Hey Lee, I know you want me to write about my favorite segment on 'Tell Me More,' and I'll get to that shortly, but I have a few things on mind.

Hello TMM Blog Community -

I'm sure you've been following the reports about the swine flu virus. By clicking around on the NPR Web site, you'll find the main report page, where you can listen to a number of stories about what the virus is and its spreading potential. Check out information on the pig farming town in Mexico, where officials confirmed one of the first flu cases. And TMM's planning editor, Luis Clemens talked to Michel about how the health crisis was affecting his friends and family in his former hometown and NPR has a map where you can track confirmed cases of the flu across the globe. Check it out.

Today's Frustration

So, I begin with all that to say ... I'm a little frustrated today. My younger sister is boarding a plane. She's going to California.

Ordinarily, I'm not worried but then I saw Vice President Joe Biden in a news clip saying,

"I would tell members of my family, and I have, I wouldn't go anywhere in confined places now. It's not that it's going to Mexico, it's that you are in a confined aircraft. When one person sneezes, it goes all the way through the aircraft. That's me. ..."

Wow. Really? I have to shake myself. Who am I? I'm a citizen and like you, I take cues on how to respond to a health crisis. ... And, I'm a journalist. I work for a reputable news organization that reports on these outbreaks so ... I'm going to count on the information that our reporters collect, wash my hands and cover my mouth when I cough.

Michel Martin Loves Music

Now, I want to hit a lighter note ... All this week, we've been celebrating the two-year anniversary of Tell Me More (TMM). My colleagues have been reflecting on the stories they loved to produce. Many of those segments were soul-stirring, and I enjoyed listening to them again.

But, I want to share with you something that has surprised me about working on this show -- Michel loves music. Yes, she loves to talk about politics, news, share information and she's intellectually gifted. But, Mrs. Girlfriend loves a good performance chat. We've had beat boxing with Yuri Lane (Michel trying to beat box was hilarious); Omar Sosa, the Afro-Cuban Alchemist of Jazz (the music was intoxicating); Ozomatli, the multi-ethnic hip-hop and rock group brought "the hotness." (I danced all around the office.)

But, my favorite, to this day, and I still watch the video on NPR.org's music site: songtress Lizz Wright! She came into the studio to talk with Michel about her album, "The Orchard." Her father is a minister and she sang in the church's choir. Her voice is beautiful. Her sound is a mixture of jazz, gospel, and rhythm and blues. Her lyrics capture her vulnerability and strength. We have Wright performing her song, "Speak Your Heart," on video.

A few of the lines read like this: "You say that love don't come easy for you - what makes you think I ain't afraid. Let me in or let me go. It's time to tell me where you standing. I won't go down if you say no, speak your heart."

And maybe that's my message to you. We love to hear your comments everyday, not only during our anniversary week. So, keep the dialog going.

Speak your heart.

Have a good weekend.

Sincerely ...

tags:

categories: TMM Turns Two!

2:14 - May 1, 2009

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