Weekday

Vancouver Sun political correspondent Vaughn Palmer brings us the latest news from Canada. Film critic Robert Horton assesses Anthony Hopkins as Alfred Hitchcock. Then, we review the latest economic news with Seattle Times columnist Jon Talton.

Thomas Jefferson was a deeply political man who viciously fought for his beliefs, but he was also flawed. More than simply accepting slavery, Jefferson benefited from it in many ways — though, through the language of the Declaration, he may have set in motion its eventual disintegration. We hear more from Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham ("Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power") about how this contradictory president wielded power and influence, and how he shaped America’s evolution.

Just a few more weeks until we winter over. Is your garden ready for winter? Marty Wingate and Greg Rabourn join us to answer your questions.  Call us at 206.543.5869 or write to weekday@kuow.org.

Many books have been written about Thomas Jefferson. The latest, by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham, seeks in part to rehabilitate Jefferson’s legacy, reinstating him as a consummate politician and an idealist for human liberty, even as he fell short in ending one of America's greatest injustices. How did Jefferson see his role in the evolving American idea? Jon Meacham joins us to talk about "Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power."

The US military and its allies are drawing up plans to leave Afghanistan by 2014, but it will be some time before the nation is truly independent. Peace in Afghanistan has been interspersed with foreign invasion for centuries, from the Mongol Empire to today’s war. We talk with writer Tamim Ansary about his new book, “Game Without Rules: The Often Interrupted History of Afghanistan,” and what Afghan independence might look like in the future.

Constructed languages, or "conlangs," are the made-up tongues that bring the worlds of "Avatar,"  "Lord of the Rings" and "Star Trek" to life. We talk with linguist David J. Peterson, creator of the Dothraki language for HBO's "Game of Thrones," about what goes into creating a language from scratch.

Vancouver Sun political correspondent Vaughn Palmer brings us the latest news from Canada. Film critic Robert Horton surveys the new crop of Thanksgiving movie releases (including a remake of 1984's "Red Dawn"). Geekwire’s Todd Bishop reviews e-readers and tablets with the holiday shopping season in mind.

Prayer takes many forms. Some are ritual, others informal. For generations, religious parishioners have wondered if there is a right way to pray. Writer Anne Lamott ("Some Assembly Required," "Plan B," "Traveling Mercies") believes that prayer comes in three essential types: help, thanks and wow. She joins us to talk about how these simple prayers guide her life.

The weather just keeps getting wetter. Is your garden ready for winter? Willi Galloway and Debra Prinzing join us to answer your gardening questions.  Call us at 206.543.5869 or write to weekday@kuow.org.

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.