A Tinge of Purge?

More firing fallout today: Attorney General Alberto Gonzales's former chief of staff, Kyle Sampson, explained at a Senate hearing the contradictions in e-mails he wrote about the eight U.S. prosecutors who were so famously relieved of their duties (allegedly for political reasons). Our testimony guru, David Savage (Supreme Court reporter for the Los Angeles Times), will guide you through Sampson's morning on Capitol Hill, and you can comment at will.

Barrie Hardymon

12:13 PM ET | 03-29-2007 | permalink | comments (13) | e-mail post

Talk Radio, Meta Style

Gonzales, Gonzales, Gonzales. We can't stop talking about him here in Washington, D.C. But the story of the possibly indecent disposal of eight federal prosecutors is playing big here in the capital (and in the Capitol). How is the story faring on call-in radio talk shows outside the Beltway? We're checking in with a few different hosts this hour, so if you want to hear some good radio voices ... tune in!

Barrie Hardymon

11:50 AM ET | 03-29-2007 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post

Getting A Bad Rap: MC Rove

It's a rite of spring in Washington, DC, for the President to get up in front of the annual Radio and TV Correspondent's Dinner and make a fool of himself. Last night's dinner was no exception ... and President Bush had no trouble poking a little fun at himself, and getting a laugh from the Washington press corps. But, if you've been on YouTube today, you already know that the President was upstaged last night. Who knew that MC Karl Rove could rap?!? And dance, for that matter? If you haven't seen it, it's worth the price of admission. And in our continuing efforts to make everything a teachable experience, we'll try and figure out what the popularity of the Rapping Rove video tells us about how to score big on YouTube.

Scott Cameron

11:40 AM ET | 03-29-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

A Ghetto Nation

In her new book, "GhettoNation: A Journey Into the Land of Bling and Home of the Shameless," Cora Daniels asks, "When was the last time you used, heard, thought, snickered, whispered (under your breath), shouted (at the radio), the word ghetto?" She then launches into an anatomy, a critique, and an explanation of the word which she says haunts and fascinates her; a symbol of low expectations and lack of self-respect that infects this country from inner cities to most remote suburbs. Read an excerpt here, and check out Cora Daniel's Ghettonation blog, too. And answer the question for us ... when was the last time you used the word "ghetto" and why?

Barrie Hardymon

11:13 AM ET | 03-29-2007 | permalink | comments (34) | e-mail post

Fear of Flying: or How To Choose Appropriate Airplane Reading

I'm not going to pretend that I buy actual books in the airport bookstore anymore; I'm generally so behind in my reading that I like to cart around several pounds of the guiltily unread. In fact, I still overspend at the newsstand on trashy magazines that will show me what the well dressed celebutante* is wearing (or...er...not wearing) this season. But I used to have a Higgins Clark (both Mary and Carol) addiction, stoked by the shiny covers glinting at the local airport bookstore. (Bonus reading: here's an interesting theory on why it's hard to bring yourself to crack open "War and Peace" on a plane.) How to choose, though? Stanley Fish has the answer, in a recent New York Times column he outlines a real strategy for choosing the right mystery book to keep you occupied on your next trip. How do you choose your airplane reading?

*A note about celebutantes: there is, following a cursory search, literally nothing** I can link to involving Paris Hilton that does not take the reader to material that would tar the reputation of this blog, and thereby NPR, forever.

**Including her Wikipedia entry.

Barrie Hardymon

11:10 AM ET | 03-29-2007 | permalink | comments (5) | e-mail post

Two's a Crowd in a Bed

Tell me there's not a show in here somewhere ... turns out, couples aren't sleeping together anymore. It's getting more and more common for couples to sleep in separate bedrooms. Maybe one person snores, or she likes to read before getting some shut eye, or he likes to take the laptop to bed and pound on the keyboard for hours (or maybe he just needs the droning sound of a fan to help him sleep, and she doesn't like the noise or the breeze... hypothetically, I mean). The numbers back this up ... the National Association of Home Builders predicts that 60% of custom houses will have dual master bedrooms by 2015. His and hers bedrooms, basically. And men, listen up: a new study shows that sharing a bed with someone can actually make men dumber. (See, honey, it's not my fault that I never remember to take out the trash). That research also showed that women sleep more deeply when they share a bed. Though everyone agreed they get the best sleep when they're alone. Is that true? And if it is, is it worth losing a little sleep to curl up in the same bed at night?

Scott Cameron

10:55 AM ET | 03-29-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

Political Junkie: A Senate Surprise

Democrats in the Senate surprised even themselves yesterday when they got just enough votes to hang onto their troop withdrawal timeline for Iraq. Republicans hoped to amend the emergency military funding bill and strip the withdrawal language, but fell short by 2 votes. The actual bill comes to a vote any day now. Of course, the House already voted in favor of a firm deadline of August 31, 2008. The Senate's version sets a March 31, 2008 deadline, but it isn't binding. The promised presidential veto, on the other hand, would be. We'll let our favorite Political Junkie dig into this vote, and where it leaves both sides if the president follows through with a veto. Will Democrats vote for a bill without a timeline? Or will they risk voting down a military funding bill if it doesn't include a deadline?

Scott Cameron

10:53 AM ET | 03-28-2007 | permalink | comments (14) | e-mail post

My Heart Hurts: Medicate or Operate?

A new study in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests angioplasty may not be superior to medication in combating heart disease, preventing heart attack, and alleviating chest pain. Understanding the results of studies like this one can be tricky for the layperson, so we've got an expert on to answer all your questions: cardiologist Dr. Steve Nissen, president of the American College of Cardiology. Do you have an angioplasty scheduled? Should you opt for medication instead? When is a stent still the best option? Dr. Nissen takes your calls, emails, and comments.

Sarah Handel

10:10 AM ET | 03-28-2007 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

Four Score and Seven Hours ago...

...we asked you for your favorite quotes on memorials and monuments. Today, we'll talk to Ryan Coonerty about his book "Etched in Stone: Enduring Words from Our Nation's Monuments." To see pictures from the book, and perhaps to spark your own memory of what has moved you (I love the U.S. Post Office in New York -- "Neither snow nor rain nor heat...") check them out here.

Barrie Hardymon

9:47 AM ET | 03-28-2007 | permalink | comments (19) | e-mail post

You Mean I Have To Read The Notes, Too?

There's a whole slew of annotated editions of classic books hitting bookstores, which have enabled the adoring fans of everyone from Sherlock Holmes to Lewis Carroll to take their obsession love one step further. As I mentioned earlier, Austen fans are some of the most extreme of the bunch, and we'll be fueling those fires today with David Shapard, he's the editor of "The Annotated Pride and Prejudice". So...if you want to know just what Pemberley looked like, or how rich Mr. Darcy was, this is your segment.

Barrie Hardymon

9:46 AM ET | 03-28-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

It Is a Fact Universally Acknowledged...Janeites Are Intense

The BBC production of Pride and Prejudice was almost a religious event in my life (thank you, A&E!). The combination of Jane Austen and Colin Firth was almost too much for me to bear (and for my roommates; I was living with a shared TV at the time). I am an Austen fan, but as my sister can attest, my love for Austen comes nowhere close to hers, nor to the incredible legions of passionate readers who protect the Austen altar and legacy. In the article that prompted the segment we're going to do today (with the author of the Annotated Pride and Prejudice), The New York Times' William Grimes wrote about this passion, "Austen is a special case. Certain writers create worlds that readers do not want to leave, ever. Extreme devotees of Austen do not simply enjoy the novels, they want to sit in the living room at Longbourn with the Bennet sisters, drinking tea and analyzing Darcy's behavior." And online, those worlds exist. Want to find out what advice Lady Catherine de Bourgh might have about a romance? Go here (the entire Pemberley website is a treasure of Jane-o-philia, in fact.) Want to take an Austen quiz? You can, ad nauseum. Want to read/write fanfaction? Go for it. What is it about the books that lend them to this kind of adoration? I think it's because nothing about them feels like a history book (which may be why there are so many wonderful adaptations). They reference the period, but they're mostly about, well, boys. Of course they're much more complicated then that; truly they're about social relationships, but the trials and tribulations of love, marriage, and social climbing are utterly timeless. Meanwhile, I am not pretending my love comes close to the love of true Austen fans ... my taste runs more to the Ellen Olenska, than spunky Elizabeth Bennet. I'm off to find the Edith Wharton webring.

Barrie Hardymon

9:08 AM ET | 03-28-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

Kids and Concussions: Not Just A Bump on the Head

Get in the game ... carefully.

Source: Sister72

When NPR's Sports Correspondent Tom Goldman's story on kids and concussions aired on Morning Edition last week, the response was immediate. Simply put, getting knocked around on the high school football field deserves a lot more attention than just, "buck up kid, shake it off." So, we're bringing Tom to you, as well as high school football player and hit-taker Billy Hagberg's mom and pediatric neuropsychologist Dr. Gerry Gioia, to take your questions and let you know what to look out for when your son or daughter takes a dive on the playing field or a hit to the head.

Sarah Handel

1:10 PM ET | 03-27-2007 | permalink | comments (19) | e-mail post

Brits Detained by Iran: What's It Like?

As Tony Blair hints at drawing a tougher line over Iran's detention of 15 British troops, it occurs to us ... this has happened before. In June of 2004, Iran captured six British marines and two sailors. Tehran let them go three days later, but only after mock executions and a visit to what they were told were their own graves. We have no way to know if that's happening this time, but former Royal Marine Scott Fallon was one of those captured in 2004. He's agreed to talk with us today ... and take your questions about his ordeal.

Scott Cameron

1:05 PM ET | 03-27-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

It's Really Not a Secret

A new self-help craze has everybody wishing their hardest, and it's not a "Secret" any longer. But even before Oprah started spilling about it, self-help was a booming business. From men and women and those dratted planets, to Dale Carnegie's hit, we sure do love to help ourselves. And we've been doing if for a long time (you must check out the 1869 version of the Secret). (This is not to dismiss the entire genre, after all, you could certainly make an argument for Rilke, Rumi, and Lao-Tzu as self-help.) In any case, if you've ever found yourself huddled in the shiniest, most soothing corner of the bookstore ... you're not alone. Let us know what book you were secretly consulting (I loved The Inner Game of Tennis).

Barrie Hardymon

12:00 PM ET | 03-27-2007 | permalink | comments (17) | e-mail post

Langewiesche: Worth Trying To Spell

There are a few mega-star investigative reporters out there, and we're lucky enough to speak to a few of them from time to time (Sy Hersh, Dana Priest, etc.). Vanity Fair correspondent William Langewiesche is certainly one of those stars; his article in the current issue of Vanity Fair addresses the Sao Paolo prison riots that tore that city apart last May, and the deep systemic troubles plaguing Brazil's prison system. The article brims with customary Langewiesche moral meticulousness, as well as his beautiful prose. I encourage you to get a copy of the April Vanity Fair, however, in lieu of linking to the Sao Paolo article, I'll ask you to read his heartbreaking article on Haditha.

Bonus reading for Langewiesche fans that already know how to spell his name: here's an old Slate Explainer on how to pronounce it.

Barrie Hardymon

11:59 AM ET | 03-27-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

Border Stories

What's life like just 60 miles from this border?

Source: marj k

When the show travels, we're essentially traveling to a story. Sometimes we have to dig a little to find the story of a particular city or town, and sometimes the story is so obvious it overwhelms us (as it was when we traveled to New Orleans last May). Tucson's story (and this is not to say, of course, that it's the only story) turns out to be fairly palpable as well, as it's about 60 miles north of Nogales; the only major border crossing point for legal and illegal immigration. So, we're working on a show about immigration, and since we have the opportunity to actually be close to the border, we're going to steer clear of beltway policy talk, and actually ask how this story is being lived. How do people who live 60 miles from the issue truly experience it? I'm talking to a lot of different people right now, from Border Patrol to the Medical Examiner's office in Pima Country. But I'd love to hear from you, if you live near any border (Canada counts ... so does Miami -- a different kind of border), about how immigration issues affect your daily life. What do people who live in Washington D.C. not understand about this issue?

Barrie Hardymon

9:57 PM ET | 03-26-2007 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post

Etched in ... LCD

That's a wrap for today... Now, we need a little help for something we're working up for Wednesday. Ryan Coonerty will be talking about his new book, "Etched in Stone: Enduring Words from Our Nation's Monuments." It's a whole collection of words and images from some of the country's most well-known monuments. Lincoln, Kennedy, Roosevelt, even completely anonymous authors are permanently remembered in marble from one coast to the other ... which are your favorites?

Scott Cameron

5:46 PM ET | 03-26-2007 | permalink | comments (7) | e-mail post

The Candid Candidate

Last week, presidential-hopeful and former Senator John Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth, appeared before a bank of microphones to announce that though her cancer had returned, he would continue to vie for his party's nomination. Elizabeth Edwards has been absolutely clear that the campaign must go on, but the story raises questions about the tension between public and private. How much can, and should, a public figure reveal about a private health crisis? How can such candor affect a candidate's campaign?

Sarah Handel

12:19 PM ET | 03-26-2007 | permalink | comments (24) | e-mail post

Opinion Page

Earlier this month the head of the NAACP, Bruce S. Gordon, resigned after just 19 months on the job. His reasons included a difference of opinion with board members over the mission of the organization. In an op-ed in last Wednesday's Washington Post, Eddie S. Glaude Jr., and Ronald S. Sullivan Jr., called this a critical impasse for the civil rights organization. They argue that we've entered a "post-civil-rights age that requires" new strategies. And they want the NAACP to move beyond just advocacy, and to address "the social and moral crisis faced by African American children." Mr. Glaude joins us on the Opinion Page today to tell us what he hopes to see happen, and why.

Scott Cameron

11:53 AM ET | 03-26-2007 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post

Stressing the Accent

Here at TOTN, and probably the radio world entire, we are obsessed with accents. If you book a guest who's smart and knows her stuff; great, but if you book a guest who's smart, knows her stuff, and has, say, the clipped British tones of an Austen heroine (hard to master), well, that's just priceless. Among the staff here, our accents range from one producer's flat-vowelled, yet mellifluous Bawston accent, to another's light Caribbean inflection (which oddly makes breaking news sound like fun.) Today we're going to enter the multi-inflected world of accents; our obsession piqued by an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times. How you acquire an accent is fascinating, and how you lose it can be even more so (although, Eliza Dolittle pre-"Rain in Spain" is pretty adorable). Some people may not even know they have an accent (here's a quiz to help), while others simply put one on (so long, Detroit!). The world of accents is vast; where does yours come from, and where does it place you?

Barrie Hardymon

11:35 AM ET | 03-26-2007 | permalink | comments (26) | e-mail post

Justice, Late

It is the worst fear a civilized society has about the death penalty: that someone will be wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death. At seventeen, Shareef Cousin was sent to death row for a crime he did not commit. He served time in a Louisiana prison (ironically, where the movie Dead Man Walking was filmed) until he was 22, and the conviction was overturned. He'll speak to us today about his horrific experience, and you can watch the PBS documentary "Race to Execution," tonight as well.

Barrie Hardymon

11:32 AM ET | 03-26-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

On Bristol and Basketball

Kyle Busch and his Car of Tomorrow

Source: Wade Payne/AP

Just before I left work on Friday, Barrie and I had a conversation about the blogging week-to-come, and I volunteered to do a post on NASCAR after the debut of the Car of Tomorrow. I've just recently taken an interest in the sport, and feel it's incredibly undercovered on our air, particularly given its popularity (second only to the NFL in terms of TV audience). I thought about my post on and off all weekend, but as soon as I stepped back into HQ this morning I found it difficult to talk about anything other than Georgetown's Elite Eight win yesterday in the NCAA tournament. I love the tournament and I love the Hoyas, so that contributes to my lack of focus, but that's not all ... there's something taboo about NASCAR. I don't know if it's that urban professionals don't watch it, or just don't talk about it, but it seems incredible that a sport that packs the stands at Bristol -- all 160,000 seats -- gets little or no mention on our air or in our hallways.

NPR's tradition of sports coverage is somewhat less than comprehensive -- we're not a sports network, so it's not a critique, and we can't be all things to all people -- and I truly love the contributions of folks like Alan Schwarz, Frank Deford, and Stefan Fastis. Today, Morning Edition's got two sports stories on the air -- a Final Four preview, and a commentary on cricket. I wouldn't argue that either doesn't belong there -- obviously, the Final Four is news, and there's heightened interest in cricket right now due to the gruesome murder of the Pakistani team's coach. Additionally, stories on lesser-known sports are great, and one of the reasons folks listen to us. My problem isn't with what we do cover, it's with what we don't (and it's not just us -- a perfunctory Google News search brings up a bunch of wire stories and not a whole lot of outside reporting) ... and, perhaps more meatily, why? What is it about NASCAR that relegates it to the back pages of the paper and occasional mention on our air?

Sarah Handel

8:57 AM ET | 03-26-2007 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

Farewell to Stamford

By chance, we had both the Indigo Girls and Ken Jennings on the show last week, which gave me the chance to shamelessly plug the American Crossword Puzzle Championship in Stamford, Connecticut. They are tangentially associated - Amy Ray and Emily Saliers are among the celebrity solvers featured in the documentary Wordplay, which builds up to the dramatic 2005 championship final, and Ken Jennings was the guest speaker -- and whizbang rookie contestant -- at last year's annual. I've been there every year since 2001 (I think) to do the play by play of the finals with color man and well-known puzzle constructor Merl Reagle.
After thirty years (!), Will Shortz, the (you have to say this all in one breath) puzzle editor of The New York Times and Puzzle Master on NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday, is moving his tournament. The Stamford Marriott is simply too small to accomodate the burgeoning crowd, now more than 700 strong. After all these years, "Stamford" had aquired a special cachet in the puzzle world. Under certain circumstances, "Stamford" would be whispered with the same kind of reverence that baseball fans reserve for Cooperstown. Though it annually failed to order in sufficient copies of the Sunday Times, the hotel became a place where, once a year, legends strode the corridors. I'm told that the contest in the ballroom is but a small part of Stamford's real story, but sadly, I don't get invited to those parties. Will says it will be bigger and better in the new place, but he says it with a tear in his eye.
Next year in Brooklyn!

Neal Conan

5:52 AM ET | 03-26-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

Negotiating with Terrorists

Yesterday, an Italian journalist who was captured and held hostage for 15 days by the Taliban in southern Afghanistan was exchanged for five Taliban prisoners. The ransom was confirmed by both the Italian government and Afghan officials, and the U.S. State Department and officials in European capitals were quick to criticize the deal, condemning public negotiation with terrorists. This story highlights a moral quandary: how much is a life worth? How does a government, or an individual, weigh the life of one vs. the potential lives of many at the hands of the Taliban? And does this make life more dangerous for aid workers and reporters in combat zones?

Sarah Handel

12:17 PM ET | 03-22-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

Pets: The Straight Poop

Whether your affection for your pets knows no bounds, or your allergies to the furry little things are similarly unbounded; we've got all kinds of advice for you today. It's Ask Amy day, and Amy Dickinson will be here to answer questions about humans, while pet specialist Steve Dale will be here to answer all your questions about the animals. It's been a crazy week for pet lovers, with the pet food recall causing at least one pet lover (it's me! I admit it!) to consider feeding her little princess ... er ... kitty, home cooked meals. That's particularly odd since most of the humans in my house don't get that treatment. Before you start feeding your little fuzzbucket three course haute cuisine, listen to the show, or read Steve Dale's FAQ about the recall. It's possible you should spend your time knitting Muffy a sweater, rather than slaving over a hot stove.

Barrie Hardymon

12:11 PM ET | 03-22-2007 | permalink | comments (11) | e-mail post

What Is ... One Plus One?

If you've been watching Jeopardy lately, and feeling somehow smarter, I've got bad news. It's not you. Quiz shows are getting dumber. The (relatively) good news is that some of them aren't making any bones about it; Fox's new hit is literally called, "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" There's something to be said for honesty; but with the way things are going, is it possible the next big thing in quiz shows will be called, "How Dumb Are You?" We've assembled various smarty-pants to weigh in on the dumbing-down ... braniac Ken Jennings will be one. (If you're sick of all the easy questions, check out his blog for Wordplay Wednesday. It stumped me.) Doesn't this seem to be another incarnation of the '50s quiz show scandals; after all, by making the questions easier, aren't you still fixing the game?

Barrie Hardymon

11:49 AM ET | 03-22-2007 | permalink | comments (8) | e-mail post

The Mall...Like, Totally, As....Art?

So many stores, so little time.

Source: dietpoison

Artist and new media professor Rosemary Williams can lay claim to a title few will challenge: she has made a purchase at every store (save two) at the Mall of America, and lived to tell the tale. Williams did it with a goal in mind: to create a sculpture out of the nearly 500 shopping bags. She's on the show today to tell us all about what she saw, what she bought, what she returned, and what she just couldn't part with, and you can see her finished project by clicking on "sculpture" above. Have you ever been to the Mall of America? Did you buy a souvenir ... or perhaps make a little art out of your leftover tissue paper?

Sarah Handel

11:48 AM ET | 03-22-2007 | permalink | comments (6) | e-mail post

Raising Arizona (Or, How I Learned to Spell Tucson)

Tell us what you love about Arizona!

Source: Marc Shandro

As you may or may not have noticed, Talk of the Nation loves to travel. That might partly be a function of DC's swampy dank heat in the summer, and the moody temperature swings of the winter, but it also gives us an opportunity to set up camp right in the middle of the story; whatever the story of that particular town is. Speaking of heat, next month (April 12th) we're heading to Tucson to broadcast in front of a live audience. We're warming up a couple of ideas; but let's face it, we are, in fact, inside the Beltway, and there's going to be stuff we'll miss. If you're from Tucson, or around thereabouts, tell us what you love about the area that an outsider wouldn't know: local mystery writer, band, comedy troupe -- anything that makes your brain prickle or your mouth water. So far, I've found a lot to love, and boy, am I looking forward to that dry, dry heat. So please, help me, I'm from Massachusetts for goodness' sake (the Big Dig is my idea of a "grand" canyon). Talk Tucson to me.

Barrie Hardymon

6:45 AM ET | 03-22-2007 | permalink | comments (7) | e-mail post

The Dawn Patrol

I don't get out much on school nights, but I was asked to emcee an event yesterday evening to honor Medal of Honor recipients on Capitol Hill. And I ran into retired General Jack Keane on the way into the Russell Building -- he's the former Army Vice Chief of Staff who's among the intellectual architects of the "surge" -- a term he hates. He's been on the show several times. He said he was just back from another visit to Iraq and that, while it was early days yet, there were encouraging reports from Baghdad. I asked if the reduction in violence wasn't largely a function of the decision by the Shia militias to lay low and wait things out. "Exactly what we wanted them to do," he replied. "Much of their leadership has headed east and south (Muqtada al-Sadr, the head of the Mehdi Army is reported to be in Iran, and by "south" I suspect he means Basra), the guys in Baghdad have orders to stand down, not to fight the Americans, which has made it possible for us to got into neighborhoods where we've never been able to sustain activity before. We could have fought our way into Sadr City if we had to, but nobody wanted to do that. We arrested a few dozen to show that we were there (there's suspicion that those arrested are renegade elements of Sadr's forces and that he's using American troops to eliminate internal rivals). But it's a tactical mistake on their part. By the time they try to resume operations, we -- the US and the Iraqis -- will be established in those neighborhoods and if we can keep it quiet, relatively quiet, we'll have eliminated a lot of the cause of their support."
It's so tempting to believe that things are going better -- just this morning I heard the BBC report on the 'dramatic' reduction in violence in Baghdad over the past month -- but it's also very diffficult to believe that this time, really, not like all those other times, we've actually turned a corner that doesn't lead into a blind alley. I couldn't book a show right there and then on the steps of the Russell Building, but we'll ask General Keane and a skeptic to come on to take your questions soon.

Neal Conan

5:45 AM ET | 03-22-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

What Do You Really Think About Homosexuality?

As the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace is the highest ranking military official in the country. So, when he speaks candidly, people listen ... and not just those in the military. When he called homosexual acts "immoral," he prompted outrage, protests, and support. His statement propelled the debate about what straight Americans really think about gays and lesbians, and how attitudes have changed. We're not going to rehash the debate over what Pace did or didn't say ... this will be a frank and civil conversation about what Americans really think about homosexuality, and how those attitudes have changed over the years.

Scott Cameron

1:30 PM ET | 03-21-2007 | permalink | comments (161) | e-mail post

The Political Junkie

In this week's roundup of political happenings with NPR's Political Junkie Ken Rudin, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is in the hot seat over the firing of eight U.S. attorneys, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) is the first would-be president to get seriouslyYouTubed, and actor Fred Thompson considers a run for the top office himself. Have you seen the ad comparing Clinton to 1984's Big Brother? Is a bio that includes Watergate counsel, Senator, and Law & Order district attorney the right stuff for a presidential bid?

Sarah Handel

1:29 PM ET | 03-21-2007 | permalink | comments (11) | e-mail post

I, Robot

The folks at The Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon dream of mechanical beings that help humans, or even replace them. Author Lee Gutkind got inside the Institute, and in his new book Almost Human: Making Robots Think he tells the stories of Zoe, Groundhog, Grace, and Sandstorm, some of the bots chasing, creeping, rolling, zooming, kicking soccer balls, and hunting for treasure on the floor of the Institute ... and the fascinating people behind the bots. Gutkind joins us today to tell us all about not just what he saw in the shop, but from the deserts of Chile to NASA headquarters and all the other places these robots go ... as well as the daunting challenge of inventing robots that actually think. It's not so far-out -- do you have a Segway? A Roomba? A self-parking car? Robots and robotics are everywhere, but do you want your robot to think?

Sarah Handel

1:28 PM ET | 03-21-2007 | permalink | comments (5) | e-mail post

A History of ... Niceness?

According to Steven Pinker, in spite of headline news like the war in Iraq and the crisis in Darfur, the world is a kinder, gentler place today than it's ever been. A provocative statement, no? In the latest issue of The New Republic, Pinker posits that in spite of these and other global conflicts, we're getting nicer and more intolerant of things like "cruelty as entertainment, human sacrifice to indulge superstition, ... rape as the spoils of war, pogroms as outlests for frustration, [and] homicide as the major form of conflict resolution." He joins us to elaborate on his position, and take your questions.

Sarah Handel

1:27 PM ET | 03-21-2007 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post

Kids in Capes

Careful boys, magical powers sold separately!

Source: JeffS

Dear Mom and Dad:
Remember all those times growing up that I'd insist on wearing that silly Superman costume that you made me for Halloween? I'd go tearing around the house, in full Super pose with my super speed and super strength. If only I had enough super sense not to crash my fist through the living room windows ... not just once, mind you, but many, many times (I insist to this day that the cape kept me safe, I never got a scratch). Well, rest assured, we are not alone. A doctor in England studied this, and warns parents that dressing kids like super heroes can be dangerous. (How are we to know that super powers aren't included with the cape, and we can't really fly off the arm of the sofa?) It's not exactly an exhaustive study; there were only five boys (it's always boys, isn't it?) who were hurt while dressed as Superman or Spiderman. I'm not making light of injuries to kids, flying through windows can lead to serious harm. I just happened to be lucky, and thankfully the five boys in the study are all OK. One of the boys was actually kept from further injury by his padded "imitation muscles" (must have been the Spiderman costume, Superman doesn't need any enhancements). Though, interestingly, the doctor says it's not just DC and Marvel dress-up dangers: "Parents whose children dress up as Bob the Builder should also understand that hammers and saws are highly likely to be used in play." But, at least Bob can't fly.
Your son,
Scott
P.S. I can't be the only one who did something super stupid while dressed as a Superhero when I was a kid .... anyone? ANYONE???

Scott Cameron

9:49 AM ET | 03-21-2007 | permalink | comments (7) | e-mail post

Calling Cairo...

...is harder than it looks. Unfortunately, we couldn't get Dr. Hawass on the line today, so we had to jettison the segment. Sometimes this happens, it's the bane (and sometimes the boon) of live radio. Apologies to those who were looking forward to it; we'll let you know when we reschedule.

Barrie Hardymon

3:53 PM ET | 03-20-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

Mortgage Meltdown

Anyone who's ever bought a house (or a car, for that matter) knows it's not the easiest thing in the world to borrow money. There are forms, and signatures, and more forms, and duplicate forms, and credit reports, and finally ... loan payments. And there's the rub. When interest rates were low, lots of people stretched to buy their dream home, and did it with adjustable rate mortgages. Now, those rates are climbing, and taking monthly payments along with them. We'll find who's getting hit hardest, and what you can do to stay out of trouble.

Scott Cameron

1:41 PM ET | 03-20-2007 | permalink | comments (42) | e-mail post

Presidential Countdown

Just in case you hadn't heard, there's this election coming up next year. And for the next 594 days (plus or minus), we hope to talk with ... and let you talk to ... as many of the candidates for president as we can ... Republicans, Democrats, and others. Today, Republican Mike Huckabee. He's the former governor of Arkansas, (or Arkansas's former governor) and will be on the line to take your questions this afternoon. So, let us know: what questions do you have for Gov. Mike Huckabee?

Scott Cameron

1:35 PM ET | 03-20-2007 | permalink | comments (7) | e-mail post

Girls, Indigo and Otherwise

Barrie: We are big fans of the Indigo Girls here at Talk of the Nation, and today they're playing on our show. In fact, just the mention of their name brings me back to camp, the summer of 1986, sitting on the top bunk and screaming harmony on "Closer to Fine..."

Sarah: I'm trying to tell you something about my life.

Barrie: Maybe give me insight between black and white.

Sarah: CLOSER I AM TO FIIIIINE!

Barrie: CLOSER I AM TO FIIIIIINE!

Sarah: Ok, now it's 1995 and Barrie and I are sitting in my 1983 Honda Civic bombing down Route 50 East headed for the beach. Swamp Ophelia is blasting from the tinny, static-plagued speakers but it doesn't matter because our singing is THAT GOOD. We serenade the boys on whom we have crushes, but who don't know our names.

Barrie: I remember the time when I came so close to you... Sent me skipping my class and running from school.

Sarah: And I bought you that ring cause I never was cool

Barrie and Sarah, in unison: What makes me think I could start clean slated
THE HARDEST TO LEARN WAS THE LEAST COMPLICATED!

Barrie: If you have questions for the Indigo Girls about their new album, or the movie they made with Neal, put 'em here! And try not to serenade your officemates too loudly from your cubicle.

Barrie Hardymon

11:29 AM ET | 03-20-2007 | permalink | comments (20) | e-mail post

Pyramid Scheme

So ... with all the talk about a new list of wonders (you can vote for favorite wonder here), it's worth noting that only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World is left standing, and it's the Great Pyramid of Giza. Today, we'll be talking to world-renowned archaeologist, Dr. Zahi Hawass, who is, among other things, the Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities and Director of Excavations at Giza (yes, that Giza). His argument? The pyramids hardly need to be put to a vote to be labeled a "wonder."

Barrie Hardymon

11:22 AM ET | 03-20-2007 | permalink | comments (0)