What's Next for Guantanamo Prisoners?

150 prisoners currently held at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba are set for release in the near-future... to countries like Saudi Arabia, Libya, and Tunisia. Unsurprisingly, not all of them want to return to uncertain futures in their home countries. The issue becomes even more thorny if lawmakers get their way and shut down the detention facility, which will mean finding places for hundreds more detainees. All this made us wonder about who's still there, where they're from, and what, if anything, they've been accused of... leave your questions here.

Sarah Handel

1:55 PM ET | 07-31-2007 | permalink | comments (9) | e-mail post

Cleave-land

Robin Givhan's column in a recent Washington Post gives a sort of timeline of Sen. Hillary Clinton's (D-NY) fashion choices, a pretty normal topic for a reporter covering... fashion. What's got folks in an uproar, however, is Givhan's opening, all about what caught her eye on the Senate floor... the Senator's cleavage. Some say it's anti-feminist and "grossly inappropriate" to discuss, but are a public figure's fashion choices anything new? Condi's boots, Edwards' $400 haircut... these are the minutiae of the public discourse. Is cleavage a new and improper frontier, or just another brick in the wall?

Sarah Handel

1:51 PM ET | 07-31-2007 | permalink | comments (17) | e-mail post

Sushi Heaven

Delicious...and nutritious! Last night's meal.

Source: BarrieJH

I will admit readily that I eat a lot of weird stuff. If it's a gizzard, an entrail, a sweetbread: I'm ON it (or, I suppose, it's on me). If it somehow makes a noise in your mouth, or has a texture like a science project, I want it. There's nothing I like better then food that is served as it was originally created, which I suppose is why sushi appeals to me so much. It appeals to me on all levels; texture, aesthetics, and flavor. I love the presentation (see above for the feast I had last night -- Sarah and I are apparently on the same food schedule), but I also love the salty, fishy taste. As long as my eyes are watering from an unexpected burst of wasabi, I'm a happy gal. Today, we're talking about sushi zen... with not one, but two authors of new sushi tomes. So send in your q's and I bet they'll have a's. On another note, the esteemed Setsuko Sato, who worked here for many years (until she had the temerity to fall in love and travel the globe!), used to make these wonderful little origami chopstick stands out of the paper that the chopsticks come in. I've never been able to replicate it -- will someone please, please either post instructions, or give me a link so I can practice? I don't want to fail Setsuko. Also, please let me know what you think about eating nigiri sushi with your fingers. It's tastier I find, but I've spent most of my adult life learning to use chopsticks to lift the sushi to my mouth. Thoughts?

Barrie Hardymon

1:35 PM ET | 07-31-2007 | permalink | comments (19) | e-mail post

Pass the Rouge, Please*

If you're a radio producer, it's well known that the best freebies you're likely to get are books. Walk around NPR, and you'll see delightfully filled shelves of review copies. Now, I love books with a passion, but now I just ignore the giveaway shelves. But when my friend who works at a women's magazine talks about walking by the piles of potions, creams, mascaras, and lipsticks, I am horrified. The giveaway pile is always greener, I guess. Janet Carlson Reed, beauty editor of Town and Country, gets to sort through these delicious spa-like treats... and she's written about the delights -- and downsides -- to her job. What are the perks of yours?

*When did rouge become blush? Blush seems much more prudish. I, for one, apply rouge.

Barrie Hardymon

1:05 PM ET | 07-31-2007 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post

Here Fishie Fishie...

These days, it's as much a part of many Americans' stories as "when did you learn to ride a bike?" or "how many of the 50 states have you been to?" It's nearly as ubiquitous as cheeseburgers and hot dogs... it's sushi! Obviously, sushi has been common in large U.S. cities for decades, but its popularity has spread to the far corners of the country now. My first time was in little Athens, Georgia -- a town more cosmopolitan than some Georgia towns thanks to the university, but a small, southern burg nonetheless. I was cautious at first, sticking to rolls made with cooked shellfish and lots of vegetables, getting wild on occasion and ordering kampyo. These days, I fill up on tuna, salmon, and yellow fin, and have even been known to down freshly caught rockfish as it's being filleted for dinner. There's something so cleansing about the taste of raw fish -- right now my favorite is the "TST" a place near my house features; it's spicy tuna and avocado inside, and the outside is wrapped in thick slices of more tuna (i'm guessing the "TST" is, therefore, tuna-spicy tuna). What's your favorite? And where did you first try it? We'll be talking all about it in our second hour today, so leave your stories here and we may be able to read them on the air! Also feel free to leave tips about the best restaurants and best rolls wherever you live...

Sarah Handel

10:27 AM ET | 07-31-2007 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post

Profiling or Common Sense?

I think it's fair to say that since 9/11, it's hard not to scrutinize your fellow passengers a shade more closely when you're on an airplane. In some cases, passenger vigilance has averted catastrophe, while in others, it's been the cause of lawsuits alleging prejudice. The question is, does "vigilance" amount to little more than racial profiling of Muslims? New legislation, proposed by Rep. Peter King (R-NY), would give terrorism tipsters immunity from lawsuits filed by individuals such as the so-called "flying imams" who were thrown off a plane last year after passengers complained of suspicious behavior. Democrats fought the measure, complaining that it encouraged racial profiling, while those in support of it called it "common sense." What do you think? What's the line between sense and hysteria?

Barrie Hardymon

1:59 PM ET | 07-30-2007 | permalink | comments (36) | e-mail post

A Surge of Optimism

Been a while since you've heard any good news out of Iraq? Check this out: Michael O'Hanlon and Ken Pollack just returned from there, and they've found some reason for optimism. The much debated "surge" appears, to them, to be working. "We are finally getting somewhere in Iraq, at least in military terms." Both O'Hanlon and Pollack are Brookings fellows, so to hear some good news coming from at least a left -ish corner, will certainly cause debate. We'll talk to Pollack about why he thinks it's working ... you can ask your questions here!

Barrie Hardymon

1:58 PM ET | 07-30-2007 | permalink | comments (38) | e-mail post

Drugs for the Dying

When a loved one faces a terminal illness, it's only natural to want to try whatever measures exist to get him/her some relief. One place to turn for hope is to drugs still in the testing process, or clinical trials. But drugs in the testing process are inherently risky -- the tests are done to determine if a drug's benefits outweigh its downsides, and the point is that the drugmakers don't know exactly what to expect yet. These tests can be difficult to get into, though, and there's a real moral quandary: can a terminally ill patient make the best choices? And, on the flip side, is there any point in denying a potentially deadly drug to someone whose death is imminent anyway?

Sarah Handel

1:57 PM ET | 07-30-2007 | permalink | comments (18) | e-mail post

Scenes from a Legend

I enjoy movies, but I'm no film buff, an as such, a lot gets by me. Of course I'm familiar with the name Ingmar Bergman, but I've never seen any of his work... and now it seems it may be high time to acquaint myself. The legendary director died today at home on the Baltic islet where he spent the last years of his life, prompting round after round of retrospective accolades. Variously remembered as a filmmaker who "showed that cinema could be a genuine art that could take on the deepest of all human themes," and as a legend who was "probably the greatest film artist, all things considered, since the invention of the motion picture camera," he's inspired and moved movie makers and movie watchers the world over. Would you like to brush up on your Bergman? The Guardian's film blog has a terrific collection of key scenes. And if you have a recommendation about which movie I -- and other folks interested in sampling his work -- should pick up first, please leave it in the comments for us.

Sarah Handel

1:54 PM ET | 07-30-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

Witness to History

As you might have heard, on Thursday we broadcast live from the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History in Detroit, MI. (If you haven't listened to it, at least go back and listen to the inimitable Martha Reeves -- an amazing segment. What a performer.) But the highlight of the trip for me was the museum itself. I'm shocked that I haven't heard more about it -- their permanent exhibit, "And Still We Rise," is easily one of the most moving experiences I've ever had, in or out of a museum. It's literally like walking through history. Each room of of the exhibit contains a series of wax figures in various tableaux, starting in ancient Africa, and ending up in present day Detroit; almost 3.5 million years of history. The twenty-two galleries are multi-leveled, interactive, and completed in stunning detail. Walking from the ancient civilization of Benin, through the "belly of the beast" (a slave ship in the Middle Passage), all the way to the studios of Motown gives new meaning to the term "witness to history." Each room is complete with sound -- on the ship there is moaning, and in a movie theatre you can see and hear Josephine Baker -- and the level of craft on each room is just amazing. There are a lot of reasons to see Detroit -- from the gorgeous Art Deco buildings, to the ballpark, to Hitsville -- but if you go, make the museum a good part of your day there. While we can never walk in someone else's shoes, inspecting their journey in living and compassionate detail is the next best thing.

Barrie Hardymon

9:29 AM ET | 07-30-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

A Long, Hot Summer in Detroit

Detroit surprised me. I grew up in Chicago, a few hours to the south and west of here. And, all I knew about Detroit came from the media: crime, Halloween arson, racial tension, cars, music, and the Lions. Driving through the city for the first time this morning, I saw plenty of cars and music, but no crime, arson, or obvious tension. I saw gleaming office towers, new elevated rail lines, classic 1920's style office buildings, shops, restaurants, and the new ballpark (which is more of a Tigers complex than just a park, and looks amazing). The GM building stands above everything downtown, and gives the place a sort of hopeful, futuristic feel. That's not to say there aren't problems. The legacy of the 1967 riots left empty homes and businesses, lonely streets, a troubled economy and schools, and lingering racial tension. Crime is still a problem. And a short drive from downtown brings you to the doorsteps of long deserted and crumbling homes that are heart-breaking. They're huge, stone houses with great yards and an almost majestic feel, but they-re totally empty -- windows are broken out, the front of one was literally falling to the ground. It's a ghost neighborhood. Still, there are signs of recovery. Just a block away the street is lined with brand new condos and manicured lawns, with trendy restaurants and shops a short walk away. Detroit has definitely changed since 1967, and 1967 obviously changed Detroit. If you were in the city during the riots, or just before or after, how did they change you? Do you still live in the city, or did you join the many residents who fled?

Scott Cameron

2:00 PM ET | 07-26-2007 | permalink | comments (18) | e-mail post

Car Culture

Every three years, the UAW gathers with each of the big three car companies in Detroit to negotiate a new contract. For decades, those contracts guaranteed jobs, good pay, and benefits to generations of autoworkers in Detroit. And established a car culture and a whole way of life in the city and surrounding area. The negotiations kicked off again this week, but the times have changed. Toyota is fast becoming the top-selling car brand in the US, and the big three face layoffs, slow sales, and ballooning employee expenses for pensions and medical coverage. It's make-or-break for both sides, and it's very likely that each will have to give up some of the perks they've fought for decades to gain. If you're a member of the UAW in Detroit or anywhere else in the country, what does the union mean to you... then and now?

Scott Cameron

1:59 PM ET | 07-26-2007 | permalink | comments (6) | e-mail post

Are You Ready for a Brand New Beat?

Is there any American sound more instantly recognizable than Motown? More universally loved? These are broad contentions, but the fact is, if you put Stevie Wonder or the Supremes or Martha and the Vandellas on at a party, people come together, dance, and get down. I've tried it, it works! And on the other hand, if you want to woo the object of your affection, those same artists will do it every time. What's your best Motown memory?

Sarah Handel

1:22 PM ET | 07-26-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

Up Close with the Vice President

"Dick Cheney is the most influential and powerful man ever to hold the office of vice president." That's the introduction to a series of articles in the Washington Post that looks at the office of the Vice President. Specifically, the office of Vice President Dick Cheney, and his relationship to the President, and the rest of the official Washington. From the war on terror, to the economy, to the environment and energy, Cheney has left his mark on US policy. If you have questions about the role of the V.P., or Vice President Cheney, let us know.

Scott Cameron

1:52 PM ET | 07-25-2007 | permalink | comments (10) | e-mail post

YouTube Goes to Washington

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales faced-off with the Senate Judiciary Committee again yesterday. And, yes, the gloves came off. Pundits say they've never heard things quite so testy. At the same time, the presidential campaigns are heating up... and after Monday's CNN/YouTube debate, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are still going at it. That debate showed some interesting questions from YouTubers, but many of the answers were typical debate stuff. Are there still questions you want to ask the candidates? Do you have any plans to post those questions to YouTube for the Republican debate in the fall?

Scott Cameron

1:36 PM ET | 07-25-2007 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

It's Shocking, Really

Electroconvulsive therapy, popularly known as electroshock therapy is just that: shocking. Doctors use electricity to stimulate parts of the brain, producing seizures that hopefully spark the brain out of depression. Nowadays, patients are sedated so that only the brain convulses, but the procedure continues to be somewhat controversial... partly due to a history of torturous images and tales, and partly due to the real side effects -- particularly memory loss -- and the potential misuse due to hasty referrals or poor execution. Have you undergone the treatment? Did it work for you?

Sarah Handel

1:33 PM ET | 07-25-2007 | permalink | comments (35) | e-mail post

Branding Baghdad

If you want to win a war, presumably you need to have the best military strategy and resources. But if you want to convince people you're winning a war, or convince those whose lands you're bombing that the war is a good idea, the Rand Corporation recommends getting in touch with Madison Avenue. Rand says to win the war you've got to sell the war, which made me wonder... how would you market the war to Iraqis?

Sarah Handel

1:26 PM ET | 07-25-2007 | permalink | comments (11) | e-mail post

TOTN on a Plane

We're heading to Detroit after the show today, for a live broadcast tomorrow at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. (This is the 40th anniversary of the riots that swept the city during the summer of 1967. We'll also talk about the Motor City's connection with the car industry, and the troubles facing both.) Some of us flew out this morning, the rest of us leave this evening. And, I can't help but notice all the news articles calling this the "summer of hell" for airline travel. Planes are late and crowded, if they fly at all. Cancellations are up. Patience is wayyy down. (And I'm about to print my boarding pass.) It's a summer ritual for frequent fliers to complain about the surge of young kids on planes. But, rather than whine about it, I saw an interesting idea the other day... create a family section on airplanes. One suggestion was to put it in the back of the plane, since families with kids board first, and cap the eligible age at around 11 or 12. I probably don't fly enough to speak with any sort of authority on whether or not this would work, so I'll rely on the rest of you. Any chance a family section on planes would fly? If you have kids, would you want to have your own section for families?

Scott Cameron

10:28 AM ET | 07-25-2007 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

Video of Michael Moore's NPR Visit

If you've been following the blog or listened to yesterday's show, you probably know already that documentary maker and public provocateur Michael Moore came by the NPR studios for a 20-minute interview with Lynn Neary. During his video, I got a chance to shoot some video of him, including his entire interview.

I showed up about 20 minutes prior to the scheduled interview time and soon found Talk of the Nation executive producer Sue Goodwin meeting up with Moore and his two assistants in the hallway. We had some time to kill in the green room, time which I had hoped would include me capturing some extraordinary sound bite from Moore. Instead, he dropped hard on the couch, sporting his trademark t-shirt, shorts and baseball cap ensemble, and slouched as far back as humanly possible. "Look at me," he said. "Seven weeks straight of this - exhausted." So any video would have to wait until he went on air. (He did, however, let me take a group photo of him posing with Sue, Sarah, Barrie and other members of the TOTN crew.)

The remaining time in the green room passed quickly, talking about a range of things, from Keith Moon, drummer of the Who, crashing his car into the Flint Holiday Inn swimming pool nearly 40 years ago, to taking his screaming infant daughter to DC's Uptown movie theatre because he and his wife couldn't afford a baby sitter at the time.

Soon enough, it was time to go on air. I slipped off my shoes - so they wouldn't creak as I walked around the live studio - and followed Moore inside, where he met Lynn Neary and did his sound check with less than a minute to spare. As you'll see in the video, they talked about healthcare, his new film and documentary making in general, taking several questions from listeners as well. Then faster you can say "Dr. Sanjay Gupta" the interview was over, with Moore saying his goodbyes before being whisked away to his next interview.

The video displayed here is just over five minutes in length, and covers some of the highlights of the interview. We've also posted a copy of it on YouTube, where we'll also be uploading other video clips representing the full length of the interview.

Andy Carvin

2:40 PM ET | 07-24-2007 | permalink | comments (14) | e-mail post

Women in War

We've heard for the last several years that more and more women are facing combat situations in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. And suffering from many of the same problems as men when they get home... PTSD, homelessness, trouble adjusting to civilian life. Still, when I first read that "an estimated 8,000 female veterans are homeless in the US" I thought it was a typo. It's not. Many veterans services just aren't set up to handle the growing number of female vets. Things are changing, though, and women are a priority for the VA. Today, we'll talk with Antoinette Scott, a veteran of the war in Iraq, and with two advocates for women veterans. If you're a woman who served, what was it like for you when you came home?

Scott Cameron

1:25 PM ET | 07-24-2007 | permalink | comments (19) | e-mail post

No End in Sight

By now it's safe to say the conflict in Iraq has not gone as either Americans or Iraqis might have hoped... and the question that comes to mind again and again is, "How did we get here?" The natural assumption might be "the President did it," but according to documentary filmmaker Charles Ferguson, in this case, he wasn't really running the show... and the show's not going on hiatus anytime soon. He joins us to talk about No End in Sight... and Ferguson's a pretty interesting guy himself -- you can read more about him here.

Sarah Handel

1:24 PM ET | 07-24-2007 | permalink | comments (8) | e-mail post

More Heart, Less Water

It was certainly better to have left New Orleans before Katrina wreaked her terrible punishment on that city; but after reading Heart Like Water, I would have to say that Josh Clark's choice birthed one of the best books on the subject of the hurricane since that terrible August week. We spoke to Josh a couple of times during our live coverage -- he's the founder and editor of the Light of New Orleans Publishing, in the heart of the French Quarter. He chose to ride out the storm in his apartment, and today, he'll join us to talk about his book on Katrina and the city he loves.

Barrie Hardymon

12:51 PM ET | 07-24-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

Sex and the Other City

I was a huge fan of the riotously female show, Sex and the City, so I was slightly resistant when another hip, sexy foursome took over HBO. But Entourage has become a huge part of my Sunday night routine, and I've learned to love its sweet take on male friendship. Plus, it's sort of like having the girls back, if you think about it. Vince has a bit of both Samantha and Carrie in him, and Eric has plenty of Miranda's blend of skepticism and tough loyalty. And Drama and Turtle have a bit of Sam and Charlotte: adding humor, and sometimes a real emotional center to the show. It's a tribute to how good the show actually is, that the crazy lifestyle and subtle misogynism seems like merely a scaffolding upon which to hang a show about friends. Vince, Turtle, Drama and E. all seem to have something in common with the new Judd Apatow dudes; the immature, but sweet guys who just have a little growing up to do. The show may be young, but anyone who saw Ari go to Lloyd's rescue in the season opener knows: it's got heart (and filthy language, so watch the clip at your own discretion). Today, you can hug it out with Entourage creator Doug Ellin -- and ask him the question I'm dying to know: are we ever going to get to see Medellin? It looks awesome.

Barrie Hardymon

12:34 PM ET | 07-24-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

And the Robot Murray Goes To...

Our summer movie festival last week focused on best movie robots. As usual, we got far too many votes from listeners to get to on the air. But, we've compiled the votes and here are the results (some are the movie titles, some are the names of the robot):

Robbie from Forbidden Planet
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Spaceballs (Dot Matrix)
Iron Giant
Bicentennial Man
Transformers
Rover from The Prisoner
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Silent Running
Klaatu
Blade Runner
Data From Star Trek
Lost in Space
The HItchiker's Guide to the Galaxy
R2D2
Saturn 3
Robocop
Futurama

Scott Cameron

12:17 PM ET | 07-24-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

Stay Tuned: Michael Moore Video

Coming soon to Blog of the Nation... video of Michael Moore's chat with Lynn Neary yesterday on Talk of the Nation, thanks to the ever-fabulous and creative Andy Carvin. Stay tuned!

Sarah Handel

10:19 AM ET | 07-24-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

New Rules on Interrogations

Late last week, President Bush gave CIA the greenlight to resume some of the more severe interrogation methods in the war on terror. The executive order reportedly bans things like sexual humiliation and the denigration of religious symbols, but allows officers more leeway in the techniques than interrogators at Guantanamo Bay. Karen DeYoung has been following this for The Washington Post, and will take your questions.

Scott Cameron

1:59 PM ET | 07-23-2007 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post

Who is al Qaida in Iraq?

President Bush often cites the importance of defeating al Qaida in Iraq as central to the war on terror. There are lots of questions about the organization... who are they, what are their motives? We have two well-known terrorism experts with us to answer your questions. Peter Bergen and Daniel Byman join us.

Scott Cameron

1:57 PM ET | 07-23-2007 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post

Sicko

If you're the CEO of a major corporation, there's one sight you probably don't ever want to see: Michael Moore and a film crew, knocking at your front door. He's taken auto makers, the gun industry, and even the President to task, and now he's gone after the industry that probably affects the most of us most acutely: healthcare. I know you've got questions for him... leave them here.

Sarah Handel

1:56 PM ET | 07-23-2007 | permalink | comments (36) | e-mail post

Sustenance or Status Symbol?

Do you drink bottled water? Odds are you do, since it's the second most popular beverage for Americans, behind sodas. When you reach for that bottle, though, what goes through your mind? Is it, "I'm so classy?" Or maybe, "dang I'm thirsty, this sure is convenient!" Or perhaps, "this seems a little wasteful..." If you're conflicted about your consumption, you're not alone. Those bottles pile up, and San Francisco's mayor Gavin Newsom has even barred city agencies from purchasing them. Do you have a favorite brand*? Why do you like it?

*I personally love a brand I see in the south, I think it's called Krystal. It tastes like carrots. Weird, right?

Sarah Handel

12:48 PM ET | 07-23-2007 | permalink | comments (37) | e-mail post

Diagram THIS

Have you ever sat in a seat on the bus and mentally copy-edited the advertisement above your fellow commuter's head? If you're like me, you've RAGED internally about egregious grammar mistakes all over the public landscape, shaking your fists in a futile desire to track down the offenders and show them a copy of Strunk&White's. Well, "grammar vandal" Kate McCulley actually does what I long to do, sort of, and today she'll tell us how. What's the most heinous example of bad grammar you've seen in the world?

Sarah Handel

12:47 PM ET | 07-23-2007 | permalink | comments (33) | e-mail post

NO SPOILERS!

Again, with all things Harry Potter... please no one ruin the ending for us! And we'll do our best not to do it for you. Anyway, with seven Harry books now finished, a lot of kids have grown up with Harry, literally, and he's almost a part of the family. I know (though I'm not a kid) Harry's been on a lot of interesting vacations with my family, for instance, almost like a literary Flat Stanley. Where has Harry traveled with you?

Sarah Handel

12:47 PM ET | 07-23-2007 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post

More on Dangerous Dogs

Just a quick post to follow up on the show we did last week on dogfighting, for which I wrote this post in defense of pit bulls and other breeds maligned for being aggressive. The state of Virginia has just launched its Dangerous Dogs Registry, a searchable database, much like ones that list sex offenders, that gives photos and addresses of dogs that "have attacked a person or an animal, and that a judge has decided could cause injury again," according to the New York Times. It's an interesting idea... do you think it's just a sensible public service, or could a registry like this feed the fire of negative publicity about some breeds?

Sarah Handel

11:04 AM ET | 07-23-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

Faith and Interfaith

Eboo Patel is a man of many hyphens -- he's a Muslim, an Indian, an American. His new book is called Acts of Faith, and he's advocating a new way of understanding not just faith, but the interfaith model. Post your questions for him here... about young people, the lure of extremism, and how to inspire new activism.

Barrie Hardymon

1:33 PM ET | 07-19-2007 | permalink | comments (26) | e-mail post

Summer Movie Series: I, You, We, Robot

Robots. Sometimes they're warm and fuzzy, and sometimes they're cold and world-dominating. I am a big fan, mostly because it's a division of sci-fi, and sci-fi (as we all know) is very close to my (mostly) human heart. So... here it is! Your opportunity to put in a plug for R2D2 and Data (I love Data)!

Barrie Hardymon

1:23 PM ET | 07-19-2007 | permalink | comments (49) | e-mail post

I Heart Pit Bulls

There seems to be a lot of misunderstanding about pit bulls as a breed of dog (ok, they may not be United Kennel Club certified as a distinct breed, grouped instead with Staffordshire Terriers, but I think most people know a pit when they see it), and bad press like the news that Atlanta Falcons QB Michael Vick faces federal charges of fighting them doesn't help. While it's true that they can be aggressive, that's true of any dog when it's mistreated, and the well-cared-for pits I've known have been nothing but sweet, loving, obedient, beautiful animals. Do you own pit bulls? Does the stigma affect you? And if you're scared of pits, why?

Sarah Handel

1:19 PM ET | 07-19-2007 | permalink | comments (29) | e-mail post

Dow Up, Dollar Down

The dow just might close over 14,000 for the first time today... making lots of investors happy. And lots of wannabe investors wondering if they should jump in now, or wait till things calm down. While the dow is up, the dollar is down, everyone from publishers to movie studios to popcorn makers hope to cash in on Harry Potter. For those who are following along, Neal also owns a little Whole Foods stock in his fantasy portfolio, and their CEO has become a case study of what CEOs should not do online when trying to merge with a competitor. It's been well over a month, and it's time to check in with the Motley Fool. Got questions about your money or the markets? Let us know...

Scott Cameron

12:47 PM ET | 07-19-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

Suing the Terrorists

Last month we talked with the director of the new movie, A Mighty Heart. It tells the story of the kidnapping and murder of Daniel Pearl from the perspective of his wife, Mariane. You might remember, Pearl was the Wall Street Journal reporter who was abducted and then killed, brutally and publicly, by terrorists in Pakistan in 2002. Yesterday, Mariane filed a lawsuit in federal court... against a number of accused terrorists, a major Pakistani bank, and a now outlawed Islamic charity. The suit accuses them of enabling or carrying out "the kidnapping, torture, execution and dismemberment of Daniel Pearl and broadcast(ing) those images nationwide." Why file the suit now? She says, "I am looking for the truth of what happened to Daniel, for our family, our friends, and the public record.... This process allows us to delve deeper into the investigation, and to bring accountability and punishment to those involved." And, judging from what I'm seeing on other blogs, she has lots of support in this lawsuit. In spite of it all, it's a tough case, and probably safe to say she's not out for the money. Do you think she'll win? Does she even need to come out on top in court to claim victory? And, I wonder: have you ever been part of a lawsuit filed to help spur further investigation... what happened?

Scott Cameron

10:52 AM ET | 07-19-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

Democrawikiyoutubia 2.8

We're big fans of catchy titles around here. And nothing seems to inspire the catchy-cutesy sides of our brains like anything related to the World Wide Web. Especially when it's about the upcoming election. Election 2.0! The YouTube Prez! Democrawiki! (That sounds like a really cute speech impediment, no?) Attaching a 2.0 onto these topics isn't just for the (slightly outdated) cool-factor, it's a measure of how much the culture of the blogosphere (incidentally, I heard someone refer to it as the "biosphere" which is sort of correct -- if hilarious. Discuss.) and social media has infiltrated every aspect of the election. CNN's YouTube Democratic debate (and check out this catchy title) is the most recent example of this, but not everybody thinks that it's entirely democratic. So ... what do you think? Is Web 2.0 making the election more or less democratic?

Barrie Hardymon

1:59 PM ET | 07-18-2007 | permalink | comments (8) | e-mail post

Slumber Party in the Senate

Slumber party in the Senate? Sounds like a blast... though only 60 senators actually made a 5 a.m. procedural vote (with some sporting the bedhead look). There was pizza, and cots, and plenty of talking, but nothing was really resolved on the key issues of Iraq and proposed timelines for withdrawal. In the actual vote on the Reed-Levin amendment (more specifically, whether there were enough votes to cut off debate and bring the amendment to a vote), democrats fell 8 votes short. There will be plenty of finger pointing until the next all-nighter. In other political news, Sen. David Vitter, R-LA, keeps spinning his sex scandal, "Obama girl" takes on "Giuliani girl" on YouTube, and John McCain's campaign troubles continue while the latest GOP poll shows "none of the above" as the winner.

Scott Cameron

1:58 PM ET | 07-18-2007 | permalink | comments (5) | e-mail post

A Passion for Prayer

Teens are supposed to reject their parents' values during their formative years -- maybe act out and smoke a little pot, go goth and skip synagogue, blast T.I. instead of ABBA... Of course it's natural, more about figuring out their identities than actively defying their parents. Turns out, some kids are figuring it out through religious faith stronger than that of their parents, and by choosing their own denominations. There are so many interesting questions here -- if you raised your kid in one faith, and they strike out and choose another, is that a success -- your child can think for him/herself, and is faithful -- or a failure, since it's not your religion? Have your kids done this? Did you?

Sarah Handel

1:57 PM ET | 07-18-2007 | permalink | comments (10) | e-mail post

Spoiler Alert

If you're not totally sick of the extensive coverage of the Harry Potter Extravaganza (I'm not -- big fan -- but I can see how you might want to set fire to Hogwarts at this point) tune in. Now that several jerks people have posted what purports to be the ending of the series on various websites, it prompted us to wonder, who wants to know the ending anyhow? My strategy is this. 1) If I'm invested in the book, I don't want to know -- at all -- and I would fire any "friend" who leaked it to me. 2) If I'm not that interested in reading every dang page of the book, I'll skip to the end. This method is saved exclusively for romance novels and free movies on TV. What's your theory? Are you more of a Harry or Sally?
("When I buy a new book, I always read the last page first. That way, in case I die before I finish, I know how it ends. That, my friend, is a dark side.")

Barrie Hardymon

1:15 PM ET | 07-18-2007 | permalink | comments (21) | e-mail post

Like, Lay Off "Like!"

If you have a teenager or were one anytime in the last decade, the word "like" is likely a part of your vocabulary in a way it wasn't for prior generations. At first it seemed like "valley girl" slang, but by the 90s everyone was saying it, and I know it crept into my vocabulary with ease. During a (short-lived) period of trying to be taken seriously, I made an effort to eliminate it from my speech (at least in certain situations), but I quickly grew frustrated because it seemed I had no substitute for the functions "like" performed. I had a bit of a crisis -- I'm fairly intelligent, have I just lost how to talk without it? Was there a word, or a grammatical structure, that I used before and can't recall? Turns out, maybe not! Academics and linguists actually LIKE "like", saying it's innovative and original... and it's here to stay. What's your relationship with "like?" Do you use it? Does it grate on your nerves, or is it essential?

Sarah Handel

11:21 AM ET | 07-18-2007 | permalink | comments (5) | e-mail post

Remorseless Arithmetic

Some 200,000 dead in Darfur. 174 homicides in Baltimore. Eighty dead yesterday in Kirkuk. The tragedy of numbers fills the newspapers, and truthfully, it's hard sometimes to connect with these stories. The scale is simply too large. Paul Moore, public editor of the Sun wrote about how the paper struggles to overcome this, and really connect the community to the crime epidemic. But how do you do it for other places, such as Darfur, or Iraq? When do you start being numbed by numbers?

Barrie Hardymon

1:38 PM ET | 07-17-2007 | permalink | comments (15) | e-mail post

Twice More With Feeling

I seriously get a lump in my throat every time I think about how mu