hiking

Gavin Newsom: Taking The Town Square Digital

Producer — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:00:00 +0000

It’s not news that government can get bogged down by layers of bureaucracy. The solution to cutting the red tape, says California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, is technology. He joins us to talk about his new book "Citizenville," and how to put technology to use to take citizens from observers to collaborators.

Fighting To End HIV And TB Infections Worldwide

PRODUCER — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 17:00:00 +0000

Access to HIV and TB treatment has been improving worldwide. The rate of new infections is going down. But tuberculosis remains deadly, especially for the poverty stricken — TB killed 1.4 million people in 2011. Luwiza Makukula was diagnosed with HIV and TB after her husband died in 2001. Not only was she sick, she was completely isolated. Today, she works with NGOs focused on treatment, care, and support for HIV/TB patients, including Zambia's Community Initiative for TB, HIV/AIDS and Malaria (CITAM+). Luwiza Makukula joins us.

Call The Grammar Police!

Steve Scher — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 17:00:00 +0000

When it comes to proper usage, the Grammar Police work overtime. Have you ever corrected another person’s grammar? How did that go over? Linguist Geoffrey Pullum has written widely on language and usage, from technical syntactic theory to a study called “The Great Eskimo Vocabulary Hoax." He joins us for a conversation about the constant struggle for grammatical excellence (or even just improvement) and the right and wrong way to encourage better sentence structure.

A Conversation With Author Julie Otsuka

Steve Scher — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 00:30:12 +0000

American history is full of stories of disenfranchised women who assert their rightful role in society and in so doing, open up the culture. Author Julie Otsuka’s family was interned following the bombing of Pearl Harbor; her father was arrested as a potential spy. She told that story in her award-winning first novel, “When the Emperor Was Divine.” Her second novel, “The Buddha in the Attic,” reaches farther back to explore the lives of brides sent from Japan to America between the wars, and the strain of traditional values in a nation that promised opportunity for all. The writer Julie Otsuka joins us.

The Changing Face Of American Christianity

Steve Scher — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 17:00:00 +0000

Religion is changing. In recent years we’ve seen the rise of evangelical and nondenominational churches, and the Internet has turned charismatic religious leaders into celebrities as famous and revered as rock stars. Among them is Pastor Rob Bell, who has captured the attention of millions with his hip look, presentation and inclusive teachings. Some Evangelical Christians consider him “dangerous,” but Time Magazine voted him one of "2011’s Most Influential People." Who is Rob Bell and what does his ministry say about the future of the evangelical and Christian church? We talk with the University of Washington's James Wellman about "Rob Bell and a New American Christianity."

Signs Of Progress On Fiscal Cliff Talks

Steve Scher — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 17:00:00 +0000

There are rumors of progress in Washington, DC, in the talks over how to move forward on spending and taxes, but House speaker John Boehner says Republicans have a "Plan B" just in case. We hear the latest on the fiscal cliff talks from Jill Jackson of CBS News.

GOP Coalition Takes Control In State Senate

Marcie Sillman — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Washington state Democrats won't have sole control of Olympia in the coming legislative session after all. Two Democratic senators announced on Monday that they will caucus with the GOP to give Republicans a 25-24 bipartisan majority in the state senate. We talk with incoming Senate majority leader Rodney Tom of Medina.

Your Stories Of Thanksgiving

Steve Scher — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Soon family and friends will gather, feasts will be prepared and memories will be made. Some from everything going right, some from things going comically wrong. Touching moments. Traditions. Mortifying mistakes. Put yourself in a festive mood and share your stories of Thanksgiving with us at 206.543.5869 or weekday@kuow.org.

Linguist Geoffrey Nunberg On America's Favorite Insult

Steve Scher — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 16:00:00 +0000

In “Ascent of the A-Word,” linguist and "Fresh Air" commentator Geoffrey Nunberg considers a word that has divided, offended and fascinated its users for the last 60 years. What is its essence? And what does it say about our values, impressions and relationships with other people? Nunberg joins us to discuss one of the culture’s most commonly hurled vulgarities and its place in society.