"Leaders are visionaries with a poorly developed sense of fear and no concept of the odds against them. They make the impossible happen."
- Dr. Robert Jarvik
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"Leaders are visionaries with a poorly developed sense of fear and no concept of the odds against them. They make the impossible happen." - Dr. Robert Jarvik
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Get Involved
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August 28, 2008 | |||||||
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 GoodThings on Public Radio February 14, 2002 We want to hear from you. What's the best public radio story or show you heard this past week? Share. If you want to listen, you'll need RealPlayer on your computer. (If you don't already have it, it's a FREE download.) Visit Real Networks. FRIDAY, February 8 | The Sound of Senegal The Senegalese pop/dance band, Orchestra Baobab, has been an underground favorite of world music fans since the 1970s, when these pioneers of contemporary African music came onto the scene. And until now their seminal recording, Pirates Choice, has only been available on worn-out cassettes or as a bootleg. The new reissue of Pirates Choice on CD showcases Orchestra Baobab's unique Afro-Cuban sound, infusing infectious West African and Caribbean rhythms with distinctive electric guitars. This commentator calls it the "loveliest African pop record ever made." [All Things Considered] Listen (length of clip 4 min 30 sec). :: Get your copy of Orchestra Baobab's Pirates Choice. SATURDAY, February 9 | Thermodynamics Rock! Trying hard to foster a child's love for science? This piece is perfect for you. Commentator Bill Harley has a passion for entropy, or the tendency of the universe to move toward greater and greater disorder. So seeking inspiration from both his overflowing desk and the bacteria in the soil reducing all of the scraps of life to fertile compost, he has penned a tune, a ditty, an ode rivaling the very best of Schoolhouse Rock. His catchy jingle leaves us with an existential question: what's left when entropy has run its course? [Weekend Edition Saturday] Listen (6:07). SUNDAY, February 10 | Detroit's Youthful Future The voters of Detroit, Michigan have recently opted for youthful vigor over entrenched political experience by electing the city's youngest mayor ever. 31-year-old Kwame Kilpatrick convinced voters that his vision of a revitalized Detroit would welcome young families back into a city long thought to be synonymous with widespread urban decay. All eyes will be on his administration, as he brings energy, passion, and a tendency to make bold promises to his quest to reverse the fortunes of old downtown neighborhoods like Corktown. [Weekend All Things Considered] Listen (4:45). :: Learn more about efforts to revitalize Detroit's Corktown neighborhood. MONDAY, February 11 | A Surgeon General Reflects As the four-year term of US Surgeon General David Satcher comes to an end, the country's often embattled top public-health leader ponders his legacy. Having served under two presidents with very different views on public health, Satcher believes he has remained considered the "best available science" whenever he has been outspoken on teen health issues, drug policy, HIV/AIDS, and treatment of the mentally ill. He has lent his support to such controversial ideas as needle exchange programs for IV drug users as a way to address the spread of AIDS. More recently, he has considered the issue of bioterrorism and how national readiness will benefit overall public health infrastructure. [Morning Edition] Listen (5:33). TUESDAY, February 12 | An Olympic Celebration Behind all the pomp of the 2002 Winter Olympics and the way the US seems to be using the Games to heal fresh wounds, are powerful stories of dedication and triumph from countries without a strong tradition in winter sports. Take the Kenyan cross-country ski team, for example. With its storied history in long-distance running, Kenya has begun to focus some of its aerobic training efforts on distance skiing. As Kenyan ski team members suggest, "It's only technique." Typically dominated by Northern Hemisphere nations, the Winter Olympics is increasingly becoming an opportunity for first-time competitors from countries without any snowfall at all to join in what is supposed to be a global gathering. While some believe that having inexperienced athletes in the Games dilutes its importance, others believe it reflects the true spirit of peace and sharing that the Games symbolize. [All Things Considered] Listen (4:30). :: Learn more about the real human stories behind the 2002 Winter Olympics. WEDNESDAY, February 13 | Transcending Stereotypes Three new films made by Iranian filmmakers about their Afghan neighbors to the east reveal a cultural, human depth not revealed through the soundbytes of the evening news. Kandahar, Baran, and the soon-to-be-completed Color of Hope each offer diverse glimpses at the Central Asian humanitarian crises exacerbated by over two decades of war. The goal of Kandahar is to draw the attention of the world to the human rights violations at play in Afghanistan, while Baran seeks to put the faces of real people struggling to have personal and professional lives with the unfathomable devastation. Color of Hope will be a documentary charting the effects of the war on terrorism on innocent people. [The World] Listen (6:20). THURSDAY, February 14 | Hopeful Heroism Ski jumper Adam Malysz is the equivalent of basketball star Michael Jordan in his home country of Poland, having won his country's first Olympic medal in thirty years this year in Salt Lake City. The passion of Poles and Polish-Americans for their hero has been palpable at the Games. Even Polish spectators have been asked to pose for photographs because their love for Malysz is so infectious. And Malysz' success at the Games appears to be paving the way for a glorious future for Poland's next few generations of ski jumpers; plans are already in the works to add more training facilities for would-be athletes. Malysz has also become a symbol of hope for a country in desperate need of something to look forward to. [Morning Edition] Listen (4:10). :: Learn more about Poland's Adam Malysz and the sport of ski-jumping. [ : previous week : ] WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. Did we miss a good public radio story this week? Want to recommend one for next week? Share it with us! |
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