New Rockford to host "Why?" July 18 Is a book on the Web still a book? Do hyperlinks change the role of narrative? What is an author if anyone can publish anything whenever they want? Folks in New Rockford, N.D., want to know. Learn the answers to these and many other new media questions Saturday, July 18, 2 p.m. in the newly refurbished Opera House in New Rockford, where the popular Prairie Public radio call-in show Why? will be taped for the first time in front of live audience. This live recording is the first of what the show’s creators expect to be many live events across the state, encouraging North Dakotans from even the most rural areas to participate in a large-scale and continuous philosophical discussion. Why? was developed and is hosted by UND philosopher Jack Russell Weinstein, founder and director of the Institute for Philosophy in Public Life. At the New Rockford episode of Why? guest Crystal Alberts, a “new media” expert, will crack open “philosophy of literature” to help investigate our assumptions about literature, reading, and art. Alberts has a Ph.D. in English and American Literature from Washington University in St. Louis and is a visiting professor of English at UND. “Crystal is representative of the energy and learning that our newer scholars bring with them out of graduate school,” said Why? host Jack Weinstein, from the UND Department of Philosophy and Religion. “She is more aware of the cutting edge than most people I know, and talking with her will be a challenge to my own assumptions, not just the listeners. This will be a lively, exciting, and interactive episode.” Have a question you want to ask Crystal during the show but can’t be in the audience? Ask it in advance by sending it to: askwhy@und.edu. Subscribe to the podcast or listen to previous episodes online at www.whyradioshow.org. This New Rockford episode will be broadcast on Prairie Public on August 9, at 5 p.m. Central Time. Why? Philosophical Discussions about everyday life is North Dakota’s very own call-in philosophy radio show. Its purposes are to create a large-scale conversation between philosophical professionals and the general public and to illustrate how day-to-day life is steeped in deep philosophical commitments. The show is broadcast live on 89.3 FM in Grand Forks, other Prairie Public radio stations across the state, in Winnipeg on Shaw Cable, 107.9, and online for anyone who wants it around the world at www.whyradioshow.org -- Jack Russell Weinstein, associate professor, Philosophy and Religion, jack.weinstein@und.nodak.edu, 777-2887