Weekend America for Saturday, November 26, 2005


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How did your life collide with the headlines in 2007?
Iraq, the subprime crisis, Facebook, immigration, oil prices - 2007 had no shortage of hefty headlines. We'd like to hear about how these and other major news events of the past year affected you. Where did your life collide with the news in 2007?

What's your holiday performance story?
The office talent show, the neighborhood caroling posse, the school pageant ... At holiday time we often sing, dance, and dress as shepherds. Did you bloom in the warmth of your audience's adulation, or freeze up like the snowman you'd rather be building? Did your holiday performance change your life or that of someone close to you?

Broadcast Date: November 26, 2005 | Map these stories

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Pre-Columbian America
In his new book, 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus, Charles Mann challenges our collective understanding of human civilization in America before Columbus arrived. Weekend America host Barbara Bogaev talks with Charles Mann and attempts to separate historical fact from myth.

Online resources:

» Charles Mann's book, 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus is available at the Public Radio BookSource.

Music Bridge: A Spire - Artist: Tape
CD: Rideau (Hapna)

Panda Diplomacy
Tai Shan and Su Lin have captured the hearts of Americans. These of course are the baby pandas housed at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park and at the San Diego Zoo. Tickets to see Tai Shan have sold out, and the "Panda Cam" on both zoo Web sites is a hit. Host Bill Radke gets to the bottom of our obsession with Teresa Hsu, a reporter with the Chinese-language newspaper the Washington Observer.

Online resources:

» San Diego Zoo Pandacam
» Smithsonian National Zoological Park Pandacam
» "Panda Ambassadors" to the United States Experience One Happy Event After Another, Dominate American Zoo Visits (Washington Observer)

Music Bridge: Monstertruckdriver (Dabrye's Big Tuck Remix) - Artist: Dabrye
CD: Additional Productions Vol 1 (Ghostly)

How to Be Quarantined
So far, flu activity in the U.S. this year has been relatively low, but recent cases of avian flu around the world have sparked grave concerns about the possibility of pandemic influenza. Such an outbreak, or the outbreak of any serious infectious disease, could lead to quarantine. How might such a scenario play out? Correspondent Alex Cohen looked into it.

Online resources:

» Controlling the Spread of Contagious Diseases at Redcross.org
» History of Quarantine at PBS.org

Music Bridge: Asthma - Artist: Fridge
CD: Sevens and Twelves (Output)

Story Competition: Your Local Unsung Hero
Weekend America announces it's Fall 2005 story competition for writers of all stripes, storytellers and independent radio producers whose work has not been previously broadcast nationally. The Story Competition's theme is "Your Local Unsung Hero." If there is a local hero you know, tell us their story.

Online resources:

» Weekend America's Fall 2005 Story Competition

Music Bridge: Tiny Tina - Artist: Flanger
CD: Spirituals (Nonplace)

Classical Music: Mangus Lindberg
Steve Smith, music editor from Time Out New York magazine, introduces host Barbara Bogaev to a Finnish clarinet concerto. In this track, clarinetist Kari Kriikku performs with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra.

Online resources:

» Clarinet Concerto; Gran Duo; Chorale | Clarinet Concerto | From the album, Clarinet Concerto; Gran Duo; Chorale (Ondine)

Doc Olla-Wood
Host Bill Radke drops in on Olla, Louisiana, home of Dr. Kenneth Mauterer, the recipient of the 2004 Country Doctor of the Year award. The award is presented to dedicated rural practitioners. Olla is a small town -- its population hovers around 1,500. A new member in the town is Dr. Jeffrey Tanita. Tanita is a San Diego native who recently moved to Olla for a change of pace. Bill talks to the doctors about the ups and downs of practicing medicine in a small community.

Online resources:

» Country Doctor of the Year Web site
» Hardtner Physicians

Music Bridge: Takoma Bridge Incident - Artist: Stephan Basho-Junghens
CD: Rivers and Bridges (Stange Attractors Audio House)

The Warriors
Did you know that over one hundred would-be assassins have been stalking each other this past month throughout the city of San Francisco? Luckily, it's all part of a game. It's called "Street Wars" and the gist is to squirt your assigned victim with a water gun before you get squirted. Producer Brendan Newnam explores the phenomenon that is soaking the city.

Online resources:

» Street Wars Web site

Music Bridge: You Are a Runner and I am My Father's Son - Artist: Wolf Parade
CD: Apologies to the Queen Mary (Subpop)

Weekend Weather
Weekend America's John Moe takes a look at the weather and Saturday happenings all across the country.

Online resources:

» Event information

Music Bridge: Beat Connection (Disco Dub Version) - Artist: lcd soundsystem
CD: DFA compilation #2 (DFA)

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A Movement for Rosa
On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus to a white passenger. This move sparked the boycott of the Montgomery bus system. Composer Mark Camphouse wrote "A Movement for Rosa" in honor of Parks, who has been dubbed the "Mother of the Modern Day Civil Rights Movement." Camphouse teamed up with conductor Marcellus Brown back in 1995 to perform the piece for Ms. Parks herself. Producer Richie Duchon shares the music.

Online resources:

» Listen to the entire composition, "A Movement for Rosa"
» Mark D. Camphouse bio.
» Learn more abut "A Movement for Rosa"

Witness to Atrocity
With the resumption of the trial of Saddam Hussein next week, Weekend America examines what it's like to give evidence in a trial of someone accused of crimes against humanity. Host Bill Radke speaks with Deyan Anastasijevic, who gave evidence in the trial of former Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic. Bill also speaks with Terre Bowers, a former prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.

Music Bridge: One Or Many Wolves - Artist: Désormais
CD: Dead Letters to Lost Friends (intr_version)

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The Corner
From time to time, Weekend America showcases up-and-coming public radio projects. This week, host Barbara Bogaev speaks with James McBride about a new American Public Media program in development called The Corner.

Listen to the entire pilot of The Corner:

» The Corner, Part 1
» The Corner, Part 2
» The Corner, Part 3
» Learn More about James McBride

Online resources:

» Weekend America's Fall 2005 Story Competition

Music Bridge: El Toro (Marc De Clive Lowe Remix) - Artist: Chico Hamilton
CD: Impulsive! Revolutionary Jazz Reworked (Impulse Records)

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A Grand Ole Birthday
This week, the Grand Ole Opry celebrates its 80th birthday. Independent producer Trey Kay brings us this interview with singer/songwriter Rodney Crowell about his memories of the Opry.

Online resources:

» Grand Ole Opry Web site

Music Bridge: Say You Love Me - Artist: Rodney Crowell
CD: The Outsider (Sony)

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A Weekend Reprieve
In Boston, a group of researchers has been giving HIV patients the weekend off from their inhibitor cocktails. The results have been promising. Producer Shannon Mullen spent some time with two men in the study, and she shares their stories.

Online resources:

» Community Research Initiative of New England (CRI)

Music Bridge: Plastic Energy Man - Artist: Papa M
CD: Live in a Shark's Cage (Drag City)

Classical Music: Dominic Frasca
Steve Smith of Time Out New York magazine shares new music from a young guitarist named Dominic Frasca with host Barbara Bogaev. The track is called "Dometude."

Online resources:

» Dominic Frasca | Dometude | From the album, Deviations

Weekend Weather
Weekend America's John Moe takes a look at the weather and Saturday happenings all across the country.

Online resources:

» Event information

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The Ultimate Atticus
John Moe, of Weekend America weather fame, was a thespian in high school. John desperately wanted to be the best actor in school, but this want did not go unrivaled. John decided it was time to settle the score.