The Supreme Court Rules, The Benoit Mystery Deepens, and The Vice President Almost Loses His Expense Account

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"Morning Meeting" is a recap of our daily editorial meeting. If we had a show today, these are some of the stories you would probably hear.

The Supreme Court had a busy day yesterday.

Last night the BPP celebrated the completion of our pilot with a few celebratory rounds at Jimmy's Corner, the official bar of choice of the BPP. If the crew had a slight case of Post Pilot Letdown Syndrome when we rolled in this morning, it was quickly erased by a boatload of news. We don't have a show yet, but we do have this blog, so all our news-related enthusiasm is channeled through this page. Fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the ride, as you move below the fold....

Continue reading "The Supreme Court Rules, The Benoit Mystery Deepens, and The Vice President Almost Loses His Expense Account" »

Dan Pashman

10:47 AM ET | 06-29-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

Ladies And Gentlemen, Pilot #1

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Whew! I gotta tell ya, it's been a hand wringing couple of weeks here at BPP World Headquarters. (Okay, most of the hand wringing was mine, which was only calmed by many glasses of shiraz.)

So, here it is. The first full, one hour pilot of our new show. As you're listening, keep the following in mind:

-- The BPP will be two hours everyday, instead of one.
-- We will be piloting one and two hours sporadically until our launch this Fall. So, don't expect a pilot from us everyday. (Though we will continue to pilot segments regularly.)
-- The most important thing: This is our FIRST pilot. The very beginning of a months long process to create a new show.

Here's the show rundown:

SHOW OPEN -- Luke and Alison say hello.

NEWSCAST 1 -- Read by me, Matt Martinez. I am not going to be the newsreader on the show, but I can play one in a pinch. (Dammit Jim, I'm a producer, not a newscaster...)

WHITE HOUSE SUBPOENAS -- Luke and Alison talk with NPR's White House Correspondent David Greene about the subpoenas issued by the Senate Judiciary Committee over documents relating to the Administration's warrantless wiretapping program.

iPHONE FRENZY -- We talk with Ben Steele, iPhone fanatic, about the phone's release tomorrow. And we chat with USA Today technology correspondent, Ed Baig.

PARIS SPEAKS -- Alison and Luke talk about last night's Paris Hilton interview on Larry King.

CONEY ISLAND -- Luke talks about his trip to ride The Cyclone at Coney Island. The roller coaster turned 80 this week.

MAKE ME CARE -- Alison and Luke talk with London bureau chief for Newsweek, Stryker McGuire, about why we should care about Gordon Brown becoming Britain's newest prime minister.

BENOIT -- We talk with Bryan Alvarez about Chris Benoit, a former pro-wrestler who killed his wife and son and then himself last weekend. Alvarez is the editor of Figure Four Weekly, a newsletter that covers pro-wrestling.

CROATIA -- The big holiday destination this summer? Yup, Croatia. We find out why with a chat with Jeanne Oliver. She is the author of Lonely Planet's popular Croatia guidebook. Check out Jeanne's website, www.croatiatraveller.com

THE RAMBLE -- Luke and Alison ramble on about gaydar, M&M honeymooners and New Jersey's state song predicament (they don't have one.)

We hope you enjoy it. We want you to tell us what worked, what didn't. What did you love or hate? What do you want more of? Less of? We are making a news program for you -- so we want to know what you think. Happy listening. Talk with you tomorrow.

Matt Martinez

4:31 PM ET | 06-28-2007 | permalink | comments (25) | e-mail post

Coney Island's Cyclone Turns 80

Filed under: Video

This week the famed Cyclone roller coaster in Coney Island turned 80. The Cyclone is a throwback, all wood and steel, and for nearly 45 years after it was built, it was the fastest roller coaster in the world. It's since been surpassed by more modern coasters, but what it lacks in technology it makes up for with personality. (In other words, this thing is rickety enough to put fear into anyone.) Coney Island celebrated the only way it knows how: With an event that was part boardwalk charm, part freak show spectacle, and all heart. They originally wanted to run the Cyclone full of people who rode it in its inaugural year, meaning people who'd have to be at least 87 or so by now, but they found no takers. Then they wanted to fill it with 80-year-olds, but they could only find three. Then one got cold feet, and they were down to two. But as proud members of a group called American Coaster Enthusiasts, those two men were up to the task. The BPP sent Luke Burbank, Win Rosenfeld, Dan Pashman, and a video camera out to Coney Island to cover the event, and to take a spin on the Cyclone themselves. Click on the video above to check it out.

Dan Pashman

3:18 PM ET | 06-28-2007 | permalink | comments (11) | e-mail post

Hour of Power

Filed under: Inside The BPP

Credit: Minneapolis Star-Tribune

The BPP Is Doing An Hour Show! That's Swell!

After weeks of planning, lots of late nights (on Matt's part), and 3,487 angry outbursts from Luke during editorial meetings (my bad), it's finally here! A real one hour show! Which you may or may not ever hear!

Here's the scoop--Today we're going to do our first hour-long programming module. (We're still a little gunshy about calling it a show.) It might be a total train wreck, or it might be the best hour of radio in world history. If we think it sounds okay, we'll put it up on the blog and in iTunes for your listening pleasure. If it's lame, we'll never speak of it again (sort of like your Uncle Ricky, who wouldn't come out of the basement for 14 years).

All joking aside, this is a really big day for us. Even if the show is a disaster it will be a very educational disaster. Wish us luck.

Luke Burbank

10:04 AM ET | 06-28-2007 | permalink | comments (5) | e-mail post

Young Lefties, Middle Aged Movie Cops, Old Spy Docs: It Must Be The Morning Meeting

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"Morning Meeting" is a recap of our daily editorial meeting. If we had a show today, these are some of the stories you would probably hear.

Good day, everyone. The day is going to be long and hot, again. But not as hot as southern Europe, where the temperatures have been getting up to 115 degrees in places like Bosnia, Croatia, Turkey and southern Italy. We should be happy to have our 90 degree weather. But we're not, of course.

On to the meeting...

NEWSCAST: A new poll by the New York Times, CBS and MTV says that younger Americans are leaning left, the CIA bears its family jewels, Republican Ohio Senator George Voinovich joins Senator Dick Lugar in calling for troop withdrawal, the House of Reps prods the National Park Service to reopen crown of Statue of Liberty, the Senate blocked a bill that would make it easier for unions to organize in non-union workplaces, T-Mobile to roll out phones that use your home wifi connection for better reception, Massachusetts' health plan goes into effect next week, US Weekly blacks out Paris coverage, and the Nathan's Famous hot dog eating champ is out of next week's big contest because of an injured jaw.

Continue reading "Young Lefties, Middle Aged Movie Cops, Old Spy Docs: It Must Be The Morning Meeting " »

Matt Martinez

10:33 AM ET | 06-27-2007 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post

New Music Tuesday: Ryan Adams, Gabby Glaser, Kelly Clarkson

Filed under: Music

"Gimme Splash," Gabby Glaser

"Era Vulgaris," Queens of the Stone Age

Tuesday is the day when the record industry typically releases new music. There's a slew of records hitting the shelves, virtual or otherwise, today. We thought we would take advantage of the surfeit of music before us and play some for you. Alison invited Erika Clarke, a writer for Amplifer Magazine, to talk about some of the new releases. On the list: Easy Tiger by Ryan Adams, My December by Kelly Clarkson and Gimme Splash by Gabby Glaser.

Erika also talks about her album pick of the month, Era Vulgaris by Queens of the Stone Age. She recommended we listen to the entire album, of course -- but we just don't have the time (or the rights) to do it. So, we listen to a little bit of the band's single, "Sick, Sick, Sick."

Some other releases of note today: The Mix Up, Beastie Boys; Get The Gore, Gore Gore Girls; The Fragile Army, Polyphonic Spree.

Also, CMJ has a nice list of new releases. And check out New Music Tipsheet for a more complete list.

Matt Martinez

12:35 PM ET | 06-26-2007 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post

Hammered on Hand Sanitizer, Murdochracy, and Mental Floss

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"Morning Meeting" is a recap of our daily editorial meeting. If we had a show today, these are some of the stories you would probably hear.

Fun fact: This is 140 proof!

It is a hot, steamy Tuesday in most of the country -- every state is going to crack 80 degrees -- so why not kick back and drink a big glass of the Bryant Park Project. It will be a tall, cool concoction of Supreme Court rulings, mixed in with a little voter fraud and spiked with some hand sanitizer. You can come back for seconds later in the day when we post a 'New Music Tuesday' segment with music journalist Erika Clarke.

Matt and I are in the office, Luke, Dan and Win have headed out to Coney Island to document the 80th anniversary of the Cyclone Roller Coaster, which apparently is being celebrated by a bunch of 80 year olds actually riding the coaster. Yeah, I don't know if that's a good idea either.

Details and video to come.

Continue reading "Hammered on Hand Sanitizer, Murdochracy, and Mental Floss" »

Alison Stewart

11:03 AM ET | 06-26-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

Monday, Monday: Chock Full 'O News

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"Morning Meeting" is a recap of our daily editorial meeting. If we had a show today, these are some of the stories you would probably hear.

Credit: AP

This dog was crowned World's Ugliest Dog on Friday. We didn't see the other contestants, but we're pretty sure the judges got it right.

The BPP crew is back from a well-deserved weekend off, after breaking our own record for most blog posts in a day on Friday. (In case you missed some of them, check 'em out!) We had an editorial meeting chock full of pitches today, covering everything from Dick Cheney to David Beckham to a guy who killed a bear with a log. Read it all below the fold...

Continue reading "Monday, Monday: Chock Full 'O News" »

Dan Pashman

10:17 AM ET | 06-25-2007 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

Point/Counterpoint: Journalists' Political Contributions

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Credit: Getty Images

NPR's New York offices, and probably many other newsrooms across the country, were abuzz yesterday over an article on MSNBC.com about financial contributions journalists have made to politicians and political causes. It's a practice that some news organizations restrict or even forbid, while others have no policy on it at all. (NPR forbids political contributions and participation in political activities like marches and rallies.) At issue is whether contributing to a campaign or cause somehow erodes a journalist's credibility, and whether the practice should be restricted as a result.

I come from a long line of lawyers, which means I can argue either side (or both sides) of a debate. So here's my own Schizophrenic Point/Counterpoint. Take a side, and post your thoughts: Do you have a problem with journalists contributing to political campaigns and causes?

Yes, I have a problem with it. Objectivity and fairness in journalism may be an antiquated notion to some, or a marketing slogan to others, but it's still a code of honor in many newsrooms. A lot of people just want information, without editorials, so they can form their own opinions, and the ability to do that is predicated on that code being upheld by the people providing the information. How can I ever expect to get a fair report on a candidate from a reporter who actively supports or opposes that candidate?

No, I have no problem with it. We're all human beings, and human beings have opinions. Just because a journalist doesn't make a contribution doesn't mean s/he ceases to have an opinion on the matter. At the end of the day, you're putting some degree of trust in your chosen journalists to put aside their personal opinions and report the facts fairly. Besides, where do you draw the line? If I own a Mac computer at home, does that mean I can't do a fair report on the new iPhone?

Discuss.

Dan Pashman

1:57 PM ET | 06-22-2007 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post

Video Game Addiction, The CIA Airs Its Dirty Laundry, and Angelina in Brown Face

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"Morning Meeting" is a recap of our daily editorial meeting. If we had a show today, these are some of the stories you would probably hear.

Credit: AP

Can't Make Me!

Luke was notably absent today, but with good reason. He'll be a panelist on this weekend's edition of Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!. Tune in!

During our morning meeting everyone had to speak up, literally and figuratively, or else be drowned out by the GMA concert in Bryant Park. Honestly, nine floors up we could hear those 'tweens screaming their little hearts out. Speaking of screaming, a couple was slapped with a summons because their five-year-old was squawking in public. Dick Cheney rarely squawks. Or talks. Or releases records when asked. And Jason Giambi is going to do a lot of talking after agreeing to speak to officials about steroids. And I have a lot to say about Angelina Jolie cast as Marianne Pearl. All this and more...after the jump.

Continue reading "Video Game Addiction, The CIA Airs Its Dirty Laundry, and Angelina in Brown Face" »

Alison Stewart

12:54 PM ET | 06-22-2007 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

Bryant Park: Road To Respect (Part XVII)

Filed under: Video

Our video producer Win Rosenfeld has been digging into the long and sordid history of Bryant Park, the eponymous site of our project. Here's the first part of a several-part series. Check back in a week for the next installment, Part XVIII. And check out this audio segment, where Luke and Alison discuss the piece with Win, play something called Rip 'n Read, and talk with Esquire music columnist Andy Langer about summer music festivals.

Dan Pashman

12:38 PM ET | 06-22-2007 | permalink | comments (8) | e-mail post

Rip 'n Read, Summer Music Fests, and The Little Park That Could

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Credit: Rena5

Nowadays Bryant Park is full of fun, but it wasn't so fun years ago.

The BPP is clearly hot hot hot, if our legions of fans are any indication. They were standing outside our building in Bryant Park this morning, screaming so shrilly we thought they'd crack our windows. We later discovered they were actually there for Miley Cyrus, daughter of Billy Ray, better known as Hannah Montana, who was playing a Good Morning America concert. This explained a lot, since we were a bit taken aback by the youth of our would-be admirers. (If all of our listeners are going to be ten-year-old girls, we probably aren't going to do many more segments on China's currency devaluation. OMG, that is SO 2006.)

In any event, it's time for another jog in the park, beginning with the increasingly popular Rip 'n Read, where Luke and Alison take a spin through the news. Today they're looking at stories from the week, including strong words over stem cells, Hillary's campaign song, Chicago's big mob trial, and a Dear Abby letter we can all relate to (in one way or another). After Rip 'n Read we welcome DJ and Esquire music columnist Andy Langer, who'll feature some of the breakout bands from Bonnaroo '07, preview some highlights of upcoming fests, and discuss the pros and cons of big summer festivals in general. Finally we'll bring in our own video producer, Win Rosenfeld, to talk about the first in his several-part video series on the fascinating history of New York's Bryant Park. It's seen its share of bad times, but it's been made safe for screaming ten-year-old girls, thanks largely to an innovative use of social contract theory. Check it out.

Dan Pashman

10:00 AM ET | 06-22-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

North Korea Surprise, WTC Simulation, Ethics Shmethics: NBC Allegedly Pays Paris $1 Million For An Interview

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"Morning Meeting" is a recap of our daily editorial meeting. If we had a show today, these are some of the stories you would probably hear.

Good morning all. We've got the team working on a podcast for later today -- we're talking with DJ Andy Langer about summer music festivals and our video producer Win Rosenfeld takes a look outside our own window with a feature on Bryant Park. All that plus headlines with Luke and Alison.

On to the meeting...

Continue reading "North Korea Surprise, WTC Simulation, Ethics Shmethics: NBC Allegedly Pays Paris $1 Million For An Interview " »

Matt Martinez

10:47 AM ET | 06-21-2007 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

The Best Song In The World Today: "Someone To Love" by Fountains of Wayne

Filed under: The Best Song In The World Today

Here's the video, featuring Demetri Martin from The Daily Show and actress Faryl Millet. For more on the band and the album, see below...

I put the latest Fountains of Wayne disc Traffic and Weather on in my apartment the other day, let it play for a while, and asked my wife what she thought. "It's good," she replied, "but it's a little more pop-y than the stuff you usually like." She's right on both fronts. It is poppier than the stuff I usually like, and it is good.

The catchiness may draw you in, but it's the juxtaposition of a bubble gum aesthetic and acidic lyrics, delivered with deadpan pop glee, that makes the music stand out. This album, along with FoW's previous effort, Welcome Interstate Managers, is to music what Office Space is to movies. Just beneath the veneer of fun there's a brutal depiction of cubicle living as a breeding ground for isolation and frustration, complete with traffic jams, long lines, lost luggage, lost souls, and power-tripping middle managers.

Continue reading "The Best Song In The World Today: "Someone To Love" by Fountains of Wayne" »

Dan Pashman

3:37 PM ET | 06-20-2007 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post

Make Your Own Money--Literally, Get 100 Calories for 98 Cents at McD's, and Thou Shalt Not Leave Thine Left Blinker On for 40 Miles

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"Morning Meeting" is a recap of our daily editorial meeting. If we had a show today, these are some of the stories you would probably hear.

Credit: AP

TONY SNOW CHANNELS TULL!

Good Wednesday Morning everybody! It's a drizzly, muggy, really bad hair day at
NPR-NYC-HQ. Actually looking pretty good are Dan, Luke, and Luke's friend Cotter. (Go ahead, make the joke....done? Good.) I'm not sure about Matt, he's on speaker phone in DC. Me--not so much. I don't think that's why I'm class secretary and posting the blog, but I have made a mental note. Our discussions ranged from the serious--three NATO troops killed in Afghanistan-- to the seriously ridiculous--the judge in the Anna Nicole trial, sobbing Seidlin, leaving the bench and likely headed to a TV near you.

Read on to find out more about a town making its own money, a White House spokesperson who really likes Aqualung, and NPR's high standing with Google.

Continue reading "Make Your Own Money--Literally, Get 100 Calories for 98 Cents at McD's, and Thou Shalt Not Leave Thine Left Blinker On for 40 Miles" »

Alison Stewart

9:44 AM ET | 06-20-2007 | permalink | comments (9) | e-mail post

A Long Jog: Rip 'N Read, The Next Cool Web Sites, and Chitown's Big Mob Trial

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Credit: Chicago Sun-Times

The Chicago mob trial is the biggest in years.

Until now we've done mostly one-topic podcasts, but as we said yesterday, our show is going to be two hours every day. We can't train for a marathon if all we ever do is sprint. So starting this week we're taking things to the next level. Call today's 'cast a long jog, if you will. We start off with a little thing we're calling Rip 'N Read, where Alison and Luke tear news stories straight off the proverbial wires. Today we're covering Harry Reid and the immigration bill, Obama's campaign's "mistake," Breathalyzers for cops who shoot people, and the conservative version of Wikipedia.

After Rip 'N Read we talk to Preston Gralla, regular contributor to PC World, blogger, and author of 35 books, about PC World's list of 25 Web Sites to Watch. There are a lot of new and exciting ways to waste your day away. Let this list be your guide.

Finally we check in with Steve Warmbir from the Chicago Sun-Times, who's covering the biggest mob trial in years. He'll tell us how many of the defendants, witnesses, and jurors are likely to live to see the end of the trial.

Dan Pashman

5:31 PM ET | 06-19-2007 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post

Shady_Stuff@RNC.com, NYC to Cops: Don't Drink and Shoot, and Screech Is Not Dead

Filed under:

"Morning Meeting" is a recap of our daily editorial meeting. If we had a show today, these are some of the stories you would probably hear.

Left to right, a photographic representation of Luke's life journey.

Hello America (and the parts of Canada with internet access),

We've had some pretty exciting developments here at BPP World Headquarters. A big shipment of office supplies came in from DC yesterday, and I figured out that you can place your Chipotle order online, thus avoiding the 400 person line that forms around lunch time. Awesome.

The movers also dropped off some of my stuff from LA. In today's photo you can see the first three items I randomly pulled out of the first box. I can't put my finger on it, but there's something really not right about that lineup.

Later today we'll take a whack at a longer audio segment, wherein we'll do a couple of different interviews and run through the news. Speaking of which, keep reading after the jump to see what we were up to during this morning's editorial meeting.

Continue reading "Shady_Stuff@RNC.com, NYC to Cops: Don't Drink and Shoot, and Screech Is Not Dead" »

Luke Burbank

10:13 AM ET | 06-19-2007 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

A Case Of The Mondays: Chitown's Mob Trial, PC World's Top 25 Sites, and a Trashed Toddler At Applebee's

Filed under:

"Morning Meeting" is a recap of our daily editorial meeting. If we had a show today, these are some of the stories you would probably hear.

It seems we had a case of the Mondays this morning, as our meeting had to be pushed back a half hour, because we were running a little late. We welcomed video producer Win Rosenfeld, who joins the staff today, to his first morning meeting. (He was not late to his first meeting, for the record.) Win did a great piece on Second Life a while back, which some of you may remember, and you can look forward to more great work coming soon. (In addition, he's already informed me that he can convert my VHS recording of the New York Giants' classic victory over the Bills in Super Bowl XXV to DVD, so I'm sure Win and I will get along just fine.)

As for the week ahead, we're going to do fewer audio 'casts, but each one will be longer and will cover multiple topics. After all, this is going to be a two-hour show. You can't run a marathon if all you ever do is sprint, so we need to start training.

Anyway, we all agreed that no major news story made for a clear lead today, which in some ways frees us to dig deeper. Read more below the fold...

Continue reading "A Case Of The Mondays: Chitown's Mob Trial, PC World's Top 25 Sites, and a Trashed Toddler At Applebee's" »

Dan Pashman

10:22 AM ET | 06-18-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

Happy Father's Day! (Or, Lawnmower Envy Hits The Burbs)

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Credit: CubCadet.com

Behold the Cub Cadet i1000 Series Zero Turn Lawn Tractor, featuring 25 Horsepower Kohler Courage V-Twin OHV Engine. At $3,799, it's one of the cheaper zero turn mowers out there.

For some it's an iPhone, for others it's those flip-flops with the bottle openers on the bottoms, but all of us in this consumer culture want something. And with Father's Day coming up, you're probably wondering what your dad craves. Well, if he's like a lot of folks who do their own lawnmowing, he wants a zero turn radius lawnmower. They're the Viking grills of lawncare, and sales are going through the roof. But what exactly sets a zero turn mower apart, and how did they become so popular? Alison spoke to Roy Berendsohn, Senior Home Editor of Popular Mechanics, about the phenomenon. (If you want to see a zero turn mower in action, check out this video.)

And just in case a zero turn mower is out of your price range, we asked Roy for a few other Father's Day gift ideas. Here's what he recommends:

1. Milwaukee Super Sawzall with a rotating rear handle. Cuts anything from a tree root for that shrub he wants to remove to old plumbing and lumber for that bathroom remodeling job that he's been putting off. It's the ultimate demolition and remodeling tool.

2. If you don't want to spend a fortune, try giving Dad a nice set of drill bits. Don't laugh. He'll probably love them. I bet his bits are shot (ahem). I have a set of these bits by Irwin Industrial Tools. They're great.

3. Is Dad a gardener? Thirty years ago, I bought my dad a Blue Ensign Rhododendron. He said it was one of the nicest Father's Day gifts he ever received.

For more gift options, check out the Popular Mechanics Editor's Choice Award winners. Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!

Dan Pashman

2:03 PM ET | 06-15-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

Hamas Seizes Gaza, Space Station Gets Blue Screen Of Death, Kellogg Cuts Calories

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"Morning Meeting" is a recap of our daily editorial meeting. If we had a show today, these are some of the stories you would probably hear.

Good Friday everyone. Sorry for the late post. We're gearing up for the lovely weekend -- Father's Day is coming up on Sunday and we're going totally macho with a review of the ZTR lawnmower. It's the new suburban status symbol and for several thousands of dollars it could be yours! Stay tuned for the podcast later today.

Continue reading "Hamas Seizes Gaza, Space Station Gets Blue Screen Of Death, Kellogg Cuts Calories" »

Matt Martinez

9:53 AM ET | 06-15-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

Powering Down For A Day

Filed under: Inside The BPP, The Dagobah System

Good morning everyone. We are offline today -- no morning meeting, no podcast. We're having a staff retreat, which is basically us ordering Chipotle burritos and asking ourselves, "If this show were a tree, what kind of tree would it be?"

More tomorrow...thanks for checking in.

Matt Martinez

9:04 AM ET | 06-14-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

The Treasury Department Has Spoken. Kind Of.

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Credit: AFP/Getty Images

It's all about the Mao Tse-tungs.

This morning after our editorial meeting, NPR's International Business and Economics Correspondent, Adam Davidson, left a voicemail that intrigued us. He was doing a report today about the Treasury Department's semi-annual report on whether the Chinese were manipulating their currency. The report basically said that, no, China does not meet the standards of what they would call currency "manipulation." But, what Adam wanted to report was that pretty much every business reporter and economist would like tell you that the report is not quite, well ... true. Of course the Chinese are manipulating their currency. Find out why the United States is unwilling to say that -- listen to the podcast.

Matt Martinez

5:04 PM ET | 06-13-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

We Are A Feral Beast. Kneel Before Us.

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"Morning Meeting" is a recap of our daily editorial meeting. If we had a show today, these are some of the stories you would probably hear.

Credit: NBC Television/Getty Images

Goodbye, Mr. Wizard. May flights of Mentos-propelled Diet Coke bottles sing thee to thy rest.

The BPP crew is reunited in New York today, although our secret rings, which when brought together unleash newsgathering mayhem upon the nation, are on backorder. Perhaps it's these diabolical schemes of ours that led British PM Tony Blair to call the media a "feral beast." Man, when it comes to clever insults, Blair kicks Bush and Cheney's butts.

In any event there's news aplenty, from an ovarian cancer breakthrough to the passing of Mr. Wizard, below the fold.

Continue reading "We Are A Feral Beast. Kneel Before Us." »

Dan Pashman

10:49 AM ET | 06-13-2007 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post

The Case of Genarlow Wilson

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Credit: AOL News

Genarlow Wilson in 2005.

Genarlow Wilson wasn't a Boy Scout, but most people seem to think he also didn't deserve a ten year prison sentence. In December 2005 he was a 17-year-old high school football star, homecoming king, and strong student with college aspirations. But he was also at a New Year's Eve party where he partook in drinking, drugs, and consentual sexual acts with at least two different partners. Wilson received oral sex from a 15-year-old girl, which at the time constituted statutory rape and carried a ten-year prison sentence, thanks largely to a loophole in a Georgia law that has since been closed. If Wilson had instead had intercourse with the girl, the sentence would have maxed out at one year. Yesterday a Georgia judge ruled Wilson's sentence cruel and unusual and ordered him freed, since he's already served two years. But before Genarlow could pack up his stuff, Georgia's Attorney General appealed, which means Wilson has to stay put--for now. It all makes for an interesting story about a young man paying a heavy price for one night in high school, and the amount of leeway judges should have when laws with good intentions go bad. Alison and Luke spoke to Jeremy Redman of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, who's been covering the story and brought us the latest.

Dan Pashman

3:33 PM ET | 06-12-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

Polygamy Blogs and Mullet-Sporting Terror Suspects--It Must Be Tuesday!

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"Morning Meeting" is a recap of our daily editorial meeting. If we had a show today, these are some of the stories you would probably hear.

Credit: Associated Press

Ali Al-Marri, alleged terrorist and confirmed fashion outlaw.

The morning meeting began after producer Matt Martinez pulled a big brother move from DC, summoning the staff (all three of us) to the conference room via the NPR-NYC loudspeaker system. Apparently you can do that from anywhere in the NPR system, which Luke and I agree is a wee bit creepy. But Matt is a man on the move, so we had a speed session. It was 20 caffeinated minutes of story pitches and guest ideas. We came up with a pretty eclectic mix in a short period of time, which means we either work well under pressure, or we've just been BS-ing in the past. Either works for me...

After the jump: Get skinny by taking a pill, Gonzales going gangbusters, and did you know the US sells F-14 parts to Iran?

Continue reading "Polygamy Blogs and Mullet-Sporting Terror Suspects--It Must Be Tuesday!" »

Alison Stewart

9:39 AM ET | 06-12-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

We Have, In Fact, Stopped Believin'

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"Morning Meeting" is a recap of our daily editorial meeting. If we had a show today, these are some of the stories you would probably hear.

If you were to write a radio show on a wall, this is what it would look like. Counterclockwise: Alison Stewart, Win Rosenfeld (video producer), Luke Burbank.

Listen, I love Journey as much as the next guy. I mean, I've got two ears and a heart, don't I? But now one of my favorite Steve Perry rock ballads, "Don't Stop Believin'," has been sullied by what I -- and a majority of the BPP staff -- consider one of the worst finales ever. Even worse than the Seinfeld finale. Yeah. That. Bad.

While we discussed many important topics in our morning meeting, we kept coming back to last night's series finale of The Sopranos. We also decided that today we would design one hour of the show, just to see how it would shake out. (Picture above.)

After the jump: Bush in Albania, Federer and Nadal, and "While You Were Out (Possibly Drinking)."

Continue reading "We Have, In Fact, Stopped Believin'" »

Matt Martinez

11:21 AM ET | 06-11-2007 | permalink | comments (8) | e-mail post

The Great Bada Bing In The Sky

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Credit: HBO

This Sunday Tony, Carmela, and the rest of the Sopranos will make their way to the television equivalent of the south end zone of Giants Stadium. Between predicting and mourning the show's end, fans have had their hands full, so we brought in NPR's own Mike Pesca, who did a great piece about it today on Day to Day, to help us make sense of it all. And don't forget, the BPP Tony Soprano/Harry Potter Death Poll is still taking wagers.

Dan Pashman

1:26 PM ET | 06- 8-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

Creationism vs. Evolution, Faulty Pumps, Beer Shortage (gasp!) and OMG! Can You Believe This Paris Crap!?

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"Morning Meeting" is a recap of our daily editorial meeting. If we had a show today, these are some of the stories you would probably hear.

Credit: AP/Christophe Ena

Hey! What's he drinking!? I sure hope that's apple juice.

Ah, Friday, je t'aime.

Good morning from BPP World Headquarters! I have returned from my adventure in our nation's capital, glad to be getting back into the lackadaisical, bucolic, easy-going, Sunday morning groove of New York City.

Coming up later today on the podcast: We're talking about/lamenting the end of The Sopranos this Sunday. Mike Pesca will join us for the convo -- even though he's a reporter for another NPR show. Hey, he's kinda like our very own goomar.

Also -- we were all very interested in what the president was drinking at the G8 Summit -- if my beer sense is right (and it almost always is) that looks like a tasty lager of some sort. If so -- tsk, tsk, sir. Tsk. Tsk.

(UPDATE: President Bush was indeed drinking a non-alcoholic beverage of some kind. Tsk, tsk on me.)

And now, the meeting...

Continue reading "Creationism vs. Evolution, Faulty Pumps, Beer Shortage (gasp!) and OMG! Can You Believe This Paris Crap!?" »

Matt Martinez

10:14 AM ET | 06- 8-2007 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

The G8 in Eight (Minutes)

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Credit: Shanghai Daily

So the Group of Eight is meeting in Germany. If you're like the BPP this is one of those stories you feel guilty about, because you know it's important, but you really have trouble mustering the curiosity to dig deeper, and the only storyline that has your interest at all is the catfight between the US and Russia. If you're not like the BPP, well, you're either legitimately super interested in the G8, or you're not reading this right now. But if you are reading this right now, which you are, you're about to get schooled, thanks to our new buddy Blake Hounshell, Web Editor at ForeignPolicy.com. The folks at FP have been doing a bangup job keeping tabs on the G8, in a way the rest of us can actually follow. We gave Blake eight minutes to tell us what each country is trying to get out of the G8, and what tangible results we can expect. Think he did it? There's only one way to find out...

Dan Pashman

4:57 PM ET | 06- 7-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

Hey Russia! Can We Still Be Friends? Stem Cell News. Should Hipsters Die? And, You Call Those 'Federal Nominees'?

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"Morning Meeting" is a recap of our daily editorial meeting. If we had a show today, these are some of the stories you would probably hear.

Welcome to Thursday. The news gods seem to have taken an early weekend, but the BPP (Dan, Matt, Luke and Alison) were not thwarted. We found out there are strong feelings about Heelys (those sneakers with wheels), we hope there won't be any presidential shoulder rubs at the G8 meeting in Germany, and Mr. Bush has nominated a new Surgeon General and a new Federal Appeals Court Judge. Both nominations left us scratching our heads and wondering, "Does he want a lower approval rating? Is he just going for it?" Find out what we mean by reading on...

Continue reading "Hey Russia! Can We Still Be Friends? Stem Cell News. Should Hipsters Die? And, You Call Those 'Federal Nominees'?" »

Alison Stewart

9:56 AM ET | 06- 7-2007 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

The Ramble: The Popemobile, The Hottest Shoes, and The Webbys

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Credit: Central Park Conservancy

The Ramble

We cover many topics both large and small in our editorial meetings, but because we don't have a full show up and running yet, we never get to talk about most of them, especially the ones that don't really warrant full segments. So today we present a new feature called The Ramble, where Luke and Alison make their way though a few stories that caught our eyes. First up is the Popemobile, which has been in the news today. Is Popemobile really the official name of that orb on wheels? Next up, Alison noticed that internet searches for "ballet flats" are through the roof, one sure sign that they're hot hot hot. We called up Miss Meghan, self-proclaimed "fashion authority of all things shoe," to tell us why. And finally, The Webbys were awarded last night. The best thing about those awards is that the acceptance speeches can only be five words long. And there were some good ones. NPR won for Best Podcasts, which we're assuming includes us, and took home the People's Voice Award for Best Radio. Go us!

Dan Pashman

5:04 PM ET | 06- 6-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

Best Song In The World Today!

Filed under: The Best Song In The World Today

Band: The Polyphonic Spree
Song: "Run Away"
Album: The Fragile Army

Part rock band, part gospel choir, all Texas, The Polyphonic Spree is one of the more unique musical acts to come along in a while. I was a big fan of their last album, to the point of wearing out the CD. (Remember those? Hilarious!) Anyway, The Spree have a new record coming out June 19th. The video is composed of over 70,000 still photos, and the song is pretty great too. I think I like these guys so much cause the music reminds me of my days as a young kid living on a religious commune. Check it out:

Luke Burbank

4:25 PM ET | 06- 6-2007 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post

Is God Mad At Rudy? Is 'No Child Left Behind' Working? Is It Disrespectful To Call It The Popemobile? Are We Overdoing It With The Question Marks?

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"Morning Meeting" is a recap of our daily editorial meeting. If we had a show today, these are some of the stories you would probably hear.

Happy Hump Day people! We're on the downhill sliiiiiide to the weekend! All morning we'll be giving away a stress-buster spa day at Gene Juarez! And in the 8 o'clock hour it's Battle of The Sexes!

Oh wait...that was the other morning show I worked for...

Here in NPR land we like to keep it classy. Today's morning meeting featured Alison, Luke and Dan in NYC, and Matt in DC (where he quietly sobbed over his lost cell phone...sorry dude).

Oh right, the news.

Continue reading "Is God Mad At Rudy? Is 'No Child Left Behind' Working? Is It Disrespectful To Call It The Popemobile? Are We Overdoing It With The Question Marks? " »

Luke Burbank

10:09 AM ET | 06- 6-2007 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post

Bush's Base Bites Back

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Credit: Associated Press

Well it's been a rough couple of weeks for President Bush, as he's had to face major opposition from an unlikely source--his base. At issue is the proposed immigration bill, a piece of compromise legislation that seems to be facing resistance from various sectors. The battle between Bush and his conservative backers came to a head late last week, when Bush appeared to question the patriotism of anyone who would question the bill. Well the base didn't take kindly to that, as evidenced by columns such as the one by conservative blogger Robert Bluey entitled, "Bush's Blunder: How Not To Fire Up The Base." Bluey works at the Heritage Foundation and hosts Bluey Blog. He joined Alison and Luke to discuss the tension between Bush and his base over the immigration bill.

Dan Pashman

4:00 PM ET | 06- 5-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

Death Poll. Yay!

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Credit: HBO

So bookies in the U.K. are taking bets on whether Harry Potter is going to die in the 7th and final installment of the series, and the smart money seems to be on young Potter biting it. In fact, one betting house even stopped taking wagers because they couldn't even out the line (gambling terminology best explained over a gin and tonic at the Caeser's Sports Book). Anyway, I'm not much of a Potter fan, but I've been mourning the impending end of The Sopranos, a show with surprising similarities to Harry Potter. I'm particularly freaked out that Tony might be going to that big strip club in the sky. So who's more likely to die? Tony or Harry? Place your bet, and tell us why.

Luke Burbank

11:18 AM ET | 06- 5-2007 | permalink | comments (19) | e-mail post

Cold War II, The Book(s) on Hillary, The Webby Awards, and Your Pen Pal Paris

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"Morning Meeting" is a recap of our daily editorial meeting. If we had a show today, these are some of the stories you would probably hear.

Well our triumphant reunion in New York was short-lived, as Matt is back in DC today. Yes, the BPP jet sets, that's just how we roll. (Actually Matt train sets, since he doesn't like to fly.) Our morning meeting covered a typically broad spectrum, and we hope it won't be the last time we discuss Gitmo, air travel, and Mr. T. in the same sitting. Read more below the fold.

Continue reading "Cold War II, The Book(s) on Hillary, The Webby Awards, and Your Pen Pal Paris" »

Dan Pashman

10:53 AM ET | 06- 5-2007 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

Sports Roundup: LeBron James and Phil Wellman Both Go Nuts, But In Totally Different Ways

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Well, it was a big weekend in sports, and while we can't cover it all we picked out a couple of the stories that caught our attention. We called up Alison's husband, sports fan and MSNBC's own, Bill Wolff to talk about them. First off, 22-year-old basketball phenom LeBron James has led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA Finals, singlehandedly slaying the heavily-favored Detroit Pistons, and giving the city of Cleveland hope for its first major pro sports championship since 1947. In baseball, tempers got the better of two managers, Lou Piniella of the Chicago Cubs and Phil Wellman of the minor league Mississippi Braves. The latter threw a legendary on-field tantrum to protest a series of calls by the homeplate umpire. See below for that video. First blog reader to name his/her child after Phil Wellman gets an NPR t-shirt.

Dan Pashman

5:19 PM ET | 06- 4-2007 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post

Democrats Debate, Paris Reports To Jail, Hogzilla News: His Name Was Fred. Seriously.

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"Morning Meeting" is a recap of our daily editorial meeting. If we had a show today, these are some of the stories you would probably hear.

If Luke's umbrella had its own show on Telemundo, it would be called, "El Gigante."

Ahoy-hoy! Greetings from NYC. This is our first day with the entire BPP staff actually working from the 212. Somehow this amazing city sensed the waft of optimism in the air and promptly dumped ten feet of rain on us as we walked into work. This truly is the greatest wettest place in the world. On the bright side, I was able to buy The World's Biggest Umbrella outside the Sheraton this morning. (See photo to your left)

The Rundown after the jump.

Continue reading "Democrats Debate, Paris Reports To Jail, Hogzilla News: His Name Was Fred. Seriously. " »

Luke Burbank

1:03 PM ET | 06- 4-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

A Penny For Your Thoughts

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Credit: scottpargettphoto

In yesterday's editorial meeting, Alison brought up two interesting and related stories. One centers around efforts by the city of Minneapolis to crack down on panhandlers, using an interesting and controversial set of rules that prohibit a variety of activities, including verbal solicitation within ten feet of a gas station, liquor store, convenience store, or crosswalk. The other story deals with a panhandler in New Rochelle, NY, who was arrested after asking a police officer for money. His loitering charge was dismissed by a judge, who accepted the homeless man's argument that public panhandling is a form of free speech.

On a legal level, the question clearly is, "Where do we draw the line?" Courts have upheld panhandling as a form of free speech, but have also upheld the right of local governments to restrict it to protect public safety and commerce. The concern expressed by some is that if a city comes up with a long enough list of places where a panhandler can't be, it may effectively ban panhandling entirely. So do you think Minneapolis has gone too far, or are they just trying to protect local citizens and businesses?

As we continued our conversation in yesterday's meeting, Luke brought up another interesting question. We all have our own rules and make our own calculations that determine when we give money to panhandlers. What factors go into our calculations, and how reasonable or consistent are any of us? I find that I'm less likely to give money to weightier panhandlers, because I tell myself they aren't as desperate. I steer clear of panhandlers smoking cigarettes, because I deem that an unhealthy expenditure of limited funds. But I don't always follow those rules, and anyway, are those rules fair to begin with? Should I really begrudge a person living on the street a cigarette?

We're very interested in hearing your thoughts on this topic, so let us know what you think. What kinds of judgments guide your decision to give or not to give?

Dan Pashman

10:26 AM ET | 06- 1-2007 | permalink | comments (6) | e-mail post

Morning Meeting: There Wasn't One

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"Morning Meeting" is a recap of our daily editorial meeting. If we had a show today, these are some of the stories you would probably hear.

Credit: Pavlunka

If this sample from the last photo shoot is any indication, it's going to be a while before Luke is "camera ready."

Alison, Luke and Matt are in DC today for a photo shoot, so we decided to skip the morning meeting. On Monday, all four of us will be in New York together for the first time, which means we'll be ready to shift into the next gear. In the mean time, keep checking back today, as we have a few items on the horizon, some of which will require your participation.

Dan Pashman

9:56 AM ET | 06- 1-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post