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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?

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Broadcast Information for July 3, 2004
Music Bridge: Start From Scratch
Artist: Galactic
CD: Crazyhorse Mongoose (Capricorn)

Fatma Alzerj
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Immigrant Story: Fatma Alzerj
The United States prides itself on being a nation of immigrants. But it's a different experience when you're becoming an American than when you're born here. Producer Sesh Kannan presents the personal narrative of a teenager whose family left Iraq after the first Gulf War.

More about this series:
"Beyond the Fire: teen experiences of war', produced by Sesh Kannan for Electric Shadows and ITVS Interactive project
www.flaneurmedia.com


Mohamoud Mohamed
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Immigrant Story: Mohamoud Mohamed
The city of St. Cloud, Minnesota, used to forbid immigrants from driving taxis. Recently, the city ordinance was dropped. But that doesn't mean that St. Cloud's native-born cabbies are taking it lying down. Annie Baxter has the story.

More about this story:
"St. Cloud Somalis turned away from taxi driving jobs" (Minnesota Public Radio)

Music Bridge: Oceans in the Floor
Artist: Ladybug Transistor
CD: Old Enough 2 Know Better (Merge)

Hans Andersen
in "God is Talking
to me"
 Radio on the Web
Many sound pieces designed for radio never find a home there. But the Web can archive them for all the world to hear. John Barth with the Public Radio Exchange gives Barbara Bogaev a tour of that Web site.

More stories from the Public Radio Exchange:
"God is Talking to Me"
"Pink PV"
"Adam Hyzdu's Journal"
Public Radio Exchange Web site

Music Bridge: Get The Party Started
Artist: Pink
CD: M!ssundaztood (Arista)
Skerker the Soothsayer of Weekend Weather...
Ben Skerker's unusual survey of events, celebrations, unplanned gatherings and -- of course -- his prognostications on weekend weather.

Music Bridge: Brightness
Artist: Laterna
CD: Highways (Badman)

Listening Post: The Patriot Act
This week, WMFE in Orlando examined the effects of the Patriot Act on Florida. WMFE news director Pat Duggins and Reporter Judith Smelser talk with Bill Radke.

Online resource:
"Privacy and the Patriot Act" airs on partner station WMFE (Orlando, Fla.) June 28 - July 2

Music Bridge: Bologna
Artist: To Rococo Rot
CD: Hotel Morgen (Domino)

Competitive Eater
Eric Booker Gallery
Bite, Chew, Swallow, Repeat
There are world champions in everything from weight-lifting to race-car driving...to eating. Nancy Farghalli introduces us to a married couple that considers a donut-eating contest in San Diego county a stop on the way to the world titles.

Online resource:
More about Eric Booker
More about Carlene LeFevre
International Federation of Competitive Eating Web Site

It Could Have Happened
Rewind 228 years. It's July third, and Thomas Jefferson has a certain assignment due in the morning. We speculate what could have happened if the young revolutionary had struggled with writer's block.

Related information:
Actor Rico Gagliano, in a sketch by a Seattle writer who calls himself Winlar. You can find more of his stuff on the web at www.winlar.net.

Music Bridge: Variations on "America"
Artist: Charles Ives
CD: American Salute: Spirit of The Nation (Naxos)

Marlon Brando
1924 - 2004
A Tribute to Marlon Brando
There's no doubt Marlon Brando was an icon. How do we know? Because he pops up in the lyrics of more than a dozen songs - from Barbra Streisand to David Bowie.

Marlon Brando Music Set:
Madonna "Vogue"
David Bowie "China Girl"
Van Morrison "Wild Children"
Babara Streisand w/ Marlon Brando "I'll Know"
Dickies "Stuck Inside A Condo With Marlon Brando"
Neil Young "Pocahontas"
Marlon Brando "Woman In Love"


Smithsonian
Folk Festival Gallery
Live Event: Smithsonian Folklife Festival
The annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival is winding up in Washington, D.C. Latin music has been taking center stage. We'll catch up with a mariachi musician and his band.

Online resources:
Smithsonia Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
2004 Smithsonian Folklife Festival


Suzana Gusa
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Immigrant Story: Suzana Gusa
New immigrants to the United States often can't speak English. Their children become their voices - even in legal and financial matters. Hillary Frank and Amy Dorn bring us the story of a teenager from Croatia and the realtor who helped her family find a new home.

More about Suzana Gusa:
Senior Suzana Gusa Awarded 3 College Scholarships


Ruben Martinez
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Immigrant Story: Ruben Martinez
July fourth has enduring traditions... everything from foods to patriotic songs. But for new arrivals to this country, it's all quite foreign. Bill Radke talks with journalist and author Ruben Martinez about how his immigrant parents celebrated the Fourth of July.

More about Ruben Martinez:
Ruben Martinez & Band perform Canaan, a story-song cycle about modern migrants, July 29, 8:00 p.m. at the Echo, 1822 Sunset Blvd. (Between Echo Park and Alvarado). Club info. at 213-413-8200.
His book "The New Americans" is available at the Public Radio BookSourceTM. Your purchase helps support this program.
Learn more about the companion program at PBS.org

Music Picks with Jason Fine
The garage was the birthplace of many a teen band. But the sound lives on even in the studio. "Rolling Stone's" Jason Fine gives Barbara Bogaev his picks, from the garage... to the coffee-house... to South America!

Online resource:
Sem Saia, Sem Cera, Censura - Tom Ze from the album, Imprensa Cantada
One Day the Dam Will Break - Jessie Harris from the album, While the Music Lasts
Walk Idiot Walk - The Hives from the album, Tyrannosauraus Hives

(Most music available at the Pubic Radio Music Source. Your purchase helps support Weekend America.)

Fansites and homepages:
Tom Ze's homepage
Jessie Harris and the Ferdinandos' homepage
The Hives' homepage
Fansite for The Hives


Garrison Keillor
Celebrates 30
30 Years on a Prairie Home Companion
On the 30th anniversary of Prairie Home Companion, Garrison Keillor isn't celebrating - he's campaigning. He wants Americans to learn the words to their national anthem and sing it in a different key. We ask him why.

Online resource:
www.prairiehome.org

The Pursuit of Happiness
In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson insisted that "the pursuit of happiness" is a basic human right. But not "happiness." Barbara Bogaev speaks with historian Darrin McMahon about why Jefferson stopped with "pursuit."

Online resources:
Biography of Darrin M. McMahon
"Enemies of the Enlightenment" by Darrin M. McMahon
David G. Myers' homepage
"Happiness: Your Greatest Luxury"

Music Bridge: Whirlweek
Artist: David Grubbs
CD: The Spectrum Between (Drag City)

Toby
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Happiness Is a Warm Puppy
Cats are classy, fish are fine. But no pet says "I adore you" like a dog. Writer Hank Rosenfeld looks back on the comfort, happiness and companionship he's found in man's best friend

More by Hank Rosenfeld:
"Revisiting Yes", aired June 12, 2004

Music Bridge: Solitaire Song
Artist: Jon Langford and The Sadies
CD: Mayors of the Moon (Bloodshot)

Smithsonian
Folk Festival Gallery
Live Event: Smithsonian Folklife Festival
This year, the Smithsonian folklife festival is celebrating the culture of the mid-Atlantic maritime workers. We'll chat with a ferryboat pilot who's also a story-teller and musician.

Online resources:
Smithsonia Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
2004 Smithsonian Folklife Festival

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As Mentioned on Weekend America
For the July 03, 2004 broadcast:

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As Mentioned on Weekend America
... on our December 15 broadcast:

» Weekend America
iPodEnhanced Podcast: Skip back and forth through stories, see images on iTunes and on your iPod, all with better sound quality.
» The Huckabee Mystique: See video of Mike Huckabee and Chuck Norris.
» Another Great Moment in Small Talk: Read how Charlie Schroeder became an unpopular "tool" because of Borat.
» Listener Letters: Renewable Christmas Trees: Read listeners' alternate endings to "Puff the Magic Dragon."
» Sign Up for the Weekend America weekly newsletter: Find out what's on the upcoming show, and listen to the most popular previous segments.
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Weekend Weather

From the July 5 broadcast

As Mentioned on Weekend America
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Send Us Your Stories
This week: Have you exper-
ienced any strange seasonal changes: springtime plants sprouting; squirrels sunbathing?
Let us know...
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