Weekend America for Saturday, March 11, 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: March 11, 2006 | Map these stories

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Saying Goodbye
Gregg Gour has lived with AIDS for two decades. When he chose to stop taking his meds, Greg bought an RV and journeyed across the country to say goodbye to his loved ones. Host Barbara Bogaev talked to Greg and some of his friends he visited along the way: Jim Catalano of San Diego, California and Marcia Ellison, of Scottsdale Arizona.

Online resources:

» Greenie Films Web site
» Sacramento Bee: "Dying man makes push for euthanasia"

Music Bridge: "The Upwards March" - Artist: Bell Orchestre
CD: Recording a Tape the Colour of Light (Rough Trade)

World Baseball Classic
Racine Journal Times (Wisconsin) sports columnist Greg Giesen told his readers he didn't care about the World Baseball Classic and in fact, he thought it was bad for American baseball. But he tells Weekend America's Bill Radke that after watching a game between the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, he had a profound change of heart.

Online resources:

» Greg Giesen's sports column online

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Birth of the Scoreboard
As you're watching March Madness this next week, take a moment to think about that big device hanging on the wall or ceiling that helps you keep track of the game: the scoreboard! Weekend America's Jessica Smith gives us a history lesson of how the electronic gizmo came to be.

Online resources:

» Fair-Play Scoreboards Web site

Music Bridge: "Blue" - Artist: Tussle
CD: Kling Klang (Troubleman Unlimited)

Indie Picks: Centro-Matic
Denton, Texas songwriter Will Johnson has performed under his own name and as "South San Gabriel." Now, he's back tackling roots-country music as "Centro-Matic." Mark Wheat of the Minneapolis-St. Paul station, "The Current" joins host Bill Radke to talk about Johnson's latest CD.

Online resources:

» Centro-Matic | "In Such a Crooked a Time, Calling Thermatico" | From the album, Fort Recovery (Misra)

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Wings of Love
Abigail's Party is a play by the theater and film director Mike Leigh. It recently made its U.S. debut in New York. One of the focal points in the show involves a painting called "Wings of Love." As the show and reporter Ilya Marritz point out, it may be a popular piece of art but it's certainly an acquired taste.

Online resources:

» The New Group Web site

Criticizing Critics
Who's to say what's bad or good art? Why do so many of us rely on information from critics before we see a movie, buy a CD or watch TV? Host Bill Radke puts that question to writer Phillip Lopate, a witty and obsessive film watcher.

Online resources:

» Lopate's book, American Movie Critics: An Anthology from the Silents Until Now, is available at the Public Radio BookSource.

Music Bridge: "Excursions Into 'Oh, A-Oh'" - Artist: Stereolab
CD: Fab Four Suture (Too Pure)

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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Song and Memory: "Harrigan"
What song from your past brings back a strong memory? In this installment of our ongoing series, "Song and Memory", we meet a woman with a special recollection of a song heard frequently around St. Patrick's Day: the popular Irish standard, "Harrigan."

Online resources:

Listen to the full version of Kathy Napoli singing "Harrigan."
» More "Song and Memory"

I Do Weddings, Too
Host Bill Radke reflects on his experience conducting a friend's wedding last weekend.

Online resources:

» Universal Life Church Web site

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New Strides in Artificial Limbs
Weekend America looks at the developments made in prosthetic limbs, partially as a result of the war in Iraq. Host Bill Radke talks to Shari Roan, who has done a survey of state-of-the-art prosthetics for the Los Angeles Times. She introduces us to National Guardsman Mike McNaughton, who has the most technologically advanced prosthetic knee available.

Online resources:

» The Los Angeles Times: "Science Quickens Its Steps: High-tech prostheses help a new generation of war veteran amputees regain mobility like never before. Some even return to active duty. (Requires registration)

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Counseling Amputees
As war has become more sophisticated, so has the medical technology used to heal American soldiers. But physical treatment is only part of what's needed before the wounded can resume a regular life. Host Bill Radke talks to Wayne Miller, a Vietnam-era amputee who counsels returning troops about post-traumatic stress disorder. (Miller also inspired the character of Elias, who does the same thing in the comic strip, Doonesbury.)

Online resources:

» More Doonesbury featuring Elias the counselor...

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

Sunspots in a High-Tech World
Prepare yourself for another series of sunspots. Not too long ago, this activity created on the surface of the sun was virtually unnoticed by everyday people. But it could wreak havoc for folks living in today's high-tech age. Host Bill Radke talks to a solar expert about the cosmic phenomenon and its implications.

Performance information:

» SpaceWeather.com
» National Solar Observatory
» National Center for Atmospheric Research
» NASA.gov: Solar Storm Warning

The Grunion Run
Like the sun, the moon is a powerful force in nature -- especially for the humble grunion. This weekend's full moon means it's mating time for the sea creature and a big event for grunion watchers, like Harry Saltzgaver. Weekend America caught up with him on his last grunion outing.

Performance information:

» California Department of Fish and Game
» Grunion.org

Music Bridge: "If You Want" - Artist: Nomo
CD: New Tones (Ubiquity)

Indie Picks: Tarkio
One of last year's biggest independent releases was The Decemberists' album Picaresque. Colin Meloy's songwriting skills helped make them a critics choice. They'll soon have a new album. Meanwhile, Mark Wheat of the Minneapolis-St. Paul station "The Current" has brought in a CD of Meloy's old band, Tarkio and joins host Bill Radke to compare his writing then and now.

Online resources:

» Tarkio | "Eva Luna," "Snakes in the Grass" | From the album, Omnibus (Kill Rock Stars)

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One Wife, Two Wife...
HBO premieres a new drama this weekend about a polygamist family. But how does such a family function in real life, beyond the sensational headlines we see? Weekend America's Alex Cohen spent time with a polygamist family in Utah to hear their views about the advantages, the disadvantages and the various legal issues surrounding their lifestyle. She joins hosts Bill Radke and Barbara Bogaev to talk about her experience.

Pro-polygamy web resources:

» A Primer on Polygamy put together by the Utah Attorney General's office
» Principle Voices - a group of pro-polygamy women
» Truth Bearer - an organization of Christian (not Mormon) polygamists
» Tapestry of Monogamy

Anti-polygamy web resources:

» Tapestry Against Polygamy
» Help the Child Brides

Music Bridge: "La Viguela" - Artist: Gotan Project
CD: Lunatico (xl)

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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Punto Cubano
Miami's "Calle Ocho " in Little Havana celebrates its 27th year this month with some of the most popular acts in Latin music. Those attending will also get to hear a style of Cuban country music that is rarely performed outside of large Cuban communities. Yolanda Perdomo reports.

Online resources:

» More about Calle Ocho in Little Havana