April 7, 2001

Weekly Edition
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An index of this week's stories:

Wireless Technology (14.4 | 28.8) - Up to now, a wireless connection to the internet has usually meant using a cell phone to log on. NPR's John McChesney reports that now there is another wireless technology -- this time aimed at laptop computers -- that is showing up in cafes and airport lounges. It offers very high speed internet connections and it's simple to use. - 5:21

Everquest (14.4 | 28.8) - Brook Gladstone, co-host of NPR's On The Media, reports on the internet game, Everquest, owned by Sony. Hundreds of thousands of people pay for the CD-ROM and a monthly fee to play. The game borrows heavily from Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, featuring gods, strange lands and monsters. - 7:55

Garfield (14.4 | 28.8) - Bob Garfield, co-host of NPR's On the Media reports on permission specialists -- the people who get the suspects in the "cops" type shows to sign on the dotted line to allow their stories and images to be used in these "reality shows." Their are lots of reasons why few suspects hesitate to sign -- some hope it will help their case, some just want that 20 seconds of fame before being put away for 20 years, and some, they say, are just stupid. - 6:43

Kling (14.4 | 28.8) - CStory teller Kevin Kling rides the rails. He meets "Ed" a hobo with great recipes, information on the best dumpsters around the country, and knowledge of all things. He can even predict recessions. - 4:00

Postville (14.4 | 28.8) - A decade ago a group of Hasidic Jews moved to the small town of Postville, Iowa. Stephen Bloom wrote a book about it. Postville: A Clash of Cultures in Heartland America was published last fall. Today he tells the story of how the town has changed since the Hasids arrived. The two cultures have largely remained separate. But one of the Hasidic men has been appointed to the city council. A petition was circulated in reaction, and next month there will be an election to decide if that man, Aaron Goldsmith, stays or goes. Some non-Jews in the town feel strongly that the Hasim haven't done enough to become part of the community. - 9:50

John Hammond (14.4 | 28.8) - Blues musician John Hammond has spent his entire career covering the works of great American songwriters like Chuck Berry, Willie Dixon and Mose Allison. For his latest project, Wicked Grin, Hammond selected twelve songs by Tom Waits. In an unconventional twist, he asked Waits himself to produce the record. Liane speaks with John Hammond about his friendship with Tom Waits and the recording sessions that yielded this CD. - 12:00

Some stories do not link to audio files because of Internet rights issues.

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