Immigration Bill: We've Got A's If You've Got Q's

An new immigration bill, one with bipartisan support, hits the Senate floor today, but plenty of people are unhappy about it. This is an issue which we've covered frequently, so if you've been listening you know that it has more then two sides: in fact, it's probably got four. So, go ahead and weigh in, particularly if you're from a border town. We've got plenty of reporters on who can answer any questions you have about the bill, too.

Barrie Hardymon

1:43 PM ET | 05-21-2007 | permalink | comments (14) | e-mail post

What's Your Border?

An Arizona ocotilla.

Source: Barrie Hardymon

As I said in a previous post, when we're lucky enough to take this show on the road, usually the story finds us... and here in Tucson, it's immigration. Erin Deely, one of our lovely hosts here at KUAZ (did I mention how nice everyone is here?), said to me, "Your opinion about immigration depends entirely upon your experience with it." She went on to say how virulently she had found herself disagreeing with people about it, even close family members, because the way they live the issue is so different. Well, this hour, we'll be talking to people about their stories and experiences, and how it's influenced their feelings about immigration. Tucson isn't the only border town out there, so please, tell us what it's like where you live; whether it's Texas, California, even Florida. What's your story?

Barrie Hardymon

2:00 PM ET | 04-12-2007 | permalink | comments (29) | e-mail post

The Results Are In...and It Depends!

Finally! All of you who were nice enough to sit through five whole minutes of uncomfortable personal questions... we have tallied and counted and we've got the results! (You can compare yourself to Tucson, home of "environmentally responsible" masseuses.) So many people who took our ethics and values survey complained that their answers simply couldn't be classified into "yes" or "no," that it almost seems like there are no rules to morality at all... only rules for social mores*. As promised, we'll give you the results of our survey, but, we're curious... what constitutes a moral issue for you? An ethical one? Weigh in. It won't take as long as the survey, I promise.

*This is not a frivolous link. I highly recommend it as a basic moral philosophy refresher. Plus, it will help you justify that grape stealing in the supermarket.

Barrie Hardymon

1:55 PM ET | 04-12-2007 | permalink | comments (13) | e-mail post

Isn't "Cowboy" Just A Synonym For "Poet?"

If your blood runs red, blue, and black (see the NPR logo), then the words Baxter Black probably make you just feel good. If you're not, take a look at this man's mustache, and fall in love all over again. He's in Tucson with us, so if you have questions or comments about cowboys, poets, large animals, veterinarians, or mustaches (seriously, Mr. Bolton, step aside), post 'em here.

Barrie Hardymon

1:50 PM ET | 04-12-2007 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

Dear Washington DC,

Don't you wish you were here?

Source: Az~Kate

I'm sorry, but I just don't miss you now that I'm in Tucson. Sure, you're the seat of government, and you've got beautiful monuments with all kinds of nice stuff written on them, but honestly, the minute I stepped foot off the plane and saw these mountains, I felt resentful of your swampy self. Tucson is dry and balmy, and filled with brightly colored vegatation, plus, everyone is so darn nice here that I really don't miss your lawyers, lobbyists, and...er...journalists. Everyone here is wearing flip-flops, and a nice woman came up to us at lunch and offerend us coupons for enviromentally responsible massages (I kid you not.) Plus we had great food, and even better desserts (I had a lemon square, Neal had strawberry pie).

While I'm enjoying the weather, go take our survey on ethics and values. It's the right thing to do. Then Tune in for Tucson on Thursday (TTT), and listen to the results.

Barrie Hardymon

5:38 PM ET | 04-10-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

Surveylicious

Take our survey! It's short (maybe 5 minutes), painless, and completely anonymous, so you're the only one who will know if you steal grapes from the supermarket. It will gauge where you stand on issues that might be considered in the grey area of the moral continuum. As a bribe, I will admit one more morally suspect answer from the survey (see here for my questionable opinion on a food/floor connection). I have, in fact, watched television on a beautiful day. And not even particularly improving television, I'm afraid. Now go take the survey yourself, and be glad that it's anonymous. Then tune in for the results in our second hour on Thursday, April 12th.

Take the Talk of the Nation/Arizona Daily Star Ethics/Morality/Values Quiz!

Barrie Hardymon

4:20 PM ET | 04-10-2007 | permalink | comments (10) | e-mail post

Way Better Than the Cosmo Quiz

We're heading out for Tucson tomorrow, for our Thursday remote broadcast at the University of Arizona's Eller Theater (Arizonans, please come! Tickets here). Our second hour show from Arizona is a collaboration (well, we cribbed it honestly) with the Arizona Daily Star, which asked Tucson area residents to fill out a survey to gauge where they are on issues that may be in the grey area of the moral continuum (sample question: Have you ever served food that fell on the floor? I have to admit, I'm a great fan of the three second rule-- and in my mother's house (squeaky-clean), I'll stretch it to ten seconds.) We'd like to sample Talk of the Nation listeners as well, so, to that end, please fill out this sample quiz. It contains 10 categories, should take about five minutes, and is completely anonymous, so you're the only one who will know if you steal grapes from the supermarket. Then tune in for the results in our second hour on Thursday, April 12th.

Take the Talk of the Nation/Arizona Daily Star Ethics/Morality/Values Quiz!

Barrie Hardymon

10:16 AM ET | 04- 9-2007 | permalink | comments (11) | e-mail post

Border Stories

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

Source: marj k

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

Barrie Hardymon

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

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

Tell us what you love about Arizona!

Source: Marc Shandro

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

Barrie Hardymon

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