Well, as impossible as it seems we’re little over half way through the summer of 2011 already. And with as hot as it’s been I’m looking forward to the fall. One of the great fall events is the UT Tyler Cowan Center‘s Distinguished Lecture Series. I’m not a season ticket holder or anything but I have managed to attend quite a few events there over the years. I always look forward to the release of the list of fall participants. Well the season’s up- coming speakers are great. I hope to attend both events. The first speaker is former senator Fred Thompson, and he will appear on September 13th. The Next is writer and satirist P. J. O’Rourke and he will be speaking on January 19th.

Fred Thompson has had a unique and diverse career. He’s been an actor with many roles to his credit, most notably, that of Law and Order’s “Arthur Branch.” His Political Career consisted of two terms in the United States Senate, which included several significant committee appointments. In 2008 the former senator jumped into the Republican presidential primary race amid much early excitement. Once in the race however, the campaign failed to maintain the energy that launched it. Since his unsuccessful run for the presidential nomination, Thompson has hosted his own talk radio program and has hit the lecture circuit. With his frank southern charm, the senator has made a name for himself as a straight shooter who doesn’t shy away from discussing tough political topics. The evening’s appearance will begin at 7:30 pm. Tickets go on sale in August.

Patrick Jake O’Rourke is a prolific writer and journalist, known for his searing wit. He’s written for a host of magazines and news papers including: Rolling Stone, the Atlantic Monthly, the Wall Street Journal, the Weekly Standard, and on and on. He is a self proclaimed libertarian, whose topics generally center on government and culture. He’s an economic conservative, with moderate to (more) liberal views on social issues. He’s written more than sixteen books including best sellers like “Parliament of Whores,” and “Give War a Chance.” His most recent book is entitled, “Don’t Vote, It Just Encourages the Bastards.”O’Rourke is an enormously entertaining writer who’s given us some of the funniest and most memorable one- liners of the last thirty years or so. His sure to be memorable lecture, will be on Thursday of January the 19th, beginning at 7:30 pm. As with Senator Thompson’s appearance, tickets for Cowan Center members start in August. General public can begin purchasing them in November. For more information on these or other events, visit the Cowan Center website at http://www.uttyler.edu/cowan/# .