State of Affairs Blog

Your thyroid gland is a busy part of your endocrine system – it controls how you burn energy, how you make protein, and how sensitive you are to other hormones – but you probably don’t think much about it unless it isn’t functioning the way it should. Graves’ Disease, goiter, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and other illnesses can occur when the thyroid does too much or too little. Join us this Thursday to learn more about the causes, treatments, and prevention of thyroid diseases.

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Guests:
Dr. Richarld Goldstein
Dr. Stephen Winters

Posted by Laura Ellis at 10:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It's funny thing, dissent - there are times when expressing dissent with our leaders seems very patriot or noble, and yet there are other times when it is seen as disloyal and subversive. And the more fundamental a society becomes, the less dissent is tolerated, but the more it seems to be needed. And lest we think this just happens in Islamic countries, let's take a good look at America's tolerance for dissent in the past few years. Join us on Wednesday as we discuss the role dissent does, can and should play in Islam and America.

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Guests:
Dr. Anouar Majid, author, A Call for Heresy
Rodger Payne, professor & acting chair, UofL Department of Political Science

Dissent on the Web:
- Our guest Rodger Payne blogs about his thoughts on our show and dissent
- Coleen Rowley calls dissent the highest form of patriotism in the Huffington Post
- Vox Veritatis agrees that dissent is the essence of patriotism

Posted by Laura Ellis at 10:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In last year’s gubernatorial election, the issue of casino gambling was brought to the forefront of public awareness, and it hasn’t gone away since. A bill prefiled before Kentucky lawmakers this session calls for a referendum on allowing casino gambling at 12 sites within the state – eight of which are horseracing tracks. Tune in this Tuesday and join us with your thoughts on whether casino gambling should be legalized in Kentucky.

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Guests:
John Mark Hack, Say No to Casinos
Patrick Neely, Kentucky Equine Education Project

Related Links:
- KET's Religion & Ethics newsweekly tackles casino gambling
- The C-J covers the Louisville Forum debate about casino gambling

Words and phrases we love that were used on today's show:
- fallacious
- panacea
- jurisdictional conunrdum

Posted by Laura Ellis at 10:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"Green" has been the buzzword on everyone's lips lately, and now you don't even have to leave the house to get in on the environmentally-friendly movement. Opportunities about for going green at home - from natural cleansers, non-toxic pest control, and energy-efficient appliances to the design and building materials of the house itself. Join us this Friday to learn more about greening your home.

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Guests:
Russ Barnett, KY Institute for the Environment & Sustainable Development
Mark Isaacs, Legacy Homes
Summer Auerbach, manager, Rainbo Blossom Natural Food Market
Matt Martin, ENPowered Home

Home Greenin' on the Web:
- HGTV teaches us about green building techniques, to make sure your house is green from the get-go
- Treehugger.com has a ton of How-To Guides for going verde (I was just tired of saying green)
- Energy Star's website includes tips and products

Posted by Laura Ellis at 10:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Maybe you gravitate toward a compromiser, and your husband toward the "take no prisoners" type, and your mom just loves a folksy president, and well your brother is just all over the board. We all have our own ideas of what type of person makes the best president, but how many of us have ever stopped to think about what is best for the country as a whole? Historically, we've had tough times and easy times, lean and fat times, and our presidents have all been different. Or have they? Are there traits shared by the greatest presidents? And what about those considered not so great? Oh, and let's not forget about the current field of candidates. Join us on Thursday as we discuss the greats, the not so greats and what type of president we need now.

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Guests:
Tracy Campbell, PhD, author of Deliver the Vote: A History of American Election Fraud, an American Political Tradition, 1742-2004
Michael Maccoby, PhD, author of The Leaders We Need and What Makes Us Follow

Posted by Laura Ellis at 10:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In 1858, the Kentucky General Assembly passed an act to establish the American Printing House for the Blind. The organization would print books embossed with Braille letters, giving visually impaired people access to written materials previously unavailable to them. Now the APH is 150 years old, and is still publishing books, producing recorded materials, developing assistive technologies, and running support programs for the blind and visually impaired. Join us this Wednesday to learn more about APH and how technologies for the blind have evolved over the past 150 years.

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Guests:
Jeanette Wicker, Core Curriculum Project Leader
Fred Grissoni, Product Support Specialist
Larry Skutchan, Technology Project Leader

On the Web:
- The American Printing House for the Blind homepage
- Legends & pioneers of blindness assistive technology

Posted by Laura Ellis at 10:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

While not adored by critics, the film 'Awake' should be a contender for most memorable movie trailer of last year. It portrays something universally terrifying: being awake, but paralyzed during surgery - feeling everything, but unable to communicate. In the real world, anesthesia awareness only happens to one or two tenths of one percent of patients who are put under. But the movie has people wondering, how do these drugs really work? How was it developed? Are there risks involved? To learn more, join us this Tuesday, for a conversation on anesthesia.

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Guests:
Dr. Laura Clark, UofL Director of Acute Pain & Regional Anesthesia
Dr. Stacey Gregory, UofL, Assistant Professor, Residency Program Director

Anesthesia on the Web:
- For some background, here is a PDF on the evolution of anesthesia
- Scientific American gives us a primer on how anesthesia works
- There are FAQs about everything now! Here they are for anesthesia
- Thanks to that darn movie "Awake" everyone is afraid of anesthesia awareness

Link Mentioned on the Show:
American Society of Anesthesologists

Posted by Laura Ellis at 10:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Are you a Buddhist? Do you value patience, generosity, unselfishness, integrity, and self-discipline? If so, some would say you are putting the transcendental virtues of Buddhism into practice in your life. Our guest today says that Buddhist principles are reflected in many of the world's moral edicts - from the ethical teachings of Confucius to the Boy Scout Honor Code. Join us this Monday to learn more about Buddhism from the man His Holiness the Dalai Lama calls the American Lama - Lama Surya Das. This show is an archive edition, so we won't be taking calls.

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Posted by Laura Ellis at 10:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

John Marshall served as the Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court for 34 years; the longest tenure of any Chief Justice. During his service, the Supreme Court became the ultimate authority on interpreting the constitution. One of Marshall's concerns both before and during his time on the bench was private property. Wouldn't he be surprised to learn that in the past couple of years the current Supreme Court ruled private property could be seized to make way for private investment? But does this hold true in Kentucky as well? And how will the law of eminent domain play into the bridges project? Are we looking at another fight like we had over the airport? Join us on Friday as we explore these and other issues concerning eminent domain.

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Posted by Laura Ellis at 10:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Nearly 70 European and North American businesses belong to the European- American Business Council. They focus on the commerce that occurs from one side of the Atlantic to the other - a market that is 60% of the world’s GDP and 40% of its trade, despite making up only 11% of its population. Transatlantic trade has been called the most important commercial partnership in the world. The council's president and CEO, Michael Maibach, joins us this Thursday to talk about the current status and potential future of Transatlantic trade.

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Posted by Laura Ellis at 12:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Last month, the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce's Postsecondary Education Task Force released its report on the status of colleges and universities in the Commonwealth. The news is mixed: while enrollment, capacity, and accessibility have increased, high school students' scores on standardized tests are not doing a good job of predicting how well they will perform in college, and inconsistent policies make it difficult for students who want to transfer credits from one school to another. Join us this Wednesday when we learn more about the report's findings, and the future of postsecondary education in Kentucky.

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Posted by Robin Fisher at 09:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Bird Flu, terrorism, gangs, super bugs, kidnappers, are these all things of which we should be afraid, or are they just sensationalized news stories? It seems Americans are more afraid, of more things, than ever before. But why? We have a high standard of living, by and large our communities are safe, we have relatively good health habits . . . . And yet many of us live in gated communities, are afraid of the slightest cold and won't let our children play outside. How did we get so afraid? And are we afraid of the wrong things and overlooking the things that will matter in the end? So throw back the covers and join us on Tuesday as we discuss what Americans fear and why.

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Guests:
Dr. Marc Siegel, author of False Alarm: The Truth About the Epidemic of Fear
Dr. Greg Leichty, UofL Department of Communications

Fear & Paranoia on the Web (Watch out! It's EVERYWHERE!):
- The New York Times, always stealing our ideas, ran a piece this morning called Living in Fear and Paying a High Cost in Heart Risk

Posted by Laura Ellis at 10:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Have you been to the Patton Museum at Fort Knox? It's free. How about the Japanese Friendship Garden in Georgetown - free again. Oh, and then there's the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art, and you guessed it - it's free. It will soon be vacation time and we have some great suggestions right in our own back yard. Join us on Monday when we talk with author James Bilodeau about his new book “Free Kentucky”. We’ll find out about all the hidden and free places to visit in Kentucky. This is an archive edition of State of Affairs, so we won't be taking calls this hour.

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Posted by Laura Ellis at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Mountaintop coal removal has become a hot button environmental issue in the Appalachian states, with strong voices and opinions on both sides. Vanity Fair journalist Michael Shnayerson has entered the fray with his new book "Coal River"; which tells the story of the ongoing fight for the mountains of West Virginia. Join us on Friday when we talk to Shnayerson about his new book and mountaintop coal removal. Michael Shnayerson appears courtesy of the Kentucky Author Forum.

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Mountaintop Coal Removal on the Web:
- Century of the Common Iowan lays out the environmental dangers of mountaintop coal removal
- National Wind Watch wonders, if wind turbines can replace mountaintop coal removal

Posted by Laura Ellis at 10:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Most of us will, at one time or another, need a prescription drug - they can keep us from getting infections, lower our blood pressure, and for people with serious illnesses, they can even make the difference between life and death. But where do they come from? Who invents prescription drugs and how are they tested and developed? And what about generic versions - are they as good as the name brands? Tune in this Thursday and call with your questions, when we learn more about the development of prescription drugs.

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Guests:
Dr. Joseph Fink, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy
Dr. Thomas Foster, UofK College of Pharmacy

Prescription Drugs on the Web:
- Dr. Andrew Weil discusses whether generic drugs are as good as name brands
- HowStuffWorks.com explanis how generic drugs work
- Here are the FDA's FAQs (say that five times fast) about drug patents and exclusivity

Posted by Laura Ellis at 12:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

When we hear an orchestra play, we may immediately think about so-called 'classical' music, composed hundreds of years ago by people it's hard to relate to today. But new orchestral music is being composed all the time, by people all over the world - and right here in our own community. Join us this Wednesday when we look at modern composition, how different composers approach the art, and how and where to hear their works.

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Guests:
Daniel Gillam, Classical 90.5 host, composer
Marc Satterwhite, UofL School of Music Professor, directs Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition
Peter Lieberson, composer, winner of 2008 Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition

MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S SHOW:

Coming back from first break:
Sebastian Currier (2007 Grawemeyer Award Winner)
Static (2003), ethereal

Coming back from second break:
Witold Lutoslawski
Fanfare for Louisville, Performed by the Louisville Orchestra (1991)

Closing Credits:
Steve Reich
Music for 18 Musicians: Pulses, performed by Grand Valley State University New Music Ensemble

Music used elsewhere in the show:

Peter Lieberson (2008 Grawemeyer Award Winner)
“Si no fuera porque tus ojos tienen color de luna” / “If your eyes were not the color of the moon”
Performed by Boston Symphony Orchestra, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, mezzo-soprano

John Corigliano (1991 Grawemeyer Award Winner)
Apologue: Of Rage and Remembrance, Performed by the Chicago Symphony Orhcestra

Pauline Oliveros (electronic piece)
Lion’s Tale for sampler

Marc Satterwhite
Witnesses of Time: Tarahumara Pilgrimage, Paul York, cello

Daniel Gilliam
Song of the Universal, performed by Festive Voices

Music we didn't have time for, but our guests recommend:

Olly Wilson
Expansions III
Performed by the Cincinnati Philharmonic

David Maslanka
A Child’s Garden of Dreams (Part IV)
Performed by the Dallas Wind Symphony

Witold Lutoslawski (1985 Grawemeyer Award Winner)
Symphony No. 3
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic

John Corigliano (1991 Grawemeyer Award Winner)
Chaconne: Giulio’s Song
Performed by the Chicago Symphony Orhcestra

Posted by Laura Ellis at 12:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Bloods, Crips, Latin Kings, if you've kept up with the news over the past few years, these street gang names will be familiar. And if not from the news, then from movies and television that glamorize gangs. But what is the real story? Sure, the Bloods, Crips and Latin Kings are high profile names, but what about the more local gangs such as the recently reported "Click Tight" group? What is the appeal of gangs to young men and women? Are the myths of gang culture true or urban legend? And, are all gangs bad? Call us on Tuesday with your questions about gangs.

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Guests:
Dr. Eddie Woods, Operation Hope
Marcus & Lester, brothers, formerly involved with gangs

Posted by Laura Ellis at 12:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Many of us take for granted that we can find fresh fruits and vegetables at our grocer. As a matter of fact, we probably have more than one source for fresh produce. But did you know fresh produce can be scarce in low income neighborhoods? And it is often overpriced and poor quality. Join us on Monday as we explore the idea of food justice/food equity and find out what you can do to help. This is an archive edition of State of Affairs, so we won't be taking calls today.

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Guests:
Bryant Terry, food justice activist, founder of bHealthy
Sayheed Asante, Urban Fresh
Jennifer Clark, ACTIVE Louisville

Posted by Robin Fisher at 10:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Abraham Lincoln is heralded by history as The Great Emancipator. However, his record on racial issues and his image among African Americans is a little more complicated. Some scholars believe Lincoln is undeserving of his canonization as a champion of equal rights, saying his first priority was to preserve the union – whether or not slavery was abolished in the process. Join us Friday on State of Affairs as we take a look at Abraham Lincoln from an African American perspective.

Guest:
Dr. Blaine L. Hudson, Dean, UofL College of Arts & Sciences

Posted by Laura Ellis at 10:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The monthly budget – if you don’t keep track of spending, experts say the beginning of the year is a great time to start. Financial advisors say if you want to get a handle on your expenditures, you must first figure out what you should be spending before you create a budget and stick to it. Grab a pencil, paper, and your latest receipts, and join us
this Thursday when we learn more about creating a budget, and how to make it work for you.

Guests: Steve & Annette Economides, proprietors of The Home Economiser website/newsletter; authors of America's Cheapest Family Gets You Right on the Money. The Economides (pictured at right) support a family of seven - and paid off their house within nine years - on $35,000 a year income. Household Budgeting on the Web: - The blog Productivity @ Home says your household is a business and offers tips to keep it in the black - Here's a A Tough Love Way to Handle Your Household Budget, from tabsbymer.com - Living a Better Life provides free budget worksheets for those who hate to budget

Posted by Laura Ellis at 09:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Did you find a new GPS device, digital camera, or video game console in your stocking this year? Or maybe you unwrapped some new software, or even a whole new computer? It’s January now … have you figured out how they operate yet? Never fear - tune in this Wednesday when we bring you our traditional post-holiday Tech Talk show. Call our technology gurus with your questions and problems, or to recommend (or not!) your latest tech gadget.

Guests:
Wayne Perkey II, Perkey Computing
Mark Henderson, Mac Guru

Tech Talk on the Web:
Test your knowlege of last year's tech news with Gizmodo's 2007 Tech Knowlege Mega-Quiz.
CNET brings us the technological year in review.
PC Magazine columnist John Dvorak wasn't thrilled with tech in 2007 - here's his Miserable Year in Review.
2007 in Tech, from Fortune Magazine

Posted by Laura Ellis at 09:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)