Tag: NPR

The Bible and a gallon of bleach

Just found Jen Nathan via Twitter. She’s an indy public radio producer in Portland. Her latest story is “The Bible and a gallon of bleach.” It’s a great story and a great topic. Reminds me of the charity stores the Salvation Army has around the world.

Peter Donatelli is an ordained Catholic priest. He also runs his family’s laundromat in Portland, Maine. Through his passionate beliefs and awkward sense of humor, Father Peter has created a public space where people actually talk about religion and politics. Some customers love it. Others hate it. But everyone agrees that it’s good for the community.

listen online

Which of these is different?

America is the “land of freedom” a “melting pot” and as Christians we’re taught to “love one another” but how has our attitude changed since 9/11?

From This American Life:

Serry and her husband’s love story began in a place not usually associated with romance: the West Bank. That was where the couple met, fell in love and decided to get married. Then Serry, who was American, convinced her Palestinian husband to move to America. She promised him that in America their children would never encounter prejudice or strife of any kind. But things didn’t quite work out that way.

How should we as Christian Americans respond to those around us who may not see eye to eye with us?

Also I learned in this particular podcast, there’s a statue of the prophet Muhammad in a federal building in Washington D.C. Didn’t know that.

In the 1930s, the designer of the U.S. Supreme Court made a frieze to adorn the courtroom walls. It depicted eighteen great lawgivers through ages, including Moses, Solon, Confucius…and Muhammad. The only problem is that Islam forbids such portrayals of the prophet. Host Ira Glass talks to Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, about why the frieze is offensive to Muslims, and what they tried to do about it.

Interesting. Listen online.

Is your candidate running?

Michael Bloomberg
Folks are talking more and more and more about NY Mayor Michael Bloomberg possibly running for president.
Everywhere he goes folks are asking and so far he’s still saying “No.”
But how can we know for sure? I mean really?

NPR’s Robert Smith devised a simple solution that should work for any and all possible presidential candidates. Now if only someone could get a similar card for vice-presidential candidates.

Listen online

Play candidates Bingo with your favorite (possible) candidate

re: 18 Hours of Christmas Music

If you just need a quick Christmas music fix, head over to NPR for the 18th annual A Jazz Piano Christmas. An hour of amazing live jazz Christmas music.

Which speaking of Christmas jazz, I forgot to mention the Charlie Brown Christmas Soundtrack as one of my favorites.

The 18th annual A Jazz Piano Christmas, recorded live at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., features three great pianists who have each been shaping the sound of jazz for more than half a century. Dr. Billy Taylor, Hank Jones and Barry Harris spin their original solo takes on the holiday songbook.

Here’s the lineup:

* “The Little Drummer Boy” — Andrew Hill (from A Jazz Piano Christmas XIII)
* “Merry Christmas” — Billy Taylor
* “The Christmas Song” — Billy Taylor
* “Winter Wonderland” — Joey DeFrancesco
* “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” — Joey DeFrancesco
* “White Christmas” — Barry Harris
* “We Three Kings” — Hank Jones
* “Good King Wenceslas” – Hank Jones
* “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” — Hank Jones & Roberta Gambarini
* “Silent Night” — Hank Jones & Roberta Gambarini
* “Jingle Bells” — All Artists (Taylor, DeFrancesco, Harris, Jones, Gambarini)

Enjoy!

Jessica interviewed on ATC

A friend, Jess Davis was interviewed on NPR’s All Things Considered over the weekend about the 2008 presidential campaign.
She worked as an intern at the WDL while I was there and I worked with both her parents while at Ellis County. Now she’s News Editor at the student paper for the University of South Carolina.
Congrats to Jess. Keep up the good work.

Wear that red dress

From StoryCorps:

Danielle and Gabrielle Hall came to StoryCorps in San Francisco to remember their mother Martha, who died of breast cancer in 2003 after fighting the disease for 14 years…
“Mom was amazing,” Gabrielle Hall said.
Danielle added, “She was determined and strong and intense and good at everything she did more than anybody else’s mom that I knew.”
“She’s still better than everybody else’s mom we know,” Gabrielle said. The sisters laughed at the thought.
Danielle remembered the time that her mother sent her a poem. It said, “If you’re having a bad day, bake a cake. And if it’s still bad, put on a red dress.”

hall_family465.jpg
While wearing her new red shoes to her chemo treatment, their mother Martha said, “You can’t have a bad day if you’re wearing red shoes.” Sounds like someone who definitely made the most of her situation.
What is it that always cheers you up? What is it that gets you through the rough days and prepares you to face your lion?
Well worth a listen – especially right before Thanksgiving