Dear Farai & all,

Last night I watched PBS's Nova ScienceNow for the first time. Afterwards, I spent at least three hours on the web, looking up information on some of the people they profiled: people such as Drs. Arlie Petters & Erich Jarvis, and graduate student James McLurkin, who are doing fascinating work.

Considering the dearth of Blacks in Math & Science, it would be great if your program could feature people such as them on N&N. It would highlight the kind of exciting work that members of the Black community are doing & participating in, and would expand the horizon of the younger members of our community with respect to career options. I think many aspire to be entertainers or athletes b/c that's who they see as role models; maybe if they see or hear about 'regular' folks who look like them in the fields of Math and Science, they'll see that these possibilities exist. Amongst the people with I know, two are Black females with Ph.Ds.: one in Physics, the other one in Math. They are regular women who followed paths not well traveled and are interested in wide range of issues. Younger people (I'm not old - your age Farai) need exposure to those kinds of folks, folks willing to be different.

It seems that there's some overlap with Tell Me More (the stories on Detroit and Personal Finance are two items that come to mind immediately).

To differentiate yourselves, I think you can broaden the approach you take on certain topics. When it comes to the issue of personal finance, for example, instead of just talking about how people can get out of debt (VERY, VERY important - I know), pursue the conversation further to include those who might be interested in investing but don't know how. I'm not talking about giving financial advice, which you cannot, but talking about how the process of investing works. Per Ariel & Schwab surveys, Af-Am families are investing at much lower rates than whites, even when they are at the same income levels. I wonder if it's the lack of knowledge that inhibits Af-Am from investing. The conversations I hear about Af-Am and finance, from all kinds of media, not just N&N, never seem to go beyond getting out of debt and improving low credit scores. There are Af-Am, at all income levels, who live within their means, but who may still need advice.

These are my two cents on some general topics. I like the fact that you're asking people if they have questions about Africa.

Sent by KALW Country | 3:28 AM ET | 07-26-2007

On Wednesday evening I heard a promo for "News and Notes" promising an interview with Michael Moore. I wanted to hear the interview, but the leading story was about the Bush Administration experiencing a rise in the poll regarding approval of the initial invasion of Iraq. First we were treated to President Bush justifying his invasion. Then the moderator recapped what Bush had just said. THEN we heard from a GOP adviser reiterating the argument we has just heard twice already. Finally we heard from the other side. It was painful to listen to. It reminded me of a recent article written by the editor of "The Nation" who pointed out that "fair and balanced" has come to mean giving equal time to a lie and the truth.

Suffering from severe propaganda fatigue I tuned out and missed the Michael Moore interview I had hoped to hear.

Sent by Karin G. Smith | 8:45 PM ET | 07-26-2007

Hi Karin,

Here's a link to the Moore interview:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12232204

Sorry you missed it.

Sent by Geoffrey Bennett | 12:31 PM ET | 07-27-2007