July 6, 1998 All Things Considered (entire program) Requires the RealAudio Player

An index of the day's stories:

KOSOVO VILLAGE -- NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports from Pristina on the first day of patrols by US, European, and Russian diplomats in Kosovo Province. The diplomatic observers are hoping to build confidence and head off new violence in a region shaken by fighting between Serbian security forces and ethnic Albanian separatists. (4:00)

ORANGE ORDER STANDOFF -- NPR's Michael Goldfarb reports from Belfast on the Orangemen camped on the outskirts of Portadown. The militant Protestant loyalists are vowing to defy a government ban and stage their annual parade through the mainly Catholic Garvaghy Road. (4:00)

THE POWER OF HATRED -- Commentator Ralph Peters says that the standoff in Northern Ireland is symptomatic of the problems neighbors around the world have in getting along. He says that as long as a dangerous minority of people cling to ancient hatreds, the peace processes in progress worldwide will ultimately be doomed. (3:30)

ROY ROGERS OBITUARY -- Roy Rogers, the singing "King of the Cowboys," died of congestive heart failure today at the age of 86. He was a successful singer with the group "The Sons of the Pioneers," and in 1937 became "the singing cowboy" for Republic Studio in Hollywood. He ended up as the top Western star from 1943 to 1954 in a poll of theater operators. He made 87 films during his career, and his television series ran from 1951 to 1957. President Clinton expressed his sorrow today, and we hear a 1991 interview Roy Rogers did with Linda on this program. Roy tells about how a young man named Leonard Slye from Cincinnati accidentally wound up as a singing cowboy. (7:30)

LIFE STRESS -- Frank Browning reports how new approaches to treating stress will focus on the use of psychotherapists in work settings, which are not commonly associated with high stress experiences. In group sessions at the workplace, not through individual therapy, therapists teach how to deal with the strains that all work imposes on individuals and families. They show how workers can anticipate specific problems, like the frustration that may arise when one marital partner spends a lot of time traveling. In a private setting, this form of therapy is often thought of as "couples counseling", but this variant, in a public, more tutorial setting, seeks to prevent marital problems more than it seeks to treat them. (12:30)

CABLE RATINGS -- Robert talks with Rich Katz, a reporter for Variety, the entertainment industry trade paper. They discuss the news that cable network broadcasting, for the last two weeks, was viewed by more people than the no-fee broadcast networks. Katz says that viewership on cable networks has gradually been growing, and that he's not surprised to see cable beat the broadcast networks. He says that it's a cumulative effect, and, that with the abundance of cable networks offering specialized programming, it was just a matter of time until the ratings of the individual cable networks would beat out the Big Four broadcast networks' numbers. (4:30)

EMOTIONAL COMPUTERS -- Commentator David Weinberger talks about the idea that computers can be built to mimic human emotions. He says that they are already emotional, because of how the computer desktop metaphor has become a distinct and identifiable place. It is now perceived as a place computer users actually go. Since places bring forth emotions, the computer is already an emotional tool. (3:00)

EVACUATION ORDER LIFTED -- NPR's Adam Hochberg reports from Florida's Flagler County, where residents are returning to their homes. More than 40,000 people had to leave last week because of uncontrolled wildfires. Most of their homes appear to be fine, but the threat of fire still remains. (4:30)

NEA REJECTS MERGER -- This weekend, National Education Association convention delegates in New Orleans voted to reject the principles behind a proposed merger with the American Federation of Teachers. Talks on the issue continue, but likelihood of the merger has substantially decreased. The merger would create the largest labor union in the United States. Robert talks with Dennis Van Roekel, the secretary-treasurer of the NEA, and Bob Haisman (HAYCE-man), the president of the Illinois Education Association, about the vote. Van Roekel had organized the unification movement, while Haisman has been a leading critic of the merger. (7:00)

STRIKE UPDATE -- NPR's Don Gonyea reports from Detroit that General Motors is beginning to feel pressure to settle in strike negotiations with the United Auto Workers. Analysts are predicting a permanent loss of market share if the strikes against GM at two parts plants in Flint, Michigan, continue past this week. GM dealers still have enough cars on their lots, but they could begin to run out in August. The strikes have already idled most of GM's North American assembly plants. (3:30)

CORPORATE CONSCIENCE -- Commentator Elaine Segal has a friend who feels overwhelmed by her successful corporate life and the lack of good values she sees at the office. (4:00)

WAR CRIMES -- Gillian Sharpe reports from the Hague on today's opening arguments in the war crimes trial of Bosnian Serb Milan Kovacevic. Although the Yugoslav war crimes tribunal has charged other suspects with murder, rape and crimes against humanity, Kovacevic is the first accused of genocide. (3:00)

BRAWLEY LAWSUIT -- Defendant Alton Maddox lashed out in court today at the man suing him for defamation in the Tawana Brawley case. NPR's Melissa Block reports on closing arguments in the seven-month-old trial. (4:00)

SUMMER ON THE HILL -- Republican leaders are lining up their priorities for the summer, without an overall spending agreement with the White House. That means the final three-dozen days of the congressional session could be dominated by issues on which the Republicans and Democrats simply present their positions, and don't compromise enough to enact anything. Today, President Clinton asked Congress to set aside partisanship issues. NPR's Brian Naylor reports. (5:30)

THE FALL OF A SPARROW -- Book reviewer Alan Cheuse talks about the new novel from Robert Hellenga, called The Fall of a Sparrow. It's the story of a man dealing with family issues after the death of his daughter in a notorious terrorist attack in Italy. Cheuse says that it's a well-told, tremendously moving story. The Fall of a Sparrow is published by Simon and Schuster. (2:15)

RUFUS WAINWRIGHT -- David Greenberger reviews Rufus Wainwright's self-titled debut album. The son of Loudon Wainwright and Kate McGarrigle, Rufus grew up with music all around him. Rufus celebrates his musical upbringing while also showcasing his unique and lively musical talent. The new CD is called Rufus Wainwright, and is released on DreamWorks Records (www.dreamworks.com). (5:15)