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Forum : Current events and public affairs. Host: Mark Cohen
December A recent study found that small particle pollution from power plants is responsible for 30,000 premature deaths a year nationally, and the Baltimore-DC metro area is the second worst in the country. Mark Wenzler, environmental counsel at the National Environmental Trust, discusses the study and its implications.
November Where is globalization taking us, and what should we do about it? Guests are Robert Sharer, chief of the trade policy division at the International Monetary Fund, and Thea Lee, assistant director for international economics in the Public Policy Department at the AFL-CIO.
October Connie Morella, a popular Republican, is seeking reelection to the House of Representatives from Montgomery County on November 7th. But Democrat Terry Lierman argues that a vote for Morella is a vote for Republican control of the House. Includes field report by Ross Adams.
September Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative (MCHI) spokesman Hal Wallach argues that "managed care" has failed in its mission to cut health care costs and provide universal coverage. His group commissioned a study that found that variants on a single-payer insurance system would do a much better job, and MCHI plans to lobby the General Assembly to enact such a system.
July Did EPA and the Maryland Department of the Environment "cook the books" to make it appear that the Baltimore area, which EPA labels "severe" for smog, will have clean air by 2005? "Yes," says Rena Steinzor, representing 1000 Friends of Maryland. "No," says Michael Powell on behalf of the BWI Business Partnership.
June Elian Gonzalez may be the most celebrated asylum applicant in memory but a "well founded fear of persecution," not celebrity, is the basis for establishing refugee status under international law. Commenting is Bemma Donkoh, deputy regional representative for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.
May More and more states are enacting laws to make it legal for doctors to prescribe marijuana to ease the pain of certain chronically or severely ill patients, like Kitty Tucker of Takoma Park. So why was a bill to legalize medical marijuana, sponsored by Donald E. Murphy (R-Balt./Howard Counties), rejected in this session of the Maryland General Assembly?
April The Public Justice Center, a Baltimore-based poverty law organization, has launched an Appellate Advocacy Project, and enlisted Steve Sachs, former Maryland Attorney General and U.S. Attorney for Maryland, to help take the PJC to the next level. Sachs is joined in the Coffee House by the Project's director, Deborah Eisenberg.
March Maryland will begin deregulating the sale of electricity in July. Will competition benefit residential customers, either in price or by providing "green power"? Commenting are Glenn Ivey, chairman of the Maryland Public Service Commission; Mark Mazur, Director of Policy , U.S. Department of Energy; and Chris Cook, principal, E3 Energy Associates.
February Should cable companies be forced to share their lines with Internet Service Providers? Commenting are Wes Heppler, Cable Telecommunications Association; Kristan Van Hook, openNET Coalition; and Jane Lawton, Cable Communications Administrator, Montgomery County Office of Consumer Affairs.
January Labor, environmental and human rights protesters were credited by a U.S. trade delegate for derailing the recent WTO talks in Seattle, where the street scene was reminiscent of the 1968 Democratic Convention. Commenting is independent web journalist John Tarleton.
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In Sickness & In Health: Mainsteam and alternative approaches to wellness. Host: Cathy Kristiansen
December Antibiotics are routinely fed to livestock and poultry in the US, and some argue this is making these "miracle drugs" increasingly ineffective in fighting bugs in humans. Commenting are Bente Wantzin, a Danish government representative, and Steven Fondriest of the Union of Concerned Scientists.
October Hepatitis comes in many forms, from the relatively benign to the potentially fatal. Leslye Johnson, Chief of Hepatic Diseases at the National Institute for Allergy & Infectious Diseases, knows her A-B-Cs (and D-E-F-Gs) of hepatitis.
September The HPV virus causes cervical cancer, and perhaps prostate cancer and pregnancy loss. How does the virus spread and how can its dangers be prevented or treated? Guests are Mary Coe, a positive Pap smear patient, and Penny Hitchcock, chief of the Sexually Transmitted Diseases Branch of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
June Skin cancer: What causes it and how to prevent it with Dr. Scott Saxman, senior investigator at the National Cancer Institute.
April Obesity has myriad causes but Dr. Marc Reitman of the Diabetes Branch of the National Institutes of Health says, his research on mice shows, genetics play an important role.
February The pros and cons of laser surgery ("Lasik") for correcting vision problems. Commenting are Dr. Jay Lustbader, Director of Cornea and Refractive Surgery at Georgetown University, and Jean Christensen, a Lasik patient.
January The latest evidence on the relationship between genes, the environment and drinking problems, with Dr. Enoch Gordis, director the National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse.
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Musical Traditions: Roots music and singer-songwriters. Host: David Eisner
December The original sounds of the Jesse Palidofsky Quartet.
November Bluesman Phil Wiggins and Urban Legends.
October Fortaleza, Tinsmith, Liz Goldberg and Magpie perform.
September Blues guitarist James Mabry goes "Walking the Dog" with the help of Jacques "Saxman" Johnson.
July The soft, lyrical sounds of Chuck Durfor and friends.
June Vocalist Liz Goldberg.
May The mandolin and guitar work of Robin Bullock.
April Bruce Molsky takes us down home with his fiddle and guitar pickin'.
March Songstress Lisa Moscatiello encounters Stormy Weather.
February The world music sounds of Rachel & Jacqui.
January Tinsmith offers contemporary Celtic sounds.
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In Step: Innovators and movers in the world of dance. Host: Liz Lerman
December The subtle grace of Cambodian dance. Joining host Liz Lerman are Cambodian American Heritage Artistic Director Madame Sam-Oeun Tes and Program Administrator Gary Marco.
February Movement with a social message: Liz Lerman hosts choreographer Helani us J. Wilkins.
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Writers' Bloc: Authors on their latest works. Host: Lisa Page
December O'Henry Award winner and former NPR commentator Patricia Elam discusses her new novel, Breathing Room.
November New York Times race relations reporter Steven Holmes talks about his new biography of Democratic kingpin and former Commerce Secretary Ron Brown.
September Short-story writer Matthew Klam, winner of the prestigious O'Henry Award, talks about and reads from his collection, Sam the Cat and Other Stories.
July Is America ready for a woman president? Authors Eleanor Clift and Tom Brazaitis assess the prospects in Madam President: Shattering the Last Glass Ceiling.
May E. Ethelbert Miller looks back at his upbringing, marriages and career in his new memoir, Fathering Words: The Making of an African American Writer.
April Getting more out of life than stuff: Silver Spring author Jerome Segal discusses his book, Graceful Simplicity.
March The Nation Washington editor David Corn discusses his political thriller, Deep Background.
January Carolivia Herron discusses her controversial children's book, Nappy Hair.
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Rewind: Fim comment. Host: Pat Aufderheide
December Visions in DC is more than a niche indie and international film house; it's also a lounge and bistro, and a welcome alternative to multiplex sterility. President Andrew Frank and Operations Director Andrew Mencher talk about the Visions thing.
September The PBS series P.O.V. tackles two controversial topics in September. One concerns Pacifica's pathbreaking and tumultuous flagship radio station, KPFA; the other focuses on the tribulations of the last doctor unafraid to perform abortions in a remote area of New England.
July A review of "Sunshine," Istvan Szabo's panorama of the 20th century through the experiences of a Hungarian Jewish family.
June Reviews of two documentaries airing in June on PBS, "Well Founded Fear," which listens in on INS asylum officers talking about their cases, and "Butterfly," about a woman's battle against clearcutting the giant redwood trees.
March A preview of the upcoming DC FilmFest, with festival assistant director, Shirin Ghareeb.
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In Verse: Poetry and spoken word art.
December "how it is", a poem by Lori Tsang.
November Poetry by D.J. Renegade ("At the Window") and Miriam Morsel Nathan ("In the House of the Thousand Candles").
October Rebecca Villareal feasts on "Orangefood."
September D.J. Renegade performs "Sunday Poem" and Miriam Morsel Nathan offers "Waiting for Messiah."
July "Checkpoint" by Lori Tsang.
June "Congratulations," a poem by Rebecca Villareal.
May Miriam Morsel Nathan presents her poem, "The Tattoo Lady."
March "How to Imagine Deafness" by Kim Roberts.
February "Teen Angel" by Miriam Morsel Nathan.
January "Estela" by Rebecca Villarreal.
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Second Look: Journalists on their works. Host: Howard Kohn
November Pulitzer-prize winning syndicated columnist Clarence Page discusses his video essay, "Charter Schools That Work."
October Writers are finding their works appearing on the Web, sometimes without their permission and without compensation. Janice Shields, a grievance officer with the National Writers Union, doesn't like it.
July The press and the 2000 presidential campaign: Kevin Merida and Michael Powell of the Washington Post "Style" section consider how the boys and girls on the bus treat the candidates and the issues.
June Nina Seavey of Takoma Park won an Emmy for her documentary about polio. Now she's working on a film about a winning group of teen musicians from Russia who are about to hit it big in Nashville.
May Recall reading about how the Drug Czar secretly provided financial incentives for the Networks to inject anti-drug messages into their prime-time fare? That story quickly went out of print, suggests the Washington editor of Salon.com, David Weir, because the print media that broke the story had a similar financial deal with the Drug Czar.
February Freelance producer William "Rocky" Kistner discusses his Frontlines documentary, "Justice for Sale."
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Feature
November Women and jewelry from the Middle East (producer: Eileen Binns) and unveiling the memorial statute to Roscoe the Rooster in Takoma Park.
July Del. John Arnick (D-Balt. Cty) is again sponsoring legislation to ban the use of cell phones by drivers while on the road. Absent such a law, Maryland State Trouper Cynthia Brown cautions drivers to use their cell phones sensibly. The cell phone industry's Lisa Idhe argues an outright ban is unnecessary and counterproductive. Ross Adams reports.
June The sights and sounds of the Million Mom March as captured by John Windmueller.
May When Steve Olson and his film crew went to cover the recent Mobilization for Global Justice protests in DC for the Coffee House, he wasn't expecting to spend 16 hours in jail. But that's what happened.
April An area on the fourth floor of the City Place Mall, dubbed Silver Spring Art Space, is home to artists and even a touring opera company. Ross Adams reports.
March Ross Adams reports on allegations of racism and discrimination in the Takoma Park Police Department.
February Ross Adams reports on overcrowding at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring.
January Community Bridges aims to mentor and empower at-risk girls from the 4th through the 8th grades in Takoma Park and East Silver Spring.
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Weekend Traveler Quick getaways in the Washington-Baltimore region. Producer: Steve Olson
October Fossil hunting, beach combing, etc. on Maryland's Solomons Island. Producer: Steve Olson; Writer: Susan Glick; Videographer: Kimberly Keese; Narrator: Chuck Barber.
April An off-season excursion to Chincoteague and Assateague. Get ready to kayak.
January Steve Olson visits Fells Point in Baltimore
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Episode

December
Forum A recent study found that small particle pollution from power plants is responsible for 30,000 premature deaths a year nationally, and the Baltimore-DC metro area is the second worst in the country. Mark Wenzler, environmental counsel at the National Environmental Trust, discusses the study and its implications.
In Sickness & in Health Antibiotics are routinely fed to livestock and poultry in the US, and some argue this is making these "miracle drugs" increasingly ineffective in fighting bugs in humans. Commenting are Bente Wantzin, a Danish government representative, and Steven Fondriest of the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Musical Traditions The original sounds of the Jesse Palidofsky Quartet.
In Step The subtle grace of Cambodian dance. Joining host Liz Lerman are Cambodian American Heritage Artistic Director Madame Sam-Oeun Tes and Program Administrator Gary Marco.
Writers' Bloc O'Henry Award winner and former NPR commentator Patricia Elam discusses her new novel, Breathing Room.
Rewind Visions in DC is more than a niche indie and international film house; it's also a lounge and bistro, and a welcome alternative to multiplex sterility. President Andrew Frank and Operations Director Andrew Mencher talk about the Visions thing with Pat Aufderheide.
In Verse "how it is", a poem by Lori Tsang.
Back to Top of Page
November
Forum Where is globalization taking us, and what should we do about it? Guests are Robert Sharer, chief of the trade policy division at the International Monetary Fund, and Thea Lee, assistant director for international economics in the Public Policy Department at the AFL-CIO.
Writers' Bloc New York Times race relations reporter Steven Holmes talks about his new biography of Democratic kingpin and former Commerce Secretary Ron Brown.
Feature Women and jewelry from the Middle East (producer: Eileen Binns) and unveiling the memorial statute to Roscoe the Rooster in Takoma Park.
In Verse Poetry by D.J. Renegade ("At the Window") and Miriam Morsel Nathan ("In the House of the Thousand Candles").
Second Look Pulitzer-prize winning syndicated columnist Clarence Page discusses his video essay, "Charter Schools That Work."
Musical Traditions Bluesman Phil Wiggins and Urban Legends.
Back to Top of Page
October
Forum Connie Morella, a popular Republican, is seeking reelection to the House of Representatives from Montgomery County on November 7th. But Democrat Terry Lierman argues that a vote for Morella is a vote for Republican control of the House. Includes field report by Ross Adams.
In Sickness & in Health Hepatitis comes in many forms, from the relatively benign to the potentially fatal. Leslye Johnson, Chief of Hepatic Diseases at the National Institute for Allergy & Infectious Diseases, knows her A-B-Cs (and D-E-F-Gs) of hepatitis.
Weekend Traveler Fossil hunting, beach combing, etc. on Maryland's Solomons Island. Producer: Steve Olson; Writer: Susan Glick; Videographer: Kimberly Keese; Narrator: Chuck Barber.
In Verse Rebecca Villareal feasts on "Orangefood."
Second Look Writers are finding their works appearing on the Web, sometimes without their permission and without compensation. Janice Shields, a grievance officer with the National Writers Union, doesn't like it.
Musical Traditions Fortaleza, Tinsmith, Liz Goldberg and Magpie perform.
Back to Top of Page
September
Forum Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative (MCHI) spokesman Hal Wallach argues that "managed care" has failed in its mission to cut health care costs and provide universal coverage. His group commissioned a study that found that variants on a single-payer insurance system would do a much better job, and MCHI plans to lobby the General Assembly to enact such a system.
Rewind The PBS series P.O.V. tackles two controversial topics in September. One concerns Pacifica's pathbreaking and tumultuous flagship radio station, KPFA; the other focuses on the tribulations of the last doctor unafraid to perform abortions in a remote area of New England. Pat Aufderheide has a preview.
In Sickness & in Health The HPV virus causes cervical cancer, and perhaps prostate cancer and pregnancy loss. How does the virus spread and how can its dangers be prevented or treated? Guests are Mary Coe, a positive Pap smear patient, and Penny Hitchcock, chief of the Sexually Transmitted Diseases Branch of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
In Verse D.J. Renegade performs "Sunday Poem" and Miriam Morsel Nathan offers "Waiting for Messiah."
Writers' Bloc Short-story writer Matthew Klam, winner of the prestigious O'Henry Award, talks about and reads from his collection, Sam the Cat and Other Stories.
Musical Traditions Blues guitarist James Mabry goes "Walking the Dog" with the help of Jacques "Saxman" Johnson.
Back to Top of Page
July
Forum Did EPA and the Maryland Department of the Environment "cook the books" to make it appear that the Baltimore area, which EPA labels "severe" for smog, will have clean air by 2005? "Yes," says Rena Steinzor, representing 1000 Friends of Maryland. "No," says Michael Powell on behalf of the BWI Business Partnership.
Second Look The press and the 2000 presidential campaign: Kevin Merida and Michael Powell of the Washington Post "Style" section consider how the boys and girls on the bus treat the candidates and the issues.
Feature Del. John Arnick (D-Balt. Cty) is again sponsoring legislation to ban the use of cell phones by drivers while on the road. Absent such a law, Maryland State Trouper Cynthia Brown cautions drivers to use their cell phones sensibly. The cell phone industry's Lisa Idhe argues an outright ban is unnecessary and counterproductive. Ross Adams reports.
In Verse "Checkpoint" by Lori Tsang.
Rewind Pat Aufderheide reviews "Sunshine," Istvan Szabo's panorama of the 20th century through the experiences of a Hungarian Jewish family.
Writers' Bloc Is America ready for a woman president? Authors Eleanor Clift and Tom Brazaitis assess the prospects in Madam President: Shattering the Last Glass Ceiling.
Musical Traditions The soft, lyrical sounds of Chuck Durfor and friends.
Back to Top of Page
June
Forum Elian Gonzalez may be the most celebrated asylum applicant in memory but a "well founded fear of persecution," not celebrity, is the basis for establishing refugee status under international law. Commenting is Bemma Donkoh, deputy regional representative for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.
Rewind Pat Aufderheide reviews two documentaries airing in June on PBS, "Well Founded Fear," which listens in on INS asylum officers talking about their cases, and "Butterfly," about a woman's battle against clearcutting the giant redwood trees.
Second Look Nina Seavey of Takoma Park won an Emmy for her documentary about polio. Now she's working on a film about a winning group of teen musicians from Russia who are about to hit it big in Nashville.
Feature The sights and sounds of the Million Mom March as captured by John Windmueller.
In Sickness & In Health Skin cancer: What causes it and how to prevent it with Dr. Scott Saxman, senior investigator at the National Cancer Institute.
In Verse "Congratulations," a poem by Rebecca Villarreal.
Musical Traditions Vocalist Liz Goldberg.
Back to Top of Page
May
Forum More and more states are enacting laws to make it legal for doctors to prescribe marijuana to ease the pain of certain chronically or severely ill patients, like Kitty Tucker of Takoma Park. So why was a bill to legalize medical marijuana, sponsored by Donald E. Murphy (R-Balt./Howard Counties), rejected in this session of the Maryland General Assembly?
Feature When Steve Olson and his film crew went to cover the recent Mobilization for Global Justice protests in DC for the Coffee House, he wasn't expecting to spend 16 hours in jail. But that's what happened.
In Verse Miriam Morsel Nathan presents her poem, "The Tattoo Lady."
Second Look Recall reading about how the Drug Czar secretly provided financial incentives for the Networks to inject anti-drug messages into their prime-time fare? That story quickly went out of print, suggests the Washington editor of Salon.com, David Weir, because the print media that broke the story had a similar financial deal with the Drug Czar.
Musical Traditions The mandolin and guitar work of Robin Bullock.
Writers' Bloc E. Ethelbert Miller looks back at his upbringing, marriages and career in his new memoir, Fathering Words: The Making of an African American Writer.
Back to Top of Page
April
Forum The Public Justice Center, a Baltimore-based poverty law organization, has launched an Appellate Advocacy Project, and enlisted Steve Sachs, former Maryland Attorney General and U.S. Attorney for Maryland, to help take the PJC to the next level. Sachs is joined in the Coffee House by the Project's director, Deborah Eisenberg.
In Sickness & In Health Obesity has myriad causes but Dr. Marc Reitman of the Diabetes Branch