Parents Come up with the Darndest Things

I ask all sorts of odd questions every day around here, but nothing like a 6-year old. Kids may say the darndest things, but they ask even darndest-er (what a wordsmith) things. On Monday's show, we're talking with a dad who decided to find answers to every single question his son asked. Not making them up, but finding people who could give insightful answers. And maybe not the way you'd think... "What is porn?" his son asked... So dad asked a dominatrix. "What happens when a plane flies over a volcano?" Dad went to a pilot who did it. There's plenty more we'll get to on Monday, but we need your help first. All you parents, what questions have your kids stumped you with? On the flip side, did you stump your parents with a tough question or two? Send them to us, and we'll try to get answers for you (and your kids) on Monday afternoon.

Scott Cameron

10:51 AM ET | 08-31-2007 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

Upcoming Shows for the week of Sept. 3rd

It's Friday... an eerily quiet day to slowly exhale. Actually, on Fridays we work on show ideas for the coming week and get everything in place for Monday. This Monday is a holiday, always a tricky time to book guests because often people would rather take a vacation than talk to millions of people on the radio. Go figure!

I will give you a quick run-down of what we have in store for next week, but first I want explain the many colors of our show board. Topics written in black are the 'for sure' topics... the topics that are booked and we are absolutely airing (pending any breaking news or pressing events that may trump it). Topics in green are the 'maybes'. Green is the color of hope... we hope to get a guest, we hope the topic holds for a few days. We write the guests who we've booked for a show in blue. Red indicates the time-frame that they will be on the show and where they'll be (in a studio, on a phone, etc.) We write show ideas in our morning meetings with purple ink. (This will all make more sense if you look at the photos of our board on the right side of the page.) Yes, we are a colorful bunch. Either that, or we have a particular affinity for Skittles. At any rate, I'll quickly tell you the topics that are in the black for next week.

On Monday in the first hour, we'll talk about all these games and tricks to improve your memory. Do any of them actually work? The second hour will deal with how to answer every question a kid asks--"What does 'sexy' mean?" "Can I cook my sister?" (a real question asked of a father)... that kind of thing. For Tuesday's first hour we'll talk with Ret. General Jack Keane, who's just back from Baghdad, and other guests about the policies and politics of Iraq. The second hour starts with a chat with British actor/comedian Michael Palin (think Monty Python, Spam, and inanimate parrots) and ends with the "cost" of wearing those saggy pants. On Wednesday we'll discuss Condoleezza Rice... one of the most powerful women in the country and yet, an enigma. And Thursday's hour two topic will be a discussion on life with obsessive compulsive disorder.

More to come next week. Enjoy your holiday!!

Gwen Outen

10:03 AM ET | 08-31-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

Our Schools is Good

People seem to have a love/hate relationship with No Child Left Behind. At first glance, it makes sense... schools have to perform well, and face punishment if they don't. It has plenty of backers. Critics will tell you, though, that the law has hamstrung public schools with impossible goals and not enough funding to reach them. Whoever is right, there's little argument that something needs to change in the public schools. Rudy Crew spent time at the head New York city's school system, and is now in charge of the fourth largest system in the country, in Miami-Dade county. And, in a new book he offers answers. Let us know what questions you have for Rudy Crew, about the problems in the public schools, and what to do to fix them.

Scott Cameron

1:59 PM ET | 08-30-2007 | permalink | comments (31) | e-mail post

Shearer Shows his Love

When it comes to New Orleans' supporters, Harry Shearer might not come immediately to mind -- but he's one of its most vociferous voices of support. Speaking of voices, he's also of course the man who voices many of our most beloved Simpsons characters, and he's wishing we'd all be a little less like Mr. Burns, and a little more like Ned Flanders when it comes to characterizing the plight of that city. We'll talk to him today about the city that he's been a part-time resident of for the past 11 years, and its progress, two years after Katrina.

Barrie Hardymon

1:58 PM ET | 08-30-2007 | permalink | comments (6) | e-mail post

So You Wanna Be AG

What makes a good attorney general? In looking for a cut of tape for the top of the show today, it became clear that some folks think the answer is someone whose views are in line with those of the president, but there's also a contingency that believes no, it's more about a dedication to understanding and interpreting the law. What do you think? If you're a fan of the current commander in chief, you might think the former... and if you're not, you're likely to choose the latter. But what if the tides changed, and your ideal candidate was elected, and vice versa? Would you still want an AG who adhered to the letter of the law if your ideologies were in line with the prez, or one who follows the boss when you're not a fan of his positions? It's tough to phrase, but it just seems like there's an easy answer... until you think about the other side.

Sarah Handel

1:57 PM ET | 08-30-2007 | permalink | comments (7) | e-mail post

Media in the Men's Room

When the story of Senator Larry Craig's alleged restroom indecency hit the media, it was a story that had been warming up for some time. The Idaho Statesman had been on this story (you'll notice the unfortunate use of the word "probe" in this headline) for months before it exploded all over Craig -- prompting us to ask, why did it take so long for the rumors to reach the major news outlets (ahem--that means us, too)? It's the side story that really interested us -- besides, of course the glossary of restroom come-ons. Who better to handle the media side than our own David Folkenflik? (I have it on good authority he can't help with the restroom stuff.) Also mixing it up with the Media Circus, Kevin Naff -- editor of the Washington Blade -- he's got a couple of complaints for the Statesman.

Barrie Hardymon

1:56 PM ET | 08-30-2007 | permalink | comments (6) | e-mail post

August 30th Show

Well, it's our last show for the week -- and for the month of August -- and today's show is quickly coming together. The main topic in our first hour is called "Fixing Broken Schools." This is a segment we planned on airing yesterday, but our guest, Rudy Crew, had the unfortunately common experience of a major flight delay. But today he's safely on the ground, and will talk to us from our NPR studio in New York. He's the superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and author of Only Connect: The Way to Save Our Schools. According to Crew, our educational system is in crisis and education should be our number one priority. We'll end that hour with a voice who may be familiar to fans of The Simpsons. Harry Shearer is the voice of Mr. Burns and Ned Flanders -- among many others -- on the beloved animated series. He'll share his thoughts (as himself, I should add), about the restoration efforts in New Orleans where he's been a part-time resident for the past 11 years.

There is much debate over who should serve as Alberto Gonzales' successor as Attorney General. I wonder how that want ad would read? We'll talk about what makes a good Attorney General in our second hour. After that, NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik and Washington Blade editor Kevin Naff are the ringleaders as our "Media Circus" segment takes us inside the latest Senate sex scandal.

Enjoy! And don't forget to share your thoughts!

Gwen Outen

11:58 AM ET | 08-30-2007 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post

Athletes Gone Wild

Betting refs, dog fighting QB's, steroid-taking sluggers... I'm not a big sports guy, but even I can see why this has been called a "summer of shame" for pro ball. Thinking back, it took years for baseball to win back the fans after the last strike year. If it wasn't for the home run derby between Sammy Sosa and Mark McGuire, MLB stadiums might still be just as full as NHL stands these days. It takes more than a slick ad campaign to gloss over a scandal. Fans have a breaking point, if you lose them you have to earn us back. The question is: what is that breaking point? Take the Michael Vick case... is this a pro athlete who screwed up, or a guy who screwed up, who just happens to play football? The problem is, Vick isn't alone. NLF players have recently been charged with everything from drunk driving to murder. At some point, the whole league pays a price. And when you're talking about salaries well into the millions of dollars, we're talking about people who really should know better (or least pay people to offer advice on how to keep out of trouble). Look, I realize we're not talking about the "Black Sox scandal" here, but refs betting on games plus players going to prison plus doping plus bad attitudes and huge salaries eventually equals no more fans. Do you care if athletes screw up... enough to stop watching or going to games? What should the leagues do to keep players out of trouble, if anything?

Scott Cameron

10:54 AM ET | 08-30-2007 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post

Resignations, Returns, and... Er... Restrooms

Senator Larry Craig has had a bad week. One could almost use the ubiquitous tag "embattled" for the Senator, which up till now, was exclusively reserved for Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez. But even the formerly embattled Gonzalez Gonzales was knocked off RSS feeds across the country for the Craig story. Suffice it to say his alleged misconduct, to which he mistakenly pleaded guilty, is the political buzz of the week. (Along, of course, with Senator Tim Johnson's return, and more primary squabbling.) So who better to discuss everything from Gonzalez's Gonzales' exit to restroom behavior, but our own Ken Rudin. PoJu is in session.

Barrie Hardymon

1:59 PM ET | 08-29-2007 | permalink | comments (14) | e-mail post

Awkward Obits

When Leona Helmsley died last week, it was a moment for some confused mourning. After all, the woman was a powerhouse (read: diva), but was also caught saying some particularly vile things about the progressive tax. One wonders what her eulogy was like; how do you properly eulogize such a difficult woman? I am related to some particularly difficult -- yet beloved -- women myself*, and they were remembered honestly at their funerals... something I particularly like. In fact, Jewish tradition demands that a eulogy be honest; it should paint an honest portrait of the deceased, and reflect the realities of their life. It got us thinking: what's the best way to eulogize someone whose humanity might have been -- shall we say, particularly aggressive -- in their life?

*I'm sure you're all shocked.

Barrie Hardymon

1:58 PM ET | 08-29-2007 | permalink | comments (8) | e-mail post

No One Gets Left Behind

They're still calling the search for those six miners trapped in Utah a rescue effort, but it's been more than three weeks now since the collapse and hope is all but gone of finding the men alive. Rescue workers continue to work on a seventh hole that would let them drop a camera into the mine, but drilling on a bigger, horizontal tunnel stopped on August 16th, after three rescue workers were killed in another collapse. The families, and many of the other miners hold out hope of finding the men. At the very least, they want to bring the bodies out of the mine for a proper memorial. You see similar feelings in other dangerous jobs... Firefighters never leave someone behind, and Marines are well-known for doing whatever it takes to bring their own back home. That's the focus of our show today... The painful transition from rescue to recovery, and why we search. If we have any marines, or firefighters, or miners, or any other job with a firm belief that no one gets left behind, tell us about it. How important is that idea to your ability to do that job?

Scott Cameron

1:57 PM ET | 08-29-2007 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post

Running in Place in NOLA

President Bush spoke at a charter school in New Orleans this morning, and assured the residents that the federal government understands their needs and it's "still engaged." History professor Douglas Brinkley might doubt those words... he thinks the Bush administration has a strategy of inaction for New Orleans, that the hope is residents of the below-sea-level areas will abandon their homes, like those in Galveston did after the disastrous 1900 hurricane. He paints a doom-filled picture of NOLA's future, but the most interesting bit, I think, is the way he tries to re-frame how we think about Katrina:

Unfortunately, one of the biggest misperceptions the American public harbors is that Katrina was a week-long catastrophe. In truth, it's better to view it as an era. Remember, the Dust Bowl of the 1930s lasted eight or nine years. We're still in the middle of the Katrina saga.

Have you been to New Orleans since Katrina? Did you help rebuild... and did you just feel like you were spinning your wheels?

Sarah Handel

1:56 PM ET | 08-29-2007 | permalink | comments (9) | e-mail post

August 29th Show

Well, after a bit of brainstorming, erasing, and rewriting, I think we've got the makings of a show! On Wednesday, our first hour usually ends with our regular installment of the Political Junkie, but because there has been so much happening in the political arena this past week, we've decided to move that segment to the beginning of the hour and mega-size it. Our own political editor Ken Rudin will talk about Senator Larry Craig's recent troubles, the surprise resignation of Alberto Gonzales earlier this week and Senator Tim Johnson's return to politics, among other things. The end of the first hour is still coming together. Our producers are working on it as I type, so please stay tuned!

In light of ongoing story of the rescue efforts for the six miners trapped underground in Utah, our second hour deals with how the agonizing decision is made to end a rescue and declare it a recovery, and how the victims' families cope with the transition. Later in that hour we go back to New Orleans on the two year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. We'll talk to historian Douglas Brinkley who says we should still care about what is happening in New Orleans post-Katrina, but many have abandoned the hope of helping the city rebound.

We hope you enjoy listening today!

Gwen Outen

12:02 PM ET | 08-29-2007 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post

The War at Home: Rationing Bullets for Local Police

The other day I read an article in the Washington Post that caught my eye. It was more of a local story than a national one, but the headline was arresting: "Police Feel Wartime Pinch on Ammo: Target Practice Cut To Conserve Bullets." According to the article, the demand for small-arms ammunition to outfit American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan has begun to affect police departments in the DC-metro area. Due to slow delivery of new rounds of ammunition, officials in three local counties are rationing bullets provided to officers and cutting back on target practice. This made me think about the war at home... the last time we really talked about it at length was after Katrina hit, when the lack of National Guard troops (and equipment) available to help with the rescue and recovery became shockingly clear. That made us wonder: how does the war manifest at home for you? How has your community changed or adapted due to changes forced by our military commitments abroad? If we come up with enough examples, we're thinking of doing some shows on this... so please leave your stories in the comments section, and if you've got articles from your local news outlets, we'd love to see those too!

Sarah Handel

9:37 AM ET | 08-29-2007 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

A Falcon Falls

Oh, Michael Vick. I remember watching you play football at Virginia Tech one Thanksgiving weekend when the hype around you was still fresh and exciting, and you had every opportunity in the world ahead of you. And then you made your move to Atlanta, and I delighted in the opportunity to root for you in a city I love. But now, this. Your apology seemed heartfelt, but still... I'm at a loss. I talked to a friend of mine, a proud Hokie and veterinary technician, and she's still sputtering with rage over your crimes, and the way it makes Tech look. I can't say I blame her. Even if I don't see you as a role model -- and I'm sure many do, or did -- it feels like a personal betrayal when someone you root for does wrong, particularly deliberate harm such as this. Anyone else feel this way? Or maybe, that Vick is being unfairly targeted due to his celebrity and race? Personally, I can see all the sides... and still feel like this may be an inexcusable offense. BotNers, do you think Vick can make real changes? And, professionally, do you think he'll ever make it back?

Sarah Handel

1:59 PM ET | 08-28-2007 | permalink | comments (49) | e-mail post

NOLA Check-In

As you may have heard from any number of sources this week, New Orleans Post-Katrina is still a pretty rocky place. However, there are some signs of improvement. The health care system, which was almost broken by the hurricane, has improved -- albeit slowly. Dr. Karen DeSalvo has kept us updated on hospitals and health care in the city since the hurricane hit, and she's back now, to tell us how it's going.

Barrie Hardymon

1:58 PM ET | 08-28-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

Not To Be Confused With the Grocery Lists

Who doesn't love a list? Top Ten lists, to do lists, here at the show we have a topic list -- they're handy and gratifying. There's nothing better then checking off anything from "eggplant" to "water the plants." List-o-philia has gotten a little more ambitious lately, with more and more people making Life Lists: things to do before you die. This could be really depressing, but it appears that many people find it quite inspiring. I'll share a couple of things -- from the sublime to the ridiculous -- from my Life List:

#36 Learn good knife skills. Like on last week's Top Chef!! (Not like Casey though. More like Sara.)
#42 Read Anna Karenina in Russian. At least some of it. Maybe just that first line.
#12 Learn to ride a bike!*
...and one I've been working on, and have now checked off
#4 Learn to swim.*

Your turn. What's on your list?

*I know it seems like my parents were Communists or something, but somehow I missed out on these things, and still had an idyllic upbringing. Go figure.

Barrie Hardymon

1:57 PM ET | 08-28-2007 | permalink | comments (38) | e-mail post

A Parent's Worst Fear

This is not what parents want to see this time of year (or any time of year, for that matter): a random knife attack on the campus of the University of Colorado, in Boulder. A 17-year old student had his throat cut, and needed surgery, but thankfully survived. Given the shooting at Virginia Tech last spring, it's understandable that people are on edge. But, James Alan Fox argues in an op-ed in today's USA Today that parents and students should focus on the quality of education when picking a school, not just "overblown" fears of violent crime:

Any life cut short is tragic, of course. In light of the more than 20 million college students in the USA, however, the chances of being murdered on campus are about as likely as being fatally struck by lightning.

The real dangers on campus lie elsewhere: Each year, more than 1,000 college students commit suicide; at least as many die in alcohol-related incidents such as binge drinking. Rather than focusing on these "not my son or daughter" concerns, many parents obsess about Virginia Tech-type shootings.

We know plenty of you are heading to campus, or have kids on their way to college. How worried are you about safety? Did it play any role in your decision of which school to attend?

Scott Cameron

12:45 PM ET | 08-28-2007 | permalink | comments (6) | e-mail post

August 28th Show

Hi Everyone! This is Gwen, and I direct Talk of the Nation. I'm also the all-seeing third eye on the show that looks into the future and knows what topics are coming up on the program each day. Okay, I confess... I only know because I peek at what the show producers have written down on the show board. Nonetheless, it is important that you know what we're working on for you, and I will do my best to give you a daily sneak preview!! So I'll get right to it!!

Our first hour today begins with a conversation about the Michael Vick case and why some are claiming that race plays a role in how the case is being covered and how he is being punished. Later in that hour, we'll go to New Orleans and check up on how the health care system is faring almost two years after Hurricane Katrina.

In our second hour, we'll make a list of "Things to Do Before You Die." What's on your life list? Following that, we'll talk about concerns surrounding safety on college campuses. And we'll read from emails and blog posts from listeners who have sent in their comments about some of the topics we covered last week.

We hope you enjoy the show!

Gwen Outen

11:47 AM ET | 08-28-2007 | permalink | comments (9) | e-mail post

BotN, Now With More Info!

Something we're not too awesome at here at BotN is letting you know in advance of the show what we've got coming up. The major reason is that things are often changing up to the last minute, but we're working on ways to let you know what's going on... So, to that end, stay tuned for posts from our director, Gwen Outen. She usually knows what's coming up, and she's going to take a few minutes each day to share it with you sometime before 1pm. Keep in mind, though, that these things are always subject to change... you never know what news will come up in the hour before the show, or what great guest might come through at the last minute!

Sarah Handel

11:27 AM ET | 08-28-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

Are You There, Judy?

Before "The Higher Power of Lucky" ever did battle with censors, and way before Harry Potter was accused of Satanism, there was Judy Blume. If you're my age, she, along with the inimitable Beverly Cleary, was the voice for adolescents. (And later, her racier adult books were something stolen from your parents.) Freckle Juice, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, SuperFudge, and the heartbreaking Blubber (best book about peer pressure), were the ultimate guides to being a kid, while the seminal (yes! I used that word!) Are You There God, It's Me Margaret?, was the ultimate coming of age book. Well, Judy is still writing -- her new book, Soupy Saturdays, comes out today, but even more importantly, I've just noticed that Judy has a blog. (I'm calling her Judy, because honestly, I really feel like I know her. No disrespect meant.) In any case, I'm so glad that Judy's on the web -- and I'm dying to book her on the show. Any reaction, YA lovers? What's your favorite Blume book? Don't be shy.

Barrie Hardymon

10:01 AM ET | 08-28-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

Gonzales Goes

It's been a long few months for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, and he's had enough... He announced his resignation this morning, effective September 17th. Reaction has been just as testy as the controversy over his role in the firing of those eight US Attorneys, and the debate over his push for warrantless wiretaps. His most recent testimony in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee may have been the last straw ("I don't recall" was one of his most quoted answers). We're shifting into Special Coverage mode on the show today. We'll look at the political legacy of Alberto Gonzales, and reaction to his resignation. Thoughts or questions on Gonzales? Let us know...

Scott Cameron

1:51 PM ET | 08-27-2007 | permalink | comments (8) | e-mail post

Card Sharks Caught in the Web

I've loved playing cards since I was a little girl -- gin, poker, blackjack, go fish -- I'm a fan. I like games in general, frankly, but the first time I won money in a casino, I had that inimitable, soul-stealing experience of believing that the card tables might hold a really practical second career for me. Thankfully, a friend of mine proceeded to lose big at the poker tables that night, thus proving that gambling is just as bad as all the movies say it is. But casino culture still fascinates me -- I love the seediness, the sequins, the erstwhile smoke. Internet gambling has it's own culture as well, without, of course, the dancing girls... And today, we're going to take you on a tour of the virtual casino. Off-shore, online gambling is illegal, but it doesn't stop the occasional winner, and the more frequent loser, from doing it anyway. I'll wager a fair portion of y'all have played the odds -- tell us about it -- win, lose, or break even.

Barrie Hardymon

1:47 PM ET | 08-27-2007 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post

Pricing Life

It's not exactly what every kid dreams of doing when asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" It's probably not even a job many of us would volunteer for, though few would doubt its necessity. Kenneth Feinberg, formally an attorney, oversaw the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, and now he's pulling similar duty for Virginia Tech. It's his job to talk with the victims' families, and the school, and determine how the funds and other benefits will be disbursed. It's an emotional, mentally-trying, ethics-testing job, and ultimately comes down to putting a price on life. How does he do it, and how does he deal with it? Leave your questions here.

Sarah Handel

1:30 PM ET | 08-27-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

Goodbye, Gonzales

According to the New York Times, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has resigned from his position, and he'll be making an announcement to that effect later this morning. We'll be allotting a portion of our staff for special coverage of the announcement at 10:30am, and we'll follow up on the show. Stay tuned!

Sarah Handel

8:47 AM ET | 08-27-2007 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

Whale Tails are Sooo Uncool

It seems like everywhere you look today, some young starlet is flashing a bit of her body that wasn't really meant for public consumption (I'm not linking to it, but poor Beyonce's topless concert moment is only the most recent), and sometimes it almost seems intentional. Some see this wanton-or-careless-ness as having a trickle-down effect on kids and teenagers, and while I (thankfully) haven't seen the school-age set baring it all (can I just say one more time, thank goodness), I do see an awful lot of visible bra straps and thong-tops on the streets of DC. Is that so wrong? Maybe it's time for a "return to modesty," or maybe it's just a sign our culture's loosening up a bit, so long as the flashes of celebrities' bits remain oddities and not the norm. What do you think?

Sarah Handel

1:59 PM ET | 08-23-2007 | permalink | comments (33) | e-mail post

The Book that Changed War

Time for another "Book that Changed the World," yet another book I haven't read, but maybe you have. On War by Carl von Clausewitz, a nineteenth century Prussian war general, is considered to be one of the most important books ever written on war strategy, admired by everyone from Hitler to Colin Powell. War strategy's not really one of my leisure-reads, so thanks go to Hew Strachan for cutting to the chase with his book on the tome. Have you read On War? What's your vote for the most essential point of the book?

Sarah Handel

1:58 PM ET | 08-23-2007 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

Who Said Vietnam?

President Bush changed PR tactics yesterday, with a direct comparison between the wars in Iraq and Vietnam. Here's an excerpt from the New York Times coverage:

And, in a passage that set off a bitter debate even before the speech's end, Mr. Bush suggested a quick pullout from Iraq could bring the kind of carnage that drenched Southeast Asia three decades ago.

"In Cambodia, the Khmer Rouge began a murderous rule in which hundreds of thousands of Cambodians died by starvation and torture and execution," Mr. Bush said. "In Vietnam, former allies of the United States, and government workers and intellectuals and businessmen were sent off to prison camps, where tens of thousands perished. Hundreds of thousands more fled the country on rickety boats, many of them going to their graves in the South China Sea."

With his comments Mr. Bush was doing something few major politicians of either party have done in a generation: rearguing a conflict that ended more than three decades ago but has remained an emotional touch point.

What do you think of all the comparisons to Vietnam... Should they play any role in the debate today over Iraq? How should the end of the war in Vietnam influence thinking, on the end game in Iraq?

Scott Cameron

1:57 PM ET | 08-23-2007 | permalink | comments (25) | e-mail post

Saving Grace (and Holly Hunter)

I can just imagine the pitch for Saving Grace... "A foul-mouthed, hard-drinking cop with a soft spot for kids and animals meets her tobacco-chewing guardian angel and is given one more chance to turn her life around... It's like Highway to Heaven meets NYPD Blue!" OK, maybe that's not how it happened, but trying to explain this show to people is nearly impossible. Since it's on "On Demand" here in DC, I just tell them to watch it. Here's the basic idea: Holly Hunter plays Grace, a police detective with a last chance angel named Earl. And somehow it manages not to be hokey. Grace is deeply flawed, but has a big heart... in other words, she's human. You don't get that very often on TV. And while there's an angel and plenty of talk of God, this ain't Christian broadcasting. (In fact, it's not a show I'd recommend for kids or anyone with a low tolerance for grit.) After five episodes, Grace is still making plenty of, well, let's just call them bad choices (she's having an affair with her married partner and greets her angel with a hearty, "you're an *&%hole!"). The story has me intrigued, but it's Holly Hunter that makes this show work. We'll talk to her about it on the show today, and find out what drew her to TV, and this show in particular. If you've seen Saving Grace, what do you think?

Scott Cameron

1:56 PM ET | 08-23-2007 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post

Better Check Those Chopsticks

So far I've been pretty immune to all the product recalls from China. The pet food scare passed, I don't buy any toys (unless you count Best Buy as a toy store), my fish isn't Chinese, and my blankets are old. To be fair, I don't can't use chopsticks, either. But for some reason this story triggered my gag reflex. I have no idea if these things were even made for export (probably not), but the thought of using somebody else's old, dirty chopsticks is enough to make me spit-up my Shaobing. This is all very fitting since we had originally planned to do a show on OCD today (and will probably revisit that subject next week). Sure, I use the paper towel to open the bathroom door, and wash my hands after riding the subway. That's not all that uncommon. Though, now I'll probably sniff my plastic silverware, too! I'll open the floor to other quirks out there...

Scott Cameron

10:44 AM ET | 08-23-2007 | permalink | comments (6) | e-mail post

Immigration Raids

One byproduct of the crackdown on illegal immigrants are cases like Elvira Arellano. She's the woman who holed up in a Chicago church with her son, facing deportation to Mexico. Her son, born in this country, is an American citizen. So, when Elvira was arrested on Sunday and deported, her son stayed behind with his godmother. Many of the illegal immigrants swept up in raids have been in the country for years. Some have American-born children. Does this change your mind at all about the immigration debate? Or, are laws laws and need to be enforced equally?

Scott Cameron

1:59 PM ET | 08-22-2007 | permalink | comments (59) | e-mail post

Primary Anyone?

This is getting a little silly. Michigan could vote today to move its primary vote up to January 15th. That would probably push New Hampshire and then Iowa (maybe even South Carolina, Florida, etc, etc) to move their primaries earlier still. Let's see, this is August 22nd, what are your plans for next Tuesday... Primary anyone? In all seriousness, there could be a Christmas primary this year. We'll also talk with Congresswoman Deborah Pryce, from Ohio, on the show today. She's one of three long-time midwest Republicans not running again.. the others being Dennis Hastert, the former Speaker of the House, and Ray LaHood, both of Illinois.

Scott Cameron

1:58 PM ET | 08-22-2007 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post

Hearing Harry Potter

One of the cool things about my job, as I've mentioned before, is that I'm the one who tracks down and pulls the tape you sometimes hear during the othewise-live show. This includes movie clips, press conference audio, tape from last night's Colbert Report... you name it. It can be a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack -- sometimes I'm just directed to find a "good exchange" between two people in hours of SCOTUS tape or hill testimony -- but there's generally something interesting to be found. Sometimes the only truly fun moment is the a-ha!... But sometimes the whole thing is fun, like today. For our segment on audio books, poor Sarah had the rotten task of listening to Jim Dale reading -- nay, performing -- the seventh Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I've already read the book, so it was a treat (and I didn't have to worry about spoilers) to listen to him channeling each character, from the evil, hissing he-who-must-not-be-named to Harry himself. I haven't listened to an audio book since the days of checking out tapes in ziploc hanging bags from the children's section at my library, but they're all the rage these days... do you listen? How is it like or unlike reading the book? Do you ever both read and listen to the same book?

Sarah Handel

1:57 PM ET | 08-22-2007 | permalink | comments (50) | e-mail post

Russian Muscle

Russian explorer Artur Chilingarov holds up a photo of his flag.

NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP/Getty Images

Russia's been throwing a bit of weight around lately, planting territorial flags on the bottom of the sea, sending a strong message to the Czech Republic that hosting an American missile defense shield there is a bad idea, and maybe even dropping a missile on neighbor Georgia. So, when President Vladimir Putin isn't fly-fishing topless with Prince Albert of Monaco, what's he thinking? Is Russia angling for a bigger role on the world stage?

Sarah Handel

1:56 PM ET | 08-22-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

On Vacation with Hurricane Dean

I mentioned yesterday that our boss was stuck in a hurricane. TOTN's Executive Producer, Sue Goodwin, left on vacation a week and a half ago with her family. Unfortunately, she picked the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico, and Hurricane Dean followed her there (she's safe, and doing some reporting now that Dean has moved on). Lucky for us, she also has a digital camera with her, and has been emailing us a first-hand look at Playa del Carmen, before and during Hurricane Dean.

Continue reading "On Vacation with Hurricane Dean" »

Scott Cameron

3:19 PM ET | 08-21-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

Frustrations on a Plane

I guess I've had pretty good luck with planes... there've been delays, and bad storms, and my bags wound up someplace nicer than I did at one point. But, I've never spent a night at the airport, and even when there was a big delay, the gate agent found me a seat on the next flight out. And when I missed my plane altogether (stuck in traffic), they just added me to the next load. (No 10 hours on a tarmac for me, with overflowing toilets, thankfully. But check out the "strand-in" being put on by the Coalition for an Airline Passengers Bill of Rights.) My biggest complaint is probably the lack of information (some might say lies). The "weather delays" on sunny days, the sudden fare jumps, and the oversold flights. And these days, good luck finding any service in the customer service area. Even the employees seem to be fed up with the airlines. We all have horror stories from our plane trips, but WHY is this summer so bad it's been dubbed the summer of hell? If you fly, or work in the industry, what's going on?

Scott Cameron

1:46 PM ET | 08-21-2007 | permalink | comments (51) | e-mail post

A Higher Plane (or Should I say Shuttle)

Space Shuttle Endeavour landed safely in Florida today, brought back a little early because of Hurricane Dean. It was another mission with too much excitement... Foam from the external fuel tank broke off during launch and gouged the underside of the shuttle. NASA is saying they'll have to come up with a fix before the next mission, but that will take time. We'll talk with NPR's Nell Greenfieldboyce about this past mission, and the future of the shuttle program.

Scott Cameron

1:39 PM ET | 08-21-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

Murray's Summer Movies!

It's the end of the road for our summer movie festival (at least for this year; we're open to topic questions for next summer!). We got a ton of emails asking us to post the list of movies mentioned during the series this year. And now (drum roll, please), here's the full list of favorites:

MOVIE THREE-QUELS
Spider-man 3
Shrek the Third
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Ocean's 13
The Bourne Ultimatum
Rush Hour 3
Pirates of the Caribbean 3
El Mariachi
The Bourne Ultimatum
Lord of the Rings
The "Apu" trilogy
The Sheikh
Godfather III
Blue, White,and Red
Indiana Jones
Matrix
Jaws 3-D
Goldfinger
Batman
Star Wars
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
Austin Powers
Scary Movie
The Road to Zanzibar
Road to Singapore
Flesh, Trash, nd Heat
Back to the Future III
Beverly Hills Cop 3
Thin Man series
Toy Story 3

THE BEST BIG CAPER MOVIES
Heist
The Sting
The Pink Panther
Topkapi
Rififi
The Great Muppet Caper
The Killers
Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round
The Thomas Crown Affair
To Catch a Thief
The Lavender Hill Mob
The Ladykillers
Big Deal on Madonna Street
Italian Job
The Great Escape
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
Who's Minding the Mint
$
Odds Against Tomorrow

FAVORITE ROBOT MOVIES
Star Wars
Robocop
Transformers
Westworld
Fembots
A.I.
Stepford Wives
2001
2010
The Terminator
Terminator II
Blade Runner
The Day The Earth Stood Still
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Star Trek Generation
Silent Running
Forbidden Planet
Gremlins
Short Circuit
Weird Science
Metropolis
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

BEST POP STAR BIOS
Walk The Line
The Jolson Story
The Great Caruso
The Fabulous Dorseys
Yankee Doodle Dandy
Three Little Words
The Cole Porter Story
Words and Music
Coal Miner's Daughter
Night and Day
Ray
Sid And Nancy
Westway to the World
Aother State of Mind
The Glenn Miller Story
La Bamba
Bound for Glory
The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle
Don't Look Back
Lenny
Bird
The Buddy Holly Story

BEST HIGH SCHOOL MOVIES
Clueless
Elephant
Blackboard Jungle
American Graffiti
Grease
Peggy Sue Got Married
Love Finds Andy Hardy
Sixteen Candles
Scream
The Breakfast Club
Mean Girls
To Sir With Love
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Election
Dead Poet's Society
Stand and Deliver
Mr. Holland's Opus
Dazed and Confused
Friday Night Lights
Varsity Blues
Remember the Titans
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Back to the Future
Napoleon Dynamite

Scott Cameron

1:27 PM ET | 08-21-2007 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

Mainstreaming Autism

More than half a million American kids have been diagnosed with some form of autism, and those numbers are growing all the time. These kids need special instruction and care, and private schools like The May Institute have developed curricula specific to their needs. However, private schools require tuitions that are simply out of reach for many families. The other option, public school, is more financially appealing, but can classes, schedules, and lessons designed for average students flex to accommodate the needs of autistic kids? If you have a child with autism, what choices have you made about his or her education?

Sarah Handel

12:48 PM ET | 08-21-2007 | permalink | comments (69) | e-mail post

Bong Hits for Agrestic

My love for Showtime's Weeds knows no bounds. When I first heard the premise -- suburban mom deals pot to support upper-middle-class lifestyle after the death of her husband -- my interest was piqued, but just. And then I caught an episode of the show while staying in a hotel and I was HOOKED. It's got a cast full of faces you just can't turn away from -- the familiar, in Mary Louise Parker as the Stacy's Mom-esque dealer Nancy and Kevin Nealon as Doug, the ditzy CPA with a habit; and the vaguely familiar, and even more compelling Romany Malco as Conrad, Nancy's partner, and Tonye Patano as Heylia, Nancy's original hook-up. This is just the tip of the iceberg -- Nancy's kids, Silas and Shane, brother-in-law Andy, and on-again off-again BFF Celia and her family could fill another blog entry, not to mention guest stars like Zooey Deschanel, "Agent Wonderbread," and soon... Mary-Kate Olsen. Seriously, you have to see it, and if I haven't talked you into it yet, check out what creator Jenji Kohan has to say... I personally want to ask her if she thinks Heylia will adopt me!

Sarah Handel

12:25 PM ET | 08-21-2007 |