What Do You Remember of 2007?

The year's just about over. What do you remember most?

Source: CraftyGoat

Every newspaper, magazine, blogger, columnist, and radio show puts its own spin on the end of year wrap-ups... National Geographic listed their top 10 most popular stories on the website; Foreign Policy came up with a list of the 10 top stories you may have missed in 2007 (including what may be the start of true cyber-warfare), the Pew Research Center compiled all their data and put together a list of the top news interest stories of the year, and the Washington Post gathered the top quotes for '07 (though how "don't taze me, bro!" wasn't included is beyond me). NPR has it's most memorable moments. If you're reading this, you lived through 2007, or most of it anyway... what do YOU think are the top stories of the year?

Scott Cameron

1:59 PM ET | 12-31-2007 | permalink | comments (12) | e-mail post

Predictions for 2008

The Talk of the Nation Opinion Page today has morphed into the Conjecture Page. Joel Stein's op-ed in the LA Times was a time capsule of guesses... we're looking for yours (please, people, keep them as light as possible-- this is meant to be fun) as well. I've got just one -- I predict I will keep to all of my New Years resolutions until January 12th, at which point I'll oversleep and never recover (and yet keep paying that darn gym membership anyway). What're yours?

Barrie Hardymon

1:58 PM ET | 12-31-2007 | permalink | comments (7) | e-mail post

Daniel Schorr - Seriously Newsy

Daniel Schorr, living legend.

Source: Lisa Berg

Okay... So, for a long time (when I was but a small child), I thought that Daniel Schorr was just a longtime NPR reporter. That is until I was sternly told that this was a genuine journalistic icon, who made started with CBS in the Edward R. Murrow days, and earned a place on Nixon's enemies list for his coverage of Watergate. Here's the other thing about him -- he's so charming and still incisive that it's hard to believe he's 91. He has a new book out, and since he and Neal are old friends (Schorr was the first host of TOTN! When it was still untitled, of course), we asked him to come by and reminisce. This hour is simply a New Years gift to you -- from us. Enjoy.

Barrie Hardymon

1:57 PM ET | 12-31-2007 | permalink | comments (18) | e-mail post

What's Next: Music

Meet Still Flyin'... the next big thing?

Source: Jill Karjian

I have a confession to make... I'm a bit off my music game. I used to relish being the first to hear about a new band and share it with my friends (no music snobbery, please -- being "first" to hear about something doesn't make you better than anyone else, it just means you had the time or good fortune to find it. Now share the wealth!), but ever since I got a real job, I just don't have time to dig around on the music blogs, and I don't go to shows nearly as often because those late nights make bringing the Talk a lot harder. Fortunately, there are people here whose job it is to do just that (man, now that's a sweet assignment), and one of them, the fabulous Bob Boilen, joins us today to let us in on what's next in music for 2008. But I want to know, who do you think is poised for a breakthrough in '08? Come on, do my homework for me, and give me some tips on what's next.

Sarah Handel

1:56 PM ET | 12-31-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

December 31st Show

My goodness. This is my last "coming up" show blog of 2007. Well, we can't finish the year without talking ABOUT the year. So in our first hour, we'll talk about the stories of the year... stories you may have missed, stories you couldn't miss if you tried, and even those stories that made headlines in other countries. We'll talk with guests from the Pew Research Center, National Geographic, and Foreign Policy magazine about the ten top stories of 2007. What's your pick? Following that, Los Angeles Times columnist Joel Stein will peer into his crystal ball, and run down his list of predictions for 2008... from the housing market to entertainment to diplomacy and the presidential election. He opens his third eye in his column that appears in today's L.A. Times. The title? "And you don't want to know what's going to happen to Britney". 'Nuff said.

In our second hour, we will be joined by Daniel Schorr. He was one of the reporters of Edward R. Murrow's legendary CBS team and with more than six decades in journalism, he is still active and going strong, currently as NPR's senior news analyst. Schorr will talk about his illustrious career as well as his new book, Come to Think of It: Notes on the Turn of the Millennium. And this week, at the end of our second hour, we will be taking a look at the next big thing in 2008. Today, we kick off the series with a look at music. Bob Boilen, host of NPR's Music Show All Songs Considered, will talk about which artists we should keep an eye out for in the coming year, and highlight some of the new trends happening in the music industry

Happy Happy New Year Everyone!! May it be a great one!

Gwen Outen

11:58 AM ET | 12-31-2007 | permalink | e-mail post

Deadliest Catch Greenhorn

Sig Hansen, Captain of the Northwestern crab-catcher vessel.

Source: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

I was in college when True Hollywood Story debuted, and it couldn't have come at a better time. I doubt I ever watched a new episode the first time it aired, but my friends and I lived for the weekend marathons, a seemingly endless string of episode after episode, each following that similar arc... Talented child pushed too hard, adulthood negotiated in the limelight, disaster, and recovery. There was something of a narcotic in that smooth narration that soothed the lingering effects of the previous night's outing while simultaneously putting fears about tomorrow's deadlines at bay. Which handily brings me to yesterday. While I had a quiet Saturday night nursing my sick boyfriend, Sunday morning I awoke full of anxiety about the week ahead... Tomorrow I board a plane headed for Des Moines, Iowa and caucus night, after which all the campaigns and media (and I) will beat a hasty path to New Hampshire for the primary. Exciting, for sure, and a tremendous opportunity. But it will also be my first field production gig, and the butterflies in my stomach feel more like wasps... Wasps with teeth. Anyway, someone heard my distress call, and not long after I flipped on the TV yesterday to figure out if the Redskins played at 1pm or 4pm, I wandered onto the Discovery channel and innocently took my first hit of a new drug... Deadliest Catch. Now I know it's not a new show, and I have actually seen bits of it before, but Sunday the timing was right, and I'm sorry for the pun but I have to say it... I was hooked*. On a day of packing and cleaning house before my big trip, I lucked into my old friend in a new form -- a marathon of drama, high stakes, below-freezing temps, and even prison... But all on the Bering Sea instead of Kentwood. I seriously watched all day, till midnight, taking time out only to watch Washington own Dallas (but switching back during every timeout to check in on the crews of the Northwestern, the Cornelia Marie, and the rest). It is absolutely riveting. These fishermen literally risk life and limb every day, and the insane risks they take for big payoffs (tens of thousands of dollars for a month of work) really put my own life and little ol' trip to Iowa in perspective. What's more, with the writers' strike lumbering on, it's great to find a new television obsession... if I've got to watch reality TV, at least it's really good reality TV.

* and besides, they don't use hooks, they use huge traps.

Sarah Handel

9:40 AM ET | 12-31-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

Benazir Bhutto (1953-2007)

Benazir Bhutto in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Source: John Moore/Getty Images

Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated at a political rally in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, this morning. During the first hour, we'll talk to journalists, policy experts, Pakistan's ambassador to the United States, and U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez. What questions do you have about the killing of Benazir Bhutto? And how do you think her death will affect Pakistan's future?

You can read more about our guests, after the jump.

Continue reading "Benazir Bhutto (1953-2007)" »

David Gura

1:59 PM ET | 12-27-2007 | permalink | comments (7) | e-mail post

Initiating Doctors

I can hear the heart beating.

Source: happysnappr

Thanks to the ever-popular hospital drama/comedy genre of TV offering, we all think we know what it's like to be a hospital intern, also known as a first year resident. They're the grunts of the hospital who get into romantic entanglements and bumble into insane surgeries when they're not emptying bedpans and practicing sutures. Sounds fun, right? Not exactly, says Dr. Sandeep Jauhar, who went through it and came out short on sleep and long on questions about the value of the year-long trial-by-fire. What was your first year as a resident like? Do you see it as a valuable part of the process of becoming a doctor, or does it do more harm than good?

Sarah Handel

1:57 PM ET | 12-27-2007 | permalink | comments (8) | e-mail post

If A Presidential Candidate Throws A Rock In A Pond...

If you haven't seen the following ad for Presidential candidate Mike Gravel... prepare yourself.

Yes, that's it. That's the ad. Now, if you want to know more about what Mike Gravel stands for (besides rocks), you can talk to him on our air today. (I can't wait to hear what that ad is like on radio...)

Barrie Hardymon

1:57 PM ET | 12-27-2007 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post

December 27th Show

Our first hour will be an NPR News Special hosted by Neal Conan. We'll spend the entire hour talking about the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Her murder is said to be one of the worst crises in Pakistan's 60-year history, and there is speculation that civil unrest and the cancellation of the upcoming elections in the region could follow. We'll speak with several guests about what happened at the election rally where the attack took place, and Bhutto's legacy as prime minister. We'll also hear reaction from President Bush in a speech given earlier today, and discuss the implications Bhutto's death could have on Pakistan, as well as India, Afghanistan, and the United States. We are also hoping to respond to email and blog comments from Pakistani-American listeners who would like to share their thoughts about what Benazir Bhutto's assassination means to them.

In our second hour, we are back to the familiar Talk of the Nation theme song, and Dr. Sandeep Jauhar will be our guest to talk about life as a medical intern. He is now the director of the heart failure program at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, but he has written a book about his former life as a medical intern in a New York hospital. Dr. Jauhar chronicles his endlessly grueling days and nights in a trial-by-fire memoir called, Intern: A Doctor's Initiation. At the end of the hour, former senator Mike Gravel (D-AK) talks about his upcoming campaign stops on the road towards a Democratic presidential nomination.

Gwen Outen

11:23 AM ET | 12-27-2007 | permalink | e-mail post

Benazir Bhutto Assassinated

Supporters of Bhutto carry her coffin after her body is released from the hospital.

Source: Getty Images/Farooq Naeem

The TOTN staff woke to breaking news in Pakistan. Benazir Bhutto was killed in an attack at a rally near Islamabad late last night (early this morning here), and it's thrown us into a whirl of planning for a news special in our first hour. Bhutto remained defiant in the face of threats as recently as October, when she was attacked at another rally -- it's eerie to read her words in this op-ed soon after that attack.

I did not come this far in life to be intimidated by suicide bombers. There is a battle raging in Pakistan for the hearts and minds of a new generation. It is a battle for the future of Pakistan as a democratic nation.
The new generation will choose moderation or extremism; it will choose education or illiteracy; it will choose dictatorship or democracy; it will choose tolerance or bigotry; and it will choose peace or war. I returned to Pakistan this week to lead the fight for democracy. With the blood of my supporters on the streets and on our clothes, I reaffirm my commitment to these values.

More on the assassination in a few hours.

Barrie Hardymon

9:59 AM ET | 12-27-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

Eight More Days

There are only eight more days to make undecided Iowans swoon.

Source: Getty Images

I just got a phone call from my friend, Danny. He's in Iowa, driving in blizzards, knocking on doors, trying to sway voters. It's tough work, but he loves it. His days start around 7:30 a.m., and they often end 19 hours later. By then, he's traveled hundreds of miles, greeted a lot of Iowans, and listened to a lot of public radio (I can only assume).

Danny, more than anyone I know, is most content when he's on the move. I think he's uprooted himself a dozen times since college, taking jobs in North Carolina, Missouri, and India. (I'm pretty sure he wasn't campaigning in Ahmedabad). If you've ever "pulled a Danny," as my friends and I say, choosing campaign work in Iowa, New Hampshire, or Florida over gainful employment elsewhere, tell us why you made the move. And, as always, we especially love anecdotes.

David Gura

1:59 PM ET | 12-26-2007 | permalink | comments (7) | e-mail post

Travelling Fight

These suckers are huge.

Source: beattitudeforgains

There are many reasons to love Facebook, but I suspect the reason it's been so popular (besides, of course, Scrabulous) is that it connects you with those folks that brought a little joy into your life, with whom you've inevitably lost touch. I've been able to reconnect with a couple of folks I went to conservatory with many (MANY) years ago, and I received this wall post from my long-lost friend, bassist Mat Fieldes, a couple of weeks ago. "Just got back from Vegas playing with Barry Manilow on his hallmark Christmas album.....! US Airlines (redacted) destroyed my bass -- neck separated from body!"

Ahh... the pains of traveling with a difficult instrument. I was a violist, so it was much less of an issue for me, but everybody who's ever played in an orchestra has heard the horror stories of bassists, cellists, harpists. ("I saw them throw my Guarnieri on the back of the luggage truck!") This time of year, I'll bet there are a lot of musicians traveling -- not to mention all the unmusical folks who happen to be packing their unwieldy -- and perhaps fragile -- Christmas loot on a plane. Share the pain -- what's your luggage horror story?

Barrie Hardymon

1:58 PM ET | 12-26-2007 | permalink | comments (13) | e-mail post

No Smokin', No Textin', and No Wastin' Electricity

What new laws will 2008 bring?

Source: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Ready to ring in the new year with new laws in your state? What are you looking forward to? I, for one, am eagerly anticipating the statewide smoking ban set to go into effect in February in Maryland. Goodbye, "going out jeans" -- you know the ones you turn to when headed to a smoky restaurant or bar, but try not to wear to work because of their pervasive odor? Marylanders will get to wash those jeans once more and return them to daytime rotation. Smokers, however, probably aren't celebrating with me on that one. A new law I hope comes soon to a legislature near me is the texting-while-driving ban in Washington state. Someone, please, save me from myself on this one. I abide by the DC hands-free law, but have been known to text-while-driving in surrounding states... horrible, and dangerous, I know*. Also, Illinois has a law set to mandate the use of energy efficient light bulbs in large, state-owned or leased buildings. Wouldn't hurt for me to put that one in to effect at home...

*In my weak defense, I keep my eyes on the road and a hand on the wheel... which probably defeats the purpose of the text nine times out of ten as I send illegible messages to the wrong people.

Sarah Handel

1:57 PM ET | 12-26-2007 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post

Naming Murderers

A makeshift memorial three days after the Omaha mall shooting.

Source: Getty

From Virginia Tech to a the mall in Omaha, there's been a slew of killing sprees committed by mentally ill people who claim to want the notoriety. This, of course, puts the media in a funny place -- we want to report the news, but by naming the murderers, are we simply giving in to these madmen who want to be famous? Today we're going to talk to the brand-new NPR ombudsman about the tricky issue, as well as a newscaster who opted not to name names on the air. What do you think?

Barrie Hardymon

1:56 PM ET | 12-26-2007 | permalink | comments (5) | e-mail post

December 26th Show

In our first hour today, Neal Conan and Ken Rudin join forces in another mega-sized Political Junkie. This week, we'll remember the politicians and political figures who died this year, and talk about campaign volunteers and employees who have moved to Iowa, New Hampshire or South Carolina to rally behind the candidates they support. Plus, Scholastic Magazine's political reporter Sydney Rieckhoff will join us to talk about working the campaign trail and the presidential candidates she's interviewed so far. Did I mention Sydney is 9 years old? Look out, Ken!! And in these dog-days of traveling, we'll talk to Sue Richards, a harpist for the musical group Ensemble Galilei, about the challenges of having such a cumbersome and unusual travel companion. What's the most difficult object you've had to lug with you on a plane?

We beam ourselves six days into the future in our second hour... to the stroke of midnight, January 1, 2008. At that time, a slew of new laws will go into effect. Texting while driving will get you a ticket in some states. You'll have to inhale the outside air along with that cigarette in Illinois. Not to mention new voter ID requirements and New York's "passenger bill of rights" that will protect air travelers stuck on the tarmac for more than three hours. That's just for starters. We will talk to guests about all the new measures that will take effect January 1st where you live. At the end of the hour, NPR ombudsman Lisa Shepard and ABC radio journalist Gil Gross talk about what would happen if the media no longer identified murderers by name... particularly those who kill with the primary goal to become famous.

Gwen Outen

11:42 AM ET | 12-26-2007 | permalink | e-mail post

OK, Funny Man!

Maybe it's the testosterone?

Source: nicasaurusrex

Guys are more funny than girls? Not in this office (and no it doesn't have anything to do with what was a roughly 5-to-1 ratio of women to men at one point). BBC News has this article on a psychologist in the UK who argues that men make more jokes than women (on second look, I realize it doesn't say more FUNNY, just more jokes... which may explain the gap, in spite of fart jokes). So, how did he do his research? He rode around on his unicycle and kept track of how men and women reacted to his "amusing" hobby. The jokes, he figures, can be chalked up to testosterone. The Beeb had some fun reporting this one (must have been a male reporter?), but in all seriousness: Who do you find is funnier? Women or men?

Scott Cameron

11:00 AM ET | 12-26-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

Christmas at the Widget Factory

Yup, workin' on Christmas, y'all!

Source: Sarah Handel

It'd be pretty easy for me to be a real grinch today, if I wanted... yup, here I am, working on Christmas. But instead of complaining about it -- waaaaay too easy -- I'd rather talk about the good things. It is Christmas, after all! So here are the good things about working on Christmas, in no particular order (save that first one):

1. My family's awesome, and time-shifts Christmas morning to whenever I get home this evening. That's love, people.
2. The morning commute is a breeze. Not so hot is the fact that Dunkin' was closed -- no coffee for Sarah -- but the fact that there were literally three DC cop cars idling in the parking lot anyway filled me with mirth. So on the whole, that counts as a good thing.
2A. The NPR parking garage is free for the holiday. Score!
3. The "we're all in this together mentality." Of course, getting the show on the air can be a trial, but today, sweetness and light.
4. I get to direct the show today, and play holiday music for every break! You know I love that!

So, if you're working today, I want to know: what's good about it?

Sarah Handel

1:59 PM ET | 12-25-2007 | permalink | comments (5) | e-mail post

A Kosher Christmas

The strange mystical connection between Christmas and Chinese food is well known to any hungry Jew(ess)... for years, my family alternated between the movies and moo-shoo. In fact, it's pretty much one of the only times I eat Chinese. If for some reason you and your goyish (kidding!, I'm kidding!) family have been having an actual Christmas dinner, and don't understand this ancient pilgrimage, either tune in, or check out the following video. Happy Christmas, y'all, and don't let the MSG make you meshuggenah!

Barrie Hardymon

1:58 PM ET | 12-25-2007 | permalink | comments (8) | e-mail post

Prayer and Your PC

Burmese monks online.

Source: Paula Bronstein/Getty Images

The Internet has long been lauded for its ability to bring the world to your fingertips. It's a place where you can shop for the necessary and the superfluous; connect with friends old and new; and learn about everything from the weekly weather forecast to the dynamics of event horizons. So it was only a matter of time before the Web became a place for prayer as well. In Second Life, people (via their avatars) now have the opportunity to create churches, synagogues and mosques to further their religious expression. Almost all walks of faith are represented -- Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Wicca, you name it -- in this new venue of spiritual support. Today we'll talk to one woman* who founded the Temple Beth Israel in Second Life. And we're curious about what else is out there; so, tell us, how do you use the Internet to practice your faith?

* A note from fellow producer, Marina:

Finding guests for our show requires some creativity. For our online religion show, we knew we wanted Beth Brown -- she heads a thriving Jewish community in Second Life -- but we couldn't find her. There are over 400 'Beth Browns' in Dallas, and we weren't about to call 400 people and interrogate them about their online identities. So, we went looking for her in Second Life. And we found her! She thought it was a bit creepy, and we agree. But that's the lengths we go to bring you great guests.

Ashley Grashaw

1:57 PM ET | 12-25-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

Dashing Through the Snow Is Actually Dangerous

Gingerbread house gone awry.

Source: imylthinle

There are two kinds of holiday disasters: the self-inflicted and the unintentional. The first variety involves poor judgment, and can usually be fixed with a modicum of self-awareness. Tacky holiday sweaters*, plastic nativity scenes on the front lawn, and getting sloshed on boxed wine fall into this category. The second variety tends to come out of left field; and, in the words of my brother Robert, can bring the Grinch out in us all. One year some family friends gave him a sand crab for Christmas. Wanting it to be a surprise, they failed to mention that there was a live creature inside the box. Well, true to form, we left the present under our Christmas tree, unopened, until the big morning. Nothing screams "Joy to the world!" quite like the smell of a dead critter wrapped in hand-pressed floral wrapping paper.

Or how 'bout this one: your child changes her Christmas wishlist at the eleventh hour, saying, "Don't worry, Mommy. Santa will take care of it." Or maybe this: that time grandma, a shaky septuagenarian, scratched voraciously beneath her beehive wig until it wiggled loose and fell, where else, but into the vat of pasta sauce. Fun times. A relative concept though it is, holiday disasters are, I think, what makes this time of year so addictive. We crave the excitement of familial disaster -- it's fodder for our future memoirs. So tell us, what was your worst holiday disaster? Don't leave out one single, horrid detail!

*You know the kind I'm talking about: it looks like Christmas threw up in an interesting pattern of polyester and sleigh bells.

Ashley Grashaw

1:56 PM ET | 12-25-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

A Christmas Message From Our Newest Guest Host... Ari Shapiro!

Ari Shapiro, taking over Neal's office...

Source: Barrie Hardymon

This morning, millions of kids around the world woke up with hearts pounding to see what Christmas Day has in store for them. And for the first time in my life, so did I.

As a Jew, Christmas for me has never been about much more than movies and Chinese food. (Believe it or not, there are ancient connections between Jews and moo shoo -- one of our first hour guests will explain.) But today, I'm hosting an NPR program for the first time. That makes this by far the most memorable Christmas I've ever had. Hopefully it will be memorable for the right reasons. If not, I'll have something in common with the guests in the second hour of our program, who'll be talking about their holiday disasters.

Over the last few weeks, the incredible production staff of the show has been teaching me Talk of the Nation's secrets. There's the instant messaging software that the host uses to talk to the producer ... the mysterious "floating break" that lets stations duck out of the show for fund-raising (who's fund-raising on Christmas?) ... and the ten-second delay dump that lets the host go back in time if someone starts swearing on the air. I'm scheduled to learn the secret handshake at noon, and they tell me I'll get my TOTN tattoo after the program's over.

Some of my friends have offered moral support for my debut today, and many more have said they'll crank call the show. If you hear heavy breathing on the program, you'll know that one of them made it past our call screeners.

I am happy to say that some of my more experienced colleagues are going to be joining me on the air. Newscaster Paul Brown will pitch in for our segment on who's working this Christmas, and NPR's famed legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg has a story straight out of I Love Lucy for our segment on domestic disasters.

In a few hours, the microphone light will turn on and we'll be in it together for the next two hours. I hope you'll be there by the radio. Merry Christmas, and thanks for letting me spend the holiday with you.

-- Ari Shapiro

Barrie Hardymon

10:12 AM ET | 12-25-2007 | permalink | comments (5) | e-mail post

More on Missing Tapes

CIA Director Michael Hayden testifies before the Senate on the destruction of CIA tapes.

Source: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The existence and subsequent destruction of CIA videos recording the interrogation of two Al Qaeda suspects is a story that keeps running and running. Since we last talked about the controversy on TOTN, NPR Intelligence Correspondent Tom Gjelten has reported on the reason the tapes were made in the first place, a story which also dismissed the official version of the reason they were destroyed. Gjelten also reported the existence of additional interrogation tapes. The New York Times reported that members and staffers of the 9/11 Commission conclude that the CIA deliberately withheld the tapes from their inquiry despite "very detailed" requests (former Commission Co-Chair Gov. Thomas Kean spoke to this point on our previous program). Here's a link to a Washington Post follow-up to the Times story, which includes CIA response.
Also, US District Court Judge Henry Kennedy held a hearing last Friday, but appeared ready to hold off on a more detailed inquiry upon learning that the joint CIA-Justice Department inquiry would specifically include court orders, including one issued by him. Last Thursday, in a news conference, President Bush asserted that there was no ambiguity in the statement that he does not recollect learning of the tapes existance or destruction prior to being briefed by CIA Director General Michael Hayden earlier this month.
The House Intelligence Committee plans to press its investigation -- Chairman Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas) is among our guests today, along with NPR's Tom Gjelten, and two well informed attorneys with opposing views, David Remes and Lee Casey.
And you, of course. What questions do you have about the tapes, why they were made and destroyed, or about where the story goes from here?

Neal Conan

1:59 PM ET | 12-24-2007 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

Zoey 401

It seems all the "oops" jokes in the world have already been made, so I'm going to play it straight: in case you are unaware, Britney Spears' younger sister, Jamie Lynn Spears, is pregnant. At sixteen. Oops, right? But teen pregnancy is a lot more than an oops joke, and, somehow, Los Angeles Times columnist Meghan Daum saw it coming, sort of... and she says the problem with teen pregnancy is that it just isn't embarrassing enough anymore. Let's be clear: she's not advocating trips to the abortion clinics or the shunning of pregnant teens, merely suggesting, "perhaps adults would do well to find a middle ground between shunning pregnant teenagers and becoming blase about them in the name of tolerance -- or even in an attempt to seem hip. But we shouldn't allow teen pregnancy to become cool either." What do you think? And how do you, as a parent, strike the right tone about teen pregnancy?

Sarah Handel

1:58 PM ET | 12-24-2007 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post

Key of Lovely

It's early yet, but there are some reports that the great jazz pianist Oscar Peterson has died at the age of 82. His gorgeous keyboard floats through some of my favorite tracks on my favorite albums -- he's practically the other voice on Ella's famous recording of "Miss Otis Regrets." He knew how to play the keyboard as he were drawing a bow... he will be much missed.

Barrie Hardymon

1:57 PM ET | 12-24-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

'Twas the Day Before Christmas...

Santa's to-do's.

Source: Mrs. Maze

...and boy, do I have a lot to do. For some, just making a list feels like getting something done. I am not as list obsessive as some folks, but I sure do like that feeling of crossing, clicking, or scribbling a task out as you finish. Today, we're talking with Sasha Cagen who has practically made glazomania (list obsession) into "list porn" -- every list you ever wanted to poke your nose into. Around here, we have a ton of lists -- short deadlines and all, so here, for your nosy list pleasure, is mine from today.

1) Tea.
2) Coffee.
3) Chocolate.
4) Write blog posts.
5) Mail Netflix. (Omg, Kramer vs. Kramer is amazing.)
6) Reorder Netflix queue -- another list! (Rewatching The Wire -- PUT IT ON YOUR LIST.)
7) Tea, deux.
8) Tomorrow's blogging, work ahead.
9) Wrap Sarah's silly gift for the second memorial Christmas Sarah and Barrie work day.
10) Call home. (This is always on the list. A permanent spot.)

Barrie Hardymon

1:57 PM ET | 12-24-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

Charlie Wilson's War: Unexpected Review

Actress Julia Roberts and director Mike Nichols at the LA premiere of Charlie Wilson's War.

Source: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

We're great fans of the unusual movie review -- and here's a fun one for you. Former Congressman Martin Frost was a great friend and colleague of former Texas Congressman Charlie Wilson. Yes, that Charlie Wilson -- as in the new Tom Hanks/Julia Roberts/Mike Nichols/Aaron Sorkin extravaganza. So, you want to know the story behind the movie? Frost is coming in to give it to us, and to tell us what he thought of the movie... if you can't make it to a radio, here's a link to the gist of it.

Barrie Hardymon

1:56 PM ET | 12-24-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

December 24th Show

Seasons Greetings!!! Here's what's coming up on our show:

In our first hour, we will re-visit our discussion of the destruction of CIA video recordings of the interrogation of two al-Qaeda suspects. While there are more largely unanswered questions from the CIA, the Justice Department and the 9/11 commission, we are beginning to find out why the tapes were made in the first place. Guests on the program detail the investigation process and talk about the subpoena issued by Congress last Thursday to Jose Rodriguez, the former CIA official who ordered the disposal of the tapes. At the end of the hour, Los Angeles Times columnist Meghan Daum talks about her commentary that appeared last week, where she opines that the recent jump in teen pregnancy is not due to a lack of education, but a lack of mortification. Her article is entitled, "Knocked up but not out."

As this year winds down, it just doesn't seem fitting to wipe the slate clean for the new year until we've reviewed and, if we're lucky, actually crossed off things on our on-going or newly drawn up "to-do" lists. Holiday shopping lists, grocery lists, "must do in 2007" lists. At present, Santa is making a list...and checking it twice. Face it... we love lists. So are you an obsessive author of lists? Tell us what's on yours. We'll talk about your lists with our guests -- among them will be Sasha Cagen, the author of To-Do List: From Buying Milk to Finding a Soul Mate, What Our Lists Reveal About Us. That's at the beginning of our second hour. At the end of the hour we'll talk about the portrayal of Charlie Wilson in the new movie Charlie Wilson's War with former Texas Congressman Martin Frost, who served with Wilson in the legislature.

Gwen Outen

11:22 AM ET | 12-24-2007 | permalink | e-mail post

A Busy Little Elf

Did you shop differently this year?

Source: CascadeFoto

So, are you ready? The headlong rush to Christmas is almost over, and I hope you're all reading this with feet propped up, lights twinkling, and a mug of something warm (and spiked, if you so choose). Or, if you're at work today and tomorrow's just an extra day off for you, I hope you're looking forward to something relaxing -- a movie, maybe (though it looks like Walk Hard may be a dud, if you're pining for boots and pearl button shirts, I cannot recommend No Country for Old Men highly enough). I somehow managed to get all my shopping and wrapping done by yesterday afternoon, much earlier than usual... makes today feel positively leisurely, since I know I don't have to dash home after work to tangle with ribbons and tape. You know who's not so lucky? Ron Voake. He makes wooden toys in Norwich, Vermont, and with every news flash about poisoned toys out of China, his business has received more orders, adding up to what he calls a "preposterous" year (the likes of which he hopes to never see again). I'd been wondering about just that -- if the problems with Chinese exports would have a perceptible affect on Christmas shopping habits -- and this, an anecdotal story, isn't conclusive. So how did you shop for kids this year? Did you check the "Made In" label on your gifts?

Sarah Handel

9:37 AM ET | 12-24-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

Make My Day Laws, and Self-Defense

Fortunately, it's just plastic.

Source: maxw

A man in Texas reportedly sees two people breaking into his neighbor's house, calls 911, and then grabs his shotgun. In the end, two men lay dead in front of his house, and the shooter claims self-defense under Texas' "castle doctrine" laws. Basically, castle laws (and similar "make my day" laws) come from the idea that your home is your castle, and you have the right to use deadly force if someone breaks in. The obvious question in this case: Is his neighbor's house also his castle? The courts will decide this case, but your rights to self-defense change depending on which state you're standing in. In some places, you have to try to get away before opening fire; shooting is only a last resort. In other states, you can not only shoot to kill in your home, but also in your car or office. It's a confusing mix of legal and ethical mazes, and we'll try to work through them on the show today. How far should the right to self-defense extend?

Scott Cameron

1:59 PM ET | 12-20-2007 | permalink | comments (63) | e-mail post

Fighting for Funny

Sarfraz Manzoor wants to know what comes to mind when you hear the word "Muslim." It's kind of a minefield... he suggests the natural thoughts are the 9/11 attacks, the Muhammad teddy bear, and the Danish newspaper cartoons... not exactly a barrel of monkeys. So he's on a mission to bring the humor of Muslim life to light, and his band is few, but mighty. According to him, Muslims as a group may suffer from "chronic" hypersensitivity and "over-earnestness." But there are a few bringing the funny to light, like Azhar Usman and Zarqa Nawaz (she has a sitcom called Little Mosque on the Prairie. Sample joke from an episode: "a Muslim defends his plan to turn the parish hall into a mosque. "It's only a pilot project, " he tells a local man, who responds, "You're training pilots?!" I laughed out loud.), and Manzoor says the work of these liberal Muslims is so easily undone by fury over a teddy bear that it's time for moderate Muslims to speak up in support of the lighter side of life. So listen in, laugh, and leave comments here.

Sarah Handel

1:58 PM ET | 12-20-2007 | permalink | comments (8) | e-mail post

Religious Wealth: Yay or Nay?

The holiday season is a time of heightened prayer and church attendance. It's also a time of big spending. Which got us thinking about the intersection of religion and wealth. Currently, six multimillion-dollar ministries, bedazzled with Bentleys and million-dollar homes, are being investigated by the Senate for alleged financial misconduct. Today we'll talk to one pentecostal pastor who defends what's called prosperity gospel, and an evangelical theology professor who views the gospel of wealth as heresy. Should get spicy. So as we all scurry around spending Lord knows how much on gifts and holiday cheer, tell us: what does your faith say about the acquisition -- and spending -- of wealth?

Ashley Grashaw

1:57 PM ET | 12-20-2007 | permalink | comments (14) | e-mail post

A Time-Shift to Celebrate

When Scott mentioned an idea he had about doing a segment on time-shifting holidays based on a conversation he had (and then, later, saw in the paper... must be flies on his walls!), I just laughed. My family invented this idea. Ok, that's not true, but seriously... we rarely celebrate a holiday on time. For example, take my sister's birthday and my birthday. Hers is in the spring, mine mid-summer... we toasted them both, together, in November. It's just so hard to assemble the necessary family members in one place at one time a dozen times a year, and we value the company more than the calendar. I'm not complaining, though -- when we finally get around to them, our celebrations are always worth the wait. This flexibility comes in handy for Christmas, when my family, for the past two years, has time-shifted Christmas morning to Christmas evening so I can keep bringing the Talk to the nation. They're so cool we move it all -- stockings, fancy breakfast and coffee, pajamas, and leisurely gift-opening -- to 5 or 6pm when I get home. And even better... we get to drink BEER throughout (the sun's long over the yardarm by then). Do you time-shift your holidays? Does it make things better or worse?

Sarah Handel

1:56 PM ET | 12-20-2007 | permalink | comments (16) | e-mail post

The Gift of A Wonderful Life

Is it the BEST MOVIE EVER?

Source: Getty/RKO

I literally don't know how to explain how much I love Frank Capra's It's A Wonderful Life. I am so passionate about it that I secretly doubt the integrity of people that don't like it. I think it is a triumph of acting (when Jimmy Stewart yells at his kid to stop playing the piano), a triumph of directing (Capra's film noir -- inside a film blanc!-- nightmare sequence), and a triumph of -- yes, THE HUMAN SPIRIT (for goodness sake's this is a film about a man trying to kill himself that turns into the BEST MOVIE OF OUR TIME. ANY TIME.) I've always thought I would practically pay people to see it. Well, it turns out that the UK Film Council -- with the help of Park Circus Films -- is kind of doing just that. We'll talk to someone from Park Circus, and you can read all about it here.

Barrie Hardymon

1:55 PM ET | 12-20-2007 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post

December 20th Show

There are a couple of cases that caught our attention. In Pasadena,Texas, a man fatally shot two men he witnessed robbing his next door neighbor's home. And in Jackson, Mississippi, four homes were burglarized in one week and each of the homeowners fired shots at their intruders. Two robbers were killed. These cases have shined a spotlight on self-defense laws--namely the "Castle Doctrine." This law does not require citizens to retreat before using deadly force on an intruder. Well talk about the cases and examine the regulations for protecting yourself and your home. Following that discussion, Muslim comedian Sarfraz Manzoor tells us why Woody Allen is his personal hero.

In our second hour, we'll talk about what your religion says about the acquisition of wealth. For some believers, money is the root of all evil. But for others, prosperity is God's blessing. What does your faith say about wealth and money? And is it consistent with your idea of how you give and receive it? Following that, YOU will be our guest. Tell us if you and your family are "time-shifting" Christmas because the 25th just doesn't work as the best day to celebrate this year. Then, if you are one of the two people out there who has never seen the classic "It's a Wonderful Life"...and you just happen to be reading this blog...and you're planning a trip to the United Kingdom for Christmas...Nick Varley has come to the rescue!! His company received a $50,000 grant to re-release "It's a Wonderful Life" in the U.K. Here's your big chance!!!

Gwen Outen

11:52 AM ET | 12-20-2007 | permalink | e-mail post

A Christmas to Remember

Deck the halls and all!

Source: eqqman

I love Christmas for all the wrong reasons. Well, I of course think my reasons are just fine, but not everyone will see it that way. First of all, I love shopping for Christmas presents. No, I don't think the holiday's all about going into debt to impress folks with a grinchload* of gifts, but I take such joy in selecting items for friends and family, and I actually look forward to one or two trips to the insanity of the mall. Seriously. I like the crowds. I love to catch sight of the elderly gentleman debating two pairs of fuzzy slippers -- pink or black? I love the families in line for Santa, and the way everyone wishes each other happy holidays at the end of a transaction. I even love the grumps, harrumphing their way down aisles with brows furrowed. There's such a "we're all in this together" mentality that I really get into it. And then there's gift wrapping -- a chore to some, but not me. I'm no Candy Spelling, but I love coordinating papers and bows, folding the perfect corner, and piling them all under the tree. And, finally, what may be my most egregious holiday violation... I love Christmas music. LOVE IT. I have a lot of rules for how to live (just ask my family... tradition, remember?), and one of them is no Christmas music till the Sunday after Thanksgiving, at which point, it's ON. I take a lot of heat for it... my colleague Dalia has "Deck the Halls" from A Christmas Story as her ringtone, a wry joke, not a celebration. Scott groans when it "rings," but I hardly ever hear it... I've likely got my headphones on, listening to whatever Lite-FM station has carols on 24/7. I understand it's not everyone's cup of tea, so I don't play it aloud, but I still get mocked. It's ok -- in my haze of holiday cheer, it just flies right by me. Scott actually brought me an article the other day about a "scientific" study of the most loathed and loved Christmas songs these days. It's no surprise that classics like Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" and Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" are beloved, while "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" and the barking dogs' "Jingle Bells" bring up the rear. I was, however, taken aback by the news that the Boss's "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" didn't do well, and neither did the Jackson 5's version. My favorite Christmas song to hear on the radio is super cheezy, and I don't expect a chorus of comments seconding my opinion. It's Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers' "Christmas to Remember." First of all, I unabashedly love Dolly. I think she's classic, and can do little wrong. Secondly, this song is saucy! She and Kenny sing alternating stanzas, telling the story of strangers who meet in the Rocky Mountains over Christmas and spend the holiday... ahem... together... "Curled up by a fireplace in a Tahoe ski chalet, with a fast talking lover and some slow burning wood." Whoa! At the end of the song, they part ways, "hearts melting like chimney snow," hoping to do it all again next year. It's hilarious, and warm at the same time -- just the ticket. What's your guilty favorite?

*Is that a real word? Probably not. But you know what I mean, right?

Sarah Handel

9:30 AM ET | 12-20-2007 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

Steeped In Cash

Will big money yield big support?

Source: twistedlens

Last Sunday, Rep. Ron Paul hosted an online "tea party." His supporters dumped nearly $6 million into the congressman's campaign coffers. (That is the largest sum a candidate for president has raised in a single day). Chris Cillizza, of washingtonpost.com, tried to figure out what Rep. Paul will do with all that money. And he wondered why the campaign can cultivate donations, but few new supporters. Bret Hayworth, of the Globe Gazette, in Mason City, Iowa, asked the same question.

In the first hour, our "Political Junkie," Ken Rudin, joins us again, as he does every Wednesday, to talk about politics and the campaign for president. As usual, [almost] anything goes! Leave us your questions. Send us your comments. We're going to talk about Rep. Ron Paul, then we'll turn our attention to Iowa. David Yepsen, of The Des Moines Register, will join us. If you live in "the Hawkeye State," are you excited about the caucus? (If you can't wait for the political season to be over with, tell us why).

David Gura

1:59 PM ET | 12-19-2007 | permalink | comments (11) | e-mail post

The FCC Won't Let Them Be*

The FCC was busy yesterday, handing down two new rules that may have an impact on the average American's media consumption. The first ruling states that no cable company can control more than 30% of the market -- the national market. I originally thought it was "of a market," not the market, so I got pretty excited. Can you imagine having a choice of four cable providers? DC is primarily Comcast territory, so the thought of some competition had me envisioning big savings. Think again, Sarah! It's actually nationwide, so it means Comcast, which currently controls nearly 30 percent of the national market, won't be able to grow much. Maybe that'll inspire competition in the local markets, but I wouldn't bet on it. The other rule was pitched as a salvo to struggling newspaper companies -- in the 20 biggest markets, companies that own newspapers will also be allowed to own either a radio or a television station, so long as sufficient competition from other independent news sources exists (defined as eight competitors in the market). What do you think about the decisions? Does the cable rule punish the little guys hoping to sell to Comcast, or will it inspire competitors? And will it bother you if your newspaper company also has a radio or television station too? And can newspaper folks do broadcast?

*Apologies to Eminem, but it's been running through my head all day (and I really wish it hadn't been. I'm not such a fan of Mr. Mathers).

Sarah Handel

1:58 PM ET | 12-19-2007 | permalink | comments (4) |