Weekend America

Organizing for Election Day

There are 24 days until the election, and all eyes are on the so-called "battleground" states. Are you feeling left out? Well, most of us are. The majority of Americans do not live in swing states. But chances are, you've got one nearby. And what neighbor isn't at least tempted to lean over the fence with a little friendly advice? Volunteers working for both tickets are crossing state lines to build support for their candidates and tilt the scale by Election Day.

Debate Advice

Did you watch the debate last week? Millions of you did. If not, you have only one more chance. Wednesday night in New York is the third and final contest between John McCain and Barack Obama. That means this weekend, the Obama and McCain camps are trying to get their candidates ready to make one last push. Even though they didn't ask for it, we decided to get some advice for the candidates, so we brought in two of the top high school debaters in the area.

The First Sound Bite

We seem to have gotten used to the idea that political campaigns are just strings of sound bites for months on end. And it seems like it's always been that way. But, of course, it hasn't. We don't imagine George Washington giving 10-second prefab answers to reporters. So when did political sound bites actually start showing up? Well, many historians say it happened exactly 100 years ago.

Google Goggles

Ever had the clever idea late at night - after you've had a few - to email your crush, or your ex? Google wants to save you from yourself. Gmail debuted something called "Gmail Goggles" this week. If you're emailing late on a Friday or Saturday night, it flings a quick math test up on your screen to see if you're really fit to send that email. If you flunk, your message doesn't go anywhere. Will an "email breathalyzer" work?

Conversations with America

Conversations with America: Heather Ryan

It's a crazy time for an election. Politicians are facing their worst nightmare: Responding to dire news right before angry voters go to the polls. And voters will most likely be angry about the economy. For a few weeks now, we've been bringing you essays from folks around the country about what they think should be on voters' minds this election. Our next piece comes from writer Heather Ryan of Eugene, Ore.

Coming Out

This weekend is National Coming Out Day. But coming out can still be dangerous and risky. Pape Mbaye is a well-known, openly gay Senegalese entertainer. In February, a magazine published photos of him attending an underground gay marriage that started an onslaught of threats and attacks. With the help of human rights organizations, Pape has attained refugee status in the United States. He's been living in New York for a month.

An Office with a Spinning View

Out in San Francisco this weekend, families will be crowding the downtown waterfront to watch pilots flip, roll and tumble during the annual Fleet Week air show. Every year, more than 20 million people attend air shows across the country. But not every family is watching from the ground. For one pilot, going into the family business is leading to a very unique father-son relationship.

Listening In

The Schooner Anne

In April 2007, Reid Stowe and Soanya Ahmad set out from New York harbor on an ambitious sailing voyage. Their goal was to sail for 1000 days without touching land, carrying all their provisions with them. They aimed to beat the world record of endurance sailing, which currently stands at 658 days. Saturday is day 538 of the voyage. We wanted to know what they were listening to to pass the time on their trip.

G7 Economic Meeting

Finance ministers of G7 nations are meeting with President Bush this weekend in Washington, D.C. They're trying to come up with a strong and coordinated response to the economic crisis. What difference can and should the meeting make? We check in with Chris Farrell, chief economics correspondent for American Public Media.

Political Dreams

Sometimes you don't have to be a political junkie for the presidential candidates to seep into your subconscious. Each time you turn on the TV or read the news, there they are. For some people, these sounds and visions have made their way into their dreams. But what does it all mean?

Good News, Bad News, No News

The Dow's Drop, Wiretapping, and Aging Endearments

Our panel of non-experts weigh in on this week's news events in a parlor game to gauge what kind of week America had. Joining us on this week's panel are: Robert Ferrigno, author of "Sins of the Assassin"; Stacey Grenrock-Woods, sex advice columnist for Esquire Magazine and author of a new memoir, "I, California"; and Tak Toyoshima, creator and artist of the syndicated comic strip "Secret Asian Man."

Weekend Soundtrack

"Get Ready for Love"

It's time to listen to your weekend soundtrack: The songs that bridge the gap from Friday to Monday. Our latest story comes from Kevin Bunten, an addiction counselor in St. Louis, Mo. On the weekend, he likes to listen to a track by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds called "Get Ready for Love."

Jadis: Santa Monica Prop Shop

Need a huge, double-pole, triple-throw knife switch? Well, if you're trying to create a new life form out of a bunch of left over body parts, you really can't do without one. It's the thing you pull before the thunder crack. You can find a knife switch and other curiosities at a very unusual antique store and prop shop along Main Street in Santa Monica. It specializes in odd laboratory equipment.

Urban Cowboys

New York City and cowboys. They have nothing in common, right? Different landscapes, different characters, different values. Well, a group of New Yorkers have figured out a way to live the cowboy lifestyle in the most urban environment. The Federation of Black Cowboys' stable sits just feet away from the noisy Belt Parkway near JFK airport.

Campaign Addiction

The presidential campaign has been hard to avoid lately as we really get into crunch time. But following it can take many forms. Some Americans keep a casual eye on it. For others, it's different - the race is an obsession. But you've got to know where to draw the line. When does an interest in current events become dangerous to your health and happiness - an addiction?