the world that can possibly take that into account." With that in mind, Gazzaniga surmised that the concept of 'free will' essentially becomes antiquated because "we're not coerced by outside forces" and one is responsible for their own actions. Over the course of the conversation, Gazzaniga also talked about other brain-related topics such as research into the damaged brains of athletes and whether or not it would be possible to transplant a brain.

The Future of Consumerism

In the first hour, Andy Hines discussed how people's values are reshaping the consumer landscape. He observed that there appears to be a cultural backlash against consumerism where "people are rejecting this idea that consumption is going to make them happy." Hines noted that this perspective actually coincides with research which shows that, once our basic needs are met, "adding more money does nothing for our happiness." Hines put forward the idea that "authenticity" is one key concept which businesses would be wise to embrace as the future unfolds. He explained that the evolving consumer mindset expects to be treated with respect and told the truth, rather than be misled or coddled, which will lead to a greater level of appreciation from that customer.

Yarn Bombed!

The town of Skowhegan, Maine has become the latest victim of the 'yarn bombing' craze. The phenomenon consists of skilled knitters surreptitiously decorating random urban objects during the night, much to the delight, dismay, and confusion of those who discover their handiwork in the morning. More on the story, including a video report on the yarn bombing 'incident,' at New England Cable News.

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Coast to Coast AM

Coast to Coast AM is a North American (U.S. and Canada) late-night syndicated radio talk show that deals with a variety of topics, but most frequently ones that relate to either the paranormal or conspiracy theories. It was created by Art Bell and is distributed by Premiere Radio Networks. The program currently airs seven nights a week 1:00 a.m. – 5:00 a.m. Eastern Time / 10:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. Pacific Time. As of 2006, the show attracts an estimated 4.5 million listeners every night, making it the most listened to late night show in North America.

Coast to Coast AM covers unusual topics and is full of personal stories related to callers. While program content varies, most nights are focused on paranormal and pseudoscientific subjects such as the occult, remote viewing, hauntings, shadow people, psychic reading, metaphysics, conspiracy theories, UFOs, crop circles, cryptozoology, the Hollow Earth hypothesis, and science fiction literature, among others. Since the September 11, 2001 attacks, the events of that day (as well as alternate theories surrounding them) and current U.S. counter-terrorism strategy have also become frequent themes. George Noory also takes interest in the 2012 phenomenon and believes something will happen.

After the theme song is played (Giorgio Moroder's "Chase" from Midnight Express), the broadcast is typically kicked off with a reading of current events or news stories by the host, usually with at least one bizarre or peculiar story. This is usually followed by a guest interview for the rest of the first hour (with open phone lines if there is enough time), then a lengthier three-hour interview with a second guest. For the last hour of the show, people may call in to ask questions of the second guest. Every so often, host George Noory will flip the show's format and have the longer interview guest on first to fill the first three hours of the show. In this format, the primary interview begins after the reading of the news and then the first break. In the last hour in this "flipped" format, the last hour will sometimes feature guest with a shorter subject or, more often than not, be simply an hour of open lines. Occasionally, round table discussions are held on one of the show's common topics. Conventional topics are sometimes discussed, with interviews with notable authors and political talk sometimes featured.

On rare occasions, hosts have cut interviews short when it became clear that guests were being dishonest, unethical, unintelligible, abusive, or patronizing. When this happens, the rest of the show will be filled with open lines. Guests that have interviews cut short due to bad phone connections for example, or at the last minute becoming unavailable are generally rescheduled for a later date.

Some guests have been challenged. However, the overall tone of the show is generally friendly toward paranormal and fringe views, and apart from panel discussions and advertised debates, guests are generally free to air their views unopposed.

In 2008, George Noory volunteered an elaboration of the show's policy respecting the controversial opinions of regular guests. He explained that, provided there was no element of hostility toward third parties, it was program policy to allow expression of opinion unchallenged. He gave as an example Richard C. Hoagland's contention that features on Mars are artificial, constructed by a civilization that once inhabited the planet. Noory accepted that this opinion has no support whatsoever in the planetary science community, but said that Coast to Coast AM exists in part to provide a forum for such eccentric ideas. He added that, since guests are never paid appearance fees, it is inevitable that promotion of books, videos, and web sites is often a motivation for guests to sacrifice a night's sleep.

During hours of "open lines", calls are taken and put on air. Under George Noory, open lines have added topics for callers to share their experiences or stories about a particular issue or situation. The show has multiple call-in numbers for:

"East of the Rockies"
"West of the Rockies"
"First-time callers"
"International callers"
A "wild card" line
Skype (when Noory is hosting)

They are all announced at the beginning of each broadcast by Ross Mitchell. Since 2007, Coast to Coast AM rolls out more numbers on special occasions, including lines that are reserved for special "themed" callers, for example those who claim to be from other dimensions, time periods, and those possessed by spirits.

The Halloween edition of Coast to Coast AM becomes Ghost to Ghost AM, as listeners call in with their ghost stories. The New Year's Eve show usually entails listeners calling in their predictions for the coming year, and the host (commonly Art Bell) rating the predictions made a year earlier. In recent years, the host of the New Year's Eve prediction show has been cautioning the open line callers that they may not predict the assassination of any person or the death of the US president.

The 2006 first person shooter Prey featured Art Bell as a guest star and featured him as himself in mock episodes of the show with guests calling in to discuss the various extraterrestrial or mythical phenomena making up the game's story line, sometimes to advance the plot and other times simply for humour.

George Noory hosts the show on weeknights and the first Sunday of every month. Ian Punnett hosts the show on Saturday nights. Either Ian Punnett or fill-in host John B. Wells hosts the show on the second Sunday of every month. George Knapp hosts the 3rd and 4th Sunday of each month, and when there is a 5th Sunday, Art Bell or a fill-in hosts the show. On some 3rd and 4th Sundays, Rob Simone fills in for George Knapp.

Coast to Coast AM is broadcast on over 500 United States affiliates, as well as numerous Canadian affiliates, several of which stream the show on their station's website. The show's Streamlink service offers live Internet feeds of the show by subscription. The program is also broadcast on XM Satellite Radio in the United States, on Talk Radio 165, for 11 hours per day. Due to XM Satellite Radio's operational assistance agreement with Clear Channel, Coast to Coast AM was forbidden from broadcasting on Sirius Satellite Radio until XM and Sirius merged in 2008.

The show's complete schedule can be found on its website. Because the show is so frequently repeated, audible cue signals are inserted at the beginning and end of commercial breaks, to facilitate substitution of commercials by local stations.

http://www.coasttocoastam.com/

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Sunday, December 11, 2011

Coast to Coast AM - 2011.12.10 - Free Will & the Brain

Free Will & the Brain

Free Will & the Brain

The Future of Consumerism

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Yarn Bombed!

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