November 2001

Dialing for Citizenship-- Satirist Tony Hendra, with performer Murray Horwitz, demonstrates how the Justice Department's "Responsible Cooperators Program" introduced by the Justice Department this week might be abused. The program encourages non-citizens who have useful information about terrorists to come forward. Hendra depicts a British alien who pretends to know where Osama bin Laden is in exchange for a shot at US citizenship. (2:00)

Just Checking-- When it comes to his daughter, commentator Dr. David Hill says he's more parent than pediatrician -- checking to be sure she's breathing, over-worrying about symptoms he'd minimize to his patients' parents. (2:45)

Forbidden Books-- When storyteller Bill Harley was in the sixth grade, his friends started sneaking copies of James Bond books to school. Soon, everyone was bringing in their parent's forbidden books, hoping for cheap sexual thrills. (2:45)

The Elderly Aunt's Ring-- Commentator Elissa Ely covets her elderly aunt's diamond ring. But she couldn't bring herself to accept it as a gift -- until it was too late. (3:30)

Teen Writer-- Commentator Apryl Lundsten talks about her time as a freelance writer for teen girl magazines. She stopped writing for these publications when she found out the hard way that the whole truth isn't always welcome. (3:30)

Iraq-- NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr says the Bush administration is being pushed towards making a decision about Iraq -- and its possible role in terrorism -- sooner than expected. (2:30)

Pop's Paintings-- Commentator Peter Heller recalls the time his father, who worked in advertising, suddenly began a prolific series of paintings -- on ceramic plates, soup tureens, and then canvases of all kinds. His father created an entire universe of Western characters -- gunfighters, saloon types, cattle rustlers. They sold very well. (3:45)

Doubting Thomas and Apple Pie-- Commentator Carol Wasserman finds reason to believe in a positive future while preparing and baking apple pies. To her, evil cannot triumph as long as she can roll out the dough, cut the apples, and shape thecrust. Doubting Thomas never tried her pie. (3:00)

Body of Liberty-- Commentator Andrei Codrescu says young people in Central Europe have shed the garb of communism, but older people are still mired in the past, and dress accordingly. (2:45)

Trying Accused Terrorists-- NPR senior news analyst Daniel Schorr says Attorney General John Ashcroft will have to face up to Congress to explain the recent exertions of executive power in the fight against terrorism. (3:00)

Lonesome Without You-- Writer and storyteller Bailey White brings presents a tale about loss and love. In an annual Thanksgiving tradition, White tells a 22-minute story of a small town boy who has recently lost his mother. The story takes place at a gas station where the boy loiters his days away, observing people cleaning their cars. The boy, Ned, takes notes on one customer's habits and soon finds out he has an important connection with this patron. (22:00)

Giving Thanks-- Commentator Heather Fenby spent two week helping distribute the donations that poured in response to the Sept. 11 attacks. This Thanksgiving, she says her thank-you list is quite long. (3:30)

Talking Back-- Last weekend, Commentator Kathy Y. Wilson went to see the movie 13 Ghosts. She didn't like the movie much. And she knows just how everyone else in the theater felt about it, too. Talking back to the movie screen is big with black people, she says. (3:30)

Check out more of her work at www.citybeat.com. Her column is called "Your Negro Tour Guide."

Oil-- NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr remarks that Americans may owe a debt of gratitude to Russia for an oil policy that is keeping gas prices low in the U.S. (3:00)

Buddy-- Commentator Susan Straight's former neighbor, Buddy, is now homeless. He used to live across the street from her. She ended up with a few of his things, but she is afraid to give them to him, because he might start coming around her house more. (4:00)

Hunger in America-- Commentator Joseph Loconte says a study showing less Americans using food stamps and more turning to private charitable organizations for help demonstrates the value of the President's plan to fund so-called "faith based" organizations. He also says it shows there's still plenty of work to be done in response to poverty in America. (3:00)

Market Day-- Commentator Nancy Coons takes a sensual trip through her local farmer's market. (2:45)

Thanksgiving-- Commentator Ralph Schoenstein praises Thanksgiving -- a holiday that has remained free of too many commercial impositions. He says there's more reason than ever to be thankful. (2:45)

A Time for Stories-- Commentator Andrei Codrescu presents a rallying cry to writers and artists to cast off the gloom of post-modernism and embrace the reality of these times, when everyone has stories to tell. (3:30)

Failed Artist-- Commentator Jonathan Kranz talks about giving up his dream of being an artist and concedes he just doesn't have what it takes.(3:00)

The Repeating Patient-- Commentator Elissa Ely says that when it comes to mental health, sometimes those who need help stymie the efforts of those who most want to help them. (3:00)

Bush Administration - Mideast-- NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr says Secretary of State Colin Powell's speech on U.S. involvement in Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations presents the Bush administration as engaged -- but not tilting towards either side. (3:00)

Larry Potter-- Writer Tony Hendra imagines a "pitch" by two frantic Hollywood screenwriters trying to sell an Americanized version of the Harry Potter. This one would be full of car chases, explosions and actors like Denzell Washington. The sketch is performed by Hendra, actor Ed Begley Junior and Amy Dickinson. (2:30)

Flight Attendant-- Flight attendant and commentator Hollis Gillespie says passengers are suddenly paying a great deal more attention to the safety demonstrations at the beginning of her flights. (3:30)

Keeping Pace-- NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr looks with surprise at the pace of events in Afghanistan and wonders if the international community can keep up. (2:15)

Outdoor Sculpture-- Sculptor Aliseo Garcia talks about his latest project. It's in the parking lot of the Irwin Arts Center in Irwin, Tex.. (3:00)

No Top 10-- NPR film critic Bob Mondello says that unless Hollywood's been saving the best for last this year, it's going to be tough to come up with a list of 2001's 10 best. (3:00)

Baseball Contraction-- Empty baseball stadiums are part of the fun of the game for Scott Huler, who grew up in Cleveland. He offers a few ideas. (3:00)

U.S.-Russian Relations-- With a summit between President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin imminent, NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr takes a look at the issues bringing Russia closer to the United States. (3:00)

Oregon Winemaking-- Across the United States this time of year, people are unpacking sweaters, breaking out rakes, and figuring out where to store the lawn furniture. But for many people outside a city, harvest is foremost on their minds. Writer Matt Giraud knows where he'd rather be. (3:30)

9/11 or 11/9-- Commentator Alexa Dvorson lives in Berlin. There, 9/11 means November 9th, the date of Kristallnacht, when Nazi thugs in 1938 set scores of synagogues on fire and plundered Jewish owned businesses. Dvorson believes that the dates 9/11 and 11/9 are linked. They both mark the begining of terror for two different countries in two different eras. (3:00)

French Armistice-- The village of Rodemack, France, remembers those who died in World War I every year on Armistice Day. Commentator Nancy Coons thinks back to past memorials, and how each year she sees the event in a different light. She knows that this year will be no exception. (5:00)

Speech Recognition-- Commentator Heather Havrilesky talks about using speech recognition technology to write a novel for a contest. November is "National Novel Writing Month" and a program has been set up for five thousand writers to write "laughably awful prose." They have one month and must write 50,000 words. (3:30)

Junior ROTC-- "JROTC" as teen cadets call it, provides officer and leadership training in high schools around the country. Being in JROTC doesn't mean you are obligated to join the military. But if that's your goal, JROTC will put you a step ahead of other recruits, offering incentives like college scholarships and higher military ranks. In a time of war, JROTC cadets have more to think about -- weighing the benefits of joining the military against the possibility of going into battle zones. Youth Radio's Bobby Thompson tells his story, and the story of other Junior ROTC cadets, whose views have changed since the Sept. 11 attacks. (4:15)

Sanctuary-- Commentator Jenny Spinner takes refuge in a building far away from her home in Connecticut, a place so vivid that she can return there in her mind when things are difficult. (3:30)

LBJ and Bush-- NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr takes a look at a new executive order that may restrict access to the papers of past presidents. (3:00)

Bush Veto-- President Bush has issued his first veto threat since the September 11 attacks. NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr says it may signal the end of wartime bipartisanship. (3:00)

Euros-- Poet and commentator Andrei Codrescu offers an eulogy to the departing currency of Western Europe, from the lyrical lira to the sturdy Dutch guilder. (4:00)

Terrorism and International Relations-- NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr says that relations with everyone from Russia to Sudan are being changed by realignment around terrorism. (3:00)


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