Weekend America for Saturday, February 4, 2006


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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: February 4, 2006 | Map these stories

Oil Addicts
In his State of the Union Address this week, President Bush said that America is addicted to oil and he has the answer. But what does that mean? Weekend America's Alex Cohen didn't wait to find out. She decided to go cold turkey and embarked on a 12-step program to wean herself from the slick stuff.

Online resources:

» President George W. Bush's Address Before a Joint Session of Congress on the State of the Union

Music Bridge: Det Högre Medvetandet - Artist: Erik Malmburg
CD: Den Gåtfulla Människan (Hapna)

Police Pursuit
This week, the police chief in Los Angeles announced the department would start using a new GPS tracker, which sticks to escaping cars, to try to cut down on the number of car chases. It's a pilot program and they're trying it out for the rest of the country. Weekend America host Bill Radke talks to police Lt. Paul Vernon about how it works.

Music Bridge: Sunday Evening in Your Street - Artist: Ulrich Schnauss
CD: Far Away Trains Passing By (Domino)

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An Encore for Michael
Michael Chorost was born with partial hearing. At age 15 he discovered the musical masterpiece, "Boléro," by Maurice Ravel. For Michael, it became an important moment in his life. Then in 2001, he suddenly lost the remainder of his hearing. The music was gone -- seemingly forever. But as hosts Bill Radke and Barbara Bogaev discover, that was only the start of Michael's extraordinary journey.

Online resources:

» BionicEar.com
» Advanced Bionics
» Michael Chorost's book, Rebuilt: How Becoming Part Computer Made Me More Human is available at the Public Radio BookSource.

Pop Music: Tortoise and Bonnie Prince Billy
If there were an indie-rock super group, it would probably be Tortoise. Since the early nineties, the Chicago-based band has been mixing indie-rock with jazz, electronic, and classical minimalism. Their latest release is with a country tinged songwriter named Bonnie "Prince" Billy. Mark Wheat, music host at The Current in Minneapolis-St. Paul sits down to talk with host Bill Radke about the band's latest release.

Online resources:

» Tortoise and Bonnie Prince Billy | Daniel, Pancho | From the album, The Brave and the Bold (Overcoat Recordings)

Super Bowl Losers
Many of Steelers and Seahawks fans are eager to claim victory for their teams prior to Sunday's big Super Bowl match-up in Detroit. Then, there are fans that are hardcore pessimists. Host Bill Radke talks with two of these doubting Thomases: one from Pittsburgh and one from Seattle to learn why they approach Sunday's game with caution.

Motor City Memories
Leading up to the Super Bowl, Detroit's city leaders are out to impress the country by showing off some of the newest and best of what the Motor City has to offer. Meanwhile, contributing writer and former Detroiter Hank Rosenfeld chooses to take us on a tour of an older Detroit -- the one he remembers and loves.

Online resources:

» Read Hank Rosenfeld's essay "Detroit Detroit... Motown Supertown Tour"

More Weekend America essays by Hank Rosenfeld:

» Hannukah Memories
» Organized Living
» Remembering Papa John
» The Crossing Guard

Music Bridge: Mercy Mercy Me - Artist: Marvyn Gaye
CD: Ultimate Collection (Universal)

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

» Event information

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

Listener Letters
Last week, Weekend America explored the role of prayer in the course of U.S. history. One prayer resounded with our audience. It was written by former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. On today's program, we hear the prayer in its entirety.

Online resources:

» "A World Made New" -- Eleanor Roosevelt Prayer

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Saint Thurgood?
Thirteen years after his death, the Episcopal Church is weighing sainthood for former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Weekend America host Barbara Bogaev talks to The Reverend Bruce Eberhardt about their decision.

Online resources:

» The Diocese of Washington Resolution (Microsoft Word Document)
» Episcopalians Weigh Sainthood for Marshall (washingtonpost.com)

A Champion for New Orleans
In his State of the Union speech this week, President Bush barely mentioned reconstruction efforts for New Orleans. Does this mean America's concern for the citizens of the "Big Easy" has fallen off the national radar? Weekend America sent independent producer Molly Peterson to New Orleans to talk with people there about what they believe it will take to make rebuilding a national priority.

Online resources:

» State of the Union speeches (1945 - present, CSPAN.com)

Music Bridge: Autobanda - Artist: Nortec Collective
CD: Tijuana Session Vol 3 (Nacional)

Name That Planet
Our fellow planets in the solar system have some pretty high and mighty names: Mercury, Mars, Neptune... you get the idea. Now, with the discovery of a tenth planet, the search is on for a catchy name. Weekend America host Bill Radke looks at some possibilities.

Online resources:

» Tenth planet discovered in outer solar system (NewScientist.com)

Music Bridge: Cuchillos de Hielo - Artist: Tristeza
CD: A Colores (Better Looking)

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Moose on the Loose
Independent producer Annie Feidt likes to take photos of moose making themselves at home on the streets of Alaska's larger cities. But this year, she has a problem: The moose don't seem to have their usual interest in big city life.

Music Bridge: Cheryl - Artist: Paul Motian Band
CD: Garden of Eden (ECM)

Pop Music: Belle and Sebastian
Literate storytelling and lush chamber pop arrangements have long been a trademark of the Scottish band, Belle and Sebastian. Mark Wheat of the music station The Current in Minneapolis-St. Paul joins host Bill Radke to talk about their latest release, which takes a more hardened approach.

Online resources:

» Belle and Sebastian | We Are the Sleepyheads, Mornington Crescent | From the album, The Life Pursuit (Matador)

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The Sounds of Speed
Along with the upcoming Olympics in Italy there will be a number of cultural works exhibited around various game sites. Weekend America's Michael Raphael explores one piece that attempts to capture various sounds connected to winter sports and how we relate to them.

Online resources:

» Stephen Vitiello Web site

Where's Winter?
It's been a surprisingly mild season for states that normally surrender to the icy blasts of winter. Could some Northern U.S. residents actually miss the blinding snow and arctic winds that invade their lives this time of year? Weekend America host Bill Radke made a few calls to find out.

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

» Event information

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

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Supermarket Impressions
Writer Charlie Schroeder prides himself on his ability to size people up. And after reading best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell's book Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, Charlie decided to put his talents and Gladwell's theories to the test in his local supermarket. Could he accurately assess the personalities of shoppers simply by viewing their choice of groceries?

Online resources:

» Charlie Schroeder Web site
» Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking is available at the Public Radio BookSource.