The Sound of Ideas: October 2007

Filmmaker Visits Cleveland; Capitol Steps Halloween Program
Wednesday, October 31
For Wes Anderson, going to India to film the Darjeeling Limited was a kind of dream come true. On our program today, a light hearted conversation about the new film The Darjeeling Limited, the story of thre brothers reuniting after the death of their father. Wes Anderson and two of the actors in his film recently came to town. Coming up, a conversation about filming in India and what Anderson thinks about filming in Cleveland. And in the second half of the hour we'll call in the crew from Capitol Steps for their annual Halloween Howl. Join us starting at 9:00 a.m. for The Sound of Ideas.

The ‘No Snitch’ Culture
Tuesday, October 30
Life is imitating art in cities all over North America. The hip-hop mantra "stop snitchin" has become a real movement. In their rhymes, MC's like Ice Cube and Li'l Wayne say talking to law enforcement is a death sentence. Hip-hopper Cam'ron even told 60 minutes there's never any reason to say anything more than "what's up?" to a peace officer. In Akron, a 17-year-old decided he'd rather go to prison than give evidence in court. The upshot? An accused killer was set free. It's not just Ohio, of course. The anti-snitch culture is alive and well in places as far afield as Denver and Toronto. And of course, it's not unique to hip-hop culture. Police forces famously have their own unspoken code of conduct: some refer to it as the thin blue line. But with the homicides in the city of Cleveland topping a hundred this month and so many of them going unsolved, the stakes seem to have gotten higher. So, is the code of the streets more of a deterrent than the penal code? If it is, what can be done? We'll talk about the 'no-snitch' culture Tuesday morning at nine.

The Undertaking
Monday, October 29
Thomas Lynch is well known in the small town of Milford Michigan. Every year he guides hundreds of families through the burial process -- handling the logistics -- acknowledging their emotions. Lynch is featured in a PBS documentary that's set to premier this week. He'll be our guest as we take a rare look inside the world of undertaking. Monday at nine on the Sound of Ideas.

Ghosts and Cemeteries
Friday, October 26
 Footsteps in an empty hall... a child's laugh when no child is there... the pleas of a man looking for his wife - who has been dead for years... and so has he. Is there such a thing as ghosts? Some believe there are spirits trapped between this life and the next. They can't or won't move on. They move objects, generate heat, turn the air cold and make things go bump in the night. But ghost stories are something for kids, or are they? And are cemeteries as spooky as they seem? It's Ghosts and Cemeteries, Friday at nine on the Sound of Ideas.

Regional Roundtable
Thursday, October 25
Cuyahoga County's top leaders say now is not the right time to build a new administration building, so the building known to many as the "Breuer tower" is up for sale. What does Cleveland have to do with the debate over a new power plant on the Ohio River? A shockingly-violent neighborhood brawl results in the death of a Cleveland teen; while in Akron the suspect in a slaying goes free because a key witness won't talk. All that, plus Garfield Heights enacts a pit bull ban and a new book claims Congressman Dennis Kucinich saw a UFO. Join us for the discussion this morning at 9:00.

Regionalism: Can’t we all just get along?
Wednesday, October 24
There are a few costs to that I-90 exit that's coming in Avon. First, there are the income taxes that will be shared and then, there's the toll it took on one of the only regional government agencies we have. Now, if our elected officials can't make these kinds of decisions together, what about the big decisions that real regionalism will demand? On the other hand, maybe this is a sign of progress. After all, nobody said it would be easy. We're talking regionalism with county commissioners from around the region, this morning at 9:00.

Judging: Life inside the Justice Department
Tuesday, October 23
Michael Mukasey is expected to become the next Attorney General. But that last AG--Alberto Gonzales--now, he raised a number of questions, and it's not clear we've found the answers yet. On the next program, we convene a rare gathering of three former Department of Justice staffers, including one former US attorney fired this year by Gonzales. We'll talk about how the DOJ works, the role politics plays in prosecutions and what it means in our lives. You're invited to join the conversation. Tuesday at nine.

Shock and Little Rock
Monday, October 22
What do you think of when you hear the words "shock treatment?" Now chances are it's not "That's a really effective treatment for depression!" Well, despite its reputation, electroconvulsive therapy, is in many cases the thing that works when medication doesn't. Former first lady of Massachusetts Kitty Dukakis knows that firsthand, and she and co-author Larry Tye tell the story in Shock: The Healing Power of Electroconvulsive Therapy. Plus, a conversation about race in the past present and future with Dr. Terrence Roberts of the Little Rock Nine. Join us Monday morning at nine

It’s Tribe Time Now
Friday, October 19
World Series, here we come! It's Tribe time now. We're waving the towel, and we're not throwing it in for anybody. Indians fever is spreading fast as the team moves to strike those awful words "haven't won a World Series since 1948" from the minds and pens of every sports writer. We'll talk about what we expect next from the team and why baseball matters so much--especially in Cleveland. Sharing baseball moments and memories ... Friday at nine on the Sound of Ideas.

Reporters’ Roundtable: Republican Resignations and other Polical News
Thursday, October 18
In the news this week, resignations and a death among Republican representatives could swing the state to from red to blue; what Senator George Voinovich tells us about the future of the GOP; plus, what the outcome of the Canton Mayor's race tells us about who will be president of these United States. Thursday at nine on 90.3

Acting White/Acting Black: The Search for Racial Identity
Wednesday, October 17
Recent research indicates that many black adolescents face accusations of "acting white" if they achieve good grades and participate in high school social activities. At the same time, many white hip-hoppers are criticized for "acting black" if they adopt so-called urban clothing and music styles. For teenagers wrestling with issues of self-identity, trying to navigate the minefield of racial identity can be a challenge. ideastream is sponsoring a special broadcast town hall meeting to explore your attitudes about racial identity. Photo: Northeast Ohio Hip-Hoppers Johnny LaRock and Mush Mouth will provide some musical reflections on "Acting White & Acting Black."

Trojans, Cyberterrorism and You: The State of Information Security
Tuesday, October 16
Recently, computers at the Pentagon were hacked; two summers ago, it was the registers at Marshalls. And a new report suggests our energy grid is vulnerable. Sure, lots of us run an anti-virus program every week or so, but is that really going to stop the guys who want to take down the web or the stock market or any of our information infrastructure? On the Sound of Ideas, we'll talk with local experts about the next frontier in information security. Tuesday morning at nine.

The King of the Road Trip
Monday, October 15
Well, the summer's definitely over, and last week could hardly have been tougher--There are plenty of reasons why you might be wanting to hit the road right about now. Whether you're searching for fall foliage or a fantastic flea market, Neil Zurcher has scoped it out for you. The original host of One Tank Trips joins us for a conversation about where to go in Ohio and what to check out along the way. It's a conversation with the King of Road Trip, Monday morning at nine. Photo courtesy of Gray & Company, Publishers

Helping Troubled Teens
Friday, October 12
They called the teen odd, hyper, a loner. They said he talked crazy and worshipped the devil. Some say they even heard him threaten to shoot up the school...and then he did. Why wasn't more done to get help for Asa Coon before he killed himself this week? The teen wounded four others at a Cleveland school. What kind of safety net do we have...or need...for teens like him? Saving troubled teens before it's too late...Friday at nine, with Regina Brett on The Sound of Ideas.

SuccessTech Shooting
Thursday, October 11
Wednesday's shooting SuccessTech Academy in downtown Cleveland came as a shock to many across the region. A 14-year-old boy who had a history of mental problems opened fire, wounding four before killing himself as police arrived. Asa Coon had been suspended two days earlier for fighting, and police believe the two teachers he shot were targets. Join us Thursday morning at nine, for a conversation about the incident and the questions it raises. Listen to WCPN's Special Report on the Shooting at SuccessTech Academy

Journaling: How Whining Can Make You Healthier
Wednesday, October 10
Fifteen years of research--and an awful lot of human experience--have found that writing in a journal might not just feel good... it may actually make you healthier. Sheppard Kominars knows this firsthand: He journaled his way through cancer treatment seven years ago. Kominars says journaling isn't just for self-described writers, either. In fact, those with the least experience may have the most to gain. Join us Wednesday morning at nine for a conversation with the author of Write for Life.

Africa, Land of the 144 Percent Investment Return
Tuesday, October 9
Scan the news for headlines about Africa, and what you get is predominantly wars, rapes, spreading HIV, poverty and national debts, but it's not the whole story. Filmmaker Carol Pineau says the rest of the story involves growing businesses and returns on investment as high as 144 percent. Pineau--who grew up in Shaker Heights--tells the story in two films: Africa: Open for Business (2005) and Africa: Investment Horizons (2008). Pineau is in town to be inducted into the Shaker Heights High School Alumni Hall of Fame, and she and others will join us Tuesday morning at nine to talk about the good news from Africa.

The Sound of Science: Insects Gone Wild
Monday, October 8
Now, this may sound kind of gross, but did you know you can estimate how long an animal has been dead based on the presence of maggots? OK, how about something a little less gross: A Texas industrial gas company has restructured its delivery system to work like a colony of ants, and it's saving money. Lots of it. You're invited to join us for a conversation about what humans can learn from bugs. It's the Sound of Science, Monday morning at nine.

Dealing with Cancer: Lisa’s Story
Friday, October 5
The funnies are supposed to be funny, right? Not always. Newspaper readers are mourning the death of Lisa Moore. The Funky Winkerbean character has lost her battle with breast cancer. Creator Tom Batiuk has fought his own battle with cancer. He drew from personal experience to tell Lisa's Story. Ultimately, it's a love story that all cancer survivors share. Join Regina Brett for a conversation with Tom Batiuk on facing cancer with hope and humor this morning at 9:00 on The Sound of Ideas.

Reporters’ Roundtable: Rules, Records and Rokakis
Thursday, October 4
Two new rules this week: the new and improved sales tax in Cuyahoga County and a ban on the direct purchase of wine from large vintners. Elsewhere in the news: a republican party intern slows state government with the mother of all public records requests, a former accountant for the Catholic Diocese is convicted on fraud charges; Cuyahoga County Treasurer Jim Rokakis pens a piece for the Washington Post; and the Greater Cleveland RTA garners a major transportation award. Join us to round up those stories and others from across the region Thursday morning at nine.

Why Burma Matters in Ohio
Wednesday, October 3
As protests in Burma have been met by a brutal crackdown, a small group of Southeast Asians near Akron have been watching and praying. On the Sound of Ideas, we'll talk with some local Burmese and a member of the exiled government. We'll try to understand exactly what's happening in the country now called Myanmar and how the current crackdown might end. We'll also talk about what we can do in response from halfway around the world. Join the conversation Wednesday at nine.

The Middle Class Left Behind
Tuesday, October 2
Across the nation, the economy is growing. There's no doubt about that. The problem is, it may be leaving more than few middle class families behind. Studies and analysis by the Akron Beacon Journal suggest if you adjust for inflation, young middle class workers take home less per hour than they did 34 years ago. So, where's the wealth going? Check the pockets of the over-55 set. You're invited to join a conversation about our shrinking paychecks. Tuesday morning at nine.

Regionalism Revisited
Monday, October 1
Tension is brewing at the Lorain-Cuyahoga County border. A proposed exit ramp and development in Avon will bring as many as five thousand new jobs--but what's the cost to the region? Some say nothing, and others say the project will pull money out of Cuyahoga County. Big questions remain, such as this one: Why is it our region still doesn't seem to function as a cohesive region? We're searching for some big answers Monday morning at nine.