Segment 1
WHO NEEDS A LIBRARY CARD?
According to a recent Associate Press-Ipsos poll, one in four adults has not read a book in the last year. Of those who do read, we read an average of four books a year. The most avid readers being seniors and women, with the top genres being religious works and popular fiction.
“One in four read no books last year”, http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap, Aug 21, 2007
How many book have you read this year? Are books becoming irrelevant? Are we reading less or do we just have more reading options? What purpose do books serve?
THE SCIENCE OF GIVING
In a recent story on ABC’s 20/20, John Stossel discovered that science is finding a connection between giving and improved physical health. That was true for former heart patients at Duke University Medical Center. They were asked to visit current heart patients -- no particular agenda, just to listen and lend support. By doing that, the volunteers had better health after their heart attacks.
“Doing good and feeling better”, 20/20 with John Stossell, Aug. 20, 2007
Why does it seems that we a designed to function physically and emotionally better when we’re generous? Does being stringy actually produce the opposite effect of what is hoped to be accomplished? Is the stereotypical “Ebenezer Scrooge” more fact than fiction?
Segment 3
ROVE REVIEWS
Last week, The “Architect” Karl Rove came out from behind “The Bush” to step down as the top political and domestic policy strategist for the Administration. Even “founding fathers” of the modern Conservative movement like Richard Viguerie are reflecting, “In politics, nobody was better…At policy, he was a disaster.”
“Out of the Picture” Time Magazine, pp. 26, August 27, 2007
“The Father of Spin” http://www.prwatch.org/prwissues/1999Q2/bernays.html
Is the harsh criticism warranted? Is Rove a modern-day Edward Bernays-like PR Man, the kind of guy who would knowingly sell women on cancer-sticks while forbidding his own mother to participate due to potential health risks? Why are we so easily sold on perception rather than reality – the whole politics over policy bit? Is it because we trust too easily? Too lazy to look at the moving parts in policy proposals? Why don’t politicians run on policy proposals rather than on policy headlines? Must the political PR machine depend on negative smear-the-other-guy (or girl) tactics in order to galvanize public support? Was it really that Rove did not have good ideas to champion or that the realities on the ground (the War on Terror, Congressional stalemates over Social Security privatization and the like) made him eat his words when he shouldn’t have had to. Weren’t others dropping the ball on implementing good ideas with bad decision-making or no decision-making?
Faceoff Debate
Should the U.S. blacklist Iran’s Revolutionary Guard by calling them a “specially designated global terrorist group”? Good or bad idea?
Segment 5
VICK-TORY FOR THE PROSECUTION!
Atlanta star quarterback Michael Vick has eaten up media broadcast time like a dog to kibble and the verdict is finally in. The NFL wants him out and the Falcons want $20 million dollars of his bonus back in their pocket. Still, you have the likes of interim NAACP President and CEO Dennis Hayes using the issue to race-bite, er, bait, and NBA stars like Stephon Marbury comparing dogfighting to something as harmless as hunting. (PETA would like me to insert here that if you think hunting is harmless just ask the deer, jackass!)
What do you think about the arguments for defending Vick? What about the argument that dogfighting should not be a criminal activity, I mean, look at all the professional athletes involved in violent crimes against humans who are still holding down jobs, girls, and sports cars?
Segment 6
NEED A JOB? GO WEST YOUNG MAN!
Helena, Montana McDonalds’ owner John Francis can’t find enough people to ask, “Would you like fries with that?” He forced to outsourcing the drive-thru window to a Texas telemarketing firm. Record low unemployment across parts of the West has created tough working conditions for business owners, who in places are being forced to boost wages or be creative to fill their jobs. Francis tried advertising in the local newspaper and even offered up to $10 an hour to compete with higher-paying oil field jobs.
“Help Wanted Ads Go Unanswered in West” http://apnews.myway.com, August 25, 2007
Is this an isolated problem unique to the west or is this just the beginning of a larger problem as Baby Boomers age and leave the workforce to a smaller Generation”X” employment pool?
BATHROOM ETIQUETTE WITH CRAIG AND THE COPPERS
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/08/31/craig.arrest/index.html
What do you think about Senator Larry Craig (R-Idaho) and the bathroom sideshow? What are appropriate hand signals for setting off the gay-dar? Hands up, hands down? What is appropriate bathroom etiquette?
NEW DEMOCRATIC STRATEGY-HAVE A HEART
Emory University Psychology Professor Drew Westen recently told a group of highly placed Democratic strategists, "The political brain is an emotional brain. It prefers conclusions that are emotionally satisfying rather than conclusions that match the data." He goes on to say that the Democrats single worst tendency is “intellectual dispassion.” In his new book, Western, who is not affiliated with a particular candidate, lays out his argument that Democrats must connect emotionally with the American electorate and that he can teach them how.
“Hearts over minds, he tells Democrats” http://www.latimes.com/news/politics, July 9, 2007-08-26
“Stop Making Sense” www.nytimes.com/2007/08/26/books/review, August 26, 2007
Is the American electoral process really this emotion-driven? Are Democrats more rational than Republicans and in need of an emotional conviction? Who are the real intellectual linemen (Republicans or Democrats) on the political gridiron? Do we really vote feelings over facts as a nation? Is our religion an example of that?
Segment 10
DITZY CHICK – THE HUB PANEL TRIES TO FIND GEOGRAPHY ON A MAP
It seem Miss Teen South Carolina doesn’t know her hot a$$ from a hole in the ground. She completely botched the answer to the question, "Recent polls have shown a fifth of Americans can't locate the United States on a world map. Why do you think this is?” Her answer made it to Youtube in record time and is being forwarded to an e-mail account near you!
Why are we as a culture fascinated by this? Even though they call these things scholarship pageants, do people really watch these for displays of academic prowess? Would a buck-toothed Mensa have a shot at winning one of these? This was evidently not this young lady’s first pageant, how did she make it that far and not be able to give a coherent answer?