Coming Up! April 30 to May 4, 2012

Happy May!
First, some calendar business. Mark it down:
Thursday at 2PM:”Beyond the Extremes: Contemporary Narratives of Exploration“ 

The Hartford Consortium for Higher Education in Collaboration with WNPR and Drunken Boat, international online journal of the arts, invites you to a panel on “Beyond the Extremes: Contemporary Narratives of Exploration” moderated by John Dankosky for “Where We Live,” introduced by CCSU poet-in-residence and Drunken Boat Executive Director Ravi Shankar, and featuring snow leopard conservator and Himalayan anthropologist Shafqat Hussain, visual artist and expeditioner Adriane Colburn, University of Hartford historian Michael Robinson, Director of Trinity’s InterArts Program and poet Clare Rossini, and Coordinator of Maritime Studies at Uconn-Avery Point, Helen Rozwadowski.

Come learn about the history of exploration, see tools of the trade, and discuss what new frontiers exist for us to discover in the new millennium.

Where: University of Hartford’s Wilde Auditorium, Harry Jack Gray Center, 200 Bloomfield Ave (Rte 189) West Hartford CT 06117

Saturday 8PM:  The Connecticut Forum, ”Our Fragile Earth” moderated by John Dankosky

We see it everywhere: the pace of human consumption is exceeding the earth’s resources. From frequent natural disasters, food crises, and rising incidence of illness, to water shortages and increasingly extreme weather, the evidence is all around us. Where are the answers? Do they lie in policy? Personal habits? New values? Is it too late to save our planet? What can we do today to protect our earth’s natural resources tomorrow?

And here is what’s coming up on Where We Live this week:

MONDAY: Chris Murphy
As we head toward the state party conventions this election year – it’s time again for “Where We Vote.”Our regular series of conversations with candidates for office gets underway with Congressman and Senate Candidate Chris Murphy.He’s one of a number of candidates running to replace the retiring Joe Lieberman. And, by most accounts, he’s the front-runner for the Democratic nomination. A Quinnipiac University poll also has him with a wide lead over potential Republican challenger Linda McMahon, but only a slim lead over Chris Shays, who we’ll be talking to later this week.

TUESDAY: Minimum Wage Debate
Connecticut’s Minimum wage – now at $8.25 – may be changing. The state house has passed a bill that would hike it by 25 cents each of the next two years. Business groups hate the idea of a raise – workers groups love it. But does $10 a week really hurt…or help anyone? The policy and politics of the minimum wage – on the next Where We Live.

WEDNESDAY: Conflicts of Interest in Health Care
As the business of health care continues to boom, the drumbeat against so-called “conflicts of interest” in medicine and medical research has gotten louder. Does taking money from a drug company really affect how someone does their research or prescribes a drug to a patient? What are the safeguards in place against biased decisions in health care or medical research? WNPR reporter Neena Satija guest hosts

THURSDAY: Chris Shays
Republican Chris Shays represented southwest Connecticut in the U.S. Congress for 21 years, until he was unseated by Democrat Jim Himes in 2008. Now Shays is back as one of a number of candidates running to replace the retiring Joe Lieberman in the U.S. Senate. He’s taking on former WWE CEO Linda McMahon for the GOP nomination. Today we’ll continue our Where We Vote series.

FRIDAY: Magazine
Gabrielle Giffords is a Democrat who had represented Arizona’s Eighth Congressional District since 2007. She was one of 19 people shot at a meet-and-greet political event outside a grocery store in her hometown of Tucson, AZ. Today her husband astronaut Mark Kelly will join us today to talk about the shooting and how he and his wife are overcoming her traumatic brain injury. Kelly is in town to speak at Southern Connecticut State University.  (And more…)

Coming Up! April 23 to 27, 2012

Thank you Thank you Thank you to all of you who have pledged during our Spring Membership Drive. If you haven’t yet, no worries!! There is still a week left. You can see all of our awesome premiums here. 

There is so much happening this weekend, but tonight you should check out Mike +Ruthy at Billings Forge. 

And next Tuesday night don’t miss *the ear cave*.  A stripped down listening session, more info here.

That’s all the news I have, here’s what’s on the show next week. Have a great weekend!

MONDAY: Our Aging Body and Mind
Science shows that the best thing we can do to maintain good brain health is to stay active—both physically and mentally. The news is that it is never too late to get active or challenge our brains with something new. Research shows that the size of the brain increases, memory improves, and attention is focused when we learn and perform new tasks. And it is not just learning something new that helps our mind, body, and soul. An environment rich in opportunities to engage with other people, music and animals are an added boon to brain power. We’ll talk to several people who share their firsthand knowledge about the power of music, animals, and exercise to our aging brains.

TUESDAY: Funny but True: Blogging the 2012 Election
The race for president has taken us on a long, eventful and often amusing road. From gaffes on the campaign trail to bizarre exchanges on the debate stage, the candidates have given bloggers and late night talk show hosts a goldmine of material. Join reporters and bloggers from It’s A Free Country (IAFC), WNYC’s award-winning interactive politics site, and Comedy Central’s Indecision, the network’s digital extension of its politics coverage, for a whirlwind look back at the campaign so far – and some insight into what’s ahead. This program will broadcast highlights of a panel that took place at CCSU last week, as part of our Election Double Header coverage.

WEDNESDAY: Sex Trafficking in Connecticut
The Berlin Turnpike is lined with all kinds of motels and hotels. Some of these are rented out by pimps and sex traffickers to run their illicit businesses out of. We’ll be joined by the author of a book about sex trafficking on this 11 mile stretch of road about the problem, and new legislation that could crack down on it. We’ll also hear from the HartBeat Ensemble – they’ve got a new play based on the book called “Project: Turnpike.”

THURSDAY: Magazine
James Kwak co-wrote a book called 13 Bankers on the Wall Street takeover and what he says is the next financial meltdown. We’ll preview a discussion with him at the UConn Law School. (And more!)

FRIDAY: Freakonomics with Stephen Dubner
Stephen Dubner has been exploring “the hidden side of everything” since he wrote Freakonomics back in 2005 with economist Steven Levitt. This exploration has expanded into a follow-up book, a film and a radio series. The latest season of Freakonomics Radio looks at wine tasting, booing and lottery loopholes. Dubner joins us to discuss adapting the bestselling book into a radio show and he takes us through the latest season of Freakonomics Radio.

Coming Up! April 16 to 20, 2012

Buckle up, friends! We have our next big fund drive starting next week. Thank you for your support of WNPR and Where We Live.
Here’s what we have coming up next week on the show:

MONDAY: Environment
Earth Day is coming up, as is a Connecticut Forum conversation John Dankosky will be hosting, called “Our Fragile Earth.” Today we’ll be tackling a series of environmental issues, from greenhouse gases, to green college campuses, to a still percolating debate over climate change.

TUESDAY: Waste
How much food does your family waste? Jonathan Bloom says it’s as much as 25% of what we bring into our homes. He’s author of “American Wasteland: How America Throws Away Nearly Half of Its Food,” and he says that wasted food adds up to wasted money. But it’s not just food that goes to waste. Electronic waste is becoming a growing health risk for America and developing nations. In 2009, the EPA estimates that 2.4 million tons of computer equipment were thrown away – and only a quarter of it recycled. Coming up, we’ll dig into America’s wastebasket with Bloom and others to see just what we’re throwing out.

WEDNESDAY: Gary Knell

After several high profile resignations at NPR, including CEO Vivian Schiller, the organization needed a fresh start and some positive PR. Last October Gary Knell took over. Formerly President and CEO of Sesame Workshop, he’s been called “an extraordinary leader with extensive experience in public media, programming, and education.” So, how’s the job been so far? Coming up, Knell joins us for the hour to talk NPR and to take your calls.

THURSDAY: Young People, Don’t Go!
Connecticut has lost more of our 25-34-year-old population since 1990 than any state but Michigan. The demographic crunch as baby-boomers retire will affect the entire country – but Connecticut is poised for the most hardship, unless we turn this around quickly. Today we revisit the on-going conversation about how to get young people to stay in the state. Which means jobs, entertainment, affordable housing… We’ll check in with the Partnership for Strong Communities who have been running focus groups and held a recent forum on the topic. And, of course, we’ll hear from young people.

FRIDAY: Mike + Ruthy
Mike + Ruthy have been touring and recording together for thirteen years. A timeless original folk and blues duo from Woodstock, NY, they celebrate the soul of Americana through witty, spellbinding stories and songs featuring fiddle, banjo, guitar, ukulele and their hallmark, white-knuckle-tight harmony singing. On April 17th, they’ll be introducing THE NYC EP, a collection of six new songs which includes their newly re-crafted Woody Guthrie ballad “My New York City.” Coming up, Mike and Ruthy will play a few songs in WNPR’s Studio 3 – previewing a concert at Billings Forge.

Funny But True: Blogging the 2012 Election

A Panel Exploring the Presidential Campaign’s Most Memorable Moments to Date and an Insightful Look Ahead

WHAT: Funny, But True: Blogging the 2012 Election
WHEN: Wednesday, April 11 from 4:30 to 6pm
WHERE: Central Connecticut State University
Vance Academic Center 105
1615 Stanley Street
New Britain, CT 06050
TICKETS: FREE and Open to the Public.
Facebook users may RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/419336234747758/.
Free and Open to the Public

The race for president has taken us on a long, eventful and often amusing road. From gaffes on the campaign trail to bizarre exchanges on the debate stage, the candidates have given bloggers and late night talk show hosts a goldmine of material.

Join reporters and bloggers from It’s A Free Country (IAFC), WNYC’s award-winning interactive politics site, and Comedy Central’s Indecision, the network’s digital extension of its politics coverage, for a whirlwind look back at the campaign so far – and some insight into what’s ahead. During the lively conversation, panelists will present their picks for the funniest and most illuminating video highlights of the race and take questions from the audience. The event will be recorded for future broadcast on WNPR.

The event will be hosted by JOHN DANKOSKY, News Director and Host of Where We Live on WNPR, and the Robert C. Vance Endowed Chair in Journalism and Mass Communication at CCSU.

PANELISTS INCLUDE:

· ANNA SALE, Reporter, It’s a Free Country – Sale covers the 2012 election for IAFC, with a focus on voter voices. She appears regularly on WNYC’s Brian Lehrer Show and The Takeaway, and has also contributed to NPR, Marketplace, Slate, Current TV, and NY1. Follow her on Twitter at @annasale.

· MARY PHILLIPS-SANDY, Editorial Producer, Comedy Central’s Indecision –Phillips-Sandy started writing for Indecision in 2008 and became the site’s full-time editorial producer in 2011. She has also written for the Awl, the Daily, LIFE.com, Bundle, Yankee Pot Roast, the Portland Phoenix and other places. Follow her on Twitter at @maryps.

· JEFF YANG, Blogger, It’s a Free Country – Yang is the Pop and Politics blogger for IAFC and also writes the “Tao Jones” column for the Wall Street Journal online. Follow him on Twitter @originalspin.

· KAROL MARKOWICZ, Blogger, It’s a Free Country – Born in the Soviet Union and raised in Brooklyn, Markowicz is a public relations consultant in NYC and a veteran of Republican campaigns in four states. She blogs about politics at Alarming News and about life in the city with her husband and baby at 212 Baby.

 

Coming Up! April 9 to 13, 2012

We are BACK with brand-spanking new episodes of Where We Live. I’m speculating here, but I expect to see John come back with a nice tan and Catie will come back  paler than when she left (Maine will do that to you). John may actually not have gone anywhere…he may have just been taking a vacation to watch some baseball.

Here’s what we have on-tap for next week:

MONDAY: Cashless Society 

We’re moving closer and closer to a cashless society with even some vending machines accepting your credit and debit cards. Will we see the day when our wallets won’t need a compartment for dollar bills and coins?

TUESDAY: Baseball! 

It’s that time of the year again…the leaves are coming out, the temperatures are warming up, and spring training is over. Yes, baseball season is underway. We’ll be talking baseball with former Major League pitcher and author of Ball Four, Jim Bouton and baseball writer Tim Wendell. We’ll also hear from the new president of the New Britain Rock Cats about its changing ownership and what’s ahead for this Connecticut franchise.

WEDNESDAY: GOOD Ideas for Cities 

GOOD Ideas for Cities is the result of a partnership between GOOD Magazine and CEOs for Cities. They recently held a well-attended event in St. Louis, where teams of creative thinkers collaborated with civic leaders to try to solve some of the city’s toughest problems. Could an event like this in Hartford make a positive difference? We’ll talk with Alissa Walker from GOOD, and some of the people involved in the St. Louis effort.

THURSDAY: Adult Friendship

Facebook has transformed what it means to have “friends.” But finding friends in real life can be difficult for adults, especially those who are new to a city. How do you make a friend in 2012? We’ll also talk to someone who researched “couples and their couple friendships.”

FRIDAY: TBD

We got it under control.