NPR junkies's topics - tribe.net

Corporate Greed Wrecks NPR, PBS Fundraising

David — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 22:54:27 GMT

DONATIONS DOWN: NPR, PBS IN PERIL FROM SAFEWAY MOVE

WASHINGTON, DC (AP) -- In a move that stunned the public broadcasting world, donations are down for the third straight quarter. The $60 donation, the mainstay of public radio and TV broadcasting, has all but disappeared. The reason: Tote bags.

"Ever since Safeway, Kroegers, and other nationwide chains have begun to offer cloth shopping bags to reduce shopping bag waste, our numbers are down," according to Bishop Joey of the First Church, operator of an NPR radio affiliate in New Canton, Arizona. "Few people want to donate $60 to get a tote bag with the Car Talk guys on it when they can spend a dollar for a Kroeger or an Osco bag with their nice logo on it," the minister said.

His comments were echoed by Myles de Asario of the National Public Radio merchandising unit. "We even tried being clever, adding a "Nina Totin' Bag" to our collection, but the tote bags just aren't moving anymore. It has become a serious issue as our suppliers are becoming stuck with a serious logjam of "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me" and Neil Conan bags. Unless we get relief soon, we may have to dump the bags on the open market, diminishing their value even further. But we really have little choice," the representative said.

So serious has the problem become that PBS, the Public Broadcasting Service has been experimenting with replacements for the tote bags. "It's not enough to offer a "Yan Can Cook" tote bag, today we have to offer a set of knives, a vegetable chopper and a maybe even a Flowbee hair cutting device for the more demanding contributors," according to Espinoza Walker O'Brien Douglas-Mansuba, chief negotiator for the PBS station members, representing station interests to the national network. "These days, a donor phones us and demands that we throw in a vegetable slicer or a sweater de-linter. We simply can't keep up anymore," she said.

posted in NPR junkies - 5 replies

KQED listeners: where's Norm???

sarah_with_an_h — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 05:38:14 GMT

Any Bay Area people know what's wrong with Norm Howard? He's been away a long time (back a day here and there, then gone again), and I'm starting to worry about him! I realize I don't even know the man, but I'm really concerned! I miss hearing him in the mornings.

posted in NPR junkies - 13 replies

Twitter site for Seattle NPR

Jeff — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 08:26:41 GMT

Hi all,

If you're in Seattle, check out:

http://radiofiend.com

It lets you chat (using Twitter) about KUOW programs in real-time, as they air. It's not affiliated with KUOW or NPR.

posted in NPR junkies - 0 replies

Bay Area BBC religion broadcast

Leee — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 03:19:01 GMT

Hi all, just found this group, quite stoked actually. Bit of a throbbing question, ahem, if you will: Last Saturday in the Bay Area, I think KQED's NPR feed got knocked out by the storms, so they switched to BBC programs (programmes, if you will). One show of particular interest was an atheist host badgering a priest, a rabbi, and I think an imam to convince him that there's a God. I couldn't listen to the whole thing, plus my reception was spotty -- does anyone know the name of the program, and if it's available anywhere on the internets?

posted in NPR junkies - 1 reply

Michael Krasny (KQED Forum)

inoah — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 08:30:04 GMT

Has anyone noticed in the past 6 months or so that he's had a *lot* of guest hosts? Anyone know why he's not hosting very consistently lately?

posted in NPR junkies - 1 reply

it gets better then NPR...

Marcus — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 02:26:52 GMT

There was a time a few years ago when I used to listen closely to NPR like most of you do. Not anymore though. Besides accepting money from the pro-nuclear power folks, they'll take money from most any corporate sponsor, be it Boeing or Microsoft. The board members of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting which also funds and dictates content, are selected by the President and confirmed by Congress. Notice any content change in the past 7 years? If you are looking for a better, truly independent daily media source, free from scrutiny of the advertising executives, then check out DemocracyNow.org. You won't have to sit in frustration about the wars while commercials for weapons manufacturers play between segments. Please, check these out for yourself:

http://democracynow.org/ DemocracyNow!

http://www.gnn.tv/ Guerrilla News Network

http://www.mindfully.org/ Mindfully.org

http://www.indymedia.org/en/index.shtml Independent Media Center

http://www.commondreams.org/ Common Dreams

http://globalpublicmedia.com/ Global Public Media

http://www.adbusters.org/home/ Adbusters

I'm not saying NPR is worthless or anything - it does have some intelligent, entertaining programs. There's just some better, real grassroots community media outlets who's journalists are not under anyones thumb. I'm really not trying to stir you up, just wake you up to a little more of what's out there that you might not have known about. Peace yal!

posted in NPR junkies - 1 reply

Scott Simon and paternity leave

ambero — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 01:03:33 GMT

I haven't read many of the threads here in a while so maybe this was mentioned, but my favorite voice, Scott Simon of Saturday Edition, is gone on paternity leave. anyone hear when he's coming back? His fill-in for the past couple of weeks is pretty good, but I loves me some Scott!

And wow, paternity leave! His NPR bio doesn't say his age, but he's been there for 30 years. Go Scott!

posted in NPR junkies - 3 replies

"NPR Touts Pro-Nuke 'Environmentalists' "

Marcus — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 22:38:28 GMT

from http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3164

NPR Touts Pro-Nuke 'Environmentalists'
Network's own nuclear links undisclosed

8/22/07

"An August 15 NPR Morning Edition segment touted the benefits of nuclear power, suggesting it was gaining popularity with many environmentalists who once opposed it.

The segment was an interview with Fortune magazine editor David Whitford, who has written a series of articles about the debate over nuclear power. The piece was introduced by NPR anchor John Ydstie, who asserted that "with fossil fuel carbon emissions in the environmental bull's-eye, nuclear power is starting to shake off its bad reputation." Whitford elaborated on the claim that nuclear power's image is improving: "There are many environmentalists now who began their careers opposed to nuclear power who are now reconsidering nuclear power in the face of global warming."

But Whitford cited just one such environmentalist, Stewart Brand, describing him simply as the creator of the 60s and 70's publication, the Whole Earth Catalogue, and calling him "sort of the original off-the-grid environmentalist." In fact, Brand is currently a businessman, a co-founder and leader of the corporate consulting group Global Business Network (GBN). GBN numbers, among the 192 clients named on its website, more than a dozen corporations and governmental agencies involved in the production or promotion of nuclear energy: General Electric, Bechtel, Duke Power, Siemens-Westinghouse, Fluor, Electric Power Research Institute, Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, Électricité de France, Iberdrola, Vattenfall, Sydkraft (now E.ON Sweden) and Sandia National Labratories. Some of these, including GE, Bechtel, Duke Power and Westinghouse, are receiving government subsidies to develop the next generation of nuclear power plants, according to a Department of Energy report. Brand's financial links with the industry went unmentioned in the NPR segment.

Brand is one of a small number of former nuclear critics who have become prominent nuclear advocates (Alternet, 03/16/07). But it is a stretch to suggest, as Whitford does, that a handful of former nuclear foes with no current ties to leading environmental groups--and often with financial links to the nuclear industry--constitute "some division within the movement."

In fact, leading environmental groups including Greenpeace, the Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council all agree that nuclear power, with its huge safety, security and cost issues, is not the solution to climate change. A 2005 letter released by Public Citizen and signed by nearly 300 groups opposed congressional subsidies for the nuclear industry:

As national and local environmental, consumer and safe energy organizations, we have serious and substantive concerns about nuclear energy. While we are committed to tackling the challenge of global warming, we flatly reject the argument that increased investment in nuclear capacity is an acceptable or necessary solution.

Instead of a story about a growing fervor for nuclear power among some environmentalists, the story is really one about a growing fervor to resurrect nuclear power among corporate and political elites, aided by a handful of mainly environmentalists-for-hire.

This kind of one-sided coverage is characteristic of NPR's recent reporting on the nuclear industry. In the six stories NPR has broadcast over the past 90 days about the future of nuclear power production in the U.S., NPR's sources included only three opponents of nuclear power plants, versus eights sources touting the safety, environmental friendliness and financial benefits of nuclear energy. Moreover, only one of the three opponents was an expert on the topic, while NPR cast seven of the eight sources speaking in favor of nuclear power as authorities. This period saw an accident at the largest power plant in the world—in Japan (NPR's All Things Considered, 7/19/07)—which was the subject of three additional NPR stories--yet, even in this coverage, no experts critical of nuclear power were cited.

One factor that is relevant to NPR's cheerleading for nuclear power is its own financial links to the industry. According to NPR's website, between 1993 and 2005, the public radio service received between $250,000 and $500,000 from Constellation Energy, which belongs to Nustart Energy, a 10-company consortium pushing for new nuclear power plant construction. During the same period, another nuclear operator, Sempra Energy, donated between $50,000 and $100,000 to NPR. This potential conflict of interest was not disclosed in the August 15 segment, or in any other of NPR's recent largely industry-friendly reports. (NPR has in the past insisted that the corporate "underwriting" money it receives has no bearing on its coverage--a defense that would seem to undercut the rationale for NPR's existence as a noncommercial broadcaster.)

In his interview with Whitford, NPR's Ydstie asked the Fortune editor, "What are the forces that are aligning that make the industry optimistic that there's going to be a revival?" Whitford didn't mention one-sided reporting that fails to disclose its financial ties to the industry as factors that help the industry "shake off its bad reputation" and clear the ground for a nuclear revival.

ACTION: Please contact NPR to suggest that future reports on nuclear power include the consensus view of the environmental movement, and that such reports disclose NPR's financial ties to the industry.

CONTACT: Assistant to the Ombudsman, Chantal de la Rionda, through NPR's website. "

posted in NPR junkies - 0 replies

this week's OTM

sarah_with_an_h — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 03:20:09 GMT

Did anyone catch the most recent episode of On the Media? I listened to it yesterday as I did my weekly grocery shopping, and found myself laughing out loud on more than one occasion, esp. during Bob Garfield's segment on "awareness months." Oh my god...when he asked that one guy from "big liver" if he ever "lie[s] awake at night hoping Paris Hilton will contract Hepatitas B," I thought I would drop my jar of jam.

posted in NPR junkies - 4 replies

From MoveOn.org: Bush tries to cut NPR again

shakti411 — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 20:59:43 GMT

George W. Bush is trying—yet again—to slash funding for NPR and PBS. This week, Bush proposed a new budget with devastating cuts to public broadcasting.1 "Sesame Street" and other ad-free kids' shows are under the knife. So is the independent journalism our country needs.

Enough is enough. We've fought this fight before and won—but we can't afford the risk anymore. With the new Congress, we can make sure this never happens again. We need Congress to insulate NPR and PBS from the political winds.

We can make it happen if enough of us sign this petition: "Congress must save NPR and PBS once and for all. Congress should guarantee permanent funding and independence from partisan meddling." Clicking here will add your name to the petition:

http://civ.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/o.pl? id= 9851-7577708-HdbYg_7bkJYBVjLCZYaaGA&t= 2

After you sign, please forward this email to your friends, family, and co-workers to keep this campaign going. We'll deliver the petition to members of Congress as they consider Bush's budget—offering a public counterpoint to this dangerous attack.

Congress can protect NPR and PBS from future cuts. The long-term solution to save public radio and TV is to:

fully restore this year's funding
guarantee a permanent funding stream free from political pressure
reform how the money is spent and keep partisan appointees from pushing a political bias

Bush's budget would cut federal funds for public broadcasting by nearly 25%.1 According to PBS, the cuts "could mean the end of our ability to support some of the most treasured educational children's series" like "Sesame Street," "Reading Rainbow," and "Arthur."2

As telecommunications chair Rep. Ed Markey said, "In a 24-7 television world with content often inappropriate for young children, the public broadcasting system represents an oasis of quality, child-oriented educational programming. We owe America's children and their parents this free, over-the-air resource."1

The cuts could also decimate one of the last remaining sources of watchdog reporting on TV—continuing the partisan war on journalism led by the ex-chair of public broadcasting, Ken Tomlinson.3 More people trust public broadcasting than any corporate news media.4 President Bush would rather undermine our free press than face reporters who are asking tough questions.

Let's put an end to the constant threats to NPR and PBS. Let's ask Congress to guarantee funding and stop partisan meddling. Clicking here will add your name to the petition:

http://civ.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/o.pl? id= 9851-7577708-HdbYg_7bkJYBVjLCZYaaGA&t= 3

Thank you for all you do.

–Noah, Marika, Eli, Adam G. and the MoveOn.org Civic Action Team
Thursday, February 8th, 2007

P.S. Our friends at Free Press have more on how to save NPR and PBS once and for all:

http://www.freepress.net/publicbroadcasting/= policy

Sources:
1. "Bush Proposes Steep Cut to PBS Funding," TV Week, February 5, 2007
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms? newsId= 11508

2. PBS' Ready to Learn program (funds "Sesame Street" and other children's shows)
http://www.pbs.org/readytolearn/

3. "Tomlinson Slinks Away," MediaCitizen, November 3, 2005
http://www.moveon.org/r? r= 2347&id= 9851-7577708-HdbYg_7bkJYBVjLCZYaaGA&t= 4

4. "2005 'Open to the Public' Objectivity and Balance Report," Corporation for Public Broadcasting, January 31, 2006
http://www.cpb.org/aboutcpb/goals/objectivity/

posted in NPR junkies - 1 reply

Ticket to WWDTM tonight!

Mia — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 17:32:21 GMT

Hey All,

I have an extra ticket for the live taping of "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me" at UC Berkeley tonight. My friend just backed out of going, and I'm having trouble finding takers.

Want to come along? YOU KNOW YOU DO. You love Carl Kassel like I do.

Write me a message and tell me why you need to go. Hell, write a haiku if you feel like it. The first person who doesn't sound like a serial killer gets the ticket! Bonus points for non-homicidal haiku.

Enticement:
http://www.npr.org/programs/waitwait/
http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/001020.html

Show is 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall. I'll be in touch with the lucky winner by 5 p.m.

Thanks!

Mia

posted in NPR junkies - 6 replies

if i could have sex with a voice ...

stephanie_phillyjawn — Tue, 12 Jul 2005 00:02:19 GMT

... it'd be corey flintoff's voice.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2100491

et vous?

posted in NPR junkies - 47 replies

What a great puzzle this week (might want to hear it before reading!)

Erik — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 13:56:12 GMT

Bit of a turn of the tables. Interesting in that Will kinda threw her softballs and she did seem to tense up. I imagine that I would do the same, but Liane? And she's coming back on 2/11!

posted in NPR junkies - 0 replies

Radio Lab: Are you good people listening?

katie — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 03:48:50 GMT

KQED, San Francisco is currently playing Radio Lab, Season Two. I love these shows. They're hour-long programs that tackle fascinating philosophical subjects like morality, time, sense of self, the line between language and music. And, as they explore these big ideas, they incorporate recent medical and psychological studies.

The style is really fantastic, too. Conversational, entertaining, accessible. It's radio gold.

You can find out more about it here: http://www.wnyc.org/shows/radiolab/
Or get pod casts here: http://www.wnyc.org/podcasting/#feeds

posted in NPR junkies - 7 replies

a disturbance in the force: weekend edition

jenni — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 17:53:47 GMT

I miss Liane Hansen :(

I don't know what it is about her replacement, but my left eye twitches when I listen to the Puzzlemaster... I think it's just that her voice comes off as too dramatic.

posted in NPR junkies - 3 replies

selected shorts

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 01:34:49 GMT

not much discussion of this show on this tribe. why? I love it and my local station doesn't carry it. I'm about to renew my Audible membership just so I can buy shows.

posted in NPR junkies - 0 replies

Fresh Air: The Doors

JulianaShellstar — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 20:26:52 GMT

Ray Manzarek is one of the best storytellers I've heard on Terry's program. Even if you aren't a fan of The Doors, it's still a fascinating story about the band. I think the show airs again in the evening, and you might be able to get a podcast.

The Manzarek interview is from 1998. Too bad she hasn't talked to him more recently, so she could ask about the legal action prohibiting him from touring as a Doors revival act.

posted in NPR junkies - 1 reply

TAL free podcast

inspectorblank — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 23:54:59 GMT

finally

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=201671138

posted in NPR junkies - 0 replies

favorite fresh airs & american life?

claudia — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 04:35:52 GMT

-in the habit now of streaming archives while I get projects done, save me my search time for the good ones...
thanks :)
and thanks for the tip to hear Terri Gross and the 'XPres. guy'. So funny.

posted in NPR junkies - 1 reply

Like Car Talk?

mr_shenanigan — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 22:41:29 GMT

Admit it you do! Well come help build a Car Talk Tribe! http://tribes.tribe.net/cartalk

If you set your alarm to wake up to Tom and Ray like I do (Saturday and Sunday) then you owe it to yourself to join! Or even if you don't, hey, join anyway....

posted in NPR junkies - 4 replies

The Story with Dick Gordon

lumper5 — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 21:44:36 GMT

Dick Gordon will be returning to public radio - in fact, he already has...
http://www.thestory.org

posted in NPR junkies - 0 replies

Mary Cheney last week on Fresh Air

sarah_with_an_h — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 06:30:41 GMT

Did anyone else catch this show? I think she was on last Friday. It was one of those interviews that had me yelling at the interviewee the whole time. Even so, I found myself wondering if I simply refused to buy into a lot of what she said simply because she's Dick Cheney's daughter. But some of her comments were so outrageous and disappointing. And yet it was a great interview. Did anyone else catch it? Was anyone else as conflicted as I when listening to it?

posted in NPR junkies - 2 replies

Prairie Home Companion

JulianaShellstar — Mon, 19 Dec 2005 07:02:27 GMT

I used to not be able to stand this show, now I seem to listen to it several times each weekend.

Somehow, it insidiously took hold of me. The past few episodes have been in NYC, a place I miss being in this time of year. Garrison and the Wailin' Jennys sang a rendition of "Fields of Gold" that was amazing, much better than Sting's original version.

I don't know if it's GK's folksy humour that draws me in, and reminds me of the people I've known in the South and Midwest.

Makes me almost wanna live in MN. Almost, but not quite ;)

posted in NPR junkies - 30 replies

please tell me you all heard this week's "this american life"!

feralkittycat — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 02:46:39 GMT

it was julia sweeney's cancer story performed at uncabaret... i love "god said ha!" but this was way funnier... it was all the stuff left out of the movie... awesome!

posted in NPR junkies - 1 reply

I just spoke to Mike Feldman...

Linty's Wasted — Sat, 27 May 2006 17:18:31 GMT

live during What Do You Know?
I am so cool!
One of my lifelong fantasies came true,Yeah!

posted in NPR junkies - 3 replies

"business in the interest of good" on zocalo

feralkittycat — Mon, 22 May 2006 04:28:11 GMT

http://www.zocalola.org/radio_kpcc.html

New York Times business columnist James Flanigan interviews Professor
Muhammad Yunus, founder of the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh. In a lively dialog, Professor Yunus explains how "microcredit" lending can reduce poverty.

Daniel Costello, L.A. Times Editorial Board member, speaks with Nicolas de Torrenté, Executive Director, Doctors Without Borders/Mèdecins Sans
Frontiëres (MSF). Torrenté details the delicate business of running an
organization that places doctors in the world's most conflicted regions.

posted in NPR junkies - 0 replies

New Book on Public Radio

will — Tue, 16 May 2006 18:18:35 GMT

Hi Everybody, I'm spreading the word about a new book chock full of profiles of public radio personalitles. It's called Public Radio: Behind the Voices by Lisa Phillips and it has something like 43 profiles on the people behind the microphones, including Susan Stamberg, Scott Simon, Terry Gross, Bob Garfield, etc. There is also a chapter on Bob Edwards and his views on his dismissal from Morning Edition. I admit I'm a little surprised to find myself raving about a book like this but it is an excellent read. In fact, it is probably the most well written book of this sort I've ever cuddled up with and, while it is generally positive in tone, it definitely has an edginess to it. Ms. Phillips, a public radio veteran herself, doesn't hold back and has put together a book that is a bound to be a real treat for NPR fans everywhere, (not to mention, a boon to member stations during fund drives). I've found several reviews online as well as a website for the book. publicradiobehindthevoices.com. I am very excited about this book! I'm going to read more right now!

posted in NPR junkies - 0 replies

Michelle Goldberg on Fresh Air tonight

feralkittycat — Fri, 12 May 2006 02:42:18 GMT

... anybody else listen to this? ( http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5398604 )

.... "the handmaid's tale" here we come... truly scary....

posted in NPR junkies - 1 reply

There's possibly nothing more delightful ...

katie — Fri, 28 Apr 2006 16:39:05 GMT

... then listening to Terry G interact with Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5369166

posted in NPR junkies - 4 replies

discovery

orangeboxman — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 21:01:17 GMT

NPR is now the ONLY station I can stand to listen to anymore.

posted in NPR junkies - 10 replies

ATC gave me the creeps...

AArtVark — Wed, 08 Mar 2006 02:22:13 GMT

Listening to this clip really gave me the creeps. I search out opinion that is in contrast to mine on CSPAN and NPR as I like knowing the other side and I value the insight, but the reliance on blind "faith" without basis in logic of those interviewed in this clip gives me the creeps.

Politics - Shared Values Tie Social Conservatives to Bush
All Things Considered, March 7, 2006 · Even as President Bush's numbers sag elsewhere, a group of voters identified as "social conservatives" remain faithful to the president.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5249846

posted in NPR junkies - 3 replies

Sarah Vowell in Berkeley 2/9

robyn-fantastica — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 17:18:26 GMT

I know it's not NPR per-se, but I hear her on my local NPR station.

She'll be doing a reading from Assassination Vacation at the Cody's on Telegraph Ave. in Berkeley at 7:30 pm on Thursday, February 9.

Details are here: http://www.codysbooks.com/calendar/calendar2.jsp

I'm planning on going.

posted in NPR junkies - 0 replies

KPFA people

thundermonkey — Mon, 19 Dec 2005 21:20:05 GMT

I keep meeting these KPFA people who very rudley insinuate that NPR is controlled by bad corperations. I look at all media through critical eyes. KPFA seems like Fox left to me.

posted in NPR junkies - 6 replies

IMPORTANT short documentary to watch and pass around...

cammcharg — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 22:07:30 GMT

http://informationclearinghouse.info/article11222.htm

posted in NPR junkies - 0 replies

Daniel Schorr is 88 today!

sarah_with_an_h — Tue, 31 Aug 2004 16:37:53 GMT

Have a cupcake in his honor! Or better yet, chomp down a very peanut-buttery pb sandwich (didn't someone say his voice sounds like he has a mouth full of pb?). Hee, hee:)

In any case, toast the man somehow today. We should all live so long and still be sane.

posted in NPR junkies - 5 replies

McCain, thoughts anyone?

Ahpook — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 03:45:01 GMT

Anyone have any insights on the little bit that McCain read today? I thought it was...well...I'll say later.

posted in NPR junkies - 31 replies

Bob Garfield vs. Judith Miller

Colonel — Sun, 13 Nov 2005 03:33:22 GMT

Who else heard this interview on OTM this week?
Man o man, Bob Garfield can ask some good questions. You could really tell that he dislikes her as a person, but moreover, he is offended by what she did as a supposed 'journalist'.
If you didn't hear it, get the podcast, it's great.

posted in NPR junkies - 17 replies

banishing the world's obnoxious children (and their obnoxious parents)

sarah_with_an_h — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 23:10:08 GMT

I thought this article was pretty funny. I'm in airports a lot, and as a result, witness a lot of bad parenting. Thought others here might find this article interesting as well, even though it doesn't have anything to do with NPR.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/09/national/09bakery.html?emc=eta1

posted in NPR junkies - 27 replies

"My Lobotomy" (from All Things Considered)

inspectorblank — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 22:40:42 GMT

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/16/arts/16lobo.html?ex=1289797200&en=81813d866b04cfac&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

I haven't heard it yet but this NYTimes article has certainly got me interested. Anyone hear it?

November 16, 2005
A Lobotomy That He Says Didn't Touch His Soul
By CHARLES McGRATH

The case files of mental illness are filled with half-baked theories and their drastic advocates. Wilhelm Fleiss, for example, believed that sexual hang-ups stemmed from irregularities in the nasal cavity and that a little judicious snipping could set everything straight. In 1895 he famously botched an operation on Sigmund Freud's patient Emma Eckstein, absent-mindedly leaving a yard of surgical gauze stuffed in her head and almost causing her to bleed to death.

Dr. Walter J. Freeman, a central figure in "My Lobotomy," a radio documentary that will be broadcast this afternoon on the National Public Radio program "All Things Considered," believed that the source of many mental disturbances was the thalamus, in which overabundant emotions tended to congregate. The solution, in his view, was simply to sever that part of the brain from the frontal lobes.

In the late 1930's, Dr. Freeman was one of the first Americans to perform a transorbital lobotomy, in which holes are drilled in the patient's head. In 1946 he devised a faster and more efficient procedure, the prefrontal, or "ice pick," lobotomy, in which a spike is driven beneath the lids of both eyes and then swirled around in a sort of eggbeater motion to scramble the neural connections. He had some positive results, as in the case of Ann Krubsack, who today says she believes that the operation greatly helped her schizophrenia, if not entirely curing it, and enabled her to raise a family and hold down a job she liked.

But because the procedure was used indiscriminately, Dr. Freeman had at least as many poor and even tragic results. He nevertheless became a champion of the operation and to publicize it gave virtuoso demonstrations in which he sometimes used a carpenter's mallet instead of a surgical hammer and sometimes wielded two hammers at once, cracking both eye sockets simultaneously. The whole process took less than 10 minutes.

The operation was originally intended as a last resort for intractable patients, especially those in mental institutions before the advent of drugs like Thorazine made such patients easier to manage. But Dr. Freeman eventually expanded his practice to include patients who suffered from nothing more than migraine or postpartum depression. All told he performed some 3,000 lobotomies, including some on children as young as 4 , whom he believed to be suffering from the early onset of schizophrenia.

His most famous patient was President John F. Kennedy's sister Rosemary, whom he lobotomized in 1941 when she was 23 and who required full-time care until her death this year. In 1960, when the ice-pick procedure was already becoming obsolete, he lobotomized a crew-cut 12-year-old Californian named Howard Dully. If the purpose of a lobotomy is to deaden the patient's emotions, then that operation, too, was a failure. Today Mr. Dully, a huge, barrel-shaped 56-year-old, is warm, expansive and full of feeling. He has been married three times - twice happily - and has a grown-up son and a job he likes, driving a tour bus. Except for his family and a few close friends, no one knew he had been lobotomized, and on meeting him no one would ever guess it.

But a couple of years ago, feeling, as he puts it, as if some part of him were missing, Mr. Dully began to look into what had happened to him.

In the course of his research he crossed paths with Dave Isay, a producer of radio documentaries, who encouraged Mr. Dully to make a documentary of his own. A result was "My Lobotomy," a 22-minute piece that includes archival recordings of Dr. Freeman (he has one of those deep 1950's newsreel voices), as well as of his son, Frank, who talks about his father's "magnificent obsession," and an interview with Ellen Ionesco, the first patient to undergo the ice-pick procedure. The most compelling voice, though, is Mr. Dully's own gravelly rumble as he tries to come to terms with what amounts to a second-rate fairy tale. (The documentary had its premiere on Monday evening in an auditorium at Bellevue Hospital Center.)

He was lobotomized, it turns out, for no other reason than that he didn't get along with his stepmother, whose long list of complaints about him included sullenness, a reluctance to bathe and that he turned on the lights during daytime. Mr. Dully's father signed off on the procedure, without seeming to take much of an interest in it, and the most dramatic moment in the documentary comes when, after 40 years of silence on the subject, Mr. Dully asks him why. "I got manipulated pure and simple," the father says. "I was sold a bill of goods." But he quickly adds that "nobody is perfect" and that in any case he doesn't like to "dwell on negative ideas." "You shaped up pretty good," he says to his son.

Dr. Robert Lichtenstein, a neurosurgeon who assisted Dr. Freeman in lobotomizing Mr. Dully, attended the Bellevue gathering, along with Ms. Krubsack and the relatives of some people who had been lobotomized, and he, too, had an upbeat view. After all these years, he said, he was pleased to meet Mr. Dully and to see that the procedure had had such a "positive outcome."

For his part, Mr. Dully cried a little but also grinned and said that the best part of the process was merely being able to talk about the operation with his father and say that he still loved him. Ever since the lobotomy he had felt like a freak, he says at the end of the documentary, but now he knows that the operation "didn't touch my soul." "For the first time I feel no shame," he adds. "I am, at last, at peace."

Jack El-Hai, who has written a well-regarded biography of Dr. Freeman, was also at the premiere, and afterward he said of him: "Was he a nut job? I don't think so. He knew more about brain anatomy than just about anyone, and I think he did care about what happened to his people. But he was stubborn, he was impervious to criticism, and he had a loner quality that in the long run caused both him and his patients great harm. I think of him as King Lear in medical garb."

posted in NPR junkies - 3 replies

Volunteers needed for Story Coprs

Bobzilla — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 07:01:34 GMT

Greetings! NPR's StoryCorps' Winnebago has landed in SanFran, and KALW (along with KQED) are sponsoring their visit, now through November 27. If you don't know what StoryCorps is all about, here's the NPR link:

www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php

What that means as far as KALW is concerned is that we get lots of great publicity, we'll air some fascinating local stories, and we'll have a great opportunity to hobnob and network with some terrific radio producers.

We need volunteers to answer questions from the general public who show up at the StoryCorps trailer (you'll be provided with a FAQ sheet). We'll have some KALW program guides, and you will wax philosophic about how wonderful we are. While all the recording slots are filled at this point, that may change as the days wear on; instructions for contributing stories via borrowing StoryCorps equipment will be available on site.

We're looking for people to fill the timeslots listed below (2-3 hour shifts if at all possible). Kindly REPLY to this email (or to david@davidlatulippe.com if this has been forwarded to you)with the date, time, and your name in the SUBJECT line. [e.g.: Subject: 11/15 11:30-3:30 Robert Volunteer}]

The StoryCorps trailer is parked next to the Carousel at the ZEUM at 4th and Howard (www.zeum.org for more detailed info).

THANKS! Here are the shifts we need filled:

Friday, 11/11
11am - 5pm

Saturday, 11/12
10am-2pm, 3-7pm

Sunday, 11/13
10am-2pm
3-7pm

Monday, 11/14
1-7pm

Tuesday, 11/15
11am-5pm

Wednesday, 11/16
11am-7pm

Thursday, 11/17
11am-5pm

Friday, 11/18
11am-5pm

Saturday, 11/19
10am-7pm

Sunday, 11/20
10am-2pm
3-7pm

Monday, 11/21
1-7pm

Tuesday, 11/22
11am-7pm

Wednesday, 11/23
11am-5pm

Saturday, 11/26
10am-7pm

Sunday, 11/27
10am-4pm

posted in NPR junkies - 3 replies

free arbitron ratings for NPR stations

Alison — Sat, 05 Nov 2005 06:52:22 GMT

Go to http://www.rrconline.org/ and choose "Arbitron data," then select the market and stations you're interested in. For San Francisco for Summer 2005, for example:

ARBITRON SUMMER 2005 TOP-LINE ESTIMATES

AQH AQH Cume Cume Avg
Persons Share Persons Rating TSL
(00) % (00) % (hrs)

KALW 59 0.8 1483 2.5 5.0
KCSM 71 0.9 1845 3.2 4.8
KNDL 3 0.0 155 0.3 2.4
KPFA 66 0.9 1659 2.8 5.0
KQED 443 5.7 8177 14.0 6.8

Here's some disturbing news:

"Public Radio Audience: Down from 27.2 Million to 26.8 Million

Last year we could say that there seemed to be a four-year pattern to the minimal growth in audience estimates reported by Arbitron for CPB-Stations in Public Radio Nationwide. This year, though, we must say that we have seen some firsts, and they are not positive ones to report.

1) For the first time ever, CPB-Stations (P12+, Mon-Sun 6a-12m) have declined in share of listening nationally." [more at website http://www.rrconline.org/reports/]

posted in NPR junkies - 0 replies

Carl Kasell

georko — Tue, 01 Nov 2005 04:19:48 GMT

I am interested in learning people’s opinion about Mr. Kasell’s voice. What do you make of it? I’ve always found that voices like that: his and the person who does commercials for the movies all have a voce that is not appealing to me but quite the opposite. It sounds to me as if both have an Emphysema and are really sick. To me this voice is very similar to the image of Santa – sick old man.

Am I the only one?

I keep on hearing how he is the best voice in "WWDTM" and I can’t reconcile this with the reality.
Any thoughts on why in this culture voices like that are most honored and back in the Old Continent we like more youthful ones.

posted in NPR junkies - 15 replies

this weekend's On the Media

sarah_with_an_h — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 18:43:33 GMT

Did anyone else hear the story on OtM about the Food Network and porn? I loooooved this story, and loved how the guy analyzed music, camera angles, and "the swap" as they apply to Food Tv. Such a hilarious story, and such in depth analysis! Anyone else hear it?

posted in NPR junkies - 7 replies

KALW

Bobzilla — Fri, 16 Sep 2005 03:46:14 GMT

The KALW membership drive starts today or in the next day or two. , 10% of monies collected during the Drive will go to WWOZ and WWNO (split equally) two public radio stations in New Orleans off the air and hit hard. – these two stations may be back online soon, but it’s going to be a very long time before they get their revenue streams back in order. The donation will be made in the name of KALW and its Members. Become a member if you can, every penny helps.

posted in NPR junkies - 3 replies

this morning's "interview" with Schwarzenegger

sarah_with_an_h — Thu, 22 Sep 2005 15:15:53 GMT

Did anyone hear it? It was on the California Report, but I can't remember who interviewed him. It was both hilarious and infuriating. I'm not sure how much longer I can stand to have complete idiots running the state and the country.

Bah!!

posted in NPR junkies - 1 reply

Shameless self promotion

indiancomedian — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 05:56:51 GMT

I was on NPR.
Interviewed on local NPR station for my comedy show promotion . I have been here on this tribe for a while.
Here is the link :-

http://www.capradio.org/programs/insight/default.aspx?showid=957

Tapan H Trivedi
www.indiancomedian.com

posted in NPR junkies - 2 replies

kqed pledge coming in sept.

sarah_with_an_h — Sun, 28 Aug 2005 00:01:25 GMT

...just puttin' that out there, in case anyone wants to volunteer.

posted in NPR junkies - 3 replies

Who said this yesterday 9/4/05?

dorkusmaloon — Tue, 06 Sep 2005 02:37:43 GMT

"Anybody who writes anything down is meaning for it to be read." I heard that just now on NPR but didn't get the guy's name.

posted in NPR junkies - 2 replies

TAL on TV

Andi — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 01:09:45 GMT

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/24/arts/television/24zuck.html?8hpib

Is it possible to translate a show like This American Life to TV? I would love to see the pilot if the decide to air it, but it's going to be on Showtime. Sorry Ira, but you're not enough to get me to buy premium cable channels.

posted in NPR junkies - 11 replies

A pressing question...

funmoore — Thu, 21 Oct 2004 06:13:16 GMT

If you could fuck the voice of anyone on NPR, who would it be?

I say Corey Flintoff. No contest.

posted in NPR junkies - 27 replies

Public Broadcasting Names New President

AArtVark — Thu, 23 Jun 2005 18:25:07 GMT

Public Broadcasting Names New President

June 23, 2005 12:40 PM EDT
WASHINGTON - The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, already embroiled in controversy over allegations of a liberal-leaning bias in PBS programming, chose a former Republican Party co-chairman Thursday as its president and chief executive.

Patricia S. Harrison, the assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs, was selected following three days of closed-door meetings by the corporation's board of directors.

Democratic lawmakers last week urged the CPB to put off choosing a new president, citing concerns about political interference by the corporation's chairman, Kenneth Y. Tomlinson. A Republican, Tomlinson, has been critical of public affairs programming at PBS, alleging that it's too liberal.

In a letter to Tomlinson, Sens. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., and others expressed dismay at the expected appointment of Harrison.

"We find it astonishing that Ms. Harrison, given her former prominence as a partisan political figure, would even be considered as a candidate for a job that demands that the occupant be non-political," the senators said in their letter.

The corporation, which was set up by Congress in 1967 to shield public broadcasting from political influence, funnels federal dollars to PBS, National Public Radio and hundreds of public radio and television stations.

In a statement, PBS said it looked forward to working with Harrison. It added: "We have every expectation that she will execute her responsibilities with nonpartisan integrity."

---

On the Net:

Public Broadcasting Service: http://www.pbs.org

Corporation for Public Broadcasting: http://www.cpb.org

posted in NPR junkies - 2 replies

SF: Savior Letters due June 30!

jesuspepsi — Sat, 25 Jun 2005 13:11:10 GMT

As you may have heard, KALW's San Francisco broadcast license is in jeopardy. The FCC renewal is not automatic. It's important that as many people as possible mail paper letters to the FCC. A strong showing of community support will be the deciding factor, without a doubt.

KALW data page:
http://www.kalw.org/

Why this happened:
http://www.kalw.org/sched74.html

Sample letter (what I'm sending):
http://homepage.mac.com/tarintowers/kalw/letter.html

Listing (more about KALW):
http://sanfrancisco.tribe.net/listing/52ed84ec-5375-449d-91c2-8cd0a2ed23e8

Thanks, and please forward this information widely.

Tarin Towers
Radio Evangelist

posted in NPR junkies - 0 replies

New KALW Tribe

jesuspepsi — Sun, 19 Jun 2005 18:18:43 GMT

Come on over. Flash your NPR gang sign -- Flaunting your KALW gives you instant cred!

tribes.tribe.net/kalw917

posted in NPR junkies - 2 replies

House votes to restore some funding

Bobzilla — Thu, 23 Jun 2005 22:02:32 GMT

The House just voted 287 to 140 for the Obey-Leach-Lowey amendment for reinstatement of $100 million to CPB’s annual appropriation!

Now on to the Senate….whew, one less thing to worry about!

posted in NPR junkies - 0 replies

Interesting twist on ads on KQED

robyn-fantastica — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 21:06:14 GMT

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/06/09/BUG8VD5ND31.DTL&hw=KQED&sn=001&sc=1000

posted in NPR junkies - 5 replies

blogs

sarah_with_an_h — Mon, 09 May 2005 16:39:12 GMT

Last Sunday "On the Media" (such a great show) did a piece on soldier blogs. It was an interesting story, exploring issues of free speech as they relate to those directly involved in military work. It got me thinking about doing a unit on blogs in one of my courses, but I don't read *any* blogs at all, but more and more I'm interested in finding alternate sources of information/opinion. I'm wondering what blogs people are reading--particularly people in this tribe, seeing as you all tend to be a rather literate and interesting lot. Any blogs you think are "must reads"?

posted in NPR junkies - 10 replies

NPR PBS MoveOn petition

v x n — Wed, 15 Jun 2005 17:24:14 GMT

You know that email petition that keeps circulating about how Congress is
>slashing funding for NPR and PBS? Well, now it's actually true. (Really.
>Check the footnotes if you don't believe us.)
>
>A House panel has voted to eliminate all public funding for NPR and PBS,
>starting with "Sesame Street," "Reading Rainbow," and other
>commercial-free children's shows. If approved, this would be the most
>severe cut in the history of public broadcasting, threatening to pull
>the plug on Big Bird, Cookie Monster and Oscar the Grouch.
>
>Sign the petition telling Congress to save NPR and PBS:
>
>http://www.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/?id=5663-4278294-9CECL7JHoXRbmxK9u08y2A&t=3
>
>If we can reach 250,000 signatures by the end of the week, we'll put
>Congress on notice. After you sign the petition, please pass this
>message along to any friends, neighbors or co-workers who count on NPR
>and PBS.
>
>The cuts would slash 25% of the federal funding this year -- $100
>million -- and end funding altogether within two years [1]. In
>particular, the loss could kill beloved children's shows like "Sesame
>Street," "Clifford the Big Red Dog," "Arthur" and "Postcards from
>Buster." Rural stations and those serving low-income communities might
>not survive. Other stations would have to increase corporate
>sponsorships.
>
>The lawmakers who proposed the cuts aren't just trying to save money in
>the budget -- they're trying to decimate any news outlets who question
>those in power. This is an ideological attack on our free press.
>
>Talk about bad timing. Every day brings another story about media
>consolidation. Radio, TV stations and newspapers are increasingly
>controlled by a few massive corporate conglomerates trying to maximize
>profits at the expense of quality journalism. Now more than ever, we
>need publicly funded media who will ask hard questions and focus on
>stories that affect real people, instead of Michael Jackson and the
>runaway bride.
>
>As the House and Senate consider this frightening effort to kill public
>broadcasting, they need to hear from its owners -- you.
>
>http://www.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/?id=5663-4278294-9CECL7JHoXRbmxK9u08y2A&t=4
>
>Thank you for all you do,
>
>--Noah, Wes, Jennifer, Eli and the MoveOn.org Team
> Tuesday, June 14th, 2005
>
>P.S. You can learn more about the threat to public broadcasting from our
>friends at Free Press at:
>
>http://www.moveon.org/r?r=748
>
>Sources:
>
>1. "Public Broadcasting Targeted By House," Washington Post, June 10, 2005
>http://www.moveon.org/r?r=745
>
>2. "CPB's 'Secrets and Lies': Why the CPB Board Hid its Polls Revealing
>Broad Public Support for PBS and NPR," Center for Digital Democracy, April
>27, 2005
>http://www.moveon.org/r?r=746
>
>3. "Republican Chairman Exerts Pressure on PBS, Alleging Biases," New York
>Times, May 2, 2005
>http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0502-01.htm

posted in NPR junkies - 3 replies

Public BroadCasting NO MORE ??!!??

indiancomedian — Fri, 10 Jun 2005 21:11:01 GMT

http://news.yahoo.com/s/washpost/public_broadcasting_targeted_by_house

or
http://tinyurl.com/9rhgv

Tapan Trivedi
www.indiancomedian.com

posted in NPR junkies - 5 replies

david sedaris audio help

sarah_with_an_h — Tue, 07 Jun 2005 17:19:37 GMT

Howdy, all-

I'm using "The Incomplete Quad" by David Sedaris in a class I'm teaching this summer. I'd like to play the audio version of the story (read by Sedaris himself) for my students, but I don't have it (I have a boxed set of Sedaris readings from each of his books, but TIQ isn't on it). If anyone who has the complete _Naked_ CD or book on tape could help me out, I'd really appreciate it. Please send me a message if you could dub this story onto a tape or CD for me.

Thanks! I will provide appropriate payment!

cheers,

sarah

posted in NPR junkies - 3 replies

Bill Clinton on TOTN today

sarah_with_an_h — Fri, 03 Jun 2005 17:58:09 GMT

Kinda weird to have him on Science Friday, but apparently he's there, and he'll be chattin' up the callers. Should be interesting... I'm going to listen right now!

posted in NPR junkies - 1 reply

Worst thing on npr?

michael — Sun, 02 Jan 2005 21:44:53 GMT

What is the worst thing on npr, in your humble opinions?

For me, it's clearly the stardate thing. The music is so terrible. I'm so embarrassed by it. Does anyone like that? I also think Garrison Keillor is really condescending and I dislike his show, but I know I'm pretty much alone on that one.

posted in NPR junkies - 70 replies

KQED pledge is almost over

robyn-fantastica — Thu, 26 May 2005 17:04:00 GMT

Thank god. After two weeks, it definitely starts getting to me.

On a related note, when I checked my bank statement last night, they already started the monthly payment when I pledged during our volunteer gig. For some reason I thought it would not happen so fast.

posted in NPR junkies - 2 replies

the "News"week fiasco

sarah_with_an_h — Tue, 17 May 2005 16:39:10 GMT

Does anyone else think this story should be getting more coverage than it is? I'm completely outraged over the whole thing, and I'm confused as to the lack of air time and investigative reporting related to the incident. I'm guessing "On the Media" will cover it this week, so I'm anxious to hear what they say, but I'm otherwise puzzled by how the story seems to have simply ended with, "Newsweek now says they can't corroborate the story."

I'm not usually much of a conspiracy theorist, but something about this whole thing doesn't sit right with me: the Bush administration totally goes after Newsweek after the story hits on May 9th; two weeks later, we have Newsweek saying, "Oops, sorry for the riots we started, but it looks like we may have had wrong information." I really am close to convinced that the reports of interrogators desecrating the Koran are true, but that pressure from the Bush administration has caused them to "retract" this information. Is anyone else thinking the same thing, or am I just one step closer to locking myself in a room and composing my manifesto?

posted in NPR junkies - 15 replies

Warning: Right Turn Only Ahead

mykl415 — Wed, 18 May 2005 06:44:09 GMT

NPR appears to be firmly in the administration's crosshairs, even though they seem (to me) to be centerist and unbiased to a fault.

A Battle Over Programming at National Public Radio [NY Times]
http://babaluma.com/redir/?nytimes-3431

(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.)

I highly recommend Democracy Now (http://democracynow.org) and
Truthout (http://truthout.com) to supplement the more-than-decent
overview of national and world events NPR still manages to provide us.
For the time being, at least.

posted in NPR junkies - 1 reply

pledge drive tomorrow!!!!!!!!

Fri, 13 May 2005 17:45:50 GMT

woo- hoo!!!

posted in NPR junkies - 9 replies

What's your favorite This American Life? Gotta Love Ira Glass!

DixieDiva — Wed, 06 Apr 2005 21:40:26 GMT

Personally anthing with David Sedaris is a hoot, he puts me in stitches and the one on Obsession is pretty good. A few people have told me I should package and submit my mother's voicemails for a This American Life episode, btu that's already been done before.

posted in NPR junkies - 10 replies

It might be time...

claraholiday — Tue, 10 May 2005 01:07:11 GMT

to change the chanel when you've heard Fresh Air 3x's

posted in NPR junkies - 6 replies

KQED's next drive begins May 12

sarah_with_an_h — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 17:12:19 GMT

Awhile back, a lot of people who had wanted to do a tribe donation to KQED agreed that a perhaps easier (and less fiscally-challenging) idea might be for Bay Area Junkies to donate their time to the drive. This morning Norm Howard made his usual pre-drive announcement that if you're interested in volunteering, now's a good time to get in touch with them.

So, is there still interest in Junkies getting together to volunteer for KQED?

-s

posted in NPR junkies - 22 replies

Walmart commercials.

Sat, 05 Feb 2005 00:36:13 GMT

NPR is playing underwriting announcments from Walmart that sound an awful lot like commercials. These Walmart commercials always declare how virtuous walmart is by "building communities." Often times these commercials air mere minutes afer a report stating that Walmart is destroying communities.

I've decided to with hold my renewal of my contribution to my local NPR affiliate (KQED) until this matter is resolved. I have several friends who feel the same way. How do you feel?

posted in NPR junkies - 82 replies

KALW Fund Drive 91.7 FM

Bobzilla — Mon, 18 Apr 2005 14:53:42 GMT

Is on now. Support us if you can. We operate on a shoestring compared to KQED (what they raise in one drive takwes us 4 or five drives). We have only 8 full time employees, every one else is as needed staff or a volunteer

BTW, our news dept. (new at KALW) just did a story on Walmart since NPR has so many Walmart ads. They examined each claim in the ad running on NPR.

I'll post a link to the audio file as soon as it's up on the server.

You can also pledge online at kalw.org

Thanks!

posted in NPR junkies - 1 reply

ME's "This I Believe"

sarah_with_an_h — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 17:09:59 GMT

Has anyone else been tuning into the newly revived "This I Believe" segment on ME?

This morning, Colin Powell did a piece on...well...American, as broad as that topic can be, and I have to admit, before I realized it was him, I was moved by the piece, and then I was moved in spite of the fact that it was Powell speaking. It seemed to be functioning as a way for him to say things that no one in the Administration would listen to when he was still SoS.

Did anyone else hear this, or other "TIB" segments? Am I a total pansy for having been teary eyed by Powell's essay?

posted in NPR junkies - 3 replies

Why give cash to NPR?

sarah_with_an_h — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 17:41:16 GMT

I hope Hassan won't mind that I made a new thread for his provocative question, but I did, so if there is wrath to be incurred, I'll steady myself for it.

I give money to NPR because I listen to it practically 24 hours a day, and because I do still find that it provides me with information that I can't get elsewhere (and Hassan, you may say it's simply spouting stuff one could hear on CNN, but I don't have cable, so I don't have access to CNN, and I still find that NPR enriches my life far more than anything I've seen on CNN). Anyway, just because I give money to NPR doesn't mean I think everyone else should, too, but that is just more of the beauty of public radio--my money can help others still have access to it.

posted in NPR junkies - 2 replies

Bay Area Democrats

Tue, 05 Apr 2005 03:53:40 GMT

http://bayareademocrats.tribe.net

I just created this tribe. Please click if interested!

posted in NPR junkies - 0 replies

the official NPR Junkies Gathering #1

sarah_with_an_h — Fri, 25 Mar 2005 03:36:00 GMT

Aaight--here's the deal:

I've taken Robyn's suggestion to heart--finances are a definite important consideration, and since Casanova has a great juke box, I say let's gather there! It's also quite accessible--the 22 bus goes right by there, and it's a fairly cheap cab ride home for most folks, assuming you don't live in East Bay or something, of course.

Casnova is at 527 Valencia. I will be there starting at 7, so show up around then and let's salute this fine, fine tribe.

Lisa, yes, let's plan gathering #2 for a night when you can make it!

posted in NPR junkies - 17 replies

Terri Gross/ Gene Simmons interview

J-Rad — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 23:16:46 GMT

does anyone have a current link to the infamous Fresh Air interview with Gene Simmons? Every link on Google is a dead end....

posted in NPR junkies - 4 replies

pledge drive tactics

QQ — Fri, 18 Mar 2005 15:30:49 GMT

right now i'm a hostage to the kpcc pledge drive cuz i won't get up to change it to kcrw (spoiled cosmopolitan junkie). how many repetitions does it take to remember "866-888-5722"? then i hear ira glass' classic piece, where a PRI employee interrogates starbucks patrons about how much they spend on lattes v. pledges. makes me wince & smile every time.

what programs/pledge drive tactics work on you?

posted in NPR junkies - 6 replies

NPR Junkies gathering?

sarah_with_an_h — Thu, 10 Mar 2005 21:25:06 GMT

Hey, you kids-

I know that I personally would love to hook up wit' some o' y'alls in person--let's have a get-together of some sort! I realize people outside the Bay Area won't be able to participate, but who cares about them? Hahahahaha...I'm kidding. But I would love to meet some of you people in person. How about it, people?!

posted in NPR junkies - 21 replies

crafty mathematicians

lobocita — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 02:20:25 GMT

just heard this blurb on npr.... apparently some mathematicians were trying to come up with a method for modelling "hyperbolic planes"... planes that curve up or down from the base plane. they happened to be husband and wife... the husband pursued using paper models, while the wife tried crochet. here are her results:

http://www.theiff.org/lectures/05b.html

posted in NPR junkies - 3 replies

Heard on Fresh Air today

patti — Wed, 09 Mar 2005 00:14:29 GMT

Twice in one show, I heard Ms. Gross say that something didn't jive with whatever. AARRRRGGGHHH! It's jibe, not jive.

posted in NPR junkies - 1 reply

ombudsman on TOTN today

sarah_with_an_h — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 18:52:15 GMT

Call and air your grievances, or just listen to others airing theirs...

posted in NPR junkies - 2 replies

KALW vs. KQED

rosesarrfree — Thu, 27 Jan 2005 19:56:33 GMT

Which do you prefer, and why?

(I guess this question is only particularly relevant to the SF NPR junkies)

I don't really have a preferance, but I have talked to fellow NPR junkies who feel very strongly about one or the other.

posted in NPR junkies - 8 replies

Tonight on Discovery channel

Mon, 28 Feb 2005 21:43:49 GMT

I will be on at 8:00 eastern time. Power tool drag races. see me and lots of other people bulid our power tools for the race. : )

the show is called power tool drag races.

posted in NPR junkies - 2 replies

Favorite locally produced shows

arty_gal — Fri, 21 Jan 2005 02:35:00 GMT

Okay, we've gone through all the national programs covered by PRI and NPR, but what about all the local programs your station airs that no one really gets to hear outside of your area?

When I lived in Chicago, the jazz programs on Wbez were AMAZING! My favorite (was and still is) Blues before sunrise. What a great show. Not just music, but stories and one episode of Pigmeat Markham per saturday night broadcast.

Now that I live in Oakland, Ca. I love the California report and pacific time on one station, and Work with Marty Nemko on another local npr station. They are all locally produced shows that I really enjoy hearing.

What about you? Do you have any locally produced shows you wish everyone could hear but can't?

posted in NPR junkies - 22 replies

how did you find npr?

lobocita — Sun, 23 Jan 2005 04:39:00 GMT

i found it from my first serious bf in the late 80s. don't know what i did before that, i guess kfog?

posted in NPR junkies - 13 replies

Sarah has a great idea!

Tue, 22 Feb 2005 23:49:35 GMT

go sarah!

go!

posted in NPR junkies - 10 replies

Hunter Thompson

TicoDelSatanico — Mon, 21 Feb 2005 19:39:18 GMT

Does anyone know if there are any retrospctives planned on either NPR or PBS?

posted in NPR junkies - 1 reply

knowlege gained on Car Talk

sarah_with_an_h — Mon, 14 Feb 2005 20:12:41 GMT

On yesterday's episode, I learned that the advice to "turn into the skid" when your car is skidding out of control does NOT, contrary to what the phrasing implies, mean you should turn the wheel in the direction the car is skidding. Actually, you should follow instinct, turning (though not sharply/overcompensating) in the *opposite* direction from which the car is proceeding. I had always assumed "turn into the skid" meant, "Hey--your car's headed in that direction anyway, so just go with it."

Has anyone else learned valuable lessons on Car Talk?

posted in NPR junkies - 9 replies

way off topic!! for the girls..

Sat, 22 Jan 2005 02:39:47 GMT

I was just informed that we women on this tribe are the hotttest girls amongst other tribes.. what do you think about that? : )

posted in NPR junkies - 19 replies

Job opportunity

Bobzilla — Sat, 19 Feb 2005 02:02:55 GMT

JOB POSTING
The National Radio Project, a 10-year-old, non-profit, independent
media group, seeks a highly motivated individual with advanced radio journalism skills and managerial experience to join our team as a full-time Senior Producer based in the San Francisco/Oakland Bay Area. National Radio Project is committed to high quality reporting on critical public affairs trends and issues while highlighting voices, perspectives, and solutions not
often heard in mass media. The weekly Making Contact series is
currently aired by 180 radio stations in the U.S., Canada, and South Africa, as well as via the Internet.

We train emerging journalists, give a unique platform to veteran
reporters/producers, and create collaborations with community groups, stations, and independent media colleagues. Visit www.radioproject.org for more info.

The Senior Producer will co-produce Making Contact; supervise and coach the Associate Producer; function as an assignment editor for contributing freelance journalists from around the world; manage incoming pitches from freelancer journalists and community members; manage and build the overall production capacity and quality of the National Radio Project. The position
reports to the Executive Director of National Radio Project /
International Media Project.

Responsibilities and tasks include:
Record, edit, write, host, mix segments and entire radio programs.
Collaborate with other staff and community based organizations to
produce programs.

Lead the editorial framing of programs and coordinate the production schedule with the Executive Director, Associate Producer, staff and community partners.

Manage production department budget.

Work with other staff to develop financial resources and assist with
overall organizational development strategic planning and outreach.

Assist the Associate Producer in the recruitment and supervision of
production interns and trainees.

Qualifications
4 years working in the field of radio journalism
2 years supervising and coaching
Able to work under deadline pressure
Strong interviewing, writing, and digital audio editing skills
Strong verbal communication skills
Enthusiastic about working in a team environment

Preferred candidate will possess
Ability to speak languages in addition to English
Familiarity with the public radio field and with progressive
community-based
organizations
Public speaking skills

NRP is committed to workforce diversity. Women and People of Color Strongly encouraged to apply. Qualified applicants will receive full consideration without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, HIV status, physical ability or national origin.

How to apply
Send via postal mail or email: a cover letter, resume, three
references, a radio script writing sample and two-three audio samples of your work – (CD or cassette via postal mail preferred)

to Lisa Rudman, Executive Director, National Radio Project 1714
Franklin St. Box 100-251 Oakland, CA 94612. Starting salary range $38k — $44k depending on experience, plus health benefits. Position open until filled.

posted in NPR junkies - 0 replies

totally frivolous thread (but it has nothing to do with Wal Mart!)

sarah_with_an_h — Tue, 15 Feb 2005 20:11:11 GMT

O.K., so someone in my Word Freaks tribe posted this link (http://quizme.stvlive.com/djname/quiz.php) where one can find one's DJ name. After finding mine, I wanted to keep playing with it, so I decided to do NPR/PRI favorites.

For Jonathon Goldstein, I got "DJ Wide Hunk."

For Terry Gross, I got, "DJ Jungle Hands." Hee, hee!

-DJ Quaking Freak

posted in NPR junkies - 13 replies

chance meeting

james — Wed, 16 Feb 2005 05:39:32 GMT

so, there i am, reading Sarah Vowell's "Take the Cannoli" waiting for They Might be Giants to begin their in-store performance at Borders in Coumbus Circle...the phone rings, my date has arrived...i get up to meet her outside, book in hand and who do i nearly bump into??? Sarah Vowell herself! Naturally I made an ass of myself in front of her (for the second time) as I held up a beat up copy of her book...she laughed...i smiled...in fact, i still am...she's too cute.

posted in NPR junkies - 1 reply

Happy valentines day junkies!!!

Mon, 14 Feb 2005 18:09:56 GMT

<heart>

oxoxoxox
-Lisa

posted in NPR junkies - 3 replies

Frank DeFord

Mominator — Sun, 06 Feb 2005 05:08:43 GMT

Does anyone else think his pic makes him look like a bad B-movie actor?

posted in NPR junkies - 2 replies

PBS Buckles to FCC pressure, KQED Does Not! YAY!

shakti411 — Sat, 29 Jan 2005 04:27:13 GMT

Thanks to Christian on another tribe, I swiped this news article:

If you read the San Francisco Chronicle today
ww.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi you are aware that PBS made the decision yesterday not to distribute a Postcards from Buster episode entitled “Sugartime! ”because of harsh criticism of its content. The episode focuses on farm life and maple sugaring in Vermont, and uses local families, two of which have two mommies, as a part of the setting.

Upon learning of the PBS decision late yesterday, John Boland and I made the decision that if we could arrange to get the “Sugartime! ”episode from WGBH in Boston we would broadcast it on KQED. I am pleased to report that the episode will be available for our broadcast on March 23rd and that we will air it on that date. I did have a conversation with my colleague, Henry Becton, President and CEO of WGBH this morning and let him know that KQED would make the Postcards episode available to Bay Area viewers. He was pleased to know that we were joining WGBH in broadcasting the program.

KQED ’s official response to anyone who inquires about the matter is as follows:

Dear _____:

As you know, PBS has decided not to provide the “Sugartime! ”episode of POSTCARDS FROM BUSTER to member stations to broadcast. As a result, the producing station, WGBH Boston, has made the episode available to any public television station wishing to air the program.

KQED Public Television believes that the program is appropriate for Bay Area communities and has chosen to air “Sugartime! ”as scheduled on March 23, 2005.

We agree with POSTCARDS FROM BUSTER ’s producers and advisors that “Sugartime! ”fits the series ’mission of introducing children to the rich and varied cultures that make up the United States, including kids living in a wide range of family structures.

KQED ’s mission is to provide programs and services that reflect a respect for and understanding of our world and its inhabitants without exception.

Cordially,

JEFF CLARKE
President and CEO
KQED Inc.

posted in NPR junkies - 2 replies

as we all know...

Fri, 28 Jan 2005 02:40:57 GMT

it is pledge week again. I think it would be cool to pledge- and get us all together and do an NPR JUNKIES donation.

thoughts?

posted in NPR junkies - 11 replies

A statement and a query

Sat, 22 Jan 2005 19:19:21 GMT

Ira Glass is cousin to Phillip Glass, the composer. Weird.

Regarding Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me: would I be considered snobbish or otherwise nitpicky to think that having Carl Kasell's voice on your "home answering machine" is just a skosh outdated? That is, the prize in and of itself isn't terrible but, do most people still have answering machines in this day and age?

posted in NPR junkies - 7 replies

Hebrew school Blessing Bee

sarah_with_an_h — Mon, 24 Jan 2005 23:29:18 GMT

Hey, y'alls-

Did anyone else listen to TAL this weekend? I absolutely loved the last story, about the kid alternately practicing for the Hebrew school Blessing Bee and trying to get God to kill his father ("I spent the week blessing and sinning, blessing and sinning"). What an amazing story--hilarious and deeply disturbing. The guy's name isn't posted on the TAL site yet, but I definitely want to get his book. Apparently, this piece is part of a larger memoir, due out later in the year.

Once again, I heart This American Life. *sigh*

posted in NPR junkies - 5 replies

Best thing on NPR?

loofa — Wed, 12 Jan 2005 00:28:13 GMT

Okay, I know people love to complain - just look at all the threads under "worst thing on npr" - but let's get positive. We're all here because we basically love npr, right? What's good about it? What's your favorite show? How about this - offer up, if you can, your favorite national and your favorite local show (wherever you are) - maybe we can tune in to some cool "local shows" outside our own areas.

What do you love and why?

posted in NPR junkies - 52 replies

Softballs on NPR

Sídhe — Mon, 24 Jan 2005 15:48:43 GMT

Did anyone else catch NPR’s review of the inauguration speech and note the lack of hard-hitting journalism or is it just me? There’s Bush rambling on about “freedom” and not ONE question did I hear about our funding the dictatorship in Uzbekistan where political dissidents are boiled to death. I mean, come on! Call the bastard on something you spineless weasels! The U.S. administration funds dictators that boil people to death and the journalists in America talk about social security? WTF?

posted in NPR junkies - 2 replies

photos

Fri, 07 Jan 2005 06:00:30 GMT

please add some pictures!!

-Lisa

ps- I still cannot believe I read that folks do not like car talk. :) that was a first for me..

posted in NPR junkies - 14 replies