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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 January 8, 2005
Opening Music: Start From Scratch
Artist: Galactic - CD: Crazyhorse Mongoose (Capricorn)

Tsunami Relief
Gallery
Flood of Money
In the aftermath of the tsunamis in South Asia, former Presidents, fundraisers, and telethons are asking Americans to donate money. How much of it is getting through to the people who need it? Jocelyn Ford reports on the effects of the relief effort in Sumatra.
Music Bridge: Der See
Artist: Rechenzentrum - CD: Team Kitty Yo Compilation (Kitty Yo)
When is Enough, Enough
Both governments and private citizens are pitching in to help rebuild South Asia. But some organizations like Doctors Without Borders say that they've gotten enough donations to help tsunami victims. Weekend America's Tinku Ray wondered who receives the money we donate, and if we still need to help.
Music Bridge: Holographic Moon Owls
Artist: Secret Frequency Crew - CD: Forest of the Echo Downs (Schematic)
snow rage
Snow Rage
In most snowy cities, people parked along the street spend hours digging their cars out of the snow. Then they mark the cleared spot as theirs with almost anything-cones, broken chairs, barrels, stuffed animals. Technically, it's public space, but taking someone else's spot is just plain rude. In Boston, the mayor is tightening up restrictions and sending crews out to remove the placeholders. Bill Radke spoke with two people on different sides of the snowdrift.

More about this phenonenon:
"Street Justice Is Freeing Spaces of Snow -- and Chairs"

Music Bridge: Meter Maid
Artist: Drums and Tuba - CD: Water Damage Reissues, Vol. 2: The Flying Ballerina (My Pal God Records)
Weekend America Music Picks
 Jazz Music Picks
Jazz Times critic Nate Chinen shares some picks from Stefano di Battista, David Sanborn and Luis Perdomo.

Steve's set list:
You Know I Know - Luis Perdomo from the album, Focus Point (RKM Music)
Enchantment - David Sanborn from the album, Closer (Verve)
Confirmation - Stefano di Battista from the album, Parker's Mood (Blue Note Records)



Alberto Gonzales
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Gonzales Confirmation Hearings
This week, the Senate began confirmation hearings for George Bush's nominee for Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales. Barbara Bogaev talks with Mohammad Alami of Al-Jazeera's Washington Bureau about his network's coverage of the confirmation hearings.
Music Bridge: Gonna Get Off Right Away II
Artist: Gonzales - CD: Team Kitty Yo Compilation (Kitty Yo)
Weekend Weather
Weekend America's John Moe takes a look at weather patterns and Saturday happenings all across the country.

Weather reports:
hour 1 | hour 2

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

Public Listening
Project
 Open Questions
Over the last few years, Tray and Dan have stood at a Connecticut train station in a pair of t-shirts. One asks something like, "War on Iraq?" or "What makes a good American" and the other "What's your opinion?" Bill Radke asked them about the responses they've gotten and what they've learned about Americans in the process.

Online resource:
Public Listening Project

Music Bridge: Goin' Back to Smashed Potatoes
Artist: Tal M. Klein - CD: Alpha Beats (Aniligital)

Ina Kapitan
Gallery
Counter Culture
In another from our series of career waitresses, 83-year-old Ina tells stories of her 35 years and counting serving food at the Miss Florence Diner in Massachusetts.

More from this series:
Profile: Wilma Mobbs

Music Bridge: Ja Fun Mi (Instrumental)
Artist: Sunny Ade & His African Beats - CD: Synchro Series (Afro Strut)
Featured in Hour Two

Sgt. Kevin Benderman
Gallery
Saving Sergeant Benderman
Sgt. Kevin Benderman fought in Iraq in 2003 and was scheduled for re-deployment yesterday. Last week, he filed for conscientious objector status, explaining that he opposes to war on moral and ethical grounds. Kevin spoke with Barbara Bogaev throughout the week as he tried to have his application considered.

Online resource:
Listen to our first conversation with Sgt. Kevin Benderman
Read some of the 100 listener emails.
How do you feel about Sgt. Berderman's decision to become a conscientious objector? Tell us...

Music Bridge: Daddycation
Artist: Food - CD: Last Supper (Rune Grammofon)
The Sinking of the Reuben James
The Rueben James was the first American Navy warship sunk in what would become WWII. After most of the crew died waiting to be scooped out of the waters south of Iceland, Woody Guthrie memorialized the event with a song. Producer Adam Allington spoke with Bob Howard, one of the few who survived the attack, about his memories of that night.

More from our "Cold" series:
Endless Winter
Interview with Gretel Ehrlich

Music Bridge: Sinking of the Reuben James
Artist: Woody Guthrie - CD: This Land Is Your Land: The Asch Recordings, Vol. 1 (Smithsonian Folkways)
Tsunamis Hit Home
Jeanne Johnston survived the tsunami that hit her hometown of Hilo, Hawaii in 1946. Jeanne was only six years old, but has vivid memories of the disaster that killed 159 people in Hawaii. Barbara Bogaev talks with Jeanne, who founded the Pacific Tsunami Museum in Hilo, about how the tsunami changed her life.

Online resources:
Pacific Tsunami Museum
Pictures of the Hawaiian tsunami of 1946

Music Bridge: A Closed Circuit
Artist: Rainstick Orchestra - CD: The Floating Glass Key in the Sky (Ninja Tune)

Cowboy Jack
Gallery
Cowboy Music
Cowboy Jack Clement has written some of country music's best songs that were sung by people like Johnny Cash. He's just released his first album in 26 years, "Guess Things Happen That Way," and played some of his favorite songs for Bill Radke.

Online resources:
More about Pineapple Jack Clement
"Guess Things Happen That Way" is available at the Public Radio MusicSource.


Hank's Clutter
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Organized Living
Friends call the clutter in contributor Hank Rosenfeld's apartment a squirrel's nest. But when Hank set out to organize a bit, he realized that years of memories are buried in the piles of magazines and boxes full of photos. Hank did some digging and has these recollections.

More from Contributor Hank Rosenfeld:
Remembering Yes, Happiness Is a Warm Puppy, Hannukah Memories , The Crossing Guard

Music Bridge: Ha
Artist: Charlie Ventura and his Orchestra - CD: The Beat Generation Collection (Rhino)
Weekend America Music Picks
 Jazz Music Picks
Jazz Times critic Nate Chinen shares some picks from Stefano di Battista, David Sanborn and Luis Perdomo.

Steve's set list:
You Know I Know - Luis Perdomo from the album, Focus Point (RKM Music)
Enchantment - David Sanborn from the album, Closer (Verve)
Confirmation - Stefano di Battista from the album, Parker's Mood (Blue Note Records)


Baked to Perfection
Jackson Braider loves to go to the bakery near his home every weekend to get a fresh-baked croissant. He shares these thoughts about the tradition.
Music Bridge: Cafe Paris
Artist: Motion Trio - CD: Pictures from the Street (Indigo)
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As Mentioned on Weekend America
For the January 08, 2005 broadcast:

audio iconListen to Hour 1
audio iconListen to Hour 2
podcast iconPodcast / Download
cassette iconOrder a cassette
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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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This week: Have you exper-
ienced any strange seasonal changes: springtime plants sprouting; squirrels sunbathing?
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