New Hampshire Public Radio - Word of Mouth

Idea Smackdown

Jen Nathan — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:08:26 +0000

Word of Mouth has more ideas than it knows what to do with, so let us know what you'd like to hear next week.

Here's a list of things we're considering. Add a comment with the idea(s) you think should win this grueling match. Let the best ideas win.

Female mobsters
Health care in China
Online-only churches
The subprime student loan crisis
Why boldness is bad for science
Paul Bunyan chic
Census conspiracy theorists

What's Becoming Obsolete?

Jen Nathan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:59:37 +0000

Pity the poor maligned typewriter. It was once the axis of a writer’s life. Hemingway packed up his portable Royal in its well-worn leather case and dragged it to Cuba because he couldn’t live without it. In the 1960s, school children practiced speed typing on sturdy Underwoods and adults pushed down shiny black keys every time they paid a bill or wrote a letter.

The Berlin Wall Comes to L.A.

Jen Nathan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:25:57 +0000

The Berlin Wall is making its Los Angeles debut this month. The Wende Museum installed several segments of the original Berlin Wall on Wilshire Boulevard in L.A. They asked artists to paint over a few of the panels with American icons who helped tear down the wall that divided Germany. Artist Kent Twitchell planned to paint two portraits, one of JFK and the other of Ronald Reagan.

The Indie Blog Curse

Virginia Prescott — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:13:32 +0000

The indie music blogosphere can instantly bestow fame, and then quickly deliver the backlash.

Retailers Shift Gears

Virginia Prescott — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:50:37 +0000

Retailers try new strategies for the holiday season. Sales are out. Permanent markdowns are in.

Echo Locations: Karda Estra

John Diliberto — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:39:02 +0000

Karda Estra is the recording persona of English composer Richard Wileman. Wileman started out as a rocker but veered into composing classical works for chamber ensembles and electric guitar. His imagery tends toward the gothic and his music to the dramatic.

John Diliberto talked to him about his sound as part of the "Echolocation" series.

So What if my Kid Doesn't Love to Read?

Virginia Prescott — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:36:37 +0000

Should parents feel guilty if their kids love math but hate to read?

Climate Change Refugees

Virginia Prescott — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:21:59 +0000

Scientists predict that rising sea levels will force millions to relocate to higher ground.

Stimulus Money in Action

Jen Nathan — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:41:14 +0000

If you’ve ever driven down a narrow rural road marred by pot holes, or walked through a crowded street begging for a larger sidewalk, you might have wondered where all that economic stimulus money is going. Now there’s an app for that.

Musicians Bike East

Jasmyn Belcher — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:06:27 +0000

A folk-punk musician is trying out the ultimate in green concert touring: embarking on a two-month long bicycle tour down the east coast. Aaron Scott of the band Attica! Attica! currently lives in Portland, Oregon, but he recently came eastward to begin what he calls the Ditch The Van Tour.