For Virginia sheep farmers, wool has become a nuisance. A worldwide glut of the fiber has left them spending more money to shear their flocks than they'll earn from selling the wool. That's one reason a growing number are turning to hair sheep. Stephan Wildeus (VSU) and Joseph Tritschler (VSU) extol the virtues of these four-footed wonders, which require no shearing and produce tasty chops. Also featured: Praised for its rot-resistance and its light weight, Atlantic white cedar was the wood of choice for colonial roofers and boat builders. But overharvesting and loss of wetlands have left few stands remaining. Biologist Rob Atkinson (CNU) and historian Tim Morgan (CNU) recall the long history of the Atlantic white cedar and discuss efforts to restore it.

Second Week (July 14 – 20) Power Play: Deregulating the Old Dominion

California's decision to deregulate the energy industry plunged the state into a near crisis situation, with blackouts becoming alarmingly common. Now, with Virginia poised to follow California's lead and loosen its control over power providers in January, can anything be done to ensure the inexpensive, abundant power that we've come to expect? Technology historian Richard Hirsh (VT) and Irene Leech (VT), president of the Virginia Citizens Consumer Council, offer their predictions.

Third Week (July 21 – 27) Thinking Visually: The Talents of Dyslexics

Few disorders are more common-and more misunderstood-than dyslexia. Recent research suggests the regions of the brain associated with visual and spatial thinking are larger in dyslexics, while regions responsible for verbal skills are smaller. Such an explanation helps to make sense of the reading difficulties and verbal gaffes associated with dyslexia. It also lends credence to those who claim the disorder may sometimes be a blessing in disguise. Were such great innovators as Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein dyslexics? Thomas West (GMU) and Gordon Sherman (GMU), co-directors of the Center for the Study of Dyslexia and Talents, explore the possibility. They suggest that the unsung talents of dyslexics may become increasingly valuable in this high-tech world.

Fourth Week (July 28 – August 3) The History of Fat

We are a culture obsessed with weight, barraged with messages to thin down and images of the fit and trim. But fat did not always mean flawed. The painful bustles and corsets of 19th century gowns were designed to stress ample bosoms and bottoms. Women were supposed to be voluptuous. And those who weren't - like American suffragette Susan B. Anthony - were criticized for their gauntness. Peter Stearns (GMU) is a cultural historian and the author of the book Fat History: Bodies and Beauty in the Modern West. He traces the transformation of the full figure from a sign of health and well being to one of moral and psychological weakness.