Story Archives of 'Public Insight'

Since the beginning of time, human beings have been making tools to make life easier, better, faster or more efficient, but is that always a good thing? Are human beings happier today, whether individually or collectively, because of telephones, washing machines, text-messaging cell-phones, and iPods? Are there limitations on how much technology we should produce, or allow in our lives?

Guest

• Max Latona, Associate Professor of Philosophy at St. Anselm College

When the downturn began, the causes were well-documented: consumers drowning in debt, lenders handing out subprime mortgages and banks gambling with money they didn’t have. We said we’d change, but have we? What happens once better times return - will these lessons stick, or are we destined to repeat past mistakes?

Guests

• Russ Thibeault, president of Applied Economic Research in Laconia
• Amy Schmidt, Assistant Professor of Economics and Business at St. Anselm College

We'll also hear from

• Peter Temin, Professor Emeritus of Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

A new study shows that New Hampshire’s estuaries are facing serious environmental threats. The Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership recently released its State of the Estuaries report.

New Hampshire Public Radio’s Amy Quinton has more.

Earlier this week, the small town of Mont Vernon was turned upside down by the killing of a local mother and vicious attack on her daughter. The four teenagers charged are said to have picked their victims at random. We’ll ask the questions many are asking as the state copes with an inexplicable tragedy.

Guests

• Charles Putnam, co-director of Justiceworks, a research institute at the University of New Hampshire, and a Research Associate Professor of Political Science at UNH
• William Pollack, Associate Clinical Professor at Harvard Medical School’s Psychology Department, author of REAL BOYS: Rescuing Our Sons from the Myths of Boyhood, and director of the Center For Men at McLean Hospital

We'll also hear from

• Paul Apple, member of the Board of Selectmen in Mont Vernon
• Loretta Brady, assistant professor of psychology St. Anselm College and clinical psychologist with Elliot Hospital Pain Management Center

Lucky as they may sound, these top-performing students have their own problems - especially being bored and disengaged at school. And there are complaints the No Child Left Behind Act is leaving these kids behind. We’ll look closer at the issues and, given limited time and money, how much attention they may get.

Guests

• Joseph Renzulli, professor at the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education, Director of the National Research Center On the Gifted and Talented and author of the book Light Up Your Child’s Mind
• Theresa Morris, Gifted and Talented Coordinator for the Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District

We'll also hear from

• Ted Comstock, Executive Director for the New Hampshire School Boards Association
• Ken Relihan, coordinator for gifted and talented policy at the New Hampshire Department of Education