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November 2002
 Thanksgiving Cab Ride
Commentator Marion Roach tells the story of a
cross-town Thanksgiving Day taxi cab ride. (3:30)
'Vampires' at the Airport
Commentator Andrei Codrescu provides a
sinister, funny view of airline passengers roaming airports searching for
juice for their laptops and other electronic equipment, moving like vampires
hungry for blood. He is one of them. (3:15)
Feeling Safe
Commentator Carol Wasserman says she feels a little more safe knowing there's a guy standing on the overpass, counting cars and keeping an eye on things.
NATO's Relevance
NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr says NATO has lost its Cold War purpose and the Bush administration is looking to NATO more for moral support than for military assistance.
Apply Now
Commentator Andrei Codrescu playfully suggests how characters can find employment in novels. (3:30)
Mom's Email
Commentator Peter Freundlich recounts how his Luddite 80-year-old mother has managed to conquer an email machine -- but in her own way. She calls before sending, calls when sent and follows up with "What, no reply"?" in a final call -- defeating the whole thing. Plus she forwards her son every incoming email. A funny tale.
Marathon
Commentator Marion Winik is training to run a marathon -- a surprise to herself. The people she trains with, other middle-aged women, have taught her this physical challenge is a spiritual rejuvenation.
'Total Information Awareness'
NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr says ever since Sept. 11, the Bush administration has been advancing a wide variety of projects and legislative initiatives to wear away the general prohibition against spying on Americans in America. The most far-reaching of these endeavors is called Total Information Awareness -- a Pentagon research project that would compile data on everything ranging from phone bills to medical prescriptions into a single database to develop profiles on persons of interest.
Commentary: Why Shoplift?
When actress Winona Ryder was convicted of shoplifting last week, it struck a chord with Youth Radio's Nora Harrington. Harrington is a high school student who wonders what her classmates find so thrilling about stealing.
Iraqi Politics: Saddam's Next Move
NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr says that in the bizarre theater of Iraqi politics, the show has only just begun. Saddam Hussein faces a stark choice, and it remains to be seen whether he has recognized the need to comply with the Security Council or has simply decided on yet another stalling tactic. (3:00)
Wallowing Music
Commentator Chris Tsakis gets his heart broken and finds comfort in the corniest songs; songs he'd despise if they didn't echo his emotions so perfectly. (3:00)
Digital 'Taps'
The Department of Defense is testing a new technology for funerals. It's a digital bugle, to play "Taps." There are far more funerals a day than there are military buglers, so the Defense Department has to compensate somehow. Commentator Joellen Easton has played "Taps" at military funerals, and she hopes the Defense Department's experiment isn't too successful. (3:30)
Veterans Day Commentary
Commentator Ralph Schoenstein reflects on
what he learned during his time in the Army at Fort Dix, N.J.
Republican Modesty
NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr says despite stunning Republican victories in last Tuesday's election, President Bush has declined to engage in any chest-thumping and has been very modest in outlining the Republican legislative agenda for
the 108th Congress.
Charlotte Council to Vote on Stadium Deal
The City Council in Charlotte, N.C., is getting ready to vote on a deal that could bring pro basketball back to town. The Hornets left for New Orleans this summer after a deal for a new stadium fell through. Commentator Andrea Cooper says that her city is trying to improve its image through sports -- just like a lot of other smaller cities. She's been in favor of growth through pro sports for many years, but now she's beginning to wonder.
Walter Cronkite Remembers the North Africa Campaign
Commentator and former CBS-TV anchor Walter Cronkite tells of his firsthand experience on this date 60 years ago as American forces landed in North Africa to fight Germany during the Second World War. He was a wire service reporter on a Navy vessel at the time. We hear CBS broadcasts by John Daly from the time.
MOWGLI
Commentator Wendee Holtcamp sent us this funny essay about the commentator's nature-boy husband and his penchant for blood worms and other natural delicacies.
Pinkwater Commentary
Commentator Daniel Pinkwater doesn't like selling his books. He shuns interviews, but he needs to get paid for the books. So he usually talks about anything but the book. He says he has a beatnik streak and that his liberal education is to blame. Other artists have PR firms to help out; he doesn't.
Democrats
NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr says predictions suggesting that a majority would form to support the Democrats failed to come true. Despite what some describe as a change in voter demographics that could have swept Democrats into office, the Democrats proved unable to tap into the prophesied groundswell. (2:30)
Aging
Forty-something commentator Marion Winik catches her image in
the mirror and suddenly feels the presence of aging. (4:15)
Planned Obselecence
Commentator Ed Cullen muses about old-school auto mechanics. (3:00)
Paper Bags
Commentator Barbara Klein finds printed names on the bottom of paper bags at fast food restaurants. One of the names, "Alan Rumbo," intrigues her. She traces the bag back to its maker, and actually gets to talk to the line worker at the paper bag plant, Rumbo himself, who explains how the name on the millions of bags he makes propelled him to hero status with his kids. (3:00)
Knees
Commentator Elissa Ely remembers a girl from high school who desperately wanted to be in with the 'in' crowd but would never be accepted because suffered from severe psoriasis on her knees. Now, Elissa realizes, that girl's hopeless yearning mirrored her own. (2:30)
Speed Humps
Commentator Katie Davis explains how addition of a speed hump on her street taught her the true meaning of local politics. (5:15)
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