Celebration
Lee Hill, NPR

Nothing but food, folks and fun at the NPR launch celebration for Tell Me More.

OK — Day 2 — we all made it in. Still running on adrenalin, I think.
Did I mention we had a lovely little party yesterday..in our studio? Perhaps I shouldn't admit this since drinks and food are normally strictly VERBOTEN anywhere near the equipment...but it was a special occasion. Thank you, NPR. (Thankfully they got the horrible kegger smell out of there by the time we arrived this morning. Nothing more disgusting at 6:30 am than the smell of an old party. Not that there was liquor or anything...)

So, for DAY 2, we have a nice potpourri for you. Dallas District Attorney Craig Watkins came on to tell us about his decision to allow some 400 cases to be reviewed post conviction to see if DNA testing might make a difference...not a typical decision for a prosecutor...we also started our series on hip hop today..with a chat with one of the leading ladies of Rap — Mc Lyte (remember "RuffNeck"? or "Cappucino"?). Lyte was one of the few to speak about messed up attitudes toward women back in the day, so we wanted her take on where hip hop and rap are going in these days of post-Imus scrutiny. Look for additional segments in the next couple of days...here's a hint on one: on what other show are you going to hear the President of a leading women's college with a video dancer/model?

And, can I let you in on an internal debate we've been having? We thought the interview with DA Watkins was interesting in its own right but we know there's another side to the story. We have been pursuing a Colorado judge who questions whether the wrongful conviction issues is really that big of a deal...but he is on the bench everyday and we haven't been able to get him to sit still for an interview. So...we decided to go deep with one guest, knowing we're pursuing the other side, and knowing that I'm going to ask both sides the questions that need to be asked. Others would argue that you should hold off until you can hear both sides at once, but we think that means that in effect one side can veto the other...We're curious where you come out on this question...when you know it's a two-sided question, can you have a satisfying discussion with one side?

So, tell me more...