Monday, July 27, 2009
Rob Shapiro is an economist who has contributed his ideas and expertise to a wide range of policy issues. Legislation was recently introduced in the House based on Shapiro’s proposal to use community colleges as technology training grounds for the U.S. workforce. Shapiro is also the current Chair of the Climate Task Force. Then, Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonanno have made a career out of humiliating greedy corporations and corrupt government agencies that they feel dishonor human life. Their exploits are documented in a new film called “The Yes Men Fix the World.” The film has won standing ovations and audience awards at festivals across the country. It reaches a wider audience when it premieres today on HBO.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
In Methland: The Death and Life of an American Small Town, Nick Reding tells the story of the methamphetamine epidemic as it sweeps the American heartland, focusing on the small Iowa town of Oelwein. Then, most agree that Jay Farrar helped invent the alt-country sound with his former band Uncle Tupelo. After splitting with long-time songwriting partner, Jeff Tweedy, Farrar formed a new band called Son Volt. American Central Dust is the new album which is being described as “earthy,” “powerfully grounded,” and “sturdy.”
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Every night, there are 250,000 homeless veterans and not nearly enough beds for them to sleep on. Of that total, 4,000 served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Bob visits a shelter in Washington, DC dedicated to supporting homeless veterans to talk directly to former military men and women and the social workers who try to help them. Then Bob talks to Chad Lego who served in Iraq from June 2007 to February 2008 and joined the Circle of Friends for American Veterans to help those who find themselves without a place to call home. Lego attended the annual National Conference for Veterans and discusses the lack of services for our men and women in uniform once they are released from the military.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Zee Avi is a Malaysian singer-songwriter, guitarist and ukulele player. She was discovered after posting a video of herself on YouTube. She is currently on her first-ever US tour. Avi will play some songs for Bob in Sirius XM’s performance studio. Then, a look at the world of film with our resident entertainment critic David Kipen.
Friday, July 31, 2009
David Broder of The Washington Post joins Bob to talk politics. Next, most people would have found Julie Klam’s childhood enviable; her mother would repeatedly take her out of school to spend the day shopping at Bloomingdale’s and having lavish lunches. But Julie would soon learn that her glamorous life growing up in New York’s wealthy Westchester County did little to prepare her for the real world. In her memoir, Please Excuse my Daughter, Klam records her successes and failures making it on her own with humor, wit, and self-effacing grace. Then, in this week’s installment of our ongoing series This I Believe, Bob talks with executive director Dan Gediman about the essay from Eleanor Roosevelt. She was the wife of Franklin D. Roosevelt, was active in Democratic politics and helped shape her husband’s New Deal programs while he was president. Considered one of the most active and influential First Ladies in U.S. history, she advocated for racial equality, women’s rights and world peace.