Here's hoping the dollar rose doesn't wither.
There's been a lot of bad news about the economy recently -- inflation is up, the housing market is a mess, gas prices are high, unemployment is growing, the dollar is weak, and, not surprisingly, consumer confidence numbers are low. There's talk among some economists of a possible recession, and now the word "stagflation" is circulating. Amid all the questions and concerns, people are reconsidering their options and restructuring their game plans. I've heard about all sorts of tactics people are using.... Some parents are taking their children out of private schools and putting them in public ones. Others are selling their homes, cars, or stocks. And a few are even dipping into their 401Ks. In the wake of our current economic state, are you looking at your assets differently, or altering your medium-to-long-range plans? And what are your questions about stagflation?
Ashley Grashaw
1:59 PM ET | 02-28-2008 | permalink | comments (16) | e-mail post
The euro is literally and figuratively on top of the dollar. (The dollar plunged to a new record low against the euro today.)
Source: JOEL SAGET/AFP/Getty Images
You've likely picked up on a theme for the first hour today... Money. The past week's been so full of bad, or lukewarm news about the economy it's hard not to think, at least a little, about your cash flow. And when it comes to reconsidering your assets, the first place you probably look is at your investments. Should you tap into that 401K at work to pay off a credit card? Is now a good time to sell... Or buy? Is there any way to cash in on the falling dollar? I have questions, and you likely have questions too, so we've called on David Gardner over at the Motley Fool to help us out. And of course, it's been just over a year now since Neal launched his fantasy portfolio, and we'll get a year-end review. Got money questions for the Fool? Let us know.
Scott Cameron
1:58 PM ET | 02-28-2008 | permalink | comments (5) | e-mail post
The opening ceremonies of the 1936 Olympics, in Berlin. Um, kind of political.
The Olympic truce -- whether it's a myth or not -- is one of Western civilization's most cherished ideals. The ancient truce -- called Ekecheiria -- was reportedly honored by the Greeks and their neighbors during the ancient Olympics. It facilitated safe travels and a cessation of hostilities for athletes, visitors, poets and others during the games at Olympia. The current Olympic truce is probably both more and less stable -- heavy security prevents (but not always, see Black September) actual violence; and Rule 51 of the Olympic Charter explicitly states, "No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas." That has not prevented politics from seeping into the games. Hitler's 1936 games were meant to prove Aryan superiority -- and famously didn't. Black Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who finished first and third, respectively, in the 200 meter-run, bowed their heads and gave the Black Power salute during the national anthem as a protest against racism in the U.S. (you can see a photo of that moment on our main website).A reciprocal boycott kept the Cold War chilly at the games in Moscow and L.A. in the eighties. And now, the Beijing summer Olympics threaten to be the most political games yet -- Hollywood heavyweights are weighing in for the Olympic sport of protest, and athletes are preparing to confront China's record on the environment, human rights and Sudan. Today we're looking forward by looking back (Tommie Smith!) -- do you think the Olympics should be a moment of truce, of noble competition unsullied by politics? Or are they the perfect venue for such displays?
Barrie Hardymon
1:57 PM ET | 02-28-2008 | permalink | comments (18) | e-mail post
So normally I would say something at the top of the blog like "So here's what's coming up on this last day of the month..." But today, that won't work. So instead I'll say, "Let's take a leap into what's happening on the show today: (I know. Forgive me. I'm feeling a bit punchy today...).
At a press conference this morning, President Bush addressed concerns about our sluggish economy. Higher oil and gas, foreclosures, a weakened dollar and a possible recession have been making news headlines. And the word "stagflation" has been floating around. What does it all mean for us? Economists will answer your questions about how you should alter your short, middle and long range financial plans and the different ways to view your assets. Then we'll take a look at our Talk of the Nation fantasy portfolio and the stock market in this shaky economy with our Motley Fool, David Gardner.
The Olympics have served not only as an arena where the best athletes in the world compete, but also as a place where politics and ideologies collide. For the entire second hour, we will look at how politics have risen to the forefront in the Olympics, past and present. In the 1968 Olympic Games, gold medalist Tommie Smith raised a fist for Black power at the medal ceremony. Anita DeFrantz filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Olympic Committee protesting the boycott of the 1980 Olympics in the Soviet Union. And Joey Cheek donated his earnings to refugees in the Darfur region after winning a gold medal at the 2006 Olympics. Smith, DeFrantz and Cheek will each talk about the symbolism behind their decisions. And at the end of the hour, we'll talk with Margaret Lambert, a Jewish athlete who was told her performance did not qualify her to compete at the 1936 Olympic Games.
Gwen Outen
12:12 PM ET | 02-28-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Editor's note: David Gura live blogged the president's press conference this morning. You can read his post, in its entirety, after the jump.
President Bush, at the press conference this morning.
Source: AFP/Getty Images
10:51 a.m. EST The reporters in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room are desperate for some presidential prognostication.
One last question, shouted from what must've been the back of the room: "Do you still think that Senator Hillary Clinton will be the Democratic presidential nominee?!"
No answer from President Bush.
Continue reading "White House Press Conference" »
David Gura
9:44 AM ET | 02-28-2008 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post
Where it will all go down.
Source: Getty Images
Earlier this morning, we got word that the president plans to hold a press conference. He'll step up to the podium in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at 10:05 a.m.
Neal will anchor NPR's special coverage, which will be available on many NPR member stations, and at npr.org. And I'll blog about the conference here, in real time.
9:11 AM ET | 02-28-2008 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post
Ooh, snap!
Last night's Democratic debate in Ohio between Senators Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.) was saucy! I was rapidly firing IMs to friends: Lots of Did she just say what I think she said?'s and Ooh, snap!'s. They sparred for 16 minutes on health care alone! Trade policy, campaign tactics and Iraq were also on the debate table. I still can't decide who turned out the victor. A tossup, perhaps? Today we talk to our political junkie Ken Rudin about last night's debate and much more: Senator John McCain's (R-Ariz.) apology on behalf of a supporter's disparaging comments about Obama; a new poll that says McCain would beat both Democratic hopefuls in the general election; and next week's crucial Democratic primaries in Texas and Ohio. If you have questions for our political junkie, leave them here.
1:59 PM ET | 02-27-2008 | permalink | comments (17) | e-mail post
William F. Buckley Jr., circa 1976.
We got word today that William F. Buckley Jr., the father of modern conservatism, passed away this morning, at his home in Connecticut. In my estimation, The New York Times obituary puts it best:
William F. Buckley Jr., who marshaled polysyllabic exuberance, famously arched eyebrows and a refined, perspicacious mind to elevate conservatism to the center of American political discourse, died Wednesday at his home in Stamford, Conn.
Douglas Martin continues...
Mr. Buckley's winningly capricious personality, replete with ten-dollar words and a darting tongue writers loved to compare with an anteater's, hosted one of television's longest-running programs, Firing Line, and founded and shepherded the influential conservative magazine, National Review.
After our regular conversation with the Political Junkie, we'll talk to William Kristol, of The Weekly Standard and The New York Times, about Buckley's legacy. Did his writing or philosophy influence or change your politics?
1:58 PM ET | 02-27-2008 | permalink | comments (7) | e-mail post
Today's gripping tale is filled with a heartrending cast of characters: a schizophrenic birth mom, an abusive foster mother, and the little boy caught in the middle. Andrew Bridge joins us to talk about his new memoir Hope's Boy. His is a journey marked by isolation and rejection. But the outcome is triumphant: Bridge developed survival tools to help him endure his harsh upbringing, and he eventually became a Fulbright Scholar and a graduate of Harvard Law School. And, very fittingly, Bridge went on to devote his career to children's rights. If you grew up in foster care, tell us your story.
1:57 PM ET | 02-27-2008 | permalink | comments (8) | e-mail post
Criminal profiling -- getting inside the minds of killers -- has always been fascinating to me. That's why my Tivo is programmed to record every episode of Law and Order: SVU. Enter Robert Charles Browne -- possibly one of the worst serial killers in American history. He claims to have buried the bodies of dozens of victims in 17 states across the country. Former CIA and FBI agent Charlie Hess had unique access to Browne: over the course of several months, he exchanged letters with Brown, and eventually met him, in an attempt to find the truth. Hess, co-author of Hello Charlie: Letters from a Serial Killer, joins us today to tell us what he discovered.
1:56 PM ET | 02-27-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post
I saw reports on this new seed bank in Norway (the one being called the "Noah's Ark of seeds," and the "doomsday seed vault") and thought, "That's a neat idea." Not because of the seeds, so much, but because it's a new spin on the old: What would you want with you if you were stuck on a deserted island? Only in this case, let's make it a cultural/ideas vault. If there was one thing you could lock away for future generations in the event of the unthinkable, what would it be? Your film collection? Great works of literature? A recipe for pizza?
11:36 AM ET | 02-27-2008 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post
Ford, back in the good ol' days....
Source: upnorthmemories
The Ford Motor Company, which has lost $15 billion in the last two years, is offering its employees huge incentives to leave their jobs: one-time cash payments of $140,000, rolling contributions to retirement accounts, and reimbursement packages for classes and coursework. By March 17, the automaker hopes at least 8,000 of its 64,000 employees will take the company up on its offer.
Because the economy is doing so poorly, companies around the country, in an array of industries (including this one), have been forced to cut costs, and buyouts are one way to do that.
In the first hour, we'll ask Sarah Webster, who covers the automobile industry for the Detroit Free Press; Andrea Coombes, who writes about personal finance; and Stephen Viscusi, author of On the Job: How to Make It in the Real World of Work, about when it is a good idea to take a buyout. And we want to hear from you. Have you taken one? Are you happy that you did? Are you considering one?
1:59 PM ET | 02-26-2008 | permalink | comments (38) | e-mail post
What to do after Thriller? Get a pet snake, duh.
Source: Liason/Getty Images
I know, I know. You're good NPR listeners. I bet you read the papers every day last week -- slogged through news on the economy, the election, Iraq. You listened to Morning Edition, TOTN, did your homework. But I bet there's one piece of news that you missed -- the kind of news that not only puts a smile on your face, but a little spin, a little shake, a little something in your hips. This year is the 25th anniversary of the release of Michael Jackson's seminal album, Thriller. Significance? Let me list the five best dance songs of all time and see if they mean anything to you. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'," "Thriller," "Beat It," "Billie Jean," "Human Nature," "P.Y.T." (Pretty Young Thing). Oh wait. That's six. What does that spell? Thriller, baby. You know what else it spells? P-A-R-T-Y. There is no more joyful, funky, timeless music -- if it finds its way in and out of your speakers, it's as if you had a pretty inexpensive, but delicious double latte -- the effects of which are centered mostly in your hips. It's hip-notic. Today, we're checking in with Harriette Cole -- creative director of Ebony -- who spent some quality time with Michael Jackson, and reflects on the birth of the classic. You know what we want you to do here? We want you to forget about the weirdness, the allegations, the pet snake (see above) the made for TV movies (although I want to point out that the Jackson movie with Angela Bassett is pretty amazing), and we want you to appreciate the art Jackson made. Tell us your Thriller moment.
1:58 PM ET | 02-26-2008 | permalink | comments (22) | e-mail post
Life after prison for many former inmates is anything but a cake walk. Sure, they have their freedom back; but they also face a host of challenges as they assimilate back into society. The most widely known obstacles to re-entry are employment and housing discrimination; but, according to the Legal Action Center, former prisoners can also face roadblocks in the areas of public assistance and food stamps, voting, adoptive and foster parenting, and drivers' licenses. On top of which, there's often a feeling of frustration associated with small, everyday tasks, like using a computer or riding public transportation -- things that weren't an issue while in jail. Prisoner advocacy groups, such as The Women's Prison Association and Fortune Society in New York, help make the transition easier. Today we will talk with three ex-prisoners about their experiences with life after prison. If you were formerly incarcerated, or if you work with former prisoners, what is the most difficult part about life after prison? And what do you think is needed to make re-entry smoother?
1:57 PM ET | 02-26-2008 | permalink | comments (13) | e-mail post
#42, #40, #69, and #60 on Christian Lander's list.
In the last two months, nearly 4 million people have visited Christian Lander's blog, Stuff White People Like. If you haven't visited the site, do it. You may enjoy "#44 Public Radio." (We did).
White people love staions [sic] like NPR (which is equivalent to listening to cardboard), and they love shows like This American Life and Democracy Now. This confuses immigrants from the third world. The see the need for radio as a source for sports, top 40 radio and traffic reports but they don't quite understand why people who can afford TVs and have access to Youtube, would spend hours listening to the opinions of overeducated arts majors.
According to Lander, his blog "is a scientific approach to highlight and explain stuff white people like. They are pretty predictable." Here are a few more:
"#75 Threatening to Move to Canada"
"#62 Knowing what's best for poor people"
"#60 Toyota Prius"
Gregory Rodriguez, a columnist for the Los Angeles Times, doesn't just laugh at the site, he deconstructs it: "Lander is gently making fun of the many progressive, educated, upper-middle-class whites who think they are beyond ethnicity or collectively shared tastes, styles or outlook. He's essentially reminding them that they too are part of a group."
What do you think of it? Are you a regular reader? Do you disagree with what he's written? Do you have recommendations for other stuff he could add?
1:56 PM ET | 02-26-2008 | permalink | comments (65) | e-mail post
In our first hour today, we'll talk about the price of buy-outs. Ford Motor Company is currently pushing their employees to take buyouts that include $140,000 or college tuition plans. Sounds good, right? Buy-outs are one of the standard ways a company reduces its work force, but some people warn that if you take it, you might live to regret it. Have you ever been offered a buy-out? What did you do? Tell us your experience. After that, put on your red leather zipper jacket and let's go back 25 years to the moment you put a needle to Michael Jackson's Thriller album. Personally, I find it hard to believe that it's been a quarter century since my best friend Stephanie and I re-wound our VHS recording of the 'Thriller' mini-movie countless times and learned the ghoulish dance routine, step for step. (I also can't believe 25 years later, I still remember most of it.) A Thriller CD-DVD has been released this week that features remixes of the album's songs. But today, we're sticking to the original. Do you remember the first time you heard this classic record? Which song was your favorite? And how big of a fan were you? Did you pattern your Jheri curl to look like Michael's? Or were you just brave enough to wear one shiny glove?
Next Monday, new guidelines are set to go into effect that will retroactively reduce the sentences for crack cocaine offenders, which means around 1,500 crack offenders could apply for immediate release. In today's second hour, we will talk with ex-prisoners about the challenges of re-assimilating into society after serving long term sentences. After that, blogger Christian Lander talks about how and why he created a list called "Stuff White People Like." And we'll read read from your blog and email comments on shows that aired last week.
Enjoy!
11:36 AM ET | 02-26-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
As a guy who grew up playing the violin, I have followed the New York Philharmonic's trip to North Korea with especial interest. Needless to say, the humble youth orchestra of which I was a part never played East Pyongyang Grand Theater; most of our performances took place at local nursing homes. That said, our audiences were (almost) always eager to hear Debussy, Dvorak, and Beethoven. They'd put up with Stravinsky.
The optimist in me hopes that the Philharmonic's two-day tour of North Korea will usher in social and political change. The cynic in me wonders how the telecast of the performance played, or where it played, in the small socialist republic.
When the orchestra gets back from its tour, we hope to talk to Zarin Mehta, the president and executive director of the Philharmonic, again. (He promised us that he'd carve out some time for us when we spoke to him a few months ago). 'Til then, check out these photos from the performance. And this excellent blog from the tour, kept by Daniel J. Wakin, a reporter for The New York Times.
11:00 AM ET | 02-26-2008 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post
Last week, at the University of Texas, Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.) spent a lot of time talking about health care. As Obama said, the two candidates have a "substantive difference" over how Americans should be covered.
Finally! A "substantive difference."
On today's program, in the first hour, we're on the lookout for more of them. When it comes to the issues -- Iraq, the environment, education, and trade, to name just a few --, what sets the two Democratic candidates apart?
Kirk Victor, of the National Journal, will field questions about domestic policy positions. (You can read his article, "A Dime's Worth of Difference," here). And Michael Hirsh, a senior editor at Newsweek, will tackle foreign policy distinctions. Julie Rovner, NPR's health policy correspondent, will join us too. Tell us what issue is the most important to you, and we'll tell you where the candidates stand.
1:59 PM ET | 02-25-2008 | permalink | comments (51) | e-mail post
Britney fighting her legal battles, back in January.
Source: GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images
Britney Spears isn't even in the realm of schadenfreude anymore. Reading and watching the "press" on Britney is like watching an accident in the slowest motion you can imagine. In fact, I'm beginning to feel guilty just looking at pictures of the flailing pop star. I can't imagine what it feels like to cover her -- whether you work at Us Weekly or TMZ, there must be some sense of complicity between your work, and her spectacular breakdown(s). (Especially if you're Adnan Ghalib, the paparazzo who The Soup's Joel McHale called "a guy who looks like he knows where to buy Roofies," and is apparently dating her. Yes, I've repeated gossip on an NPR blog.) Asra Nomani, former Wall Street Journal reporter and People stringer, wrote an Op-Ed in the LA Times explaining why the Britney Spears debacle (the Spearsacle), shamed her into quitting People*. It's not a particularly high and mighty position, actually -- she explains the role her brother's mental illness played in her decision -- and it raises some interesting questions about the role of the press in times of catastrophe. After all, Nomani was one of the last people to see Daniel Pearl alive** -- she knows when the press can be useful, too. What do you want to read -- and what feels sort of icky?
*And here's your obligatory Jezebel link. **Seriously, check out the tags on this post. Who would of thunk it?
1:58 PM ET | 02-25-2008 | permalink | comments (21) | e-mail post
Ralph Nader, the consumer activist, announced yesterday that his hat is officially in the ring as a independent candidate for president in November (it's a hat that spends a lot of time in the ring.) Neither major party, he said, is representing the American people, and he argues that he can fill that void. Tom Regan, our news blogger, has been trying to gauge reaction to the announcement today. And we're going to talk with candidate Nader, and give you a chance to talk with him. We've spoken with several of the major party presidential hopefuls in recent months, and have invitations in to the remaining candidates. Today, it's your chance to ask one third-party candidate what he stands for, and what he hopes to bring to the race.
1:58 PM ET | 02-25-2008 | permalink | comments (20) | e-mail post
Students at Northern Illinois University head back to class today for the first time since Steven Kazmierczak opened fire in Cole Hall, killing 5 students and himself. That lecture hall is closed for the rest of the semester. Robert Schneider was teaching theater class in the building next door when word of the shooting came through. In a piece he wrote for the Chicago Tribune he explained the experience of being so close, yet having so little information... of trying to protect his students, yet feeling almost powerless... and of trying to return to life as it was before the killings. Schneider joins us today to talk more about the experience, the memorial services over the weekend, and the first day back at class.
1:56 PM ET | 02-25-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post
Every detail...
I promise I will blog about something real and befitting of this great institution (BOTN... wait, actually NPR I guess), but first I must mourn something shallow. Remember when movie stars all had porcelain skin? As a kid, I was obsessed with the photographs of Vivien Leigh -- her pinkish-purplish cheeks -- I so badly wanted eyebrows that would look perfectly drawn on to a beautiful canvas. Last night, I realized those days were gone forever -- on my brand-new, 32", high definition screen, I saw so much more of my favorite stars then I wanted to. You could see little makeup molecules settling into crows-feet, the bumpy coverage of less-than-perfect chins, the necklace of bones protruding from shoulders starved by Master Cleanse. It was terrifying. I gorged myself on pizza and beer last night -- there's no Gaultier in my future -- and felt rather good about myself. Except for one thing: isn't it sort of lovely to aspire? I did love that Ingrid Bergman and Katherine Hepburn and Gene Tierney existed in a sort of protected space. They would never grow old, never need Proactiv, and always have perfectly shaped arches. And though I could never look like them, I rather enjoyed watching them -- the same way I like to look through the Cartier catalog. Sigh. Watching the Oscars in hi-def is more like looking through a Neiman Marcus catalog -- everything is certainly expensive, but in the end, you're just as glad to be wearing your own stuff.
10:30 AM ET | 02-25-2008 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post
Sen. McCain today at Charlie's Restaurant in Perrysburg, Ohio.
Source: J.D. Pooley/Getty Images
Last night, The New York Times posted a story on its website about the relationship between Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and a lobbyist, Vicki Iseman, who, in 1999, "had been turning up with him at fund-raisers, visiting his offices and accompanying him on a client's corporate jet." (The article, "For McCain, Self-Confidence on Ethics Poses Its Own Risk," was published in the newspaper's print edition today). The four reporters who wrote the piece spent many months on it, and according to The New Republic, The New York Times's Washington newsroom was divided over the story's newsworthiness and importance. According to the article, staffers feared that Iseman and Sen. McCain spent too much time together;and that, even if they weren't having an affair, his relationship with a major lobbyist for several telecommunications companies could ruin his political career, especially in the wake of the Keating Five Scandal, in which Sen. McCain was implicated back in 1991.
The piece is carefully worded, murky at times. And it prompted this response from the McCain campaign:
It is a shame that the New York Times has lowered its standards to engage in a hit and run smear campaign. John McCain has a 24-year record of serving our country with honor and integrity. He has never violated the public trust, never done favors for special interests or lobbyists, and he will not allow a smear campaign to distract from the issues at stake in this election.
Americans are sick and tired of this kind of gutter politics, and there is nothing in this story to suggest that John McCain has ever violated the principles that have guided his career.
NPR's Washington editor, Ron Elving, will join us, to weigh in on the story's substance and significance. If you have questions for him, please leave them here.
1:59 PM ET | 02-21-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post
Stanley Fish, whose blog Think Again, is hosted by The New York Times, wrote about "identity politics" last week. Here's how he defined the term:
You're practicing identity politics when you vote for or against someone because of his or her skin color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or any other marker that leads you to say yes or no independently of a candidate's ideas or policies.
We'll ask Dr. Fish and two other guests, columnists Clarence Page and Jill Nelson, if they think it is positive to align your political beliefs with your identity. What do you think? If you're black, should you automatically support Barack Obama (D-Ill.)? If you're a woman, should you vote for Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY.) without hesitation? If you're a veteran, is Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) your obvious, perhaps only, choice?
1:58 PM ET | 02-21-2008 | permalink | comments (25) | e-mail post
Snip. Snip. Snip.
Source: cyberinsekt
Those who know me probably think I'm reasonably easy-going. Sure, I'm obsessed with list-making, and running errands in the best possible order, and can get tense under deadline pressure, but I'm not terribly finicky or hard-to-please. That said, something that I try my darndest to keep under wraps is that I'm incredibly peevish. It's not a dirty secret -- in fact, I think most folks have a list of pet peeves a mile long, and I'm also not special in that I try to keep mine hidden. I do, however, feel guilty that I have so many pet peeves... and incredibly judgmental whenever I'm confronted with an offender. But today's the day for us all to come clean... what are your top 3 pet peeves? Here are mine:
1. Nail clipping and/or painting in public. The noise, the smell, the biological material flying about. Disgusting. 2. Meanderers. I know I should slow down, smell the roses, all that... But when someone with no obvious impairment wanders about in my path, irritation bubbles up inside me. 3. Cheaters. Specifically, when I drive home from work I take the 9th Street tunnel, which goes under the National Mall and spits you out on the interstate to Virginia. There are three lanes through the tunnel, but only one goes to the interstate. That lane backs up the length of the (LONG!) tunnel, so some CHEATERS zoom up the middle lane then cut into the line at the last minute. It makes me spit with fury and indignation.
Ok, I laid my ugly peevishness out for all to see, now it's your turn, and tune in to hear Amy's!
Sarah Handel
1:57 PM ET | 02-21-2008 | permalink | comments (46) | e-mail post
The US Army emblem hangs on a wall at West Point.
Source: Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images
On Tuesday, Foreign Policy magazine came out with its "US Military Index," one part of which focuses on the challenges of filling the ranks, particularly among young Army officers:
Last year, the Army had a shortage of 3,000 captains and majors, a deficit that is expected to double by 2010. Fifty-eight percent of the West Point class of 2002 left active duty when their obligation to serve expired in 2007. Reversing these and other troubling signs will be critical to improving the health of the U.S. Military.
It's a problem that appears to be accelerating because of long deployments, strains on families, and frustration over how the war in Iraq is being waged. In an article in December's Washington Monthly magazine, Andrew Tilghman explained:
In 2003, around 8 percent of junior officers with between four and nine years of experience left for other careers. Last year, the attrition rate leapt to 13 percent. "A five percent change could potentially be a serious problem," said James Hosek, an expert in military retention at the RAND Corporation. Over the long term, this rate of attrition would halve the number of officers who reach their tenth year in uniform and intend to take senior leadership roles.
But the concern isn't simply over meeting recruiting goals. "The Army also appears to be losing its most gifted young officers," Tilghman wrote. "In 2005, internal Army memos started to warn of the 'disproportionate loss of high-potential, high-performance junior leaders.'"
We'll have Andrew Tilghman on the show today, and talk with him about what he heard from the former officers he talked with, and why they left the military. We'll also talk with Army Lt. Col. John Nagl, about the challenges the military faces. If you're a current or former military officer, what's your story? Are you thinking of leaving? Did you leave? Why or why not?
1:57 PM ET | 02-21-2008 | permalink | comments (12) | e-mail post
When we started Blog of the Nation, we spent a little time talking about our blogroll (which, it occurs to me, should probably be updated, as it doesn't include more of my faves -- Jezebel, etc.). First on my list -- David Carr's Carpetbagger blog for the New York Times. It was the first -- and is still the best -- of the NYT blogs. The Bagger, as the delightful Carr calls himself, gives the Gray Lady much needed highlights (yes, oh yes, I did make that dumb analogy). There may be no one writing on the web with better informal style -- and lots of formal substance -- which is hard to do for a seasonal blog. This awards season has been sort of a bummer -- no Golden Globes ceremony, a sort of sad sack SAG awards dressed up real fancy, and general Hollywood glumitude -- but the Bagger has made it worthwhile. As a special "Sorry-about-the-sucky-award-season" treat, we're giving you the Bagger -- all spicy and grumpy and funny and fun. Talk amongst yourselves, and watch a favorite Bagger video of ours, above.
1:56 PM ET | 02-21-2008 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post
Here's a quick look at what's coming up on the show today:
In our first hour, we'll ask NPR's Senior Washington Editor to explain the ins and outs of today's front page story in the New York Times about Sen. John McCain, and why it's caused such a stir. Then, we will talk with Chicago Tribune columnist Clarence Page, author Jill Nelson, and New York Times online columnist Stanley Fish about identity politics, and whether it should play a role in how you cast your vote. In this election season, one candidate is identified as African-American; another as a woman. Does this change the way you view politics? Let us know if and how identity politics effects you in this election. Following that, "Ask Amy" Chicago Tribune syndicated columnist Amy Dickinson will talk to us about pet peeves and how we should handle them.
In 2003, eight percent of junior officers with four to nine years of experience left the army. Last year that percentage went up to thirteen. In our second hour, reporter Andrew Tilghman will talk about an article he wrote for Washington Monthly magazine that outlines what the reduction of the young 'best and brightest' could mean for the war in Iraq, and the future of the military. After that, we pull out the red carpet and talk to New York Times arts and culture reporter David Carr about the upcoming Academy Awards ceremony. "And the Oscar SHOULD go to....."
12:31 PM ET | 02-21-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
Georgia's Lake Lanier, a year ago versus now.
Source: Brian Hursey
For some reason, I'm pretty into the Southeast drought story. Briefly, if you're unaware, the Southeast is in its worst drought in more than a century. It's especially bad in Georgia, and the state legislature's got an idea to ease the pain... move the border. Apparently, Georgia and Tennessee have long agreed that the border they've shared for 200 years isn't quite in the right place, that Georgia should extend a bit more than a mile into what's now Tennessee. But no one has ever really cared, until now. Turns out, if Georgia moved the border to reclaim that land, they'd get to tap into an incredibly precious resource: the Tennessee River. It's a huge, important river that could alleviate some of the drought in Georgia... but what of all the Tennesseeans who'd suddenly have new addresses... legislators... schools... identities? Now, I'm biased -- I love Georgia, and hate to see her suffer. Plus, Tennessee's flip response was to challege the Dawgs to a football game for the border, and that raises my hackles (though I'm completely confident in a Dawg victory, should the Vols really take the field). And, of course I think Tennesseeans would be lucky to be insta-Georgians. But seriously... what if you woke up one morning, suddenly in a different state, having never left your bed?
10:43 AM ET | 02-21-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
I've been flipping through the 24-hour TV news channels today and seeing so much campaign coverage you'd think it's November already. Sen. John McCain calling out Sen. Barack Obama, and accusing him of being little more than eloquent words with no real substance. A similar attack came from Sen. Hillary Clinton, who's hoping to end Obama's run of primary wins when voters in Texas and Ohio weigh-in in two weeks. Right now, though, the focus is definitely on the rhetoric, and more specifically on Obama's words. Did he plagiarize? Didn't he? Did Clinton plagiarize? Does anybody care? McCain and Clinton are trying to make this an issue of style vs. substance, do you see it that way? We'll mull it over with our own Political Junkie, Ken Rudin.
1:59 PM ET | 02-20-2008 | permalink | comments (21) | e-mail post
Look for this tonight!
Source: fortphoto
It is shaping up to be a busy week in outer space. "David, every week is a busy week in outer space," you may say -- or post below. I know that. This week just seems to be particularly busy. And definitely more exciting than usual.... There are missiles! Broken satellites! Space shuttles! And eclipses!
The Defense Department plans to shoot down a wayward spy satellite, filled with rocket fuel. If they don't, scientists say -- and we're going to trust them on this one -- it could crash into Earth. The space shuttle Atlantis returned to the Kennedy Space Center this morning, after a 13-day mission to the International Space Station. (German Astronaut Hans Schlegel, who got sick on the flight, feels better, by the way). And, if it isn't too cloudy, you'll be able to see a lunar eclipse tonight.
We're throwing a sky party in Studio 3A, where, admittedly, the view of the cosmos isn't that great. That's OK. It's the company that matters. Ace reporters David Kestenbaum and Nell Greenfieldboyce will to take your questions. Leave 'em here. And if you have any good tips on how to see a lunar eclipse (what to use, where to go, etc.), we're interested in those, too.
1:58 PM ET | 02-20-2008 | permalink | comments (13) | e-mail post
So far, life seems to be largely on the upswing for this run-of-the-mill radio producer. I had some dark days in '04 when I was unemployed, but since then, the sunny days have far outnumbered the stormy ones (which is not to say I don't love a good storm). People keep insinuating that I should be concerned about 30, which is right around the corner, but I always respond, "Why worry? 27 was good, 28 was even better, and I absolutely love 29 -- aging is great!" Turns out, maybe Pollyanna over here should be listening to her questioners. A new study shows depression in middle age peaks at age 44 (or, should I say, it valleys?). Sure, at 44 I may have many more responsibilities than I do now -- possibly a big mortgage, possibly a marriage, possibly kids -- and those are just the good things that could place demands on my time... What if divorce, death, and debt are around that bend? Either way, a slump at 44 is likely for folks worldwide, and there may even be a biological reason for it. The good news is, it's a U-shaped plot, so you'll pull out of it as you age... But on the flip side, that means folks my age are looking at the downward slope. Have you experienced depression or unhappiness in your 40s? And did you come out of it with age? What made the difference?
1:57 PM ET | 02-20-2008 | permalink | comments (25) | e-mail post
Evander Holyfield lands a right against Jeremy Bates during a heavyweight bout in 2006.
Source: Layne Murdoch/Getty Images
Let's get ready to rumble!!! Former heavyweight boxing champion Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield joins us today to share stories from his new autobiography, Becoming Holyfield: A Fighter's Journey. He'll give us an inside look at the culture of boxing; his personal struggles; and, of course, the infamous "bite fight" on June 28, 1997 with Mike Tyson. Tell us your questions for Holyfield. And did you see the fight with Tyson in '97? What were your thoughts and reactions?
1:56 PM ET | 02-20-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post
In today's mega sized Political Junkie, NPR's Ken Rudin talks about Sen. Barack Obama's increased momentum, Sen. John McCain's winning streak, and the importance of Texas and Ohio for Sen. Hillary Clinton. And just how powerful are words? Barack Obama has shown he can move a crowd just by opening his mouth... and move his opponents to take jabs at him for his ability to do so. We'll talk to Rudin, and to YOU, about the importance of rhetoric. Following that discussion, look up at the sky. Is it a bird? A plane? Nope. It's an out-of-control spy satellite and a lunar eclipse. At the end of the first hour, we'll talk about military preparations to shoot down a US spy satellite as it falls toward the Earth. (Now, that actually does sound like a job for Superman, doesn't it?) And we'll also talk about the significance of a total lunar eclipse. If you miss the one tonight, you'll have to wait until the end of 2010 to see it again. Got any rituals planned?
In our second hour, we'll talk about a new study that shows most people are most unhappy right in the middle of their 40s. Yes, pretty depressing. But the good news is if you hang in there and live past 70, chances are good that you will feel just as happy as you were in your 20s. The authors of the study will be here to answer all your questions. And we want to hear from you as well. Are you past middle age? What's it like on the other side? And if you're approaching middle age, what are you doing to keep yourself happy? At the end of the hour, we'll talk to boxing legend Evander Holyfield about his career, his new book, and that infamous Mike Tyson ear biting incident.
12:15 PM ET | 02-20-2008 | permalink | e-mail post
I've volunteered to write a post for the blog, and have found, that while several news-ish items caught my eye, they are either 1) Too dirty for NPR, 2) Too light to extend into a blog post, or 3) a merely visual joke. So, instead of focusing on one thing, I'm just going to list the things that are catching my interest. It's Barrie's round-up! It's the Talk of Barrie's Nation! TOBN!!
1) The literally always-interesting Jezebel (if you're not reading it, you're missing out on a thousand interesting conversations you could be having with your girl (and boy, I suppose) friends) has a really nice post by Moe Tkacik about... yes, it's about Britney. It points to a new Rolling Stone cover story about the songstress (look! I just snapped up an Us Weekly word!), and makes a nice point about our consumption of these stories.
2) This is a great painting of Homer Simpson. I stole this from my most-fair-one.
3) Slate's "TV Club" posts on The Wire are blowing my mind and simultaneously filling me with rage. The Wire -- which kills me softly with every shot of dreadful and beautiful Baltimore (and then kills its characters hard) -- is worth every bit of over-intellectualizing Slate puts it through. Yet still I am slightly embarrassed to have devoured this feature so darn quick.
4) New York Magazine's John Heilemann essay on media coverage of Senators Obama and Clinton is definitely worth a read -- and I am so sick of political coverage that it must be good.
5) Check this out (below).I'm going to make one of these handy-dandy little clocks! Totally ingenious!
International Clock
That's it. Send in your own reading list, and I'll be grateful. Especially if it has nothing to do with superdelegates.
9:46 AM ET | 02-20-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post
Acting Cuban President Raul Castro speaking last year, over a bas-relief of his brother, Fidel.
Source: Adalberto Roque/AFP/Getty Images
News broke overnight that Fidel Castro will not seek re-election in Cuba, capping off a nearly 50-year reign in the country. He's been sick for quite some time; and his brother, Raul, has been running the country during his illness. President Bush reacted swiftly to the news, asserting that "Eventually, this transition ought to lead to free and fair elections -- and I mean free and I mean fair, not these kind of staged elections that the Castro brothers try to foist off as being true democracy." -- not exactly a ringing endorsement of Raul's presumed ascendance. Some analysts say Raul's got some reforms up his sleeve; but with Castro's determination to fight on as a "soldier in the battle of ideas," it's hard to imagine a great deal of change for Cuba. Have you spoken with relatives in Cuba since his announcement? Is this the good news they've been waiting for? What do they hope for... and what do they expect?
1:59 PM ET | 02-19-2008 | permalink | comments (7) | e-mail post
If you listen to the show regularly, at some point in the last few years you've probably heard Neal talk with Steven Erlanger. He's been the Jerusalem Bureau Chief for The New York Times since 2004. Now, he's getting ready to move on... to Paris, actually, to take up the Bureau Chief position there for the Times. In his years covering Israel, Gaza, and the surrounding region, he's seen political progress, violent setbacks, significant elections, presidential visits, and the list goes on. Before he leaves Jerusalem, we'll talk with him one last time from the Middle East, about what's happened there -- and what hasn't -- in the last four years.
1:58 PM ET | 02-19-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post
Street racing on public roads: thrill or death wish?
Source: Clearly Ambiguous
I'm not gonna lie -- I always thought The Fast and the Furious was a sexy movie, and not just because of Paul Walker. It portrays street racing as this sick* hobbie, with tricked-out rides and loads of heart-pounding adrenaline. Illegal as it may be, it's an underground circuit of which I secretly wished I could be a part, if only I was cool enough.** That is, until I caught wind of a deadly street racing crash in Maryland this past weekend that killed eight spectators and wounded several others. It made me realize, in a way I never had before, how dangerous racing at high speeds can be -- for both drivers and onlookers. Today we take a deeper look at street racing, and what's being done to regulate it. If you have any experience with this pastime -- either as a racer or a spectator -- tell us your story.
* No, "sick" is a good thing, Mom. ** Tear, sigh.
1:57 PM ET | 02-19-2008 | permalink | comments (5) | e-mail post
