Another day, another hop and skip across the emotional continuum.

We'd love to know how you're reacting to this. There are different ways of building a show: there's the stay-on-the-news method (which is obvious -- stick to the headlines), there's the build-a-theme method (make all the pieces fit together) and there's the buffet method (try to have something for everybody).

We're doing a little of them all...

Our lead segment -- the PBS presidential debate is tonight, and we examine the decision by the top GOP contenders not to participate. We then brought you the interview with Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai. I told you about her earlier -- she's making the rounds with her book so you might have heard her speak elsewhere by now. Still, as NPR pursues its year-long series about climate change, who better to talk to than the first environmentalist to win the Nobel Peace Prize? And then...in time for the fall TV rollout, more from the land of television: a fascinating (I think) conversation with Johnathon Rodgers, President and CEO of TV One.

TV One is probably less well-known than BET, having come on the scene later. It strives for a more mature audience. BET is pretty clearly aimed at the 18-24 year-old crowd, while TV One is aiming older. But Johnathon is one of the business' heavy weights -- probably one of the most influential television executives out there, but less well known to the general audience. I think he offered a bracing assessment of the state of the industry. More of that, I think.

Coming up... reaction from tonight's PBS debate. We'll have two of the three questioners (the third will be on a plane).

...And our usual Friday fare -- the Barbershop.

A bit of a head snap today; I hope it wasn't too jarring to go from the "Jena Six" to the fall TV schedule. We wanted to do both. The "Jena Six" story has been an ongoing interest of many of our listeners; we thought it was a particularly timely lead since the La Salle Parish District Attorney, Reed Walters, decided to publish an op-ed in the New York Times defending his office's decision to pursue attempted murder charges against the six teens.

One thing I don't understand: Walters then refused all interview requests saying his office is under a gag order. That's true, since the case has moved to juvenile court, the parties have been barred from talking to the media; a pretty standard rule for the juvenile system.

So, why did that order not apply to the op-ed? Was it because the article pertained to the original adult charges?

Anyway, it was good to hear his point of view; unfortunate not to be able to talk to him about it more thoroughly.

And... It was also useful to talk to Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-MI), chairperson of the Congressional Black Caucus, which is very interested in the case and is discussing it this weekend at the 37th Annual Legislative Conference in D.C.

Then on to TV...

A television show derived from a car insurance commercial? A reality show about little kids running a town? A family drama based on a sugar cane growing family? We talked about it all. Our TV critics were so hilarious. We hope they'll come back mid-season to talk about the mid- season replacement shows.

And, finally, Ted Koppel. What can I say? You know him as the dry-witted, sharp anchorman on the late night news. I know him as the guy who drove nine hours in the rain after he got off the air to sit in the family pew with me at my nephew's funeral. I think you got a little of his deep humanity in that interview. A little. We decided to talk to him this week because he received a lifetime achievement award at the news and documentary Emmys. He also picked up another Emmy Award. And, we thought it was a good time to talk to him in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the "Little Rock 9" being admitted to Central High School in Arkansas. Talking about, and thinking about race, has been one of the hallmarks of his career. We enjoyed what he had to say about it ... all.

Tomorrow... Our show will be TIGHT! You'll hear from that Nobel Laureate I was telling you about. Plus, one of the most influential media figures you may have never heard of.

Plus, gearing up for the GOP debate: the GOP and minorities....

Sorry I wasn't able to check-in yesterday. What a crazy day! A good day. But one that made me feel that my head was going to explode.

Check it out:

Yesterday, I interviewed a Nobel Peace laureate, awesome songstress Jill Scott and a MacArthur award winner (it was a secret -- we couldn't name her in advance). That was all IN ADDITION to yesterday's program, some of which we had to pre-tape to accommodate guests who couldn't get to the studio in time for the live show. We did it that way to comply with varying schedules, security needs, production requirements, etc. (interviews with recording artists, unless recorded live, often need special handling).

I don't know if you know this, or if it will bust your bubble, but we don't do every segment "live." I wish we could. I love live radio, and live television. I have no problem with any of it, even the little glitches, which are inevitable. But, we can't always do it. Our performance artists, foreign dignitaries and other guests often have crazy schedules (Jill Scott showed up early for the interview!)

...And, frankly, our regulars also have needs that we need to accommodate. We did an interview last week at a crazy early hour because one of our guests had to accommodate (his) child care needs (and good for him, glad we could do it).

I hope this doesn't detract from your enjoyment of the program. I don't think it should, but I think it's important to tell the truth about why I'm sometimes not around or able to do the kinds of public appearances many listeners would like me to do. I think some people think, hey, it's just an hour-long show, what's wrong with you? But that hour is really the tip of the iceberg...

In addition to the obvious -- the planning and the booking -- there's the time it takes to actually READ the book I'm going to talk about, or SEE the documentary I'm going to talk about. I'm just not one of these people who's going to invite you on the show without having actually experienced the thing I've asked you to talk about.

...So, craziness. But in a good way.

The interview with Jill Scott aired today. I don't know how you feel, but I thought she really laid it all out, as usual. She's an amazing listener, too. She told me some things about MYSELF off-mic. Damn.

Next week: I think we are going to continue our conversation about eldercare. We all felt vaguely unsatisfied -- that there was more to say. We want to structure it to make the conversations as useful as possible. Of course, people wrote whole tomes about this stuff, so we shouldn't be surprised that we still have more questions. Anyway, if you have more questions about eldercare...any at all...please, write to us.

And enjoy some Jill Scott...

Lee, here...

Happy Monday, right?

The week is definitely in full-swing here on our end. We hit the ground running this morning...and we're still running, believe it or not. Needless to say, the pots are brewing at just the right temperature for those intellectual taste buds... So grab a plate.

Ever heard of a "genius award"? Of course, we all would like to think that no one is more deserving of the award than one's self. Modesty, is that you I hear?...

Tomorrow, the 2007 MacArthur Fellows, a.k.a. the real geniuses, will be announced. In case you haven't heard why they're so special, here's a very eloquent excerpt of why WE should know who THEY are (as found on their web site):

The MacArthur Fellows Program awards unrestricted fellowships to talented individuals who have shown extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction.

Fancy.

We'll talk to one of the awardees, a playwright, who's been called a modern-day Zora Neale Hurston. By listening to her, I'm sure it won't take long to understand just why she's among those being recognized... Catch us tomorrow for the interview.

Later this week... Why is the head of police in Durban, South Africa, reportedly, calling for prostitution to be legalized in the city? ...And the country? And why is the push coming from law enforcement? We plan to bring you voices from inside that ordeal, including a former prostitute who now advocates on behalf of sex workers there.

And on somewhat of a lighter note, but, then again, not really... What's on network television this fall? And who is, noticeably, NOT on television this fall? Can you see where we're going with this?... We'll discuss the hits, the misses and the missing this season.

Yet, another reason to tune-in tomorrow. We'll be joined by a special musical guest. Final hint: lots of heart, LOTS of soul -- neo-soul, that is.
Tune-in. It'll be golden...

Also, the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) convenes this week in Washington for its Annual Legislative Conference. They'll be meeting just across the street from us, so you know we'll be stretching our neck out the window to see what we can see...

So have you all followed my instructions and begun bombarding syndicated talk show host Michael Baisden with e-mails to get him to reciprocate...and come on my show?

You know we called him Wednesday to see if he could come on to talk about his role in organizing the Jena protests and darn if he didn't PUT ME ON THE AIR WITH HIM. No, that was NOT intended but, well, when someone hands you the phone, what are you gonna do? So far, we haven't caught up with him again.

Hey, Michael, give us a call...we're here.

Not to make light of a serious situation, but it isn't always clear in the moment what any particular news event is going to mean. I know that's why they call journalism (cliche coming...watch out) the first draft of history, but it's true. And you know how rough those first drafts can be. Sometimes you look at them, cringe and say, did I really think that was important? And sometimes you look back and think, hey, I was spot-on. So I'll be curious to see what comes of the Jena activism -- is it this generation's "Selma" moment? We can't know that yet.

Speaking of Selma, next week we'll hear from a man who was there. Ted Koppel gets a lifetime achievement Emmy at the News & Documentary Emmy Awards next week. We decided it was high time for a Wisdom Watch conversation. One reason is that covering America's racial divide was -- and is -- one of his deepest passions and the focus of his most important stories. He'll tell us why it mattered so much to him...

And, we have another musical treat for you. I can't reveal it -- not even if you twist my arm. OK...a hint: she just had a sitdown with a woman who exhaled.

And that's all I'll say...

Have a good weekend.

So, yes, that WAS me you heard on The Michael Baisden Show Wednesday afternoon...

See, what happened was, we were trying to book Baisden for OUR show on Jena. For those of you who aren't fully aware, the nationally-syndicated radio host Michael Baisden -- better known for features like "Madd Issues" Monday, "Pleasure Principle" Thursday and his self-published tomes on issues like Why Men Cheat -- is one of the prime movers behind the "Jena 6" support rally.

...Thousands of people gathered in Jena, a small town of only 3,000 people to show their concern about what they see as racial inequality in the justice system.

We wanted to know what motivated Baisden to put the force of his show, and his personality, behind this cause. I don't know exactly how many people heard about the rally from him, but I do know it was an awful lot.

The only problem is...Baisden was on a bus...on his way to Jena. So, what to do? We tried burning up his cell phone (he was not pleased), calling his "people" (who were also on the bus). So producers Jamila Bey and Wendy Johnson got the bright idea to call into the show (he's on the air from 3-7 pm ET weekdays). All of a sudden we hear...Jamila's on the air!

She was talking to Baisden about why she wants HIM to talk to ME! And then...she hands ME the phone! What could I do?

So, we chatted. I had to know how and why, of all the causes in the world, this one so engaged his attention. We had a nice chat, but hey Michael! How about some reciprocity, man? I STILL want him to come on my show. He said (on the air) maybe next week.

So, TMM fans -- do me a favor -- burn up his phone and tell him to get on my show.

We were delighted to hear the voices of the people who were able to join us -- Lindsay Dial, a 30-year-old contract compliance officer, who boarded a bus from Atlanta to make the rally, and pastor Eddie Thompson, who lives and serves a church in Jena -- to give their respective views on why one wanted to come, and the other wishes she hadn't.

What about you? Is this the Selma moment for a new generation?
Another bid for relevance by the "old guard" civil rights leadership?
An absolutely crucial moment, a waste of time?

Tell us more...

Now, about O.J. Simpson...
HA! Made you look.

So...when you were in school, did the other kids call you a nerd? Did you wear that moniker proudly, or not?

I was a nerd, but in my day they called it something else. "Wonk," was it? "Big brain"? I don't remember... Anyway, it wasn't especially flattering -- or derogatory for that matter -- but, either way, I didn't care.

Then, as now, I like complicated subjects, and I like to help other people make sense of them...and I appreciate people who can make sense to me.

...Which is lucky because healthcare reform was our topic this morning. Is there any question that this is of great concern to many Americans? 47 million people are without health care, millions more worry that they are one job loss away from being uninsured. Still, others worry that the push to extend coverage to all will diminish choices and quality for most. So, the fact that this issue is once again at the forefront of political debate is welcome news to many people, and a source of anxiety to others. How to make sense of it all?

In 12 minutes, thank you very much.

These days the media, in general -- and the broadcast media, in particular -- are often criticized for being more concerned about the horse-race aspect of politics and less about the substance. We, needless to say, are doing our best not to fulfill that critique. But we also have an obligation to keep things interesting, too. I mean, who are we kidding? You're listening to us while you're driving to, or from, work...or, while driving the kids to, or from, school. Maybe you're listening to us on the train or treadmill, or maybe you're painting houses...or doing paperwork. My point is: you don't need us to put you to sleep.

So, we invited our own Julie Rovner, who covers health policy for NPR, and Dr. William Galston, of Brookings, to talk to us about the latest healthcare proposals being put forward by the Presidential candidates. Previously, they joined us to talk about the Congressional fight over whether to extend a children's health insurance program. We liked how they were able to make it all so digestible.

We plan to stay on this topic. NPR is planning a series of forums on healthcare reform. So, we will bring you as much as we can, whenever we can.

SPEAKING OF HEALTHCARE (OK, maybe not exactly)...

Remember, we're doing eldercare next week. Send your questions, comments and concerns. We think we have a terrific expert to help us. And if she can't get to all your questions...guess what? We'll have her back (as long as she's interesting and makes sense...).

U.S. National Archives and Records Administration

So, finally got a chance to talk to the MAN himself -- Ken Burns.

If you've been following the program, you know that WE have been following the controversy over Burns' latest documentary project, The War. Latino activists have been complaining that his film ignored their contributions to the World War II effort -- disappeared them, as it were, which felt particularly hurtful at a time when some feel the only public attention Latinos are getting is negative (for instance, the focus on illegal immigrants who don't want to learn English, etc.) The upshot is that Burns agreed to add more stories of Latinos in the war. But that set off some of the documentarians! They argued that Burns yielded to political pressure, and that his response sets a dangerous precedent for artists.

Throughout all this, we always wanted to talk to Ken Burns, himself.
What was he thinking?
How did he respond to the controversy? ...And why a film on WWII?

He answered all those questions and more in today's conversation. We also have a web extra, in which Burns discusses a topic we didn't have time to include in our live broadcast (like, why is the film so graphic? It really is, but not gratuitously, I think. But, it raises the question many are grappling with concerning news coverage of the current war in Iraq). As he pointed out, many of the critics had not even seen the film. But, neither had any of us who reported on it.

So, when the first episode airs (this SUNDAY on PBS), I'd like to ask your opinion...

Does The War tell stories that need to be told?
Does it leave anyone out? Who should be included?
...And, do you have a story that hasn't been told?

All of this is of interest to us, should you decide to share your thoughts...

Also, we've been talking about child care...how about eldercare? Next week, we're going to speak with both the Mocha Moms and our personal finance guy, Alvin Hall, about eldercare. So, please, send us your questions, concerns...and whatever's on your mind. We'll raise as many issues as we can.

Thanks for listening and sharing your thoughts, as always...

Greetings after the weekend...

Here in D.C., where we have just been welcomed to the airwaves of WAMU-FM (and also WDET-FM in Detroit!), there's a new nip in the air during the early mornings and late at night. ...Maybe a good time to try out our fall fashion tips from last week. (Me? I have two kids to send to college so I'll be lucky to even get some new tights. So, I don't think there are any exotic leather handbags in my future.) It might also be a good time to sit yourself down and listen to some new music, or catch the latest documentaries.

How lucky for you... We have some of both.

This week, we've got information about two new documentaries -- both are about World War II. The first is titled The War because that's what it always seemed to be called by both those who fought and the families who supported them. It's produced and directed by Ken Burns, the highly acclaimed filmmaker whose previous subjects have included the Civil War, jazz, and baseball, among other subjects. It premiers on PBS September 23, but we've been covering the film for months now, owing to complaints by some latino activists that the film gives short shift to the experiences of latinos in the war. In response, Burns added more material, after a set-to. We have wanted to speak to Burns on this issue for some time, so we're glad to give you the chance to hear from him directly. That conversation comes tomorrow (Tuesday)...

Following the official release, once people have a chance to see the film(s) -- and see how the new material is worked-in -- I'd love to revisit the issue to hear how people respond.

And today...a film that premieres tonight on PBS. I doubt you've heard this particular story, unless you are of a certain age and lived a certain experience. Ben Kuroki was born and raised in Nebraska. After the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, he and his brother decided they had to join the fight. But, first, Kuroki had to fight his way into the air corp (even though he was already a pilot). He went on to fly an incredible 58 combat missions. Let me help you picture this... Kuroki was only required to fly 25 missions, but flew 30 in Europe, and later another 28 elsewhere. Incredible. Meanwhile, 110,000 persons of Japanese descent were being interned back in the U.S. When his combat tour was over, Ben was asked to visit the camps to persuade people held behind barbed-wire to fight. Do you get the picture?

As the proud relative of three Tuskegee Airmen, I have some idea of what Kuroki was up against...only some idea. How could you know what it's like to fly for hours in a cabin with no air pressure -- where it became so cold your hands cold freeze to the metal if you took your gloves off -- unless you were there? And then, to know that when you tried to sign-up for this hard hard work, your government thought all you were good for was peeling potatoes, if that?

How could I know?

But films like Most Honorable Son help us get as close as we can.

Later in the week...

New music from... Well, it's a secret.

Here's another hint: "...If you're good to mama, then mama will be good to you..." I'm making it too easy for you.

And, we still want to explore what new information we can add to the "Jena 6" story. If we can, we will...

As I am writing this, there is breaking news in the case of the "Jena 6." That was the subject we devoted most of our broadcast to today, including interviews with reporters covering the story and the Rev. Jesse Jackson. The case began with a confrontation at the high school in this small Louisiana town -- the black kids asked if they could sit under a tree used as a gathering place by white kids...when they did so, several nooses were hung in the tree.

Several tit-for-tat racial incidents ensued as a result, culminating in a white teenager being beaten by a group of black students. Those boys -- now dubbed the "Jena 6" -- were charged with attempted murder.

The black parents are outraged because they say that threats and mistreatment of black students by whites (including a beating and an incident where a white student pointed a shotgun at a group of black kids) have been treated far less severely.

Anyway, this story has become a huge national cause celebre. We devoted most of the show to it today, including a conversation with Rev. Jesse Jackson on how he views his role as a faith leader in a situation like this. And, we had a very interesting commentary by a long-time Jena resident. You have to hear it. That's all I can say...

As I'm writing this...the conviction of Mychal Bell -- the only of the "Jena 6" to be tried so far (before an all white jury) who was facing 15 years in prison -- has been thrown out by an appeals court.

We'll try to update you on Monday... Until then, have a great weekend...

Michel Martin poses with Kojo Nnamdi of WAMU-FM's The Kojo Nnamdi Show following a recent interview.

Courtesy of The Kojo Nnamdi Show

Sorry to have to be so brief but I raced out of here midday to join my new WAMU-FM 88.5 colleague Kojo Nnamdi on his daily public radio program. As we've mentioned, we are very excited to be joining WDET-FM 101.9 in Detroit and WAMU in Washington as of Monday, September 17.

I'm sorry to sound like an idiot, but this really is exciting.

I love all my stations, but going up to WAMU yesterday as part of the team...I can't describe it. Here's what comes close: Have you ever heard of an athlete who played a sport in college, and then got to play in the pros in the same town? Or, got to be a sportswriter covering the teams he once watched as a kid? It's something like that. It's just a feeling of...I don't know...having graduated somehow.

Maybe because Diane Rehm, host of the The Diane Rehm Show, was the first news-talk program I followed when I came to Washington and started reporting as a little baby journalist. Of course, having grown up in New York, I've listened to some great radio personalities...Vy Higgenson at WBAL, William B. Williams at WNEW-FM 102.7 (My dad's favorite -- heavy on Sinatra and Johnny Mathis, you know the deal.) But Diane Rehm was the first host who I actually felt a connection to ...Is it because she is a woman? Because she's a newswoman? I don't know. But I do know that when I listen to her, she always makes me feel as if she's talking to me, not at me...or down to me.

When I was a White House correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, she even asked me to be on her show a couple of times. I don't remember much, except I know I was lousy -- talked too fast, nervous as hell. Same with Fresh Air with Terry Gross. I was on her show, too, during the Anita Hill-Clarence Thomas hearings and I was so bad, some random voice coach called me up and offered to assist me. I swear!

But, hey, there are second acts in American life, right? Thank heavens...(maybe I still need that coach?)

Anyway, I don't want to reveal all but, since then, Diane (and Terry) have been kind enough to offer me some professional mentoring, which I really appreciate.

And Kojo, what can I say about Kojo? So professional, so accessible, so on top of his game...so in touch with the city. Our show will follow Kojo's in the program lineup and he wanted to introduce me to his listeners. It's a call-in program so I had a chance to engage with some of the listeners directly. My favorite moment...one of the callers ("William") said he's always liked the fact that I wear my hair natural. He went on to make a more profound point -- about his sadness that so many African American public figures don't seem to feel they can be more explicit about their blackness (which I would debate). ...But then Kojo paused to say, "did you notice I've always worn my hair natural?"

I loved it!!! Thank you, Kojo! He even gave a shout-out to the Barbershop (go Jimi, Ruben and the crew!!!).

So it was a good day...a busy day...crazy busy. We raced back here to interview a music figure of some note for next week's program. She has a new album coming out. We had to do it that way to accommodate her schedule.

Are you intrigued?

Here's a hint: U-N-I-T-Y...

NPR does not typically identify reported victims of sexual assault. Carmen Williams has decided to release her daughter's name. According to the Associated Press, her daughter, Megan, is in agreement with that decision.

Lee, here...

There's so much we still don't know about the reported week-long kidnapping, torture and rape of Megan Williams in Big County, West Virginia. But, perhaps its the three things we do know for sure, so far, that makes the sting of this case feel so cold -- Megan is black, the accused (all six of them) are white, she was discovered at their residence, apparently, beaten and sexually assaulted.

Given that information alone, some might say, "'Nuff said. It's a heinous hate crime. Case closed. Lock 'em up."

Rule of thumb in this business: we can only affirm what we know to be factual. (I'm going somewhere with this, don't worry). With any story, we try and connect the dots based on what we know to be true, filling-in the color within the lines along the way. The lines are sometimes sketchy.

But, what happens when the colors are the lines? It gets touchy in our editorial meetings when the most provocative information known to us is, actually, just an evolving sketch of what really took place. It leaves us wondering (brainstorming, really) what we might bring you that is of any real substance, different than what you've already read or heard elsewhere...

Our colleague in public radio, Greg Collard at West Virginia Public Broadcasting, was a solid resource today. I see why say folks in local news are priceless -- they see it all, they know it all (or, at least, all there is to know).

And...

Rape, torture, kidnapping. In and of themselves, these are despicable acts. Now, combine them and factor-in race...and/or the possibility that one of the accused had some type of "relationship" with the victim. It's time to call to a doctor...

We asked renowned Harvard psychiatrist and author Dr. Alvin Poussaint to enlighten us. What kind of people -- both victims and perpetrators -- are sometimes characteristic of such an ordeal? Listen to how he breaks it down. It's quite interesting.

The local journalist, the doctor, now YOU...

Let us know how things appear from your standpoint. We're not so much interested in your investigative instincts as much as we are in your actual perspectives.

Tell us more...

How do you think the subject of race is influencing public opinion...your opinion... about this story?

...And what about location? Are rural areas really any more of a hub for these types of bizarre, disturbing events than anyplace else, like, say, Chicago? What is it about smaller communities that sometimes give-off that dark-side-of-Mayberry stigma? Talk to us, especially if you live in a rural area...

(After learning of the situation in West Virginia, I almost immediately recalled the story of 6-year-old Christopher Barrios. Brace yourself for this one...)

Thanks to those who commented on our Sept. 11 program. I can tell you we were aiming for something rich but not heavy handed, if that makes sense. I just had it in my mind that many of you listen to us as you are headed to or from work, or maybe on your lunch break or while you're doing paperwork. And I was thinking, you may have started the day thinking about those towers coming down or the plane heading into the Pentagon, and how the day is already fraught with sadness. We thought you might want something meaty, but without having to live the day all over again. So, our aim was to give you some meat -- to give you perspectives on the information and analysis about the situation in Iraq, and to offer some reflections on Sept. 11, but to talk about it in a way that didn't, well, drag us all back down to the saddest possible place. So, to the degree that we succeeded, thanks for letting us know. To the degree we didn't, we're always trying to do better.

Today, more on Iraq, from an Iraqi perspective. We first Met Mishkat Al Moumin earlier this year when we (not the royal "we"...that would be producer Marie and I -- the merry band of two, which we were back then. 'Course she's Miss Big Cheese now) attended a conference on women in national security issues. Al Moumin served in the provisional Iraqi government until a second assassination attempt encouraged her to come to the U.S. She's now a professor at George Mason University. What intrigued me about her point of view is her insistence that basic infrastructure is absolutely fundamental to improving the security situation in Iraq. We thought her perspective is one you'd want to hear.

...And then, yes,we switched gears. To, you know, Diddy and the big break-up. We talked about it in our monthly visit with the magazine editors. I'm tempted to be ashamed, but I'm not! I'm really not! We talked about why we (readers) are so fascinated with celebrities' personal business The editors say, well...I'll let them tell you. All I will say, in my defense, is that we also talked about powerful women, some important health stories, and the ongoing tragedy of the murders in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. So it wasn't all fluff.

Finally -- and I thought this was a real treat -- the inside story of the designer behind the dress that Jacqueline Bouvier wore to her wedding to JFK. Today would have been their 54th wedding anniversary. And I did not know, until I met the author of a book about African American dressmaker, that the designer of the dress was African-American. Her name was Ann Cole Lowe, and while her story is not quite a Greek tragedy, it comes pretty close.

Who knew?

Thanks to Rosemary E. Reed Miller, author of the book, Threads of Time, the Fabric of History, we now know.

Getty Images

On this day of remembrance we looked forward, and we looked back.

Looking forward: we had reactions to the congressional testimony by Gen. David Petraeus, commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, and U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker by former Undersecretary of Defense Edwin Dorn and U.S. Army Specialist Dexter Pitts, who was injured by an IED in Iraq in January 2005.

What's the way out?

By now, you know that General Petraeus recommended a very partial drawdown by next summer, but not enough for the war critics. You'll hear some very nuanced, very thoughtful analysis by a man who was in Iraq, and another man formerly tasked with getting men like him to go.

And, you'll hear some personal reflections from our regulars: Alvin Hall, the Mocha Moms, and one of the Barbershop guys, Arsalan Iftikhar.

And a voice I don't get to hear often enough: my brother's. He was a firefighter (actually a member of the fire patrol, funded by the New York Underwriters. It's the family business...our dad is a retired NYFD member -- Engine 202, Ladder 104 if you're interested. I have his helmet in my office at home).

Sept. 11 was my brother's scheduled day off. But when he saw the planes go into the towers on television, he knew he'd better get to work. So off he went, looking for fallen brothers. He has never forgotten those of his brother firefighters who never came home that day.

To be honest, we've never really talked about it before. He made it clear he didn't want to talk about it, and I respected that. But Marie, our Executive Producer (who knows my brother, "Mack") had this idea that maybe he would. So, with some trepidation, I called him and asked him. And he said, "sure." So, thanks brother.

Peace to all who mourn.

More tomorrow.

Well -- I am back -- I took a couple of days off so I could take the kids to their first two days of school (I normally come in too early to take the kids to school now), and I am proud to report that there was no crying, no grabbing of pants legs, no having to be peeled out of somebody's arms. And the kids did great, too!

Thanks to Lynn Neary for sitting-in and thanks for her powerful blog posts. If you haven't read them yet, please do me a favor and check them out, especially Thursday's.

The great thing about being a solo host is getting to put my stamp on the show; the bad thing about being a solo host is...well...being a solo host. So thanks to all those who sat in the chair this summer so I could attend to some of these important milestones in my family's life.

So, milestones. We may disagree about how often and how much to observe them, but I think we can all agree that certain events -- be they anniversaries, be they happy ones or sad ones -- have a way of taking up space in our heads, whether we acknowledge them or not. Sept. 11 is a day that most of us cannot forget, however much we would like to. And while no one has the right to tell another person whether -- or how long -- to grieve, there's a sense that we are now starting to disagree about how much, as a society, we should mark that day.

We have chosen to mark the day because it resonates with us as a way to acknowledge the transformations, both personal and political, that sprang from that morning. As you know, there will be some important reports to lawmakers, coming from commanders in the field and the U.S. ambassador to Iraq. NPR will have full coverage and we will certainly do our part with the guests on our program.

We began today with former Homeland Security Inspector General Clark Kent Irvin. He considers himself a friend and ally of the President, but has been critical of the pace at which he believes the administration has acted. You can hear his report this morning...

Later in the week, we have asked several key individuals to listen to the reports being delivered to Congress and to give their impressions. One, a former Undersecretary of Defense -- you will have heard him on the program before. We also have a former cabinet minister in the interim Iraqi government. Those of you who followed the program when we were only available in podcast form will remember her unique perspective; we're delighted to have an occasion to call upon her again.

We hope you'll join us throughout the week...

I should pause to acknowledge a conversation we had this morning with Ralph Anwan Glover. Fans of HBO's The Wire know him as Drug Crew chief "Slim Charles." DC residents and readers of the Washington Post will know that his brother Tayon's murder, a few weeks ago, was very much real. In a summer of gun violence, here is a man who is taking a stand and trying to stop the killings.

To all those who mourn the loss of loved ones on this day -- whether through disease, through aging, through street violence, through acts of terror, through service to their country...we are so sorry for your loss.

While I'm away, please welcome our NPR colleague, Lynn Neary, to the Tell Me More chair (and the blog). If you're a fan of NPR's Talk of the Nation or Morning Edition, I'm sure you are familiar with her work as occasional guest host on those programs. Take it away, Lynn...

Education has been the focus on TMM this week ...And I keep thinking about two conversations we've brought you since I've been filling-in.

Today, I talked with filmmaker Molly Blank about her documentary Testing Hope: Grade 12 in the New South Africa, which followed four students through the all-consuming process of studying for a set of exams that would, literally, determine their future. If they did well enough, they would likely have a chance at pursuing higher education...and the opportunity to lift themselves, and their families, out of poverty. But the Capetown High School, where they prepared for the tests, lacked basic resources. You might remember hearing Blank point out how there weren't even enough chairs for every child.

I couldn't help but to compare this South African school to Philadelphia's School of the Future, which we talked about in yesterday's program. In this fully-wired school, each student has his or her own laptop. The "Smart Cards," used by students to gain entry to the school, eliminate the need for grim security barriers. Teachers seem to freely use innovative approaches to learning. Classes are small, and so is the student body -- less than 1,000 kids are enrolled. And, in a smart low-tech move, classes begin close to 9:00 a.m. to align with the bio-rhythms of teenagers. Fancy.

Still, here's the best part of this: the school caters to an inner-city population. Microsoft played a role in its development, but the company did not give any money toward it. All funding came from the school district's budget.

The kids from Philadelphia's inner-city are already displaying one sure sign of success in their new school: we hear they are showing up for class in larger numbers.

Just think, what might happen if you matched the possibilities inherent in such a school with the determination and passion of kids all over the world who understand, as one South African student in the documentary explains, that education is "the ticket to life"?

Makes you kind of mad, doesn't it? It's upsetting that we (and I do mean "we") keep failing young people with empty rhetoric about the importance of education, while, at the same time, offering empty promises about what will be done to improve it.

That's my two-cents for the day.

I've had a great time on TMM. Michel is back Monday.

...And, by the way, things went pretty well with the Barbershop guys. Jimi even followed in his tradition by giving me a new nickname: Lynn-Rock.

I think I'll keep it.

-Lynn Neary

While I'm away, please welcome our NPR colleague, Lynn Neary, to the Tell Me More chair (and the blog). If you're a fan of NPR's Talk of the Nation or Morning Edition, I'm sure you are familiar with her work as occasional guest host on those programs. Take it away, Lynn...

Thanks, Michel.

So, here I am, sitting-in for Michel Martin -- a woman whose considerable talents I have admired for many years. And, though I have hosted almost every NPR show, I have to confess that when I was first asked to host Tell Me More, I hesitated.

Why?

Here's a simple answer that is also loaded with complexity: the color of my skin. I thought, after all, I am white and isn't TMM an African-American show? I've been told it is not. But, it is a show that is meant to spotlight diversity and, not to put too fine a point on it, there are more black faces at the TMM editorial meeting than anywhere else in the NPR News Department. Thus, my hesitation...

Would I be an outsider? Would I feel uncomfortable?

Interesting to have the tables turned.

But, underneath my hesitance was excitement as well. I happen to be someone who values diversity. I live in a mostly black neighborhood of Washington, D.C. My daughter is Chinese. And I have been following TMM since its beginnings. It was obvious from the early days that this show was committed to finding stories that are not getting as much attention elsewhere, and to explore subjects from a different perspective.

Take today's show for example, Opera great Luciano Pavarotti died. Every other NPR show would have run an obituary on this legendary tenor. And, what could any show say that hasn't already been said? TMM Executive Producer Marie Nelson had the answer. She remembered that another great singer, a very different kind of singer, once stood-in at the last minute for Pavarotti at the Grammys due to illness. So today, TMM closed the program with one of Pavarotti's signature pieces, Nessun Dorma, sung first by the incomparable Aretha Franklin and then by Pavarotti himself, a fitting tribute to the far-reaching influence of this opera super star.

So, in the end do I feel uncomfortable hosting this show? Quite the contrary. Why?

I like to talk about the clash of religion, politics and culture in the public school system.

I want to learn about schools of the future that accommodate everybody, not just the gifted and talented.

I want to hear the stories of Iraq war vets living with devastating injuries.

I want to know who some of the world's most powerful women are...and why.

As it turns out, TMM's issues are really my issues, too, which is as it should be.

Now...I have just one question: Will the Barbershop guys accept me?

-Lynn Neary

First some breaking news...

We were delighted to bring you updated information about scholar Haleh Esfandiari's release from detention in Iran. We, along with other NPR programs, have been following the story of her detention, for mysterious reasons, in Iran. Her family and her colleagues have been extremely worried about her, as she was prevented from leaving the country after a visit to check on her elderly mother. She was detained, then arrested and imprisoned, then released...but still not allowed to leave. Suddenly, over the weekend, her passport was restored. She is in Austria now and is expected back in the U.S. within days. We first spoke with her daughter, Haleh Bakash, in the middle of her mother's detention. She was kind enough to speak with us again, now that this is resolved. ...Or is it?

Three other Iranian-Americans are still there. Iran also released the passport of Iranian American journalist Parnaz Azima, who has been detained since January. She was also visiting her mother. But two other Iranian-Americans -- both men -- are still being held. It's been reported that Kian Tajbakhsh might be released soon (he was working on HIV/AIDS issues with the health ministry when he was arrested). And businessman Ali Shakeri, who was also visiting his mother, is still in custody.

We were also delighted to bring you an update from the elections in Jamaica, where there was a major upset -- the country's first female Prime Minister, Portia Simpson-Miller, seems headed for defeat in a very close race.

And then we went back to school...

As I've mentioned before, we are very committed to covering issues in education at Tell Me More. So far this week, we have only been able to scratch the surface of compelling issues in education. So, we are going to keep at it...

Let us know what you think.

I thought Marva Collins' take on excellence was well worth the time. I know she's a controversial figure, and her prescriptions aren't for everyone, but I think we can all agree that hearing educators make clear their philosophy of teaching is worth our attention.

Speaking of teaching and education...

I am off for the next two days so I can accompany my little ones to their first day of pre-school. I hope I don't cry this time...

While I'm out, please welcome our NPR colleague Lynn Neary to the chair. If you're a fan of Talk of the Nation and Morning Edition, I'm sure you've heard her filling-in on those two shows.

...and I'll see you on Monday.

Source: mirandaceleste

It's actually starting to feel like fall. Could this be because there really is a nip in the air? Or, because we've just bought the kids new lunchboxes and let them know that party time is officially over?

Here's a question for those of you no longer in academia: Remember the first time you realized you were NOT headed back to school in the fall? It was a bit shocking, I bet. You may have found yourself saying, "umm...something's wrong."

Our education system and its formal structure so dominates our lives. In a country with universal education, school almost feels like the weather, something we take for granted until it does something tragic. Schools in some communities operate as the center of the universe, a slow-moving train wreck in others.

Until 9/11, education was the centerpiece of President Bush's agenda; and we're still debating whether the policies he put into motion for K-12 learning are improving education or weakening it.

We feel this week is an appropriate time for us to take a hard look at issues in education. We begin with Michelle Rhee, the new chancellor of D.C.'s public schools. Of course, if you live in D.C. you have probably either heard about her or from her (she really seems to be everywhere...). If you don't live in Washington, you might know of her work before coming to this city (she's made a quite a few national headlines). Either way, I think the conversation is definitely worth a listen.

Tell me what you think about her almost stupid-simple approach to changing course in troubled schools.

Tomorrow...legendary educator Marva Collins joins our growing list of Wisdom Watch guests. Warm and fuzzy she is not.

...You'll need to listen to get my drift.

Looking ahead, we're pursuing conversations about ELDERCARE. Please, send us your concerns, questions and, especially, suggestions for the types of experts you need to hear from. We are especially interested in questions you aren't hearing addressed anywhere else, or in other media.

Last...We're also watching Hurricane Felix. After making landfall in Nicaragua, it seems to be headed for Honduras with a Category 5 status (the strongest). Tourists were airlifted from the region, but many locals remain. Given our recent attention to Hurricane Katrina's ongoing recovery efforts, we are certainly hoping for the best.

We'll keep you posted as events warrant...

How fast did I hit the door when we got off the air yesterday?

I hope the door didn't slam on the way out because, no joke, I headed straight for the grocery store...where I immediately set about to duplicate Chef James Paige's grill session. I did the pork chops (with the sweet marinade...we also did steaks with a dry rub, and burgers, and chicken sausage. Hey, why not?). I even had the nerve to throw down on that apple shortcake with caramel cream, and I had to toss a peace cobbler in there. I leave the actual grilling to my husband.

Not so bad for an impromptu get-together. A good time was had by all.

I know the cooking and wine segments are not our usual fare, but the world, as we know, can be a dangerous and scary place. We have to lighten-up sometimes. What better way to do that than with food. bon appetite!.

Back later with more about today's program...

I don't know about you but I am very fond of the last day of the month and the first day of the month (except for that whole having to pay the mortgage thing).

Because I am a list-maker, I love the sense of completion that accompanies the last day of the month. And because I am an optimist, I love the sense of opportunity that ushers in the first day of the month (...what the month ahead will bring, what I will accomplish...and did my cute sweaters survive storage?)

I really like September. It's the beginning of school! (Yes, I realize you Atlanta folks and many others are already back at it). Well, Tell Me More is also going back to school this upcoming week. Education is always an important topic. We plan to cover it well and often year-round, but September is a logical time to take a look at a few specific issues in education.

To give you a sneak peak, we will have an interview with the brand-spanking-new Chancellor of Washington, D.C.'s public schools, Michelle Rhee. What makes Rhee so interesting to hear from? She's the city's first school chief in-step with new D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty's recent takeover of the school system. He's following the example of others he admires, like NYC's Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

...So many things to talk about with Rhee. And D.C. is just like every other large urban system. Just like so many others, we want to know why so many kids still perform below their grade levels, why there is still an achievement gap between whites, Asians and the other minority children in so many cities...and, what it would take to turn things around.

And what about race? IS race still a hot-button issue in education?

In the coming week, we'll also talk about issues in higher education. For instance, Alvin Hall, our money guy, is going to talk about FRESHMAN FINANCE -- how to keep you college freshmen from getting into financial soup.

Ya hear me?

Finally...if you are anywhere near a radio (or the web) on Labor Day, you've got to tune-in to the show. Suffice it to say, we will be grillin' and chillin'. I'm serious...serious about the fun, that is. If we have to work on Monday (and we do), please know that we're going to have fun. So...check us out.

HAVE A GOOD LABOR DAY WEEKEND.