COMMENTARIES/REVIEWS

Constance Alexander	"A Long Way From St. Lucy" T.S. Eliot wrote “April is the cruelest month.” …But The Academy of American Poets hopes to prove him wrong yet again. This April marks the 12th Annual National Poetry Month. We celebrate by starting the month with local writer and commentator Constance Alexander and her story about the year she became a poet. Read the commentary here.
Constance Alexander is a writer from Murray, Ky. Her books are available at the Murray State University Bookstore or through Amazon.com.	Past Commentaries: "No Daughter of Mine" "My Mother's Bones"
Duane Bolin	"The Past is a Foreign Country" The U.S. celebrates its 232nd birthday this Friday and looking back one can really only perceive our history by connecting it with the present. History Dr. Professor Dr. Duane Bolin says studying history is like a visit to a foreign country.   Read the commentary here.
Dr. James Duane Bolin is a professor in the Department of History at Murray State University.	Past Commentaries: "On Books and the Housing of Them" "The Uses of History" "Final Exams" Listen to and read more past commentaries here.
Brian Clardy	"Donald Fagen and Musical Creativity" The Jazz/Rock veterans Steely Dan recently added more dates to their “Think Fast” Summer tour, which marks the third straight year the group has launched a major tour since re-uniting in 1993. But it wasn’t always like this, says Commentator Dr. Brian Clardy. He takes a look at frontman Donald Fagen’s successful solo career since the group first called it quits in June 1981. Read the commentary here.
Dr. Clardy is an Assistant Professor of History at Murray State.	Past Commentaries: "Reconstructing the Trans Atlantic Alliance" "Obama's Challenge: The Crucible of US Foreign Policy Towards Iran" "On Herbie Hancock and the Vindication of Jazz" Listen to and read more past commentaries here.
Michael Cohen	"The Bad Quarto by Jill Patton Walsh" "The Bad Quarto" is the name of the fourth mystery novel in the series featuring college nurse turned detective Imogen Quy, by author Jill Patton Walsh. Following the controversial death of Professor Talentire, Quy becomes involved with an amateur theatrical production of a play titled "The Bad Quarto." Hear what mystery novel expert Michael Cohen thinks about this academic whodunit. Read the commentary here.
Michael Cohen is Professor Emeritus at Murray State University. His book Murder Most Fair: The Appeal of Mystery Fiction was published by Fairleigh Dickinson University Press.	Past Commentaries: "Manhunt: The 12 Days Chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson" "A Death in Belmont by Sebastian Junger" "Desert Heat by J.A. Jance"
Roy Davis	"The Pruitt Sisters" When thinking of your childhood, you may be able to recall a few blurry memories or grainy images tucked away in a dusty corner in the back of your brain… But, for commentator Roy Davis, these images come in crystal clear. In this installment in his “memory series,” he takes us back to the early 1940s, when he was a young boy growing up with his neighbors, The Pruitt Sisters… whom he describes as the real-life personification of those little old ladies stereotyped in cartoons. Read the commentary here.
Roy Davis is an artist/craftsman based in Murray, KY. You can see his custom built wooden coffins and crematory urns at his web site www.vintagecoffins.com	Past Commentaries: "Riding Tiny" "First Memories"
Renae Duncan Dr. Renae Duncan is the Chair of the Department of Psychology at Murray State University.	"Feral Cat Day" Be good to our feline friends today. It's National Feral Cat Day. For over 15 years, The Alley Cat Allies have been dedicated to advocating non-lethal and ethical feline population control. Doctor Renae Duncan explains the process of "Trap-Neuter-Return" and how you can get involved. Read the commentary here.
Joe Fuhrmann	"Is Our Money Friendly to Blind People?" We can identify the American dollar by its famous green coloring, but how identifiable is it for the blind? Dr. Joe Fuhrmann talks about some changes he would like to see. Read the commentary here.
Dr. Joseph Fuhrmann is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of History at Murray State University. He specializes in Russian History and is the owner of "Christopher's Coins" doing business at the Hear of Hazel Antique Mall in Hazel, Kentucky.	Past Commentaries: "New Series of Coins Honoring our First Ladies" "New Series of Coins Honoring the US Presidents... All of Them" "US Presidents and US Coins" Listen to and read more past commentaries here.
James La Valle Dr. James La Valle is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Murray State University.	"The Language of MSU's Non-Discrimination Policy" On March 1st, 2008, Murray State’s Board of Regents voted to add the words “Sexual Orientation” to their Non-Discrimination Policy. For some, this amendment has been a long awaited blessing, but it had not come without criticism from community members. Read the commentary here.
Richard Nelson	"Families, not Washington, Provide the Change We Need" Barack Obama anchored much of his campaign on two ideals, “hope” and “change.” Commentator Richard Nelson agrees, America needs to change, but he says the changes that need to be made aren’t partisan issues, or even “one size fits all” government solutions. Nelson says change must be made with one institution in mind: the family.    Read the commentary here.
Richard Nelson is a policy analyst for The Family Foundation, a nonprofit public policy organization. He currently resides in Trigg County with his family.	Past Commentaries: "Thus Saith the ACLU: Thou Shalt Not Post" "Murray State Opens the Door to Radical Sexual Politics" "Public Decency Shouldn't be Taken for Granted"
Patience Renzulli	"Mr. Mouse" Cartoon icon Mickey Mouse turns 80 this week… Though his “official” birthday is November 18th, he made his debut in a six minute film called “Plane Crazy,” with co-star Minnie Mouse on this day in1928. Commentator Patience Renzulli celebrates by sharing her personal encounter with a different mischievous mouse that runs amok in her house after it gets the attention of her nine dogs. Read the commentary here.
Patience Renzulli and her husband Bill live in Paducah and you can visit their website at DogWalkers.net for cool stuff for dogs and their people. You can view her blog by clicking here.	Past Commentaries: "Dream on Old Dog" "The Death Penalty" "When Everything is Right?" Listen to and read more past commentaries here.
Helen Roulston Helen Roulston is an Associate Professor of English and Philosphy and Chair of Film Studies at Murray State University.	"Citizen Kane to Wuthering Heights" Bernard Herrmann is perhaps one of the most influential film composers of the mid-twentieth century. If you've seen films like Jason and the Argonauts, Taxi Driver, or anything by Hitchcock, you've heard his music... Despite his career in film, Herrmann had a love for opera. Early in his career, while working with the Mercury Theatre, he wrote an opera adaptation for Wuthering Heights Helen Roulston reads from her presentation entitled, From Citizen Kane to Wuthering Heights: Bernard Herrmann's Creation of Gothic-Inspired Operas given at the biannual conference of the International Gothic Association was in the Aix-en Provence of France. Read the commentary here.
Kenneth Thomas Kenneth Thomas of Murray is a psychologist who treats court-referred participants in domestic violence.	"To Change the World" In the wake of the Virginia Tech Massacre, students and community members across the nation have joined together in hopes to prevent violence in their neighborhoods. But Psychologist Kenneth Thomas says why that might not be enough and offers his expertise on what he thinks needs to happen. Read the commentary here.
Martin Booth Tracy Martin Booth Tracy of Murray is retired and a part-time consultant on community - based social service programs in central and Eastern Europe with the International Labor Organization.	"Craig Morris - From Farm Boy to Towering Intellect" From inventor Nathan B. Stubblefield to anecdotist and Navy Chaplain Howell Maurice Forgy, Calloway County has been home for many historic intellectuals. Commentator Martin Booth Tracy talks about how one Murray native by the name of Edward Craig Morris stayed true to his Kentucky roots while curating for the American Museum of Natural History in New York and excavating the Andean Mountains of Peru. Read the commentary here.
	Past Commentaries: "Reverend Howell Maurice Forgy"
Robert Valentine	"Turkey Day" This year marks our 230th Thanksgiving since it was first issued in 1777 by the Continental Congress. As you gather around a large Turkey and give thanks for safety and happiness in the same manner George Washington once did, you might ask yourself, Whose idea was it to eat a turkey? Well, Commentator and Storyteller Robert Valentine has some morsels of information for you to chew on in an amusing Thanksgiving send-up. Read the commentary here.
Robert Valentine is a professional Speaker, Storyteller, and Senior Lecturer at Murray State University in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications. Visit his website: RobertValentine.com.	Past Commentaries: "Punkin"
Scott Vanderploeg	"Locavores" On June 18th, Congress overrode the President’s veto on the Farm Bill. This means good things ahead for local farmers and members of the Community Farm Alliance of Kentucky. Commentator Dr. Scott Vander Ploeg says you too can feel the effects of healthy living and a sustainable future by becoming a “locavore;” that is, eating and advocating locally grown food. Read the commentary here.
Scott Vander Ploeg is a scholar and writer who contemplates our culture from Madisonville, Kentucky.	Past Commentaries: "Fictive Kitchens" "Big Words" "Luck of the MG-TD" Listen to and read more past commentaries here.

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